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

A man stands among debris in front of a residential building damaged as a result of a missile attack in Kharkiv.
A man stands among debris in front of a residential building damaged as a result of a missile attack in Kharkiv.

Russia Advances on Kharkiv as Ukraine Struggles to Fight Back

Moscow is exploiting Biden’s restrictive rules on U.S. weapons use to make gains, Ukrainian officials say.

Report
Jack Detsch
A 23-kiloton nuclear test explosion is seen at the Nevada Test Site near Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18 1953.
A 23-kiloton nuclear test explosion is seen at the Nevada Test Site near Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18 1953.

The Changing Nuclear Mind Game

Russia’s nuclear threats to reach conventional goals in Ukraine mark a new era of brinkmanship.

Argument
Rose Gottemoeller
A head-and-shoulders photo of a man with white hair wearing a suit and tie.
A head-and-shoulders photo of a man with white hair wearing a suit and tie.

Who Is Russia’s New Defense Minister?

Putin’s appointment of economist Andrei Belousov suggests Moscow is digging in for the long haul.

Report
Amy Mackinnon
A woman wearing mittens, a coat, and a winter hat touches a flag with a soldier's face on it to her face. Behind her is a snowy graveyard scene with flowers and Ukrainian flags.
A woman wearing mittens, a coat, and a winter hat touches a flag with a soldier's face on it to her face. Behind her is a snowy graveyard scene with flowers and Ukrainian flags.

The Resilience of Ukraine’s War Widows

Perhaps tens of thousands of Ukrainian women have lost their partners in the conflict with Russia. They look to rebuild amid precarity and uncertainty.

Dispatch
Liz Cookman, Paula Bronstein
Joe Biden stands at a lectern and behind it is an American flag and a Ukrainian flag.
Joe Biden stands at a lectern and behind it is an American flag and a Ukrainian flag.

What Does America Want in Ukraine?

Washington’s current approach is a strategic cop-out—and risks making another forever war.

Argument
Emma Ashford, Joshua Shifrinson, Stephen Wertheim
Russian President Vladimir Putin reviews an honor guard of the presidential regiment following his inauguration ceremony at Sobornaya Square in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reviews an honor guard of the presidential regiment following his inauguration ceremony at Sobornaya Square in Moscow.

Putin Begins Fifth Term With Nuclear Drills

The Russian leader was sworn in amid spiraling tensions with the West.

Analysis
Amy Mackinnon
Protesters attend a rally organized by the ruling Georgian Dream party aimed at countering days of mass anti-government protests over a controversial “foreign agent” bill in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Protesters attend a rally organized by the ruling Georgian Dream party aimed at countering days of mass anti-government protests over a controversial “foreign agent” bill in Tbilisi, Georgia.

How Georgia Sided With Its Enemy

Georgians are angry at the government’s pro-Russian turn.

Dispatch
Ani Chkhikvadze
A man wearing a suit and tie is surrounded by members of the media holding phones and tape recorders.
A man wearing a suit and tie is surrounded by members of the media holding phones and tape recorders.

‘Russia Feels Like They’re Winning’

A top House Democrat gets real on Ukraine, Israel, and China.

Insider
Robbie Gramer, Jack Detsch
U.S. Representative Adam Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, speakings during a Congressional hearing on Afghanistan at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Sept. 29, 2021.
U.S. Representative Adam Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, speakings during a Congressional hearing on Afghanistan at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Sept. 29, 2021.

Top House Democrat ‘Deeply Worried’ About Israel’s War Strategy in Gaza

Israel is losing the support of Democrats over how it’s prosecuting the war, lawmaker warns.

Situation Report
Robbie Gramer, Jack Detsch
Soldiers wearing camouflage fatigues visit a makeshift memorial for Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in Moscow. The informal memorial is on the side of a street and is covered with flags, photos of Prigozhin, and candles.
Soldiers wearing camouflage fatigues visit a makeshift memorial for Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in Moscow. The informal memorial is on the side of a street and is covered with flags, photos of Prigozhin, and candles.

What Do Russians Really Think About Putin’s War?

Polling has gotten harder as autocracy has tightened.

Argument
Christian Caryl
Activists wave Ukrainian flags ahead of a pivotal vote to approve new national security funding, including Ukraine aid, outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Activists wave Ukrainian flags ahead of a pivotal vote to approve new national security funding, including Ukraine aid, outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Allies Relieved After Senate Passes Long-Delayed Aid Bill

But the fact it took so long to pass has some worried about future support.

Report
Robbie Gramer, Rishi Iyengar
Ukrainian service members fire at Russian positions on March 27, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian service members fire at Russian positions on March 27, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine Is Still Outgunned by Russia

Even with the approval of new U.S. aid, most of the artillery Ukraine needs won’t get to the front until next year.

Analysis
Jack Detsch
A broken glass box at the looted Kherson Regional Museum after the Russian withdrawal from the city on Dec. 22, 2022.
A broken glass box at the looted Kherson Regional Museum after the Russian withdrawal from the city on Dec. 22, 2022.

Russia Is Committing Cultural Genocide in Ukraine

Historical falsification, youth indoctrination, and the plunder of artifacts reveal the Kremlin’s true objectives.

Argument
Jade McGlynn
Greenpeace activists pose with placards as they stage a protest seeking to block the oil tanker "Seychelles Pioneer," reportedly carrying Russian oil, in the Port of Antwerp on April 10, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Greenpeace activists pose with placards as they stage a protest seeking to block the oil tanker "Seychelles Pioneer," reportedly carrying Russian oil, in the Port of Antwerp on April 10, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s Shadow Fleet Could Create Strange Allies

Both Greenpeace and NATO are working against off-book oil tankers.

Argument
Elisabeth Braw
A soldier wearing a hat and face covering over his lower face and camouflage combat gear holds an artillery shell about the length of his forearm. He stands in a low, log-roofed bunker with boxes of ammunition stacked on either side.
A soldier wearing a hat and face covering over his lower face and camouflage combat gear holds an artillery shell about the length of his forearm. He stands in a low, log-roofed bunker with boxes of ammunition stacked on either side.

Fear and Hoarding on Ukraine’s Eastern Front

Ammo shortages are costing lives and time.

Dispatch
Oz Katerji
Instructors from the Norwegian Home Guard 12th District Company “Hegra” participate in a blank-fire exercise, together with Ukrainian soldiers, north of Trondheim, Norway.
Instructors from the Norwegian Home Guard 12th District Company “Hegra” participate in a blank-fire exercise, together with Ukrainian soldiers, north of Trondheim, Norway.

NATO Doesn’t Have Enough Troops

For the first time in decades, NATO has a plan to fight Russia. Now it just needs the forces to do it.

Report
Jack Detsch
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