Faculty Expertise

Northeastern faculty are available to speak about a broad range of topics on the developing situations in Eastern Europe.

To arrange interviews please email media@northeastern.edu to reach the media relations team or contact experts directly by visiting the media inquiries page.

What does it mean that the Russian Orthodox Church is calling Putin’s invasion of Ukraine a ‘holy war’?
A Russian Orthodox Church priest gesturing while speaking to soldiers outside.

What does it mean that the Russian Orthodox Church is calling Putin’s invasion of Ukraine a ‘holy war’?

Are the Western allies still committed to helping Ukraine defeat Russia after two years of the Russia-Ukraine war?
A serviceman on combat duty at dusk.

Are the Western allies still committed to helping Ukraine defeat Russia after two years of the Russia-Ukraine war?

If Russia is developing some kind of space-based weapon, Putin may never get to use it. Here’s why
A rocket takes off from a base with smoke flying in all directions.

If Russia is developing some kind of space-based weapon, Putin may never get to use it. Here’s why

How would a second Trump term impact NATO, US-Russia relations, the war in Europe?
Silhouette of President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin standing next to each other.

How would a second Trump term impact NATO, US-Russia relations, the war in Europe?

Could the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars escalate into World War III?
Smoke billowing from an apartment building in Ukraine that had been hit by a Russian missile.

Could the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars escalate into World War III?

Military AI: New book anticipates a world of ‘killer robots’ — and the need to regulate them
A blue and black-colored book titled "The AI Military Race" is suspended in the air in front of a blue background.

Military AI: New book anticipates a world of ‘killer robots’ — and the need to regulate them

China pushing message it is more neutral and better suited than US to lead global security, researchers say  
Troops in the Russia Ukraine War walking outside.

China pushing message it is more neutral and better suited than US to lead global security, researchers say  

Old architecture, new democracy? In Tbilisi, they go together.
Various architecture in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Old architecture, new democracy? In Tbilisi, they go together.

NATO rides the wave of unprecedented unity while being careful to not cross a political line with Russia
Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a press conference

NATO rides the wave of unprecedented unity while being careful to not cross a political line with Russia

Should athletes shake hands during war? A look at this year’s Wimbledon handshaking controversy
Elina Svitolina at the Wimbledon 2023 quarter final match

Should athletes shake hands during war? A look at this year’s Wimbledon handshaking controversy

Why are cluster munitions, or cluster bombs, so controversial?
pile of cluster munitions

Why are cluster munitions, or cluster bombs, so controversial?

Northeastern professor meets India’s PM Modi, explains the first state visit 
president Joe Biden walking with Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Northeastern professor meets India’s PM Modi, explains the first state visit 

Meta fine shows EU is ‘regulatory superpower,’ Northeastern expert says
A photo of Meta headquarters in Dublin

Meta fine shows EU is ‘regulatory superpower,’ Northeastern expert says

As Finland prepares to join NATO, defense forces have become more ‘visible’ inside its borders
inside of the parliament in Budapest, Hungary as various lawmakers vote on Finland's bid to join NATO

As Finland prepares to join NATO, defense forces have become more ‘visible’ inside its borders

Northeastern’s Mai’a Cross receives prestigious lifetime membership on the Council on Foreign Relations
headshot of Mai’a Cross

Northeastern’s Mai’a Cross receives prestigious lifetime membership on the Council on Foreign Relations

Christian nationalists are enamored with Putin, even if they oppose Russia, new research from Northeastern professor says
vladimir putin gesturing while speaking

Christian nationalists are enamored with Putin, even if they oppose Russia, new research from Northeastern professor says

One year later, Northeastern experts say no end in sight for Russia’s war on Ukraine
A crowd of people hold Ukrainian flags

One year later, Northeastern experts say no end in sight for Russia’s war on Ukraine

Western allies ‘ramping up’ in Ukraine despite corruption scandal 
soldier walking past a line of tanks

Western allies ‘ramping up’ in Ukraine despite corruption scandal 

Russia-Ukraine war in 2023: Can there be a way out? 
person carrying belongings out of a bombed home

Russia-Ukraine war in 2023: Can there be a way out? 

Price cap on Russian oil is experimental, but Russia won’t get away unscathed, Northeastern expert says
Oil tanker in body of water

Price cap on Russian oil is experimental, but Russia won’t get away unscathed, Northeastern expert says

Brittney Griner ‘will be a different person’ after traumatic Russian imprisonment, says Northeastern psychologist
Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner ‘will be a different person’ after traumatic Russian imprisonment, says Northeastern psychologist

Northeastern grad took a stand against the war in Ukraine and extricated her employees from Russia
group of people posing for a picture

Northeastern grad took a stand against the war in Ukraine and extricated her employees from Russia

How will Ukraine survive winter if Russia decides to ramp up infrastructure attacks?
vendors in a market in the dark

How will Ukraine survive winter if Russia decides to ramp up infrastructure attacks?

The shift of power in the war theater in Ukraine is yet to be seen, Northeastern expert says
Ukrainian armed forces walking through Izium, Ukraine.

The shift of power in the war theater in Ukraine is yet to be seen, Northeastern expert says

When will Russia’s war on Ukraine end? Or will it continue for the sake of conflict?
People walk among destroyed military vehicles on a city street

When will Russia’s war on Ukraine end? Or will it continue for the sake of conflict?

How likely is a nuclear attack and how to prepare for it?

How likely is a nuclear attack and how to prepare for it?

Northeastern grad student puts together art auction for Ukraine 
collage of photographs of artwork

Northeastern grad student puts together art auction for Ukraine 

What is greedflation – and is it driving higher prices?
mobil gas station at night

What is greedflation – and is it driving higher prices?

How has the threat of World War III evolved, now that Russia and Ukraine have entered a ‘protracted’ war?
ukranian soldiers in the country with artillery

How has the threat of World War III evolved, now that Russia and Ukraine have entered a ‘protracted’ war?

Ukraine-Russia grain export deal could still go forward, but Russian attack on grain port puts trust in jeopardy, Northeastern expert say

Ukraine-Russia grain export deal could still go forward, but Russian attack on grain port puts trust in jeopardy, Northeastern expert say

Is inflation creating a ‘new normal’ of high food prices? 
man organizing cans on a grocery shelf

Is inflation creating a ‘new normal’ of high food prices? 

In the new Europe ‘neutrality is no longer an option’
nato foreign ministers sit in a conference room

In the new Europe ‘neutrality is no longer an option’

How long will inflation last? And will it trigger a recession?
People walk by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on May 12, 2022 in New York City.

How long will inflation last? And will it trigger a recession?

How do Russian citizens feel about the war in Ukraine? Here’s why it’s hard to tell.

How do Russian citizens feel about the war in Ukraine? Here’s why it’s hard to tell.

Are you more likely to believe misinformation about Ukraine or COVID-19?

Are you more likely to believe misinformation about Ukraine or COVID-19?

Has Russia’s timeline in Ukraine accelerated? Here’s what you need to know.

Has Russia’s timeline in Ukraine accelerated? Here’s what you need to know.

The shackles of the United Nations Security Council veto, explained

The shackles of the United Nations Security Council veto, explained

What does the US have to do to avoid a recession?

What does the US have to do to avoid a recession?

At war’s end, will Ukrainian refugees come home–or thrive elsewhere?

At war’s end, will Ukrainian refugees come home–or thrive elsewhere?

A more insidious form of Holocaust denial emerges
Robert Salomon Morton Lecturer Jan Grabowski, Professor of History at the University of Ottawa and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, speaks about Holocaust denial and distortion in Northeastern's West Village.

A more insidious form of Holocaust denial emerges

War crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide? How to understand Russian atrocities in Ukraine.

War crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide? How to understand Russian atrocities in Ukraine.

How to simplify complex supply chains amid unprecedented disruption

How to simplify complex supply chains amid unprecedented disruption

Why aren’t we using the global gas crisis to go green?
field of windmills

Why aren’t we using the global gas crisis to go green?

Deepfakes and fake news pose a growing threat to democracy, experts warn

Deepfakes and fake news pose a growing threat to democracy, experts warn

Why Ukrainian neutrality may not be a pathway to peace

Why Ukrainian neutrality may not be a pathway to peace

Why Biden’s call for Putin’s ouster isn’t damaging the Ukraine negotiations
In this photo provided by Turkish Presidency, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, gives a speech to welcome the Russian, left, and Ukrainian delegations ahead of their talks, in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, March 29, 2022.

Why Biden’s call for Putin’s ouster isn’t damaging the Ukraine negotiations

Russian students at Northeastern express support for Ukraine, share feelings about the war
Two separate portraits of two male Northeastern Russian students standing outside

Russian students at Northeastern express support for Ukraine, share feelings about the war

The other casualty of the war in Ukraine–architecture

The other casualty of the war in Ukraine–architecture

The war in Ukraine is creating a massive grain shortage. What does that mean for the rest of the world?

The war in Ukraine is creating a massive grain shortage. What does that mean for the rest of the world?

What does the war in Ukraine have to do with the price of bananas? It’s complicated.
A truck is refueling, surrounded by banana trees.

What does the war in Ukraine have to do with the price of bananas? It’s complicated.

A month into the invasion of Ukraine, is the Russian army becoming demoralized?

A month into the invasion of Ukraine, is the Russian army becoming demoralized?

The Russia-Ukraine war could throw global supply chains into chaos. And that’s the best-case scenario.

The Russia-Ukraine war could throw global supply chains into chaos. And that’s the best-case scenario.

Speak out and compete, or stay silent and stay home? Russian athletes face a dilemma.

Speak out and compete, or stay silent and stay home? Russian athletes face a dilemma.

Unlike other refugees, Ukrainians are being met with open arms in Europe. Is it racism, or a new attitude toward those fleeing war?
Map of eastern Europe that shows where Ukrainian refugees have fled since Russia invaded the country.

Unlike other refugees, Ukrainians are being met with open arms in Europe. Is it racism, or a new attitude toward those fleeing war?

What happens to an American imprisoned in Russia? For a WNBA star, the troubles have only just begun

What happens to an American imprisoned in Russia? For a WNBA star, the troubles have only just begun

War is about suffering and death. But should those images be portrayed in the news?

War is about suffering and death. But should those images be portrayed in the news?

Is World War III possible? The next few weeks will tell.
A mangled, burning car in front of war-damaged buildings

Is World War III possible? The next few weeks will tell.

Will Putin face war crimes charges? Here’s how the legal process may play out.
delegates sitting in international criminal courtroom

Will Putin face war crimes charges? Here’s how the legal process may play out.

How will the Russian invasion of Ukraine end? And at what cost?

How will the Russian invasion of Ukraine end? And at what cost?

Russia hasn’t launched a massive cyberattack on Ukraine yet. Why not?

Russia hasn’t launched a massive cyberattack on Ukraine yet. Why not?

What could SpaceX’s Starlink do for Ukraine?

What could SpaceX’s Starlink do for Ukraine?

In a historic shift driven by the Russia-Ukraine war, Germany building up its military
The Ukrainian city of Irpin, 22 kilometers northwest of Kyiv, is experiencing heavy fighting as Ukrainian Forces attempt to halt the Russian Forces advancing towards the capital city on March 3, 2022.

In a historic shift driven by the Russia-Ukraine war, Germany building up its military

How TikTok is influencing the tide of war in Ukraine

How TikTok is influencing the tide of war in Ukraine

The International Space Station may become a casualty of the Russian war in Ukraine
International Space Station.

The International Space Station may become a casualty of the Russian war in Ukraine

Putin raised Russia’s nuclear forces alert status. What does that mean?
president vladimir putin walking through a doorway

Putin raised Russia’s nuclear forces alert status. What does that mean?

Vladimir Putin aimed to weaken Western alliances. He is strengthening them instead.
Lawmakers applaud during German Chancellor Olaf Scholz' speech on the Russian invasion of the Ukraine during a meeting of the German federal parliament, Bundestag, at the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, Feb. 27, 2022. Nowhere has the change been more pronounced than in Germany, the European Union's leading economic power but also a country that has been reluctant to invest heavily in military power, in large part because of its militaristic past which resulted in the horror of World War II.

Vladimir Putin aimed to weaken Western alliances. He is strengthening them instead.

What is NATO’s Response Force, and why is it being activated?

What is NATO’s Response Force, and why is it being activated?

SWIFT, the ‘nuclear option,’ is about to be used as a sanction on Russia
Protesters demand that Russia be banned from the SWIFT system during a rally for Ukraine at the White House. This system facilitates international interbank transactions, and banning Russia would severely curtail business transactions and banking. Hundreds of people protested following Russia's overnight invasion of Ukraine to demand sanctions on Russia and military assistance for Ukraine. The event was sponsored by United Help Ukraine, a U.S.-based assistance and advocacy organization.

SWIFT, the ‘nuclear option,’ is about to be used as a sanction on Russia

Russian disinformation is part of its war effort in Ukraine. How can the West respond?
Photo of binary text on a computer screen.

Russian disinformation is part of its war effort in Ukraine. How can the West respond?

What Russia’s invasion of Ukraine means for the global balance of power

What Russia’s invasion of Ukraine means for the global balance of power

Stunned students protest Russian invasion of Ukraine

Stunned students protest Russian invasion of Ukraine

What do we call what’s happening in Ukraine? Words matter

What do we call what’s happening in Ukraine? Words matter

Economic sanctions may hurt, but they rarely deter
president joe biden speaking at a podium

Economic sanctions may hurt, but they rarely deter