Russia’s War in Ukraine
News, analysis, and background on military campaigns, battlefield technology, and global diplomacy, negotiations, and sanctions.

The Ghost of Finlandization Is Haunting the Ukraine Debate
A 1944 armistice that traded land for peace is a poor precedent for ending Russia’s war.

The ‘Paper Tiger’ Still Has Its Shadow Fleet
Trump says Russia is in economic trouble—but there's a loophole in the West's sanctions.

Trump Makes U-Turn on Ukraine Rhetoric
Trump says Ukraine can win back all of its territory.

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.
Battlefield Strategy

Why Don’t Russian Soldiers Revolt?
Astonishing death rates and brutal abuse have not kept troops from following orders.

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.

Ukraine’s Pocket-Sized Answer to Russian Drones
Moscow has the upper hand in electronic warfare. Can grassroots-led efforts help Kyiv catch up?

The Ukrainians’ New Way of War
The audacious drone attack deep into Russia’s rear fits a larger pattern of wartime innovation.
Wartime Diplomacy

Grading Trump’s Ukraine Diplomacy
Key takeaways from a spate of high-level meetings in Alaska and Washington.

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.

An Emerging Trump Doctrine?
Success in the Middle East could be a template for a new approach to Russia’s war.

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.
Regional Dynamics

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.

Europe’s Delusions Over What It Means to Deter Russia
Leaders are afraid to tell voters what it will take to defend their continent.

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.

Ukraine Has Become Europe’s Arsenal
The Ukrainian arms industry has kept its own country—and potentially the entire continent—competitive on the battlefield.
Latest Stories

How the EU Could Push Hungary and Slovakia to Quit Russian Oil
But a call from Hungary to Trump could easily spoil its plans.

Europe Is on Its Own With Russia Now
Donald Trump’s latest U-turn on Ukraine doesn’t change the naked truth for Europe.

A Pragmatic Endgame for the Russia-Ukraine War
A clever map trick, Ukrainian self-defense, and European Union membership should form the core of a face-saving deal.

Russia Just Attacked NATO. Again.
One can only hope that Trump will draw the right conclusion: Coddling Putin leads to disaster.

My Theory Says Sanctions on Russia Won’t Work. So Why Do I Want Them Anyway?
The inventor of the sanctions paradox stress-tests it 25 years on.

Europe and the U.S. Still Haven’t Choked Off Russia’s Energy Riches
The Russian economy may be wobbly, but it is still funding a deadly war with oil and gas sales.

How Much Aid Is the U.S. Still Giving Ukraine?
Despite President Donald Trump’s claims that Washington is no longer funding the war, the reality is more complex.

Putin’s Fear of a Humiliating Economic Crisis
Greater sanctions pressure could finally bring Moscow to the negotiating table.

Stop Fabulating About ‘Security Guarantees’ for Ukraine
The best way to protect Ukraine from another Russian invasion is helping it to win.

Why the Donbas Matters to Putin So Much
The region is at the heart of the Ukraine war.

Is Ukraine the Future of Asia?
Washington’s switch to accommodating Moscow’s geopolitical goals sends an ominous signal.

7 Lingering Questions After the Trump Ukraine Summit
After a flurry of diplomacy, what was actually agreed to?

Why Steve Witkoff Is Trump’s Master of Disaster
The helpless envoy embodies everything that is dysfunctional about current U.S. foreign policy.

How Much of Ukraine Does Russia Control?
The situation remains challenging along the 600-mile front line.

Key Takeaways From Trump’s Meeting With Zelensky
Less fireworks in the White House, but no definitive outcomes just yet.

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.