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.
Why the Donbas Matters to Putin So Much
The region is at the heart of the Ukraine war.
Key Takeaways From Trump’s Meeting With Zelensky
Less fireworks in the White House, but no definitive outcomes just yet.
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
The World Isn’t Slipping Away From the West
The United States and Europe get a few things wrong about global attitudes toward Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Is the Ukraine War an Anti-Colonial Struggle?
Fellow victims of Russian imperialism are finding solidarity with Kyiv.
China’s Ukraine Peace Plan Is Actually About Taiwan
Beijing’s phony proposal lays bare its conditions for winning an East Asian war.
Iran Doubles Down on Arms for Russia
Despite fresh salvos of Western sanctions, Tehran and Moscow are buddying up on defense ties.
Putin Has Assembled an Axis of Autocrats Against Ukraine
Russia’s war is receiving critical assistance from authoritarian regimes around the world.
A Private Company Is Using Social Media to Track Down Russian Soldiers
Open-source investigations were once potent journalistic tools, but in Ukraine, they’re being used on the battlefield.
The U.N. Has Turned Turtle on the Ukraine War
A paralyzed Security Council and a toothless General Assembly can’t come to grips with Russia’s challenge to the international order.
Russia’s Theft of Children in Ukraine Is Genocide
Moscow is out to destroy a people.
How Ukraine Learned to Fight
Russia’s full-scale war started a year ago. Ukraine’s military started slashing its Soviet roots long before.
Putin’s Russian Critics Are Growing Ever Louder
The most pointed criticisms of the war are coming from those charged with fighting it.
War Hasn’t Deterred Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Fighters
Activists argue the struggles for state transparency and national liberation are one and the same.
The Conversation About Ukraine Is Cracking Apart
What government officials are saying in public, and private, is fascinating—and full of contradictions.
An End to the War Doesn’t Mean the End of Putin
Russia may well emerge from the war poor, belligerent, and with President Vladimir Putin still in power.
Ukraine’s War Has Finally Made Europe a Home
Russia’s invasion has made Europeans more emotionally attached to the continent than ever before.
A Surreal Evening at the Russian Embassy
Caviar and vodka on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine.
‘Killing Was a Game for Russians’
The war in Ukraine is a year old. Here are the stories of some who have survived.