A growing number of Ukrainians have voiced their support for joining the EU and NATO amid Russia’s all-out war against their country. Given that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stated territorial ambitions stretch beyond Ukraine, international support for a free and democratic Ukraine is not just a matter of charity — it’s an investment in collective values and security. USIP senior advisor and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch discusses Ukraine’s current bid to join the EU and how Ukrainian civil society has managed to mobilize against Russia’s assault on its sovereignty, society and culture.
The Latest @ USIP: Ukraine’s Desire to Join the EU and NATO
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How the ICC’s Warrant for Putin Could Impact the Ukraine War
The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced last Friday that it had issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova. According to a statement issued by the ICC, Putin and Lvova-Belova are alleged to have committed the war crimes of “unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation” beginning in at least February 24, 2022. USIP’s Lauren Baillie, Heather Ashby and Mary Glantz discuss the impacts of these warrants on Putin and on the war in Ukraine.
The Latest @ USIP: NATO’s Strategic Adaptation to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
When Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, NATO was already in the early stages of drafting its 2022 Strategic Concept. The war quickly overshadowed other issues, and NATO quickly adapted its strategic vision to refocus on the alliance’s primary mission of deterrence and collective defense. Kurt Volker, former U.S. ambassador to NATO, discusses how solidarity with Ukraine has united NATO in a way that hasn’t been seen in a long time and examines the threat Russia’s expansionist mindset poses to NATO member states.
What China's 'Peace Plan' Reveals about its Stance on Russia's War on Ukraine
Despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — which marks a clear violation of international law — Moscow has enjoyed support from a number of countries. Foremost among these is China. Over the last year, Beijing has not supported Russia in U.N. votes, has refrained from providing Russia with weapons, and has publicly proclaimed neutrality. But China has also refused to condemn the invasion, often repeated the Kremlin’s talking points about the war, opposed sanctions against Russia and helped prop up its economy. On the anniversary of the invasion, China released what it had previewed as a peace plan, which really amounted to a statement of principles reflecting Beijing’s longstanding talking points about the war.
Ambassador William Taylor on the Anniversary of Russia’s War on Ukraine
A year into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it’s clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a strategic blunder. But any deal to end the conflict must uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, says USIP’s Ambassador William Taylor: “The Russian military needs to leave. That’s got to be the key part of any peace proposal.”