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Caught short by the outbreak of the crisis in Ukraine and by Russia’s illegal seizure of Crimea, the Atlantic Alliance was slow to respond. However, Ukraine’s particular status, as a partner and not an ally, convinced NATO members that appropriate tools needed to be developed in order to avoid further surprises. At a political level, the Alliance sought to prove its unity by reaffirming its cornerstone principles. From a military perspective, the Wales Summit produced a readiness action plan which encompassed all measures of assurance and adaptation meant to guarantee the Alliance’s credibility. Nonetheless, challenges remain, and NATO will struggle to maintain the cohesion of member states, which consider threats very differently and do not necessarily agree on how to prioritize them.