Atlantic Council researcher offered advice on how to keep spotlight on Ukraine amid war in Middle East

Yevheniia Haber, a professor of national security and a leading researcher at the Atlantic Council (U.S.) and the Center for Contemporary Turkish Studies at Carleton University, said this in a comment to Ukrinform following her participation in the STRATCOM summit in Istanbul.

“It is important to show that these wars do not exist in a vacuum. We are talking about different theaters of broader processes, where, in particular, there is direct cooperation between Russia and Iran. A lack of accountability in one instance creates risks for other regions—and this is well understood precisely in the context of the current escalation,” Haber said.

The professor is convinced that, despite the shift in focus of many countries, particularly Turkey, toward the Middle East due to immediate risks to regional security, the economy, and internal stability, the issue of Ukraine must not disappear from the agenda. Therefore, special attention should be paid to working with information narratives.

“It is very important not to allow the narrative that ‘Russia’s victory is inevitable’ or that any escalation automatically undermines support for Ukraine to take hold,” the expert said.

According to her, such perceptions often do not correspond to reality but directly influence political decisions, which is precisely why Ukraine must demonstrate its capabilities and achievements.

“It is important to showcase Ukraine’s capabilities, particularly the use of drones, successes in the Black Sea, and in air defense. This is experience that is relevant both to the Gulf states and to Turkey,” Haber noted.

The researcher also emphasized the need to take the local context into account. In particular, ideas of a multipolar world are widespread in Turkey; however, it is worth remembering that Russia and China are already part of the global security system as permanent members of the UN Security Council.

“And their role, to put it mildly, does not contribute to the stability of the international system. On the contrary, at critical moments, it is NATO that provides Turkey with real security guarantees,” she noted.

Gaber emphasized that it is in Ankara’s interest for Ukraine to play an important role in regional security, helping to weaken Russia’s influence from the Black Sea and the South Caucasus to Central Asia and the Middle East.

The expert emphasized that the dissemination of information in the form of narratives has become a tool of influence and the basis for political decision-making on an international scale. “Narratives have become an instrument of influence and power... In particular, the war is often presented in a distorted manner, where aggression is obscured in the wording, creating the impression that this is a conflict between two sides that simply need to sit down at the negotiating table,” Haber said.

At the summit, she emphasized the fallacy of narratives about the “greatness and invincibility” of the Russian Federation, and also refuted the Russian narrative about a desire for negotiations and an end to the war.

“Although Ukraine has repeatedly stated its readiness for peace talks, the question is how to compel the aggressor to act in good faith when, in practice, we see continued attacks on civilian infrastructure. Therefore, without increasing pressure on Russia, there can be no real negotiations,” the professor noted.

Gaber emphasized that this is no longer just about communication, but also about responsibility, because calling things by their proper names is a prerequisite for justice and international law. In practice, narratives shape perceptions of events in the world, which is why voices from the ground, real stories, and facts are critically important.

In an interview with Ukrinform in February of this year, Yevheniia Haber stated that Ukraine and Turkey today share common security interests, and that the way Ukraine is shifting the balance of power in the Black Sea objectively serves Turkey’s interests across a much broader geographic area. 

As reported by Ukrinform, the two-day international STRATCOM’26 summit took place in Istanbul on March 27–28, focusing on crises, the transformation of the global order, and the role of strategic communications during a period of serious security challenges.

Photo from Yevheniia Haber’s archive