Category: Ukraine

Dispatch from Kyiv: How Ukraine’s incursion into Russia has changed the war

KYIV—This week, the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center took sixteen of its congressional fellows, Senate and House staff members from both parties, on a whirlwind trip to Warsaw and Kyiv. We rode the train from Warsaw to Kyiv overnight and spent two full days meeting with Ukrainian government officials responsible for security, foreign policy, the economy,

There can be no European peace without Ukrainian victory

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has evolved into the largest European war since World War II, but two and a half years on, many are still struggling to grasp exactly what is at stake. Instead, we continue to hear calls for some kind of compromise with the Kremlin, while the international community refuses to hold

Turkey wants to end the war in Ukraine—and might have a formula to do it

As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to drag on, much is uncertain about its eventual end. But one thing that is clear—and that may greatly influence how the war ends and the regional landscape afterward—is Turkey’s critical role in shaping a cease-fire and post-war arrangement. As a major military and diplomatic power committed both to

Putin hopes Belarus border bluff can disrupt Ukraine’s invasion of Russia

Kyiv has this week called on Belarus to withdraw its army from the Ukrainian border and warned of “tragic consequences” if the Belarusian military joins the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The strongly worded August 25 statement from Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs came in response to mounting reports of Belarusian troops concentrating close to the

Ukraine’s EU accession hinges on stronger defense and consolidated reforms

Ukraine officially began accession talks with the European Union on June 25. While these negotiations offer hope for a nation that has long sought more comprehensive integration with European political and economic structures, they will also be qualified by contemporary security and political considerations. To achieve EU accession, Ukraine must strengthen its defense capabilities, execute

Invasion? What invasion? Putin is downplaying Ukraine’s Kursk offensive

In the space of just two weeks, Ukraine has claimed more Russian land than Putin’s army managed to seize in Ukraine since the start of 2024. Kyiv’s bold summer offensive caught the Kremlin completely off-guard and has transformed perceptions of a war that many believed was moving slowly but surely toward an inevitable Russian victory.

Kursk offensive could help free Ukrainians in Russian captivity

In just two weeks, Ukraine’s surprise summer offensive in Russia’s Kursk Oblast has brought more than one thousand square kilometers of Russian land under Kyiv’s control. The ambitious operation has also netted unprecedented numbers of prisoners, with entire groups of Russian soldiers surrendering to the advancing Ukrainians. This is fueling speculation over a potentially major