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Ukraine

International Diplomacy
commentary
Summit Gives Biden Chance to Nudge Post-Soviet States Toward Democracy
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Kenneth Yalowitz
Sep 20, 2021
The Hill
President Biden is likely to invite the thriving Baltic countries to his “summit for democracy” in December. But he might also invite four mid-tier post-Soviet states: Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine—imperfect democracies all. By both praising and nudging this latter set, Biden could give his agenda more meaning.
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Natural Gas
commentary
Depoliticizing Russian Gas in Europe
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Richard Kauzlarich
Jun 11, 2021
The Moscow Times
At their June 16 Summit in Geneva, Presidents Biden and Putin might consider how to reduce the sharp tensions over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. Cooperation among governments and companies may offer potential.
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Russia
commentary
Will Russia's Risk-Aversion Keep It Away from Ukraine?
William Courtney @courtneywmh
Apr 28, 2021
RealClearWorld
Russia could blunder in Ukraine as Soviet rulers did in Afghanistan. Unlike then, however, a new Russian thrust into Ukraine could lead to early, heavy casualties. This could quickly bring home to the Kremlin the political costs of any incursion.
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commentary
How Can the United States Support Democracies in the Former USSR?
Kenneth Yalowitz, William Courtney @courtneywmh
Sep 16, 2019
The National Interest
The West has only modest capacity to influence circumstances in most post-Soviet countries. In Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Moldova, however, the West has the potential to make a real difference by supporting civil society and improved governance.
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Ukraine
commentary
Book Review: Ukraine and the Art of Strategy by Lawrence Freedman
Samuel Charap @scharap
Apr 16, 2019
Foreign Affairs
The crisis in Ukraine has proved a watershed moment for Russia's relations with the West. In Ukraine and the Art of Strategy, Lawrence Freedman presents a brief history of the conflict and analyzes it in the context of strategic theory.
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commentary
Democratic Bright Spots in the South Caucasus
Denis Corboy, William Courtney @courtneywmh, Kenneth Yalowitz
Jan 23, 2019
The National Interest
Democratic bright spots are emerging in Armenia and Georgia despite their being wedged between less-than-democratic regional powers. Both countries seek to consolidate democratic gains and overcome poverty while managing daunting challenges from Russia and separatist conflicts. While pursuing these priorities, the countries deserve continued, strong Western support.
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Russia
commentary
No Russian Let-Up on Ukraine
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Bradley Martin
Dec 7, 2018
Fox News Channel
Moscow's seizure of Crimea and war in eastern Ukraine have led the West to sanction Russians and expand aid to Ukraine, and NATO to shift land and air forces eastward. Expanded Russian coercion may draw more NATO naval power closer to Russia’s shores and lead to tougher sanctions.
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Russia
commentary
Russia's Wars and Trump
Colin P. Clarke, William Courtney @courtneywmh
Jul 11, 2018
The Hill
At the July 16 summit in Helsinki, President Trump might stress that the West will persist in imposing costs on Russia for current and any future malign interventions. At the same time, he could offer to work with Putin in the search for peace in Syria and Ukraine if Moscow were to decide to withdraw its forces.
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Russia
commentary
Russia in Action, Short of War
Bruce McClintock @BHMcClintock, Andrew Radin @andrewmradin
May 9, 2017
U.S. News & World Report
The West needs to work more quickly and coordinate better to offset Russia's capabilities, aggressiveness, and success. Responding to Russia's hostile influence involves predicting Russia's targets, identifying the tools it's likely to use, and playing the long game rather than focusing on near-term events.
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Ukraine
commentary
The Ukraine Crisis: Why Everyone Loses
Samuel Charap @scharap, Timothy J. Colton
Apr 19, 2017
Russia Matters
The Ukraine conflict has left every major actor involved worse off than it was before, and a resolution seems as elusive as ever. An inclusive dialogue on the regional order could be the first step toward defusing the conflict.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Can Trump Really Do Deals with Vladimir Putin?
Colin P. Clarke, William Courtney @courtneywmh
Nov 21, 2016
Newsweek
Russia is a declining economic power whose foreign policy has led to isolation and criticism. But Putin may have an inflated sense of Russia's importance and expect one-sided U.S. concessions. If so, diplomacy could run into headwinds early in the Trump administration.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Righting Relations With Russia
William Courtney @courtneywmh
Oct 31, 2016
U.S. News & World Report
Russia's current anti-Western stridency coincides with rising internal repression. That may limit what the next U.S. president can do to improve relations.
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Ukraine
commentary
What Ukraine Urgently Needs to Defend Itself
Andrew Radin @andrewmradin, Lynn E. Davis
Oct 16, 2016
Newsweek
Many think that the United States should do more to help Ukraine defend itself. Analysis points to the potential of U.S. support for fundamental reform of Ukraine's security sector.
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Russia
q&a
Russia's Determination to Revise the Post-Cold War Order
Christopher S. Chivvis
Sep 30, 2016
The Cipher Brief
As long as political will for military measures to contain and deter Russian aggression remains limited, sustaining sanctions against Russia remains the only option to deal with a nation that is determined to revise the post-Cold War political and economic settlement in Europe in its favor.
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Russia
commentary
The West Must Do Far More to Keep Putin at Bay
William Courtney @courtneywmh, David A. Shlapak
Aug 27, 2016
Newsweek
Russia is more willing than the West to use military power, even though it has less of it. The West should reconsider whether its efforts to deter Russian military interference are enough.
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Russia
commentary
The Growing Importance of Black Sea Security
F. Stephen Larrabee, Stephen J. Flanagan
Jul 11, 2016
U.S. News & World Report
The U.S. and NATO response to Russia's more assertive policy in Europe since 2014 has focused heavily on deterring possible Russian threats to the Baltic region. As allies take steps to strengthen defense of the Baltic region, they need to pay increased attention to enhancing security and deterrence in the Black Sea area.
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