Russia’s War in Ukraine

News, analysis, and background on military campaigns, battlefield technology, and global diplomacy, negotiations, and sanctions.

Putin sits at a table with his hands flat on the surface, leaning forward slightly. He wears a dark suit and tie; a Russian flag hangs in the background.
Putin sits at a table with his hands flat on the surface, leaning forward slightly. He wears a dark suit and tie; a Russian flag hangs in the background.

Russia and Ukraine Are as Far Apart as Ever

Despite Trump’s efforts, negotiation will only come when both parties believe their interests are better served by talking than fighting. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Ivo H. Daalder
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump participate in a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump participate in a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C.

7 Lingering Questions After the Trump Ukraine Summit

After a flurry of diplomacy, what was actually agreed to?

Explainer
Keith Johnson
U.S. President Donald Trump greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington, DC on August 18.
U.S. President Donald Trump greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington, DC on August 18.

Grading Trump’s Ukraine Diplomacy

Key takeaways from a spate of high-level meetings in Alaska and Washington. This article has an audio recording

Insider
Ravi Agrawal
(First row, from left) Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a family picture during a “coalition of the willing” summit at the Elysee Palace in Paris on March 27.
(First row, from left) Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a family picture during a “coalition of the willing” summit at the Elysee Palace in Paris on March 27.

How Europe Can Pressure Putin—Without Trump

Now that Trump appears to have sworn off additional economic sanctions to push Russia into a cease-fire, Europe may have to go it alone. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Keith Johnson
A soldier in a helmet and residents in T-shirts look toward a smoking house on the horizon.
A soldier in a helmet and residents in T-shirts look toward a smoking house on the horizon.

Why the Donbas Matters to Putin So Much

The region is at the heart of the Ukraine war.

Explainer
John Haltiwanger
Zelensky (left) gestures and laughs as he sits next to Trump who laughs as he holds a sheet of paper as they talk in front of the gilded backdrop of the Oval Office.
Zelensky (left) gestures and laughs as he sits next to Trump who laughs as he holds a sheet of paper as they talk in front of the gilded backdrop of the Oval Office.

Key Takeaways From Trump’s Meeting With Zelensky

Less fireworks in the White House, but no definitive outcomes just yet. This article has an audio recording

Report
Rishi Iyengar

Battlefield Strategy

Russian soldiers practice marching
Russian soldiers practice marching

Why Don’t Russian Soldiers Revolt?

Astonishing death rates and brutal abuse have not kept troops from following orders.

Analysis
Amelie Tolvin
Soldiers of the 115th Mechanized Brigade in a house where they are staying when not on the front lines near Lyman, Ukraine.
Soldiers of the 115th Mechanized Brigade in a house where they are staying when not on the front lines near Lyman, Ukraine.

The Mood on the Front Line, Three Years On

Ukrainian troops watch with anxiety as the United States moves closer to talks with Russia over the war.

Dispatch
Fabrice Deprez
Volunteers and Ukrainian military personnel attend a presentation about radio electronic warfare and intelligence systems made by the Ukrainian company Kvertus in Ukraine’s Lviv region on May 28.
Volunteers and Ukrainian military personnel attend a presentation about radio electronic warfare and intelligence systems made by the Ukrainian company Kvertus in Ukraine’s Lviv region on May 28.

Ukraine’s Pocket-Sized Answer to Russian Drones

Moscow has the upper hand in electronic warfare. Can grassroots-led efforts help Kyiv catch up?

Analysis
Fabrice Deprez
The first batch of the Ukrainian-made Peklo drone missile is delivered to a Ukrainian Armed Forces facility in Kyiv on Dec. 6, 2024.
The first batch of the Ukrainian-made Peklo drone missile is delivered to a Ukrainian Armed Forces facility in Kyiv on Dec. 6, 2024.

The Ukrainians’ New Way of War

The audacious drone attack deep into Russia’s rear fits a larger pattern of wartime innovation.

Analysis
Christian Caryl

Wartime Diplomacy

Trump sits on an upholstered chair in the Oval Office, leaning forward slightly as he rests his hands on his knees. Rutte sits in a matching chair next to him, his hand on his chin. Vice President J.D. Vance and others sit on a sofa to the right, microphones on poles hanging over their heads.
Trump sits on an upholstered chair in the Oval Office, leaning forward slightly as he rests his hands on his knees. Rutte sits in a matching chair next to him, his hand on his chin. Vice President J.D. Vance and others sit on a sofa to the right, microphones on poles hanging over their heads.

Do Trump’s Lines in the Sand Mean Anything?

Blustering threats to Putin over Ukraine are reminiscent of Obama’s Syria failure.

Analysis
Luke McGee
NATO military forces during a display to demonstrate NATO’s ability to rapidly deploy forces from Europe, in Smardan, Romania.
NATO military forces during a display to demonstrate NATO’s ability to rapidly deploy forces from Europe, in Smardan, Romania.

It’s Time for a New Trans-Atlantic Bargain

Europe should take primary responsibility for its security, but the United States needs to deliver key assurances to allow such a transition.

Argument
Ivo H. Daalder
U.S. President Donald Trump announces U.S. strikes on Iran with Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth standing alongside, at the White House in Washington on June 21.
U.S. President Donald Trump announces U.S. strikes on Iran with Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth standing alongside, at the White House in Washington on June 21.

An Emerging Trump Doctrine?

Success in the Middle East could be a template for a new approach to Russia’s war.

Argument
Adrian Karatnycky
Workers construct an outdoor ice skating rink in Red Square in downtown Moscow on Nov. 9, 2021.
Workers construct an outdoor ice skating rink in Red Square in downtown Moscow on Nov. 9, 2021.

What the Next Round of Sanctions Against Russia Should Look Like

Moscow has successfully restructured its economy on an impressive war footing, but there are weaknesses under the hood. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Nicholas Fenton, Maria Snegovaya

Regional Dynamics

U.S. Marines take part in the international military exercise Cold Response 22 near Sandstrand in northern Norway on March 21, 2022.
U.S. Marines take part in the international military exercise Cold Response 22 near Sandstrand in northern Norway on March 21, 2022.

A Russia-NATO War Would Look Nothing Like Ukraine

Moscow will seek to avoid a full-on war and focus on breaking the bloc’s resolve. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Fabian Hoffmann
People walk along a street past a mural dedicated to Oleksandr Khmil, a former hockey player and coach killed in battle against Russian troops, in Kyiv on May 15.
People walk along a street past a mural dedicated to Oleksandr Khmil, a former hockey player and coach killed in battle against Russian troops, in Kyiv on May 15.

A European Peacekeeping Force in Ukraine Won’t Work

Any plan needs NATO involvement to be credible. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Azeem Ibrahim
A large ship in the ocean
A large ship in the ocean

What Europe Can Do If Trump Drops Russia Sanctions

Europe has much more economic leverage on the Kremlin than Washington.

Analysis
Agathe Demarais
A worker in a white fireproof smock and face guard is seen from across a room at a factory as they shovel smoldering coals into a massive metal furnace. The room is dim other than the bright light from the furnace and the scattered glow of coal spread across the floor.
A worker in a white fireproof smock and face guard is seen from across a room at a factory as they shovel smoldering coals into a massive metal furnace. The room is dim other than the bright light from the furnace and the scattered glow of coal spread across the floor.

Ukraine Has Become Europe’s Arsenal

The Ukrainian arms industry has kept its own country—and potentially the entire continent—competitive on the battlefield. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Paul Hockenos

Latest Stories

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hold a telephone conversation with U.S. President Trump at the European Political Community summit in Tirana, Albania, on May 16.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hold a telephone conversation with U.S. President Trump at the European Political Community summit in Tirana, Albania, on May 16.

Stop Fabulating About ‘Security Guarantees’ for Ukraine

The best way to protect Ukraine from another Russian invasion is helping it to win.

Analysis
Christian Caryl
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attend a document signing after their talks at the Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv on Aug. 23, 2024.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attend a document signing after their talks at the Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv on Aug. 23, 2024.

Is Ukraine the Future of Asia?

Washington’s switch to accommodating Moscow’s geopolitical goals sends an ominous signal.

Analysis
C. Raja Mohan
Steve Witkoff sits on a couch and looks over his shoulder with wide eyes. Two other men sit next to him. Out of focus behind them are Zelensky and Trump, also seated.
Steve Witkoff sits on a couch and looks over his shoulder with wide eyes. Two other men sit next to him. Out of focus behind them are Zelensky and Trump, also seated.

Why Steve Witkoff Is Trump’s Master of Disaster

The helpless envoy embodies everything that is dysfunctional about current U.S. foreign policy.

Analysis
Christian Caryl
Ukrainian service members line up before an honorary ceremony in Ukraine on Aug. 3.
Ukrainian service members line up before an honorary ceremony in Ukraine on Aug. 3.

How Much of Ukraine Does Russia Control?

The situation remains challenging along the 600-mile front line.

Analysis
John Haltiwanger
A military plane looms over Putin's head as he walks on a runway.
A military plane looms over Putin's head as he walks on a runway.

To Get Peace in Ukraine, Trump Should Play the Nuclear Card

The White House needs to learn from the Kremlin’s success with nuclear blackmail.

Argument
Matthew Kroenig
U.S. President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the tarmac at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 15.
U.S. President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the tarmac at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 15.

Trump’s Putin Gambit Failed—but Maybe It Was Still Worth Trying

Successful diplomacy of any kind requires some kind of high-stakes compromise.

Analysis
Michael Hirsh
Vladimir Puting gives a speech while standing behind a podium. In the background are a few people on stage sitting in chairs and many people off stage sitting down.
Vladimir Puting gives a speech while standing behind a podium. In the background are a few people on stage sitting in chairs and many people off stage sitting down.

The Battle Inside Russia’s Elite

As wealthy Russians maneuver to shift blame for the costs of Moscow’s war, Washington can subtly shift their incentives.

Argument
Kirill Shamiev
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump during the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 28, 2019.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump during the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 28, 2019.

The Risks of the Trump-Putin Summit

Experts weigh in on what they’re watching for in Alaska.

Analysis
John Haltiwanger
Putin walks on a patterned tile floor in a brightly lit room, both arms outstretched and his palms facing up as he smiles. Russian flags and a bronze statue are visible decorating the room in the background.
Putin walks on a patterned tile floor in a brightly lit room, both arms outstretched and his palms facing up as he smiles. Russian flags and a bronze statue are visible decorating the room in the background.

Trump Piles the Pressure on Putin

So far, it’s more signals than sanctions.

Analysis
Rishi Iyengar, Keith Johnson
Russian President Vladimir Putin stands at a podium in front of a submarine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stands at a podium in front of a submarine.

Russia’s Submarine Plans Are Bad News for the West

Moscow can challenge foreign navies under the waves. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Elisabeth Braw
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky poses for a photo during the European Political Community summit at the Congress Center in Granada, Spain, on Oct. 5, 2023.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky poses for a photo during the European Political Community summit at the Congress Center in Granada, Spain, on Oct. 5, 2023.

Ukrainians Show Zelensky the Limits of His Power

Forcing the government to retreat on corruption is a triumph of democracy in wartime.

Analysis
Adrian Karatnycky
An illustration shows a missile shooting through the ear of a silhouetted person against a static-y backdrop of the Russian flag.
An illustration shows a missile shooting through the ear of a silhouetted person against a static-y backdrop of the Russian flag.

Russia’s War Is Also Cognitive

To achieve more, Putin needs others to do less. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Nataliya Bugayova
Protesters shout slogans and hold placards during a demonstration against a law that removes the independence of the NABU and SAPO anti-corruption agencies in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 24.
Protesters shout slogans and hold placards during a demonstration against a law that removes the independence of the NABU and SAPO anti-corruption agencies in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 24.

Ukraine’s Cronyism Crisis Offers a Warning to the ‘De-Risking’ World

A series of scandals has put Kyiv’s public institutions under the microscope.

Argument
Luke Cooper
Ukrainians demonstrate against of a new law regulating the work of anti-corruption authorities in Kyiv on July 23.
Ukrainians demonstrate against of a new law regulating the work of anti-corruption authorities in Kyiv on July 23.

Democracy Is Ukraine’s Most Powerful Weapon

Protesters seem to have beaten back Volodymyr Zelensky’s assault on anti-corruption agencies.

Argument
Christian Caryl
A soldier stands in a field with bare trees behind him. He holds a large winged drone up as he launches it against a cloudy dramatic sky.
A soldier stands in a field with bare trees behind him. He holds a large winged drone up as he launches it against a cloudy dramatic sky.

The Air Battle That Could Decide the Russia-Ukraine War

Kyiv’s front-line drone superiority has been slipping away as Moscow’s forces adapt. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Franz-Stefan Gady
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) meets with U.S. President Donald Trump (L) during Pope Francis’s funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) meets with U.S. President Donald Trump (L) during Pope Francis’s funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

Can Trump Be Sold on Supporting Ukraine?

A changeable president seems to be turning against Putin.

Argument
Luke McGee
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