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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.

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War in Ukraine

UkraineAlert Feb 4, 2025

Russia’s war against the West will continue until Putin tastes defeat

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is part of a far larger war against the West. If he succeeds in Ukraine, Putin aims to destroy the existing rules-based world order and usher in a new era dominated by a handful of great powers, writes Andriy Zagorodnyuk.

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War in Ukraine

Inflection Points Feb 21, 2025

The week that shook Europe—and the historic test ahead

By Frederick Kempe

Trump has an opportunity to cement his place in history and preserve the hard-won gains of the post–World War II era. But any perceived or actual sellout to Russia’s despot would leave an indelible stain US global leadership.
Conflict Europe & Eurasia
War in Ukraine

New Atlanticist Feb 20, 2025

What Europeans think of Trump’s approach to Ukraine (and what they might do next)

By Atlantic Council experts

European leaders are waking up to calls from the Trump administration to take the lead on security for Ukraine. Atlantic Council experts share what that might look like from Berlin to Vilnius.
Conflict Europe & Eurasia
War in Ukraine

UkraineAlert Feb 20, 2025

Ukrainians are proudly democratic but resoundingly reject wartime elections

By Peter Dickinson

Ukraine’s fight for democracy has been at the heart of the country’s struggle against the past two decades of escalating Russian aggression, but Ukrainians overwhelmingly reject the idea of staging dangerous wartime elections before peace is secured, writes Peter Dickinson.
Civil Society Conflict
War in Ukraine

Issue Brief Feb 20, 2025

Issue brief: A NATO strategy for countering Russia

By Ian Brzezinski, Ryan Arick

Russia poses the most direct and growing threat to NATO member states’ security. This threat now includes the war in Ukraine, militarization in the Arctic, hybrid warfare, and arms control violations. Despite NATO’s military and economic superiority, a unified and effective strategy is essential to counter Russia’s aggression.
Cybersecurity Defense Technologies
War in Ukraine

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

FEATURED EVENTS

Online Event Fri, February 21, 2025 • 11:00 am ET

War and peace: The state of the battlefield and Trump’s diplomacy in Ukraine

The Eurasia Center discusses the state of the war and the prospects for Trump’s diplomacy to achieve a sustainable peace deal.

Conflict Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Russia

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 Fri, May 16, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Lucian Kim on “Putin’s Revenge” and Russia’s war on Ukraine
Europe & Eurasia Human Rights Politics & Diplomacy Ukraine

PAST EVENTS

Online Event Wed, April 16, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

German Galushchenko on the US role in Ukraine’s energy sector
Conflict Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia Geopolitics & Energy Security
Online Event Mon, April 7, 2025 • 11:00 am ET

Russia reset redux: Business bonanza or bust?
Conflict Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy
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Content

UkraineAlert

Mar 25, 2025

Ukraine’s growing military strength is an underrated factor in peace talks

By Serhii Kuzan

Any discussion on the future course of the war against Russia and the terms of any peace deal must take into account the fact that Ukraine is a now major military power in its own right, writes Serhii Kuzan.

Conflict Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

Mar 25, 2025

Peace requires more than a handshake: Misreading Russia’s war aims will prolong Putin’s aggression

By Zak Schneider

Understanding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ideological motivations for invading Ukraine is essential to negotiating a lasting peace.

Conflict Defense Policy

Report

Mar 24, 2025

Why democracies stick together: The theory and empirics behind alliance formation

By Markus Jaeger

Democratic peace theory holds that democracies do not go to war with each other. The democratic alliance hypothesis suggests democracies prefer alliances with fellow democracies over nondemocratic powers. If both theories hold, US foreign policy should prioritize democratization, as prosperous, democratic nations are less likely to align with authoritarian states.

China Freedom and Prosperity

In the News

Mar 24, 2025

Bayoumi published in Foreign Policy on how US climate policy is a “win” for Russia

On March 24, Imran Bayoumi, associate director of the GeoStrategy Initiative in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, was published in Foreign Policy on changing US climate priorities. He argues that a “U-turn” on climate could benefit US adversaries like Russia.  

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security

In the News

Mar 21, 2025

Soofer featured at NSSA’s SpaceTime event on “Golden Dome for America”

By Atlantic Council

On March 20, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer joined Lt. Gen. Henry “Trey” Obering, USAF (Ret.), and Chris Williams for NSSA’s SpaceTime event, “Golden Dome for America.” The discussion explored the policy, budgetary, and programmatic implications of President Trump’s recent executive order establishing a homeland air and missile defense system.

China Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Mar 20, 2025

Putin is ruthlessly erasing Ukrainian identity in Russian-occupied Ukraine

By Peter Dickinson

Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin is pursuing policies in Russian-occupied Ukraine that almost certainly meet the definition of ethnic cleansing and may qualify as genocide, writes Peter Dickinson.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

Mar 20, 2025

Trump’s energy sector ceasefire could be good news for Putin’s war machine

By David Kirichenko 

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has backed US President Donald Trump's proposal for a partial ceasefire on energy sector attacks, but this may be a strategic step rather than an indication of his readiness to end the invasion of Ukraine, writes David Kirichenko.

Conflict Drones

Fast Thinking

Mar 18, 2025

The real meaning of Putin’s 30-day ‘energy cease-fire’ in Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

Our experts analyze the proposed limited cease-fire that would temporarily halt attacks on energy infrastructure between Russia and Ukraine.

Conflict Crisis Management

UkraineAlert

Mar 18, 2025

Putin backs Trump’s partial ceasefire but insists Ukraine must be disarmed

By Peter Dickinson

Vladimir Putin has backed Donald Trump's call for a partial ceasefire but his insistence on disarming Ukraine reveals his continued determination to complete the conquest of the country, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Disinformation

In the News

Mar 18, 2025

Shanker interviewed about the use of drones in Ukraine on the RealClearPolitics podcast

By Atlantic Council

On March 13, Scowcroft Center nonresident senior fellow Thom Shanker was interviewed by Andrew Walworth on the RealClearPolitics podcast to discuss how the use of drones following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has redefined modern warfare. According to Shanker, “Drones have really redefined the battle plan in Ukraine… Currently, 70% of all deaths and injuries in […]

Conflict Defense Technologies
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