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 Deeper Reason Netanyahu Won’t Arm Ukraine Against Russia
Jerusalem’s ties to Moscow are partly about security. They’re also about illiberalism.
Russia’s Failed War Has Created an Opening in the Balkans
The West should remind Serbia not to hitch its wagon to a diminished Russia.
Eastern Europe Wants NATO to Beef Up Defense Spending
Poland and Estonia are planning to push the alliance to raise its defense spending benchmark this year to at least 2.5 percent of GDP.
Why Crimea Is Not a Bridge Too Far
Withholding support for Ukraine in reclaiming the territory risks undermining gains made thus far.
Ukraine’s Makeshift Army Is Getting More Misfit Toys
Western tanks pack a punch. They also bring a long tail.
The M1 Abrams Is the Right Tank for the Job in Ukraine
Sending American tanks now helps guarantee a safer world tomorrow.
Europe Needs a Strategy for Russia After Putin
Competing ideas about the end state of the war are striving for dominance.
The World Economy No Longer Needs Russia
With alternative sources in place, Putin’s attempt at blackmailing Europe on energy has failed.
Tanks, but No Tanks
The United Kingdom and Eastern Europe are pushing for the United States and Germany to seriously arm Ukraine—and quickly.
Russia’s Fifth Column in Ukraine Is Alive and Well
A year after the invasion, Ukraine is riddled with Russian collaborators and sympathizers.
Freeze—Don’t Seize—Russian Assets
Permanently confiscating Russian assets is tempting—but expropriating them without evidence of a crime would endanger Western companies.
Pentagon Balks at Sending Ukraine Long-Range Bombs
It’s not fear of escalation. It’s fear of being too late.
Russia Replaces Its Ukraine War Chief—Again
Experts are asking: Why now?
Ukraine Shows What Unity on Human Rights Can Achieve
Governments must not limit their moral outrage to situations that serve their short-term interests.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Moscow on the Moment He Realized Russia Would Launch a Full-Scale Invasion
John Sullivan on the road to war, diplomatic tensions with Moscow, and volunteering to scrub the embassy toilets.
Turkey Is Sending Cold War-Era Cluster Bombs to Ukraine
The artillery-fired cluster munitions could be lethal to Russian troops—and Ukrainian civilians.