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

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Minority Leader Mitch McConnell walks through the U.S. Capitol building during a joint session of Congress on March 1, 2022.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Minority Leader Mitch McConnell walks through the U.S. Capitol building during a joint session of Congress on March 1, 2022.

Congress Descends on Munich to Support Ukraine

For the GOP, it was all about reassuring Europe.

Insider
Jack Detsch, Robbie Gramer
Macron, Duda, and Scholz stand side by side behind microphones.
Macron, Duda, and Scholz stand side by side behind microphones.

Putin’s Ukraine War Dominates Talks at Munich Security Conference

But long-range weapons aren’t a cure-all for Ukraine.

Insider
Robbie Gramer, Jack Detsch
A woman lays a flower by a wall of national memory on October 19, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
A woman lays a flower by a wall of national memory on October 19, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine.

A Labour-Led Britain Will Stand With the EU and NATO to Defend Ukraine

In a long struggle against Putin, Britain can’t ignore any ally.

Argument
David Lammy, John Healey
A Ukrainian serviceman demonstrates a drone carrying a mock grenade in Bakhmut
A Ukrainian serviceman demonstrates a drone carrying a mock grenade in Bakhmut

The Drone War in Ukraine Is Cheap, Deadly, and Made in China

Crowdsourced donations are fueling eyes in the sky.

Analysis
Faine Greenwood
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg addresses a press conference following British, French, and U.S. strikes against Syria's regime at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg addresses a press conference following British, French, and U.S. strikes against Syria's regime at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

NATO Chiefs Try to Jump-Start the Aid Ukraine Really Needs

It’s all about artillery rounds and air defense, not just tanks and fighter jets.

Dispatch
Robbie Gramer
Vladimir Putin speaks during the Preliminary Draw of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia at The Konstantin Palace on July 25, 2015 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Vladimir Putin speaks during the Preliminary Draw of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia at The Konstantin Palace on July 25, 2015 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

What Putin Got Right

The Russian president got many things wrong about invading Ukraine—but not everything.

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
A Finnish conscript participates in military training at the Karelia Brigade firing range in Vekaranjärvi, Finland, on May 19, 2022.
A Finnish conscript participates in military training at the Karelia Brigade firing range in Vekaranjärvi, Finland, on May 19, 2022.

For Europe, Military Conscription Is No Answer to Russia’s War

As large-scale conflict appears possible again, NATO members should focus on reserves.

Analysis
Franz-Stefan Gady
Dmitry Medvedev (center in the group of officials), an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who is now deputy chairman of the country's security council, visits the Omsktransmash (Omsk transport machine factory) in the southern Siberian city of Omsk.
Dmitry Medvedev (center in the group of officials), an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who is now deputy chairman of the country's security council, visits the Omsktransmash (Omsk transport machine factory) in the southern Siberian city of Omsk.

Russia Has Already Lost in the Long Run

Even if Moscow holds onto territory, the war has wrecked its future.

Argument
Brent Peabody
A pro-Russia militiaman guards a barricade in front of the flag of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic outside a regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk.
A pro-Russia militiaman guards a barricade in front of the flag of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic outside a regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk.

The Other Ukraine War

A new book examining Russia’s 2014 invasion of eastern Ukraine reveals some uncomfortable truths. This article has an audio recording

Review
Amy Mackinnon
A woman gives the middle finger to destroyed Russian tank exhibited in Kyiv
A woman gives the middle finger to destroyed Russian tank exhibited in Kyiv

Ukrainian Women’s Looks Are None of Your Business

Fetishizing femininity has complicated and painful post-Soviet roots.

Argument
Oleksandra Povoroznyk
The beginning of the conquest of Siberia in shown in a 19th-century painting.
The beginning of the conquest of Siberia in shown in a 19th-century painting.

It’s High Time to Decolonize Western Russia Studies

Why has it taken a war of conquest for experts to recognize Russia’s nature as a vast imperial enterprise?

Argument
Artem Shaipov, Yuliia Shaipova
The Emirati and Qatari energy ministers attend a meeting.
The Emirati and Qatari energy ministers attend a meeting.

Persian Gulf States May Be the Best Mediators for Peace in Ukraine

The Gulf Cooperation Council has maintained links to both Russia and the West.

Argument
Eugene Chausovsky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a working session in Mariinsky Palace, in Kyiv, on June 16, 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a working session in Mariinsky Palace, in Kyiv, on June 16, 2022.

The Top 5 Lessons From Year One of Ukraine’s War

Europe’s brutal conflict has been a harsh but instructive teacher.

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
Ukrainian servicemen rest as they make a trench near Bakhmut.
Ukrainian servicemen rest as they make a trench near Bakhmut.

Ukraine Braces for Grisly Russian Offensive in the East

Russia is sending more bodies. Ukraine doesn’t have enough. And the tanks won’t arrive in time.

Report
Amy Mackinnon, Jack Detsch
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko watches training launches of ballistic missiles as part of the Grom-2022 Strategic Deterrence Force exercise at the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow on Feb. 19, 2022.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko watches training launches of ballistic missiles as part of the Grom-2022 Strategic Deterrence Force exercise at the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow on Feb. 19, 2022.

Ukraine and Belarus Are Fighting the Same War

A Russian defeat in Ukraine could send Belarus’s dictator packing.

Argument
Eric S. Edelman, Vlad Kobets, David J. Kramer
The logo of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
The logo of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Austria’s About to Give Russia a Soapbox at the OSCE

Vienna will allow sanctioned Russian parliamentarians to attend the next big security meeting on the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Report
Amy Mackinnon, Jack Detsch, Robbie Gramer
Load More Stories
Loading graphics