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Russia’s War in Ukraine

Military news, global diplomacy, negotiations, and sanctions.

Maria Semyonova, wife of a Russian soldier, poses in front of a recruitment poster in Moscow on December 17, 2023.
Maria Semyonova, wife of a Russian soldier, poses in front of a recruitment poster in Moscow on December 17, 2023.

How to Fight Putin on the Information Battlefield

The West can’t fully adopt Russia’s methods—but it should study them. This article has an audio recording

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets Ukrainian troops being trained to command Challenger 2 tanks at a military facility on February 8, 2023 in Dorset, England.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets Ukrainian troops being trained to command Challenger 2 tanks at a military facility on February 8, 2023 in Dorset, England.

Ukraine Can Only Rely on Itself

In any peace deal with Russia, security guarantees from outsiders won't guarantee much. This article has an audio recording

A blond woman in a black suit sits behind a sign with her last name on it. The EU flag is seen behind her.
A blond woman in a black suit sits behind a sign with her last name on it. The EU flag is seen behind her.

Battlefield Strategy

A fiery orange and black explosion behind a gray razor wire fence.
A fiery orange and black explosion behind a gray razor wire fence.

Ukraine Is Hitting Russia Where It Hurts: Its Oil Refineries

Kyiv’s two-year offensive against Russian oil facilities has intensified, eating away at Moscow’s energy revenues.

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.

Drones fly above grass in an open field dotted with trees and small sheds.
Drones fly above grass in an open field dotted with trees and small sheds.

How Russia Is Escalating the Drone Arms Race

Routine strikes involve smaller, daily launches designed to keep steady pressure on Ukraine. This article has an audio recording

The oil tanker Eagle S is seen anchored near the Kilpilahti port in Porvoo, on the Gulf of Finland, on Jan. 7.
The oil tanker Eagle S is seen anchored near the Kilpilahti port in Porvoo, on the Gulf of Finland, on Jan. 7.

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.

Wartime Diplomacy

From left, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
From left, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

Trump Makes U-Turn on Ukraine Rhetoric

Trump says Ukraine can win back all of its territory.

A Finnish defender is seen near the front during the Finnish-Soviet Winter War in early 1940.
A Finnish defender is seen near the front during the Finnish-Soviet Winter War in early 1940.

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. This article has an audio recording

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.

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

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

Ukrainian soldiers hold the Ukrainian and Lithuanian flags over the coffin of Tomas Valentelis, a Lithuanian volunteer in the Ukrainian army who was killed in battle in Ukraine, at a funeral ceremony in Kyiv on April 16.
Ukrainian soldiers hold the Ukrainian and Lithuanian flags over the coffin of Tomas Valentelis, a Lithuanian volunteer in the Ukrainian army who was killed in battle in Ukraine, at a funeral ceremony in Kyiv on April 16.

To Deter Russia, Europe Needs Ukraine

A Ukraine-Baltics defense pact would bring Kyiv into Europe’s security architecture.

The oil tanker Eagle S next to Finnish border guard ship Uisko and tugboat Ukko in the Gulf of Finland on December 28, 2024.
The oil tanker Eagle S next to Finnish border guard ship Uisko and tugboat Ukko in the Gulf of Finland on December 28, 2024.

Anchors Away

Finland’s failure to convict Russian crew clears the way for more cable-cutting attacks.

A photo of two white tanks near a yellow crane. A blue-and-white tanker carrying liquified natural gas is docked nearby in snow and sea ice. White smoke billows out of its smokestack.
A photo of two white tanks near a yellow crane. A blue-and-white tanker carrying liquified natural gas is docked nearby in snow and sea ice. White smoke billows out of its smokestack.

The China-Russia Axis Is Getting Firmer, and It’s Built on Gas

Moscow pivoted to the east a decade ago, but it is now besmitten—or captive.

Latest Stories

Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sergei Lavrov meets with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor during a press conference in Pretoria, South Africa, on Jan. 23.
Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sergei Lavrov meets with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor during a press conference in Pretoria, South Africa, on Jan. 23.

A South African Scandal Could Shake Up Relations With Washington

Do South Africa’s denials that it supplied weapons to Russia ring true?

A Ukrainian soldier wearing camouflage fatigues stands in front of a tank. The soldier has his hands on his hips, and his face is obscured by tactical goggles and a mask. Behind him, two more soldiers climb on the tank as they inspect it.
A Ukrainian soldier wearing camouflage fatigues stands in front of a tank. The soldier has his hands on his hips, and his face is obscured by tactical goggles and a mask. Behind him, two more soldiers climb on the tank as they inspect it.

Ukraine Begins Pre-Offensive Probe of Russian Lines

“I would really hate to be a Russian private sitting in a trench right now,” said one former U.S. military commander.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, standing behind a podium, speaks after a U.N. Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters in New York.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, standing behind a podium, speaks after a U.N. Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters in New York.

Ukraine’s Next Big Diplomatic Offensive Is in the Global South

More ambassadors, more embassies, and, the hope is, more countering Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend an event at Tsinghua University in Beijing on April 26, 2019.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend an event at Tsinghua University in Beijing on April 26, 2019.

China Won’t Let Russia Starve the World

The end of the Black Sea Grain Initiative would hurt Beijing, too.

Prisoners of a men's penal colony, wearing black clothing and black winter hats, line up in columns in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Prisoners of a men's penal colony, wearing black clothing and black winter hats, line up in columns in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Russia’s Convict-Soldiers Have Their Own Brutal Rules

The recruitment of prisoners via the Wagner Group has boosted manpower but cost morale.

Pakistani Air Force F-16 fighter jets fly during a rehearsal ahead of the Pakistan Day parade in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 15, 2022.
Pakistani Air Force F-16 fighter jets fly during a rehearsal ahead of the Pakistan Day parade in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 15, 2022.

5 Reasons Ukraine Should Get F-16 Jets

They will save many lives, bring victory closer, and spare other Western resources.

russia-books-war-resistance-ukraine-1984-nazis-foreign-policy-cathryn-virginia-illusration-site
russia-books-war-resistance-ukraine-1984-nazis-foreign-policy-cathryn-virginia-illusration-site

For Russians, Reading Is the New Resistance

What bestselling books tell us about how Russians are processing the war. This article has an audio recording

A U.S. Bradley Fighting Vehicle is seen behind a U.S. flag during during a training session by U.S. soldiers in Nowa Deba, Poland.
A U.S. Bradley Fighting Vehicle is seen behind a U.S. flag during during a training session by U.S. soldiers in Nowa Deba, Poland.

NATO’s Got a New Backbone

It’s time for the United States to prioritize members of the alliance that understand the Russian threat and are taking it seriously.

Two Afghan women in blue burqas walk past the gated embassy building.
Two Afghan women in blue burqas walk past the gated embassy building.

The Islamic State Has a New Target: Russia

The group’s Afghanistan branch is capitalizing on the Russia-Ukraine war to recruit, fundraise, and incite violence. This article has an audio recording

Graves of mercenaries recruited by the Wagner group and killed during Russia's war in Ukraine are seen covered in flowers at the Beloostrovsky cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Graves of mercenaries recruited by the Wagner group and killed during Russia's war in Ukraine are seen covered in flowers at the Beloostrovsky cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia.

For Russians, It’s the Wild 1990s All Over Again

Overflowing graveyards and other parallels signal a threat to Vladimir Putin’s rule. This article has an audio recording

An MIG-29 Ukrainian fighter jet flies over eastern Ukraine against a pale gray sky on Jan. 1.
An MIG-29 Ukrainian fighter jet flies over eastern Ukraine against a pale gray sky on Jan. 1.

Ukraine’s Air War Heats Up

Ukraine has enjoyed air superiority for more than 400 days. Time may be running out.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva holds a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at Moncloa Palace in Madrid on April 26.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva holds a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at Moncloa Palace in Madrid on April 26.

Brazil Is Ukraine’s Best Bet for Peace

The nonaligned country has strong diplomatic traditions—and its president is a pro at building global coalitions.

A timber monastery overlooks the valley as clouds envelop the Chornohora range in the village of Dzembronya near Bystrets, Ukraine.
A timber monastery overlooks the valley as clouds envelop the Chornohora range in the village of Dzembronya near Bystrets, Ukraine.

On the Homefront, Families Mourn Ukrainian Fighters

Behind closed doors in western Ukraine, the devastating impact of the distant war becomes clear.

A Ukrainian volunteer group Brave to Rebuild helps
A Ukrainian volunteer group Brave to Rebuild helps

Ukraine Starts to Rebuild After Russia’s Rampage

But some damage can’t be fixed by bricks and mortar.

Weapons and other military hardware delivered by the United States military at Boryspil Airport, near Kyiv.
Weapons and other military hardware delivered by the United States military at Boryspil Airport, near Kyiv.

Ukraine’s Spring Offensive Is Waiting on Weapons

Every day Kyiv waits, the Russians dig deeper trenches.

Volunteers and special forces are put through their paces during military training at a "Russian University of Special Forces" center in the town of Gudermes, Chechnya.
Volunteers and special forces are put through their paces during military training at a "Russian University of Special Forces" center in the town of Gudermes, Chechnya.
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