Section: Atlantic Council (USA)
Ukraine’s Crisis is Deeper—and Loans by Its Allies More Critical—Than You May Think
Kyiv Lacks the Money to Accomplish the Aggressive Reforms that Ukrainians and the West Seek The uncertainty around how much—and how soon—Ukraine might get help from international lenders is contributing to two real economic dangers facing the country: a default on its debts and a radical slashing of the budget. Ukraine’s friends—the United...
US, Germany Seek a United Front on Ukraine
Differences over arming Ukrainian security forces could vanish if Minsk talks fail, says Atlantic Council’s Burwell The question of providing defensive weapons to Ukraine’s security forces will dominate the meeting between US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House on February 9. The Obama...
Amid Escalated War, U.S. Weighs Defensive Weapons for Ukraine
France & Germany Use Specter of a Better-Armed Ukraine to Press Putin The Obama administration has announced no decision on whether to help Ukraine use US-made weapons to defend itself against Russian-sponsored attacks. But France and Germany are probing to see whether that threat alone might be enough to push Russian President Vladimir...
Europe Taking Steps to Wean Itself off Russian Gas
European Commission official says supply security one of five goals of new energy union Europe has seized the opportunity provided by the Ukraine crisis to improve its energy security, according to Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy in the European Commission. The annexation of Crimea by Russia in March of 2014, and...
Ukraine Urgently Needs ‘Front-Loaded’ Financial Aid Package, says Ukrainian Finance Minister
Jaresko says money will not have desired effect if ‘dribbled out over 12 or 15 months’ Ukraine urgently requires a “front-loaded” financial package from the International Monetary Fund to help its economy recover from the challenges posed by a recession and a war with Russian-backed separatists, according to Ukrainian Finance Minister...
US Should Provide Arms, Military Aid to Ukraine, Eight Ex-Officials Say
‘We Face a Critical Juncture’ in Halting Russian Aggression in Eastern Europe, Group Says Eight former senior US officials—diplomats, ranking Pentagon and State Department office-holders, military commanders and US appointees to NATO—today urged the Obama administration and its NATO allies to strengthen support for Ukraine by urgently...
US and Europe ‘Face a Critical Juncture in Ukraine’
Send Ukrainians Arms to Defend Against Russian Invasion, Eight Former US Officials Say Eight former senior US officials—diplomats, ranking Pentagon and State Department office-holders, military commanders and US appointees to NATO—today urged the Obama administration and its NATO allies to strengthen support for Ukraine by urgently providing...
Report Calls on US to Provide Lethal Defensive Military Aid to Ukraine
Goal is to make further aggression ‘too costly’ for Russia The United States must provide lethal defensive military assistance to Ukraine’s armed forces to make it “too costly” for Russia to continue meddling in its neighbor, according to a new report. The report, Preserving Ukraine’s Independence, Resisting Russian Aggression:...
EU Sending ‘Wrong Signals’ to Aspiring Members
Moratorium on enlargement seen changing ‘rules of the game’ The European Neighborhood Policy, intended to create a “ring of friends,” has instead created a “ring of fire,” according to a senior Ukrainian official. The European Union needs to overcome inertia against further enlargement or it risks experiencing “more of the same” conflicts...
Ukraine is ‘Bleeding Not Just Blood, But Money’
Kyiv official says US, EU financial support ‘crucial’ Ukraine is “bleeding not just blood, but money” as it fights Russian-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country, according to a top Ukrainian official. Since Russia annexed Crimea in March of 2014, the Ukrainian government has been waging a war against separatists that risks...
