Leah Kieff

Senior Associate (Non-resident), Project on Prosperity and Development
Leah Kieff

Leah Kieff has spent almost a decade tackling complex policy and operational challenges in senior roles across executive branch agencies, including but not limited to the Department of Homeland Security, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, and the White House. Her work across several administrations has focused regionally on the Indo-Pacific and post-Soviet states. She also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Moldova, where she witnessed firsthand the very real geopolitical threats of malign influence across the region. A native of Virginia, she attended the University of Mary Washington for her undergraduate degree and the Naval War College for graduate school. Leah currently works supporting federal cybersecurity policy with a global consulting firm, ICF.

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Moldova’s Energy Future

Russia has attempted to exert influence over Moldova through manipulating or threatening to manipulate energy prices and flows, and until recently, Moldova’s long-standing efforts to develop and reform its energy sector have produced minimal results.

Report by Daniel F. Runde, Leah Kieff, and Thomas Bryja — October 11, 2024

Strengthening Moldova’s Cyber Landscape

Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine the cyberattacks in Moldova have more than tripled, including frequent attacks on Moldovan government websites.

Critical Questions by Daniel F. Runde, Leah Kieff, and Thomas Bryja — October 8, 2024

Role of Moldova in Ukraine’s Reconstruction

Moldova’s political future is now intertwined with Ukraine’s. Moldova remains committed to structural reforms necessary for EU accession and is poised to be an important component of Ukraine’s success on the battlefield and beyond.

Event — September 25, 2024

Audio Briefs

Moldova’s October Presidential Election and EU Referendum

An audio version of “Moldova’s October Presidential Election and EU Referendum,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS’s Leah Kieff. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Leah Kieff — September 19, 2024

Audio Briefs

Moldova’s October Presidential Election and EU Referendum

This October's Moldovan election is unique for several reasons, including that citizens will be voting not only for their next president but also on changing the Moldovan constitution to enshrine EU membership as a goal for Moldova.

Critical Questions by Leah Kieff — September 18, 2024

Audio Briefs

Moldova’s Gas Futures

An audio version of “Moldova’s Gas Futures,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS’s Daniel F. Runde, Leah Kieff, and Thomas Bryja. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Daniel F. Runde, Leah Kieff, and Thomas Bryja — September 10, 2024

Audio Briefs

Moldova’s Gas Futures

Without true energy independence from Russia, the threat of Moscow turning off the heat in Chisinau or creating a crisis in Transnistria will remain a geopolitical tool to pressure or destabilize Moldova.

Critical Questions by Daniel F. Runde, Leah Kieff, and Thomas Bryja — September 9, 2024

Audio Briefs

Moldova’s Ukrainian Bilateral

An audio version of “Moldova’s Ukrainian Bilateral,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS’s Leah Kieff. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Leah Kieff — August 13, 2024

Audio Briefs

Moldova’s Ukrainian Bilateral

Moldova, which is less than four hours from the frontlines of the ongoing kinetic combat and shares a border of more than 1,000 miles with Ukraine, is of key importance to the United States and its partners and allies—and not just for geographic reasons.

Critical Questions by Leah Kieff — August 13, 2024