Russia, Ukraine and U.S. Security

Russia is threatening to invade Ukraine. It has massed troops and equipment on Ukraine's northern, eastern, and southern borders in an apparent attempt to intimidate Ukraine and the United States. While overmatched, the Ukrainian military is ready to defend against an attack. The United States has offered to address several of the Russian security concerns through negotiations of refreshed arms control treaties and has rejected several other demands. The United States and its allies have promised harsh sanctions on Russia, additional military support to Ukraine, and reinforcements to NATO's eastern flank if Russia invades.

Ambassador William B. Taylor is vice president, Russia and Europe at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Last year, he served as chargé d'affaires at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv. During the Arab Spring, he oversaw U.S. assistance and support to Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Syria. He served as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2006 to 2009

Ambassador Taylor also served as the U.S. government's representative to the Mideast Quartet, which facilitated the Israeli disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. He served in Baghdad as the first director of the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office from 2004 to 2005, and in Kabul as coordinator of international and U.S. assistance to Afghanistan from 2002 to 2003. Ambassador Taylor was also coordinator of U.S. assistance to the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. He earlier served on the staff of Senator Bill Bradley.

Ambassador Taylor is a graduate of West Point and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and served as an infantry platoon leader and combat company commander in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and Germany.