Section: RAND (USA)
Ukraine Crisis Is a Geopolitical Game Changer
Russia’s aggression abroad and repression at home have altered the basic assumptions of earlier Western policy. By misjudging the tolerance for aggression in Europe, Moscow is bringing on the encirclement it fears. The West is now better prepared to deal with any further aggression and more confident that Ukraine’s future will be as...
For Ukraine, the Battle to Bolster a Crashing Economy Is as Dire as Combat in the East
Ukraine’s struggle to keep afloat economically has been daunting, as its parliament has fallen into disarray and failed to enact major economic reforms. Ukrainian lawmakers could help by dealing better with the national budget but their recent deliberations inspired little public confidence. …read more Source:...
The Next European Flashpoints
The West’s most pressing task is to help Ukraine defend itself and survive economic catastrophe. But the West also needs a broader strategy to discourage future Russian coercion of neighbors, help them protect themselves, and counter President Vladimir Putin’s false narrative about Western intentions and lack of political will....
RAND Experts Discuss the Options for Ukraine
A cease-fire agreement could stop the fighting in Ukraine by Sunday. RAND experts William Courtney and Olga Oliker discuss what was accomplished during the summit in Minsk, whether the U.S. should arm Ukraine, and what other options exist for supporting Ukraine. …read more Source:...
Yes, Russia’s Military Is Getting More Aggressive
As Russia’s relations with the U.S. and Europe have deteriorated following Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine, fly-bys of European neighbors by Russian aircraft have taken on new urgency. How should the West think about these provocative flights in light of understanding Russia’s nuclear threat? …read more Source:...
Rapprochement With Russia?
The ruble’s fragility presents an opportunity for American and European diplomats to offer Putin a deal that de-escalates the war in Ukraine, provides Russia sanctions relief, and revitalizes Moscow’s economic ties with the West. …read more Source:...
How Russia Can Recover from Its Economic and Strategic Decline
Few expect that Moscow will cede Crimea or end its opposition to NATO expansion anytime soon. But Russia can still begin to reverse its strategic decline. Expanding opportunities for Russia’s people, reforming the economy, and improving relations with neighbors are the way forward. …read more Source:...
The Greatest Challenge to U.S.-European Security Cooperation Today: The Ukraine Crisis
Germany and America are leading Western policy in addressing the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The basic strategy is to support Ukraine and pressure Moscow to halt aggression, while leaving the door open to diplomacy. Sustaining Western unity is essential, but may not be easy to achieve. …read more Source:...
Hitting the Pause Button: The ‘Frozen Conflict’ Dilemma in Ukraine
Frozen conflicts describe places where fighting took place and has come to an end, yet no overall political solution, such as a peace treaty, has been reached. Ukraine is likely to host such conflicts for some time, in Crimea and the Donbas region. Georgia’s experience offers lessons for Ukraine. …read more Source:...
The Upside of Lower Oil Prices
Movement toward sharply lower oil prices should be a prominent component of any strategy directed at disabling many of the world’s most disruptive threats: Iran’s nuclear development, ISIS, Hamas attacks on Israel, and Russia’s threat to Ukraine. …read more Source:...
