It’s only the third week of February. But what with Ukraine begging for more ammunition and its Western supporters struggling to supply it, the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison, and a gloomy meeting of world leaders at the Munich Security Conference, it already seems like it’s been a long year. The second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24 adds to the somber mood.
In this second edition of the new monthly newsletter produced by Brookings’ Center on the United States and Europe (CUSE), I want to draw your attention to three special efforts around the anniversary.
A group of Brookings scholars have debated the thorniest questions surrounding aid for Ukraine in a Q&A debate, and will dig deeper in a virtual debate on Friday, February 23.
A deeply moving, rich, and personal essay by Mariana Budjeryn considers the arc of history from Ukraine’s Orange Revolution in 2004 via the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 to the present day.
And Michael E. O’Hanlon, director of Brookings’ Strobe Talbott Center on Security, Strategy, and Technology, presents the latest iteration of our Ukraine Index with fresh commentary and data.
For those suffering from whiplash (like me) because of the twists and turns of congressional drama over extending aid for Ukraine at a crucial point for the beleaguered country’s ability to defend itself against its Russian invaders, Steven Pifer explains it all. As Alexei Navalny’s widow Yulia takes up the torch from her husband, Angela Stent commemorates Russia’s most courageous opposition leader. If you were struck by Ohio Senator J.D. Vance’s exhortations to Europeans to stand on their own two feet in defense, you will find Tara Varma’s Senate testimony on the roots of the U.S.-European military alliance worth reading.
Finally, in a webinar with the Centre for European Reform on March 12, we will look at the past decade of European defense and security and lessons to be learned to ensure safety on the continent for the next 10 years.
We hope you find our newsletter a useful resource.
Sincerely,
Constanze Stelzenmüller Director, Center on the United States and Europe The Brookings Institution
This week marks the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. With further U.S. aid at risk, a group of Brookings scholars debate the tough questions Western governments face with policies toward Ukraine.
In an explainer, Steven Pifer breaks down why it has been so difficult for Congress to reach an agreement and what is at stake if a funding bill fails to pass.
In a personal essay for the 10th anniversary of Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity, which led to Russian reprisals from the annexation of Crimea to the 2022 full-scale invasion, Mariana Budjeryn reflects on the country's political upheavals since independence and its long fight for freedom.
Following the death of Alexei Navalny in prison on February 16, Angela Stent writes about the life and legacy of the Russian anti-corruption activist and opposition leader. Stent warns of a potential crackdown ahead of Russia’s presidential elections in March.
Despite facing significant obstacles in the months ahead, there is plenty to be optimistic about in Ukraine, Michael O'Hanlon argues in a Washington Post opinion piece. Ukrainian defense remains strong, exports via the Black Sea have dramatically increased, and foreign assistance from Europe will allow Ukraine to persevere.
For more data on the war in Ukraine, explore the Ukraine Index. This dataset provides valuable insights on security and battlefield trends, tracks the health of the Ukrainian economy and other financial indicators, and looks at international political dimensions, including public opinion and refugee flows.
On March 12, CUSE and the Centre for European Reform (CER) will convene a virtual discussion to examine tough questions around European defense. The panelists are alumni of the Clara Marina O’Donnell Fellowship at CER, which honors an expert at both organizations who passed away in 2014 at the age of 30.
Russia’s role in the Israel-Gaza crisis. In Brookings' Israel-Gaza interview series, Fiona Hill discusses Russia’s role in the crisis. Walking through the history of Russia's relationship with Israel, Hill argues that Moscow's approach has changed over time and that the attacks on October 7 marked a decisive shift.
The United States, NATO, and Ukraine.On January 31, Tara Varma testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation on the relationship between the U.S. and its NATO allies ahead of the 75th NATO summit in Washington this summer.
Day one dictator? Leaning on her personal experience of living under authoritarianism in Turkey, Aslı Aydıntaşbaş argues in Politico Magazine that a Trump dictatorship is not as imminent as people may think.
Germany protest. In the Financial Times,Constanze Stelzenmüller praises Germany’s new mobilization against the far right but warns that fragmentation threatens to turn the country’s politics on their head in a critical election year.
The mission of Brookings's Center on the United States and Europe (CUSE) is to offer independent research and recommendations for policymakers, foster high-level dialogue on developments in Europe and global challenges that affect trans-Atlantic relations, and convene roundtables, workshops, and public forums on policy-relevant issues.
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