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Commentary
One Year After Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Experts React
We asked nearly 30 RAND experts to highlight takeaways from the first year of Russia's all-out war—and share what they're watching as the conflict in Ukraine grinds on. Here's what they said.
Feb 20, 2023
Commentary
Support to Ukraine Continues to Be for America First
Why should the United States spend tens of billions of dollars on a war half a world away? Because it's in America's economic and strategic interests.
Feb 15, 2023

Explore Ukraine

Report
European Relations with Russia in the Wake of the Ukrainian Crisis
Perceptions of Russia as a military threat differ sharply across Europe. But European leaders generally agree that relations with Russia have changed irreparably, tensions are unlikely to recede anytime soon, and future actions toward Russia will depend on Moscow's behavior.
Apr 13, 2017
Report
How Are European Countries Vulnerable to Russia?
Russia's aggression against Ukraine has highlighted potential threats to NATO and the EU. But European countries differ in how susceptible they are to possible Russian actions.
Jan 18, 2017
Commentary
Can Trump Really Do Deals with Putin?
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.
Nov 21, 2016
Commentary
Righting Relations With Russia
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.
Oct 31, 2016
Commentary
What Ukraine Urgently Needs to Defend Itself
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.
Oct 16, 2016
News Release
Ukraine's Security Sector Needs Substantial Reform
An assessment of Ukraine's security sector determines what different institutions need to do and where gaps exist. Roles and responsibilities need to be clarified, and coordination is needed among individual ministries and agencies.
Oct 5, 2016
Report
Security Sector Reform in Ukraine
The 2014 Maidan revolution created an opportunity for change in a system that had resisted it for 25 years. The Ukrainian security establishment has progressed since then, but its efforts have been insufficient to address the threats now facing the nation.
Oct 5, 2016
Q&A
Russia's Determination to Revise the Post-Cold War Order
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.
Sep 30, 2016
Commentary
The West Must Do Far More to Keep Putin at Bay
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.
Aug 27, 2016
Commentary
The Growing Importance of Black Sea Security
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.
Jul 11, 2016
Commentary
Putin Is Trying to Bully Europe into Dropping Sanctions
Seeking relief from Western sanctions, the Kremlin is waging a campaign of public distortion and intimidation to split Europe from America, and Europeans from each other. But many of its tactics are clumsy and self-defeating.
Jun 11, 2016
Commentary
Russia's Great Power Choice
The Donbas occupation is straining Russia's economy, world power status, and relationship with the West. Only by pulling out of eastern Ukraine and reforming its economy can Russia gain broader acceptance and reach its potential as a great power.
Jun 1, 2016
Commentary
How Russia Undermines Nuclear Security
Russian aggression in Ukraine and nuclear saber rattling are jeopardizing the very global nonproliferation efforts that this week's Nuclear Security Summit in Washington seeks to further. Moscow's actions deserve a stronger response than they have received.
Apr 1, 2016
Commentary
The Tide Is Going Out on Putin
Russia is losing ground in domestic politics, economics, and foreign policy. It could take steps to strengthen its position, such as withdrawing from Ukraine, privatizing inefficient state enterprises, and improving the investment climate.
Jan 25, 2016
Commentary
The West Needs to Take a Tougher Line with Putin
By responding more robustly to Russia's interventions, the West could reduce military asymmetries in Ukraine and Syria and improve prospects for negotiated outcomes.
Nov 1, 2015
Report
What Explains Russia's Annexation of Crimea?
Russia's attitude toward Ukraine is consistent with historical Russian (and Soviet) thinking about security interests and foreign policy. But these patterns are only a starting point for understanding recent events.
Sep 22, 2015
Essay
Interdependence Day: Contending with a New Global Order
A team of RAND experts took a sober look at the threats facing the United States and developed a playbook of strategies to address them.
Aug 21, 2015
Commentary
Will Putin Gamble All on a Broader Ukraine Invasion?
If the Kremlin is contemplating further action in Ukraine, it faces a tough choice. The decision could have an enduring impact on Russia's fortunes.
May 26, 2015
Commentary
Putin: Eyes Wide Shut
The Russia that the United States faces today is more assertive and more unpredictable—and thus, in many ways, more dangerous—than the Russia that the U.S. confronted during the latter part of the Cold War.
Apr 20, 2015
Commentary
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 part of an enlarged Europe.
Apr 17, 2015

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Khrystyna Holynska

Assistant Policy Researcher, RAND, and Ph.D. Student, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Khrystyna Holynska is a Ph.D. student in the Research, Analysis, and Design stream at the Pardee RAND Graduate School and an assistant policy researcher at RAND. Her research interests include foreign, defense, security policy, Ukraine, Russia, and Eastern Europe.
John Tefft

Adjunct Senior Fellow

John F. Tefft is an adjunct senior fellow at the RAND Corporation and retired United States diplomat. He was a career Foreign Service officer for more than 45 years, completing his service as the U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation from 2014 to 2017. He earlier served as the U.S.…

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