On August 15th, the American and Russian presidents will meet in Alaska to discuss the future of Ukraine—without Ukrainians, or even Europeans, in the room. Quick results are unlikely, and in any case, Europeans still have the cards to shape them
Russia will likely try to keep the Iranian regime weak and out of Western reach, hoping to exploit any deal for its own gains
In the past week Ukraine has launched three surprise attacks on Russian military assets inside the country and in occupied Crimea. Ukraine’s allies in Europe should seize the momentum to compel Putin to come to the negotiating table
The second meeting between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul has shown that a settlement is a distant prospect. To strengthen Ukraine’s hand in future talks, Europeans have a three-fold task
Europeans should shape an approach and agree rules appropriate to the need to support emergency reconstruction in Ukraine
When Russian military leaders are thought to oppose government policy, the Russian public appear to give them a sympathetic hearing
The US is retreating from its history of shared threat recognition and multilateral engagement with Europe. Now the EU must confront Russia’s intensifying hybrid aggression alone—while bolstering its own resilience
With the US and China disengaged from climate diplomacy, Europeans must step forward to fill the gap
The EU may need to deploy a peacekeeping force to Ukraine. However, without urgent regulatory changes, its member states are unprepared for the risks of direct confrontation with Russia
Despite recent ceasefire talks, Putin’s programme of terror in Ukraine continued with a Palm Sunday attack on Sumy. Europeans need to maintain a “wartime mindset” and persuade the US that Russia’s hostility is not at an end