U.S. soldiers take part in a military parade in Kiev on Aug. 24, 2018, to celebrate the 27th anniversary of Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union. Ukraine is at the heart of the rivalry in Eastern Europe between the United States and Russia.
Editor's Note : This assessment is part of a series of analyses supporting Stratfor's upcoming 2019 Annual Forecast. These assessments are designed to provide more context and in-depth analysis on key developments in the coming year . The standoff between Russia and the West has shown little sign of abating throughout 2018, and recent U.S. efforts to ramp up the pressure on the Kremlin signal that such tensions are only going to increase in the year to come. In an effort to alter Russia's foreign policy, the United States has imposed sanctions on the Russian economy amid threats to impose more next year. And now that the United States has announced its intentions to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, new military buildups by both sides are inevitable .
