When Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, an era of peace in Europe came to an abrupt halt. The conflict unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe, including the largest wave of refugees since World War II.
Since the end of the Cold War diplomacy and economic soft power have been the pillars of European statecraft. The Ukraine War creates a new reality: military budgets across the continent are rising more steeply than they have in decades; NATO is expanding military assets on its eastern flank and accelerating readiness; and almost all European nations have provided some form of military assistance to Kyiv.
