So we can do little apart from seeking international support to be better prepared. Thus it looks as though the story is about Ukraine, the threat is first of all to Ukraine, but little happens in Ukraine itself. It’s not just about the ultimatum Moscow delivered to NATO they assert that no important global decisions can be made without Moscow, and that the West should stop talking about corruption, human rights, democracy. Listening to the Russian politicians, I am becoming more pessimistic. Neither the authorities nor the majority of Ukrainians want full-scale war. The administration does everything possible to de-escalate, apart from the fact its Donbas policy for the last two years was aimed at a peaceful resolution. I give credit to the Ukrainian government. Moscow looks at the reaction of the West, checking whether it’s ready to support Ukraine, and tries to goad the Ukrainian side into action in a moment of extreme anxiety. The probability of attack is higher than in November. I think the Kremlin has not yet decided whether to launch a new assault, but it’s a real threat, not a bluff. Unfortunately, the possibility of an incursion is growing. I constantly talk to Western diplomats and experts, Russian independent journalists, Ukrainian politicians, as well as people in eastern Ukraine. Nataliya Gumenyuk, Ukrainian journalist and author specializing in conflict reporting, founder of the Public Interest Journalism Lab, Kyiv The following answers, both emotional and reflective, capture widely shared sentiments in Ukraine today. How do you assess the readiness of Ukrainian leadership to face and counter an escalation of the conflict with Russia? In your opinion, how likely is it that Russia will attack in the coming weeks? What is the mood in Ukraine at this time? To learn more, I posed two questions to our experts: However, after the failed talks between the United States, NATO, and Russia on January 10–13, 2022, the level of concern in the statements of politicians, experts, and journalists has noticeably deepened. In recent months, alarming reports of Russian troops massing on Ukraine’s border and speculation about an impending Russian attack have figured prominently in news analysts’ commentary. Careers, Fellowships, and Internships Open/Close.Science and Technology Innovation Program.The Middle East and North Africa Workforce Development Initiative.Kissinger Institute on China and the United States.Nuclear Proliferation International History Project.North Korea International Documentation Project.Environmental Change and Security Program.Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy.