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War in Ukraine

Three years on

Three years since the invasion, Atlantic Council experts are assessing the state of the war and the prospects for peace—and forecasting what the future holds for Ukraine, Russia, NATO, the United States.

Ukraine Russia
War in Ukraine

New Atlanticist Jun 27, 2025

Trump’s approach to Russia and its war on Ukraine is evolving, not in one big leap, but in several smaller steps

Both Trump’s strikes on Iran and his statements at the NATO Summit signaled an evolution toward a tougher line on Moscow.

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War in Ukraine

UkraineAlert Jun 26, 2025

Russia’s persecution of the Crimean Tatars must not be forgotten

By Mercedes Sapuppo

Events will take place across Ukraine this week to mark Crimean Tatar Flag Day. However, there will be no celebrations in Crimea itself, writes Mercedes Sapuppo.

Conflict Human Rights
War in Ukraine

UkraineAlert Jun 24, 2025

North Korea is playing a key role in Russia’s war against Ukraine

By Olivia Yanchik

North Korea is playing an increasingly vital support role in Russia’s war against Ukraine. This includes providing the Kremlin with vast quantities of ammunition, ballistic missiles, and thousands of men, writes Olivia Yanchik.

Defense Industry Defense Technologies
War in Ukraine

UkraineAlert Jun 23, 2025

‘All of Ukraine is ours’: Putin’s Russian imperialism is now on full display

By Peter Dickinson

Putin declared last week that “all of Ukraine is ours.” The Kremlin dictator’s revealing comments highlight the resurgent Russian imperialism driving Europe’s largest invasion since WWII, writes Peter Dickinson.
Conflict Disinformation
War in Ukraine

UkraineAlert Jun 19, 2025

New EU and US energy sanctions are needed to disarm Putin’s war machine

By Aura Sabadus

The EU and US have prepared measures that could dramatically weaken Russia’s energy weapon and undermine Putin’s war machine. The question now is whether they have the political leadership to proceed, writes Aura Sabadus.
Conflict Economic Sanctions
War in Ukraine

UkraineAlert Jun 17, 2025

Russia and Ukraine are locked in an economic war of attrition

By Anders Åslund

As the Russian army continues to wage a brutal war of attrition in Ukraine, the two nations are also locked in an economic contest that could play a key role in determining the outcome of Europe’s largest invasion since World War II, writes Anders Åslund.
Conflict Corruption

WATCH

“Putin’s endgame: The stakes beyond Ukraine,” an Atlantic Council documentary

Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine may be closer to its end than its beginning. How it ends will matter not only for Ukraine, but for the whole of Europe and the wider world. The first-ever documentary from the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, “Putin’s endgame: The stakes beyond Ukraine,” discusses the threat of Russian aggression beyond Ukraine and the dangers it poses to US interests today and in the future.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Online Event Mon, July 14, 2025 • 2:00 pm ET

Report launch: Russia’s future rulers
Corruption Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Populism
Online Event Wed, July 16, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Digital occupation: Inside Russia’s Telegram battle in Ukraine
Conflict Disinformation Europe & Eurasia Russia

PAST EVENTS

Public Event Wed, June 25, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

New findings: Russian aerial attacks amount to extermination and persecution
Civil Society Conflict Crisis Management Russia
Online Event Tue, June 17, 2025 • 1:00 pm ET

Drones, defense, and diplomacy: Negotiations and the battlefield in Ukraine
Conflict Defense Technologies Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy
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Content

In the News

Feb 14, 2025

Global Sanctions Dashboard cited by the Australian National University on Wagner Group’s profits

Read the full article here

Economic Sanctions Russia

Economic Statecraft Initiative

Feb 14, 2025

Global Sanctions Dashboard cited by RUSI on Wagner’s business model in Syria and Africa

Read the full article here

Economic Sanctions General Africa

Inflection Points

Feb 14, 2025

Dispatch from Munich: Trump has put European history in motion again

By Frederick Kempe

As the annual Munich Security Conference opens, there is a palpable sense that the city might again be a place where history is made.

Europe & Eurasia Germany

UkraineAlert

Feb 13, 2025

Ukrainian drones reportedly knock out 10 percent of Russian refining capacity

By Peter Dickinson

Ukraine’s 2025 campaign of drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure has succeeded in knocking out around one-tenth of Russia’s refining capacity, according to analysis by Reuters, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Technologies

Issue Brief

Feb 13, 2025

To secure Taiwan, the United States must first secure Ukraine

By Brian Kerg

US defense priorities appear to be at a crossroads. Can the United States materially sustain Ukraine in its fight with Russia while preparing for a possible fight with China in defense of Taiwan?

China Conflict

UkraineAlert

Feb 13, 2025

A Putin-friendly peace deal would be disastrous for global security

By Ihor Smeshko

As US President Donald Trump announces the start of negotiations with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, Ihor Smeshko warns that a Putin-friendly compromise peace would have catastrophic consequences for the future of international security.

Conflict International Norms

New Atlanticist

Feb 13, 2025

Europe needs a seat at the table in Ukraine negotiations

By Jörn Fleck, James Batchik

European leaders must quickly make the case to the Trump administration for collaboration in negotiations—and show their willingness to step up.

Conflict European Union

In the News

Feb 13, 2025

Soofer interviewed for USA Today article on Trump’s ‘Iron Dome’

By Atlantic Council

On February 11, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was interviewed for a USA Today article entitled, “Will Trump’s ‘Iron Dome’ missile defense make Americans safer? It’s complicated.” The article quotes Soofer’s response to Trump’s executive order, citing his claim that it is “even more bold, I would suggest, than Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative.”

China Defense Policy

Op-Ed

Feb 13, 2025

Tannebaum in The Kyiv Independent on the potential for economic statecraft measures in the Russia-Ukraine war

By Daniel Tannebaum

Read the full article here

Economic Sanctions Russia

Issue Brief

Feb 13, 2025

Deterring Chinese aggression takes real-time intelligence

By Scott D. Berrier

LTG (R) Scott D. Berrier argues that transforming the Intelligence Communit's early-warning system and attaining real-time awareness is crucial to deterring Chinese aggression.

China East Asia
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