Browse our Great Decisions topic resources and share your own with [email protected].
P180174-ca39eccd-ea67-4bd8-b537-ff73a675a0a8.pdf
Ukraine Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment – The best single document for reconstruction scaleExplores how the Russia–Ukraine war is reshaping modern warfare and redefining European security. The lecture connects battlefield developments to broader strategic questions about NATO, deterrence, and the future of conflict.
Group video: U.S. Army War CollegeProvides key narrative elements about how and why Russia’s leadership chose invasion.
Putin’s Road to War — FRONTLINEA clear, visual way to see who is supporting Ukraine and how — great for understanding alliance behavior, burden-sharing, and trends over time.
Ukraine Support Tracker (Kiel Institute)Detailed event data on conflict incidents, troop movements, and violence patterns.
ACLED — Ukraine DashboardDaily and weekly maps plus text analysis on operational developments.
Institute for the Study of War (ISW) — Russia/UkraineContext-rich briefings with clear recommendations — often with maps and summary graphics.
International Crisis Group — Ukraine AnalysisAccessible video segments ideal for group prep or in-session viewing.
PBS NewsHour — Ukraine War CoverageLive blog with rolling updates and simple map explainers.
The Guardian — Ukraine War Live and MapsAn interactive way for participants to understand what sanctions apply and where — key to economic discussion.
European Union Sanctions MapAllows participants to look up actual trade figures (exports/imports) — great for economic context.
UN Comtrade — Trade Data ExplorerClear visual dashboards illustrating migration flows and trends.
International Organization for Migration (IOM) — Ukraine Crisis ResponseOfficial development assistance (ODA) data relating to Ukraine and post-war needs.
OECD International Aid Statistics — UkraineHelps participants understand which countries are supplying what and how defense relations are evolving.
SIPRI Arms Transfers Database


Ukraine and European security – Dr. John Nagl and Col. Chase Metcalf
Group Video: U.S. Army War CollegeUkraine and the Future of European Security (WorldOregon). Speaker: Joshua Eastin, Professor, Political Science, Portland State University
Great Decisions – World OregonThe Foreign Policy Association is joined by Prof. Timothy Snyder, Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and author of On Tyranny. The lecture took place at The University Club of New York.
The Peril of Slowness: American Mistakes during Russia’s War of Aggression in UkraineThe Foreign Policy Association speaks with General David H. Petraeus regarding his latest work, Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine.
Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine with Gen. David H. PetraeusExamines the longstanding interplay between Putin and multiple U.S. administrations, helping viewers grasp how diplomatic and strategic decisions shaped tensions that preceded the 2022 invasion.
Putin and the Presidents – FrontlineAward-winning on-the-ground coverage of the siege of Mariupol, critical for understanding the war’s human cost and urban combat context.
20 Days in Mariupol – FRONTLINENot a formal history film, but this early 2014 viral video offers insight into Ukrainian civil society sentiments during Euromaidan, helping participants grasp motivations behind Ukraine’s democratic movement
I Am a UkrainianSince Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, attention on NATO has increased throughout the world. As its members prepare for the 75th NATO summit in early July, the focus will intensify. In the U.S., we hear a lot of opinions about NATO, but how do Europeans feel about their security?
Group video: WorldBostonShows how a full Great Decisions session unfolds with both expert framing and participant discussion.
Group video: World Affairs Council of MaineWhy watch: Explains Europe’s evolving security landscape and NATO’s role in the Ukraine conflict.
Group video: Wood County Committee on Aging, Inc.A full Great Decisions session combining expert presentation with audience engagement, offering both policy context and real-world perspectives on the war in Ukraine and its impact on European security.
Group video: Manitowoc Public LibraryAddress by President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation on the Military Intervention in Ukraine
Vladimir Putin’s Speech on Ukraine and US Foreign Policy and NATO – 24 February 2022, ENG SubtitlesOne of the most respected international affairs institutes, offering measured, globally respected analysis of European security, diplomacy, and long-term geopolitical consequences.
Provides European—not Washington-centric—analysis, helping participants understand internal EU debates on sanctions, enlargement, defense spending, and security guarantees.
Focuses on conflict dynamics, diplomacy, and off-ramps, with sober assessments of escalation risks and negotiation constraints.
Strong on strategic stability, deterrence, escalation management, and the intersection of military, political, and nuclear risk.
Adds a German and Central European lens, critical for understanding NATO burden-sharing, EU security policy, and energy considerations.
Strong coverage of Eastern European security perspectives, Baltic and Polish viewpoints, and hybrid threats—often underrepresented in broader debates.
Bridges academic research and policymaking, with historical depth and region-specific expertise, especially valuable for facilitators.
Offers a non-US, non-European vantage point, helping participants situate Ukraine within the broader global order and great-power competition.
Provides legal and ethical framing for discussions of war crimes, proportionality, civilian protection, and accountability—important for rule-of-law conversations.
A comprehensive, highly readable history of Ukraine from its medieval origins to the present. Perfect for understanding the deep historical roots of the conflict and Ukraine’s enduring struggle for sovereignty. Read more
Explains the origins of the 2014 crisis and how Russia’s actions altered European security. Provides clear context for the 2022 invasion and the broader geopolitical stakes. Read more
A highly accessible analysis of Russian political culture and its implications for Western democracies. Great for understanding motivations behind foreign policy decisions in the region. Read more
Award-winning history of the Holodomor and Soviet policies toward Ukraine. Helps participants grasp the emotional and historical dimensions that shape Ukrainian national identity. Read more
Though focused on 1999, this book offers a case study in alliance decision-making, crisis management, and limited intervention, useful for comparing NATO debates then and now. Read more
Explores Russia’s post-Cold War strategy and its confrontation with Western norms and institutions. Provides strategic framing that bridges historical tension and current events. Read more
Provides critical context on U.S. global strategy debates, including alliance commitments and how America engages crises like Ukraine—not polemical, but highly accessible. Read more
Written by a former U.S. ambassador to Russia, this book gives eyewitness insight into U.S.–Russia relations, helping participants understand diplomatic nuances that shape the current security landscape. Read more
Share your thoughts on this topic with [email protected]
Leave your thoughts on this topic by leaving a comment...