-
1 week ago | 
atlanticcouncil.org | Peter Malcolm Dickinson
As Germany’s next chancellor Friedrich Merz prepares to boost support for Ukraine, the Kremlin is already seeking to deter him with intimidation tactics. Merz’s response to Moscow’s threats will reveal much about his ability to lead Europe at a time when the continent is attempting to confront the challenging new geopolitical realities of an expansionist Russia and an isolationist United States.
-
1 week ago | 
atlanticcouncil.org | Peter Malcolm Dickinson
Ever since the first months of Russia’s full-scale invasion in spring 2022, Kyiv has played host to a steady stream of visiting European officials eager to demonstrate their support for Ukraine. With the war now in its fourth year, there are growing signs that this relationship is evolving and becoming more balanced. While Kyiv continues to rely on European aid, it is increasingly clear that Ukraine also has much to offer and can play a major part in the future security of Europe.
-
1 week ago | 
atlanticcouncil.org | Peter Malcolm Dickinson
As Ukrainians made their way to church on the morning of April 13 to attend Palm Sunday services, two Russian ballistic missiles struck the city center in Sumy, killing at least 35 people and wounding more than 100. This Palm Sunday bombardment was the deadliest Russian attack so far this year. It was part of an escalating recent trend of Russian airstrikes targeting Ukrainian civilians that is casting doubt over the viability of US-led peace talks initiated by President Trump.
-
2 weeks ago | 
atlanticcouncil.org | Serhii Kuzan |Peter Malcolm Dickinson |Alyona Getmanchuk
In recent months, international media coverage of Russia’s Ukraine invasion has focused primarily on the Trump administration’s efforts to end the fighting and broker a peace deal. But even as negotiations get tentatively underway, Russia continues to bomb Ukraine’s civilian population on a daily basis. Regular missile and drone attacks represent only a small portion of the crimes Russia stands accused of committing in Ukraine.
-
2 weeks ago | 
atlanticcouncil.org | Peter Malcolm Dickinson
Thousands of Lithuanians paid tribute this week to four United States soldiers who died during a training exercise while serving in the Baltic nation. Crowds lined the streets of Vilnius as hearses carrying the bodies of the deceased soldiers made their way to the Lithuanian capital city’s main cathedral for a memorial service before being flown to the United States.
-
3 weeks ago | 
atlanticcouncil.org | Peter Malcolm Dickinson
Recent efforts to establish a “coalition of the willing” to help enforce a potential peace deal in Ukraine are very welcome, even if it still remains unclear exactly what participating countries are actually “willing” to do. The good news is that talks on the issue appear to be advancing steadily from the purely theoretical level toward more practical military matters.
-
3 weeks ago | 
atlanticcouncil.org | Serhii Kuzan |Doug Klain |Peter Malcolm Dickinson
As the new United States administration seeks to transform the country’s foreign policy, one of President Trump’s top priorities is a peace agreement to end the Russian war in Ukraine. However, there is a very real danger that the US leader’s eagerness to strike a deal with Vladimir Putin could lead to a flawed settlement that will undermine the foundations of international security for many years to come.
-
3 weeks ago | 
atlanticcouncil.org | Serhii Kuzan |Doug Klain |Peter Malcolm Dickinson
A bipartisan group of United States senators have recently called on the Trump administration to consider handing Ukraine over $300 billion in frozen Russian assets. In a March 21 letter addressed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, senior Republicans including Lindsey Graham joined their Democrat colleagues in pressing for the frozen funds to be allocated to the Ukrainian war effort.
-
4 weeks ago | 
atlanticcouncil.org | David Kirichenko |Serhii Kuzan |Doug Klain |Peter Malcolm Dickinson
A United Nations probe has concluded that Russia is guilty of committing crimes against humanity in the occupied regions of Ukraine. The investigation focused on the Kremlin’s large-scale program of detentions and deportations targeting Ukrainian civilians living under Russian occupation, and confirms earlier reports regarding the terror tactics being employed by Putin’s invasion force.
-
4 weeks ago | 
atlanticcouncil.org | Serhii Kuzan |Peter Malcolm Dickinson |David Kirichenko
For months, US President Donald Trump and allies such as Senator Lindsey Graham have stated that if Russian President Vladimir Putin rejects peace efforts, the United States will impose new sanctions to bring Russia to the negotiating table. So far, however, the Kremlin has refused to join Ukraine in accepting a US-proposed ceasefire. Instead, Putin has this week demanded sanctions relief in exchange for a limited maritime ceasefire that favors Russia.
