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
Putin Needs Repression to Run an Unpopular War
The Russian state is doing more than ever to crush dissent.
Putin Should Have Known His Invasion Would Fail
Russian intelligence ignored facts in favor of wish-casting.
Ukraine Can Change the Future of Prosecuting Crimes of Aggression
The right to life trumps the right to fight, and knowledge of a war’s damage trumps belief in its justice.
Russia Sanctions: 10 Lessons and Questions for What Comes Next
What has the West learned from one year of unprecedented economic sanctions?
Where Is Vlad’s Mind?
Putin’s anti-Western speech elicited eye rolls, even at the Kremlin.
A Report Card on the War in Ukraine
If year two of the war were a carbon copy of the first, Russia would control almost one-third of Ukraine next February.
‘Putin Still Believes Russia Will Prevail’
Angela Stent and Michael Kofman discuss one year of the war in Ukraine—and what to expect next on the battlefield.
The War in Ukraine Affects Us All
The Netherlands’ prime minister argues that Russia’s war is a great-power conflict—with the world’s small states near its center.
Ukraine Is Serious About Taking Back Crimea
A Ukrainian attack on the Russian-occupied peninsula might only be a matter of time.
The Return of the Russia Question
What kind of country do Russians want to live in after the war?
Putin’s New START Announcement and the Future of Arms Control
Russia and the United States hold about 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons. What happens when they’re no longer talking?
Why the West Is Afraid of Ukraine’s Victory
The West’s historical anxieties have made it impossible to come to terms with the war’s reality.
Biden Makes Historic Visit to Wartime Ukraine
Side by side with Zelensky, the U.S. president declares: “We stand here together.”
Can Russia Ever Become a ‘Normal’ European Nation?
Ironically, a defeat by Ukraine could trigger Russians to reexamine their national identity.
U.S. Deterrence Failed in Ukraine
Washington’s prewar efforts were weak and inadequate.
Meet the Belarusian Regiment Fighting for Ukraine
Someday, soldiers hope to return home and topple Lukashenko.