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

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.

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

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

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.
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

Do Trump’s Lines in the Sand Mean Anything?
Blustering threats to Putin over Ukraine are reminiscent of Obama’s Syria failure.

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.

A European Peacekeeping Force in Ukraine Won’t Work
Any plan needs NATO involvement to be credible.

What Europe Can Do If Trump Drops Russia Sanctions
Europe has much more economic leverage on the Kremlin than Washington.

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 Europe Can Prepare for a Second Trump Term—Now
The continent must bolster its own defense capabilities before an isolationist ringleader returns to the White House.

The U.S. Is Considering Giving Russia’s Frozen Assets to Ukraine
The unprecedented move could offer a tidy way to make Moscow pay for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

U.S. and Germany Push to Delay Ukraine NATO Membership Invite
Ukraine and its Eastern European allies want the invite to come soon, but Washington and Berlin are wary.

Is China Sincere About Peace in Ukraine?
Beijing has done very little to help—but it could.

Europe Braces for Trump 2.0
European officials are scrambling to ensure the transatlantic relationship can survive the U.S. election.

The Broken Bargain of Russian Womanhood
Why they won’t rebel against the war that kills their men.

Ukraine Has a Pathway to Victory
Why the new conventional wisdom that the war is a stalemate favoring Russia is wrong.

NATO Scrambles to Reload Ukraine’s Air Defense
With U.S. military aid to Ukraine frozen, Europe is ramping up support.

The Ukraine War May Be Decided at the Ballot Box
Political and economic changes in 2024 could weaken Kyiv’s struggle.

Ukraine’s Nightmare Scenario Is Now Its Reality
The ground has frozen. The aid is freezing, too.

Russia Is Divvying Up Prigozhin’s Empire Among Putin’s Cronies
Wagner’s African resources are up for grabs.

FP Live Looks Back at 2023
Stephen Walt explains why countries are accusing America of hypocrisy.

Ukraine Braces for Political Disaster in 2024
Grim possibilities in the United States and European Union have Kyiv on edge.

Ukraine Has a Civil Rights Problem
Wartime unity hasn’t healed the wounds of the country’s past.

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Belarus?
Washington’s new envoys face a Sisyphean task.

Zelensky Miscalculates With Republicans
That doesn’t bode well for future U.S. support.