Alexander J. Motyl

Politics & Society Jul 16, 2018 Snapshot

Ukraine's Promising Path to Reform

Contrary to Western narratives focused on its corruption problem, Ukraine has set itself on a firm and successful pro-Western, pro-reform course that is probably...

Adrian Karatnycky and Alexander J. Motyl

The Ukrainian Parliament building in central Kiev, March 2016.

Law & Institutions May 29, 2018 Snapshot

How Western Anticorruption Policy Is Failing Ukraine

Instead of acknowledging the significant degree to which Ukraine has changed for the better, Western-backed approaches misrepresent ongoing reforms as woefully...

Adrian Karatnycky and Alexander J. Motyl

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko addresses lawmakers during a parliamentary session in Kiev, Ukraine, April 2018.

Trump Administration Feb 1, 2017 Snapshot

Trump and Putin's Game Theory

A rational Trump could never believe that Putin will stick to his word, just as a rational Putin could not believe that Trump would stick to his.

Alexander J. Motyl

People protest against U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as electors gather to cast their votes for U.S. president at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. December 19, 2016.

Ukraine Sep 25, 2016 Snapshot

Ukraine's Next 25 Years

As Ukrainians celebrate the 25th anniversary of their independence this year, they would do well to remember that the next 25 years will be far more important—and...

Alexander J. Motyl

Ukraine Aug 4, 2016 Snapshot

National Memory in Ukraine

In fact, what all other states take for granted—a national history—is something that the Ukrainians have had the opportunity to develop only since attaining...

Alexander J. Motyl

Activists of far-right and nationalist groups attempt to damage a monument to 'chekists', officers of all-Russian extraordinary commission for combating counter-revolution and sabotage which was a Soviet state security organization, in Kiev, Ukraine, Apri

Ukraine Apr 5, 2016 Snapshot

A Grand Strategy for Ukraine

Ukraine needs a grand strategy—a set of overarching and realistic goals to serve as a road map for its geopolitical, economic, and cultural development in the next 20...

Alexander J. Motyl

Members of Ukraine's National Guard stand in line during the opening ceremony of a sniper's training center at the Guard's training base near Kiev, Ukraine, March 18, 2016.

Russian Federation Jan 27, 2016 Snapshot

Lights Out for the Putin Regime

Russia is on the edge of a perfect storm, as destabilizing forces converge. Under conditions such as these, mass disturbances are highly probable. Revolutions, palace...

Alexander J. Motyl

A sculpture of a double-headed eagle, a national symbol of Russia, is seen in front of a Russian national flag flying at half-mast on the roof of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia November 1, 2015.

Ukraine Nov 22, 2015 Snapshot

When Ukraine Lost Donetsk

If the leader of the self-styled Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) has anything to say about it, the current cease-fire in eastern Ukraine will never translate into...

Alexander J. Motyl

Flags of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic are seen in front of the Liberators of Donbass war memorial in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, October 25, 2014.

Democratization Apr 28, 2015 Snapshot

Kiev's Purge

Kiev's controversial new legislation to rid the country of its dark Soviet past may just be what Ukraine needs.

Alexander J. Motyl

War & Military Strategy Feb 10, 2015 Snapshot

The West Should Arm Ukraine

If and when Russia becomes friendly toward the West, Ukraine’s strategic importance will fade. Until then, defending Ukraine’s interests—security, stability,...

Alexander J. Motyl

People look at the remains of a rocket shell in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, February 10, 2015.

Russia & FSU Feb 5, 2015 Snapshot

Goodbye, Putin

The longer the Russian war against Ukraine continues, the more likely it is that President Vladimir Putin’s regime will collapse.

Alexander J. Motyl

Political Development Nov 16, 2014 Snapshot

The Sources of Russian Conduct

As the West searches for an adequate policy response to Putin’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine, Western policymakers would do well to reread George F. Kennan’s famous ...

Alexander J. Motyl

An onlooker waves a Russian flag during a military parade in Belgrade to mark 70 years since the city's liberation by Russia.

War & Military Strategy Sep 1, 2014 Snapshot

Putin's Trap

If Ukraine does manage to pacify the Donbas, it will be saddled with a devastated, unstable, and permanently insecure rust belt that will continue to do what it has...

Alexander J. Motyl

Figurines of former pro-Russian separatist commander Igor Strelkov from the collection entitled

War & Military Strategy Jul 17, 2014 Snapshot

War Comes to Ukraine

This week saw a major escalation of Russian military involvement in Ukraine, which, until yesterday, had gone relatively unremarked in Western media. But now, no...

Alexander J. Motyl

The site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash is seen near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region.

War & Military Strategy Mar 18, 2014 Postscript

Is Putin Rational?

To deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the West has to assume that he is rational and will respond to carrots and sticks. Accordingly, it should take him up on...

Alexander J. Motyl

Economic Development Mar 10, 2014 Snapshot

Is Losing Crimea a Loss?

It is time to imagine what once seemed impossible: In addition to Crimea, Putin attempts to annex the other southeastern Ukrainian provinces that are generally...

Alexander J. Motyl

Miners walk along a railway at Panfilovskaya mine in the Donetsk region, 1998.

Political Development Mar 1, 2014 Snapshot

Putin's Play

Destroying or dismembering Ukraine serves no country’s interests, least of all Russia’s. After all, it is in Russia’s best interest to have a stable, prosperous, and...

Alexander J. Motyl

A Russian army vehicle outside a Ukrainian border guard post in the Crimean town of Balaclava, March 1, 2014.

Politics & Society Dec 11, 2013 Postscript

Yanukovych Must Go

The demonstrators’ slogan that “Ukraine is Europe!” signifies much more than a desire to join the EU. For them, as for most Ukrainians, Europe is a symbol of democracy...

Alexander J. Motyl

Economics Nov 7, 2013 Snapshot

Yanukovych's Choice

Later this month, Ukraine will decide whether to sign an association agreement with the EU, boosting political and trade ties, security cooperation, and cultural...

Alexander J. Motyl

Political Development Oct 23, 2012 Snapshot

Five More Years of Yanukovych

Just about everyone expects the October 28 election to result in a victory for the ruling Party of Regions. The result will be a further erosion of democracy, greater...

Alexander J. Motyl and Rajan Menon