Dr Alina Polyakova

NATO's evolution is crucial to discuss in the changing nature of global threats today. @apolyakova.bsky.social testifies in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on US-Europe security cooperation ahead of the 2025 NATO Summit.

cepa.org/article/nato...

CEPA is at the #NATOSummit2025! CEPA experts, including Jason Israel, are attending the NATO Summit to participate in critical discussions on global security and transatlantic cooperation.

"This is a historic opportunity for the US to show why it is the indispensable NATO ally as European members commit to doing more, the US shouldn’t do less." @apolyakova.bsky.social

NATO SUMMIT 2025: AN ASSESSMENT OF TRANSATLANTIC SECURITY COOPERATION | United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Full Committee Hearing on Wednesday, June 18th, 2025 IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING BUSINESS MEETING

NATO's evolution is crucial to discuss in the changing nature of global threats today. @apolyakova.bsky.social testifies in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on US-Europe security cooperation ahead of the 2025 NATO Summit.

US Offers Europe a Warmer Embrace United States Vice President J.D. Vance's reassurance of strong US-Europe ties signals a shift in US policy on Russia.

“Taken together, these remarks and actions from the US should give the Europeans and Ukrainians reasons for optimism. And perhaps more importantly, an opportunity to learn a few important lessons.” @apolyakova.bsky.social

Amb. Georgette Mosbacher on NATO’s Eastern Flank Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher joins CEPA to discuss Poland, NATO, and the transatlantic alliance amid rising geopolitical threats.

Improving connectivity and boosting economic development around NATO’s Eastern Flank is imperative to long-term security guarantees. Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher and @apolyakova.bsky.social discuss how the Three Seas Initiative will make this a reality. cepa.org/podcast/amb-...

Amb. Mark Gitenstein & EU-US Ties Ambassador Mark Gitenstein joins Alina Polyakova on CEPA’s new podcast to discuss the importance of EU-US ties.

The transatlantic alliance must strengthen cooperation in the face of rising authoritarianism. @apolyakova.bsky.social & Ambassador Mark Gitenstein explore Romania’s role in NATO and EU-US relations. cepa.org/podcast/amb-...

Podcasts Tune into podcasts from the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) featuring unique guests and dynamic discussions.

I am delighted to announce The @cepa.org Podcast is live! Episodes feature strong transatlantic voices such as former Ambassadors Georgette Mosbacher & Mark Gitenstein, and MSC Vice-Chair Franke Benedikt. Tune in now!

Trump Blames Zelensky as Ukraine Peace Talks Stumble After the Ukrainian leader criticized President Trump’s proposed peace plan, U.S. officials again threatened to walk away from negotiations.

“Without any real pressure, the Russians are not budging and playing for time, and they are getting what they want: a US that is so frustrated with the negotiations that they seem to just want Ukraine to say yes to accepting Russia’s maximalist demands.” @apolyakova.bsky.social

How to Win: A Seven-Point Plan for Sustainable Peace in Ukraine CEPA's International Leadership Council outlines seven priorities for US and EU policymakers to achieve sustainable peace in Ukraine.

As SecDef said, Europe needs to lead in securing Ukraine with a deterrence force to enforce any negotiation, but sans a US backstop, deterrence will fail as it did in 2022. @cepa.org's peace plan lays out the steps needed for sustainable, not temporary, peace.

#7. European allies must make consistent and as rapid as possible progress toward Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

#6. Increase investment in Ukraine’s defense industrial production — as well as their own — and leverage those partnerships to learn critical lessons from this new frontier of warfare.

#4. Set conditions that ensure a secure future for Europe, most importantly including the participation of Ukraine and Europe in peace talks.

#5. The United States should support a European-led coalition of the willing to enforce the ceasefire line with an international force.

#3. Increase sanctions on Russian financial institutions and energy sector entities, release frozen Russian assets to support Ukrainian defense and reconstruction, and enact secondary sanctions to intensify economic pressure not only on Russia but also on China, Iran, and North Korea.

#1: Get more leverage on Russia through maximum pressure.

#2. Provide immediate materiel support to Ukraine without caveats, aiming to wear down Russia’s military and thereby improve Ukraine’s negotiating position.

This important and timely initiative gets at the heard of the challenge - how to ensure that the US and Allies enter any negotiation from a position of strength.

How to Win: A Seven-Point Plan for Sustainable Peace in Ukraine CEPA's International Leadership Council outlines seven priorities for US and EU policymakers to achieve sustainable peace in Ukraine.

As discussions at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) kick off this week, @cepa.org high-level advisory group co-chaired by Gen. H.R. McMaster and Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer advances a 7 point peace plan for Ukraine.

Denmark to spend €2bn on Arctic security as Trump threatens Greenland Copenhagen is boosting its military spending and holding talks with European allies as Trump ramps up his expansionist rhetoric. #EuropeNews

It’s good to see Europe ramping up on defense with a focus on the Arctic, a region of increasing contention.

"We need more leverage to force the Russians to the negotiating table, but that really starts with providing more weapons to Ukraine...to make this war even more unsustainable for the Russians," @apolyakova.bsky.social goes on The World to discuss what's needed to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump tells Putin to reach Ukraine ‘deal’ soon or US will increase sanctions US president says Washington could impose more trade restrictions on Moscow

Glad to see POTUS take up a maximum pressure strategy to compel Russia to the negotiating table - a position of strength is the only way to get to sustainable peace.

CEPA Launches New Initiative on Russia’s Shadow War CEPA launches a landmark initiative to combat Russian hybrid attacks against the transatlantic alliance across all domains.

CEPA just launched an important new initiative to develop a strategy for defending, denying, and deterring Russia’s shadow war against the Alliance.

Europe is under attack from Russia. Why isn’t it fighting back? Western countries have shied away from reacting to Kremlin acts of sabotage and terror.

Russia is executing a shadow war against NATO, and Europe, in particular, does not have the tools to deter this hybrid aggression.

Sea Change: Nordic-Baltic Security in a New Era Prompted by Russia’s war in Ukraine, the countries of the Nordic and Baltic Sea region are belatedly building coherent security architecture.

For more insight and recommendations, I would highly recommend this readout that CEPA published in 2023.

NATO launches Baltic patrol mission, eyes standard for detaining ships The operation, dubbed “Baltic Sentry,” will dispatch national contributions as well as joint assets to the strategically located body of water.

NATO launched a Baltic patrol mission - glad to see the Alliance take up a core recommendation from @cepa.org 2023 study that called on the alliance do just that. Baltic Sea security is core to NATO’s ability to defend and deter Russia.

EU ready to take lead on Ukraine if US no longer willing, says Kallas Kaja Kallas said she hoped the United States would continue backing Kyiv.

Thank you to @kajakallas.bsky.social for her sharp vision and clarity - Europe's future and that of the US alliance structure rests on ensuring a sustainable peace in Ukraine.

Lithuania: A Baltic Perspective On European Security In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Gabrielius Landsbergis discuss the Baltic nation of Lithuania.

I highly recommend listening to Gabrielius Landsbergis, CEPA's 2024 Transatlantic Leadership Award winner, & H.R. McMaster, Co-chair of CEPA’s International Leadership Council, discuss the future of Europe, the threat of authoritarianism, and support for Ukraine.

EU must not be 'weak and defeatist' to gain Trump's respect: Macron The European Union came out of the first Trump presidency stronger and must continue to become more independent, the French president told his top diplomats. #EuropeNews

Not helpful for core US allies to talk about "shameful” dependencies on the US tech during a time when the US & Europe have to work more closely than ever to outcompete China — working with US tech companies is an asset for Europe that can’t compete alone.

Biden’s Final Global Chip Controls Target China — and Allies President Biden’s team is racing to kneecap China’s AI industry. But its final chip control gambit risks doing the opposite.

US allies are key to combating the China challenge, especially on AI. Good read from @mattheweitel.bsky.social on why the Biden admin’s final export controls “Framework” risks unintended consequences for US diplomacy and industry.

The Weakest Link: Britain While Europe needs a security anchor, London squirms. British politicians and generals love talking about their country’s leadership in Europe

While other NATO allies are investing in defense and security, Britain is falling behind. @edwardlucas.bsky.social highlights the British goal for the Eastern front to block any attacks from Russia, but the UK must stand firm against Europe’s aggressor.

"Finally, Task Eight is to reestablish trust and partnership between Europe and the “global middle ground” to present a more united front against Russia now, and potentially against China in the future."