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

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexandrovsky Garden near the Kremlin wall in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexandrovsky Garden near the Kremlin wall in Moscow.

It’s Time for Trump to Get Tough With Putin

Only pressure on both sides will end the war in Ukraine.

Argument
Dennis Ross
A soldier with the 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, on March 13.
A soldier with the 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, on March 13.

What Washington Keeps Getting Wrong in War Planning

Misjudging an adversary’s will to fight has been a major contributor to military failures since World War II.

Analysis
Andrew L. Stigler, James Guimond
The building housing Euroclear, an international fund depository which manages some Russian assets, in Brussels, Belgium, on March 5.
The building housing Euroclear, an international fund depository which manages some Russian assets, in Brussels, Belgium, on March 5.

Seizing Russian Assets Isn’t as Easy as It Sounds

As the global order shifts, EU leaders need to tread carefully.

Argument
Charles Lichfield
Ukrainians seeking asylum in the United States in Tijuana, Mexico, on April 6, 2022.
Ukrainians seeking asylum in the United States in Tijuana, Mexico, on April 6, 2022.

Deporting Ukrainian Refugees Weakens America

Canceling legal status would be a moral and strategic mistake that weakens America’s global standing.

Argument
Tetiana Kotelnykova
In the foreground is the blurry figure of Vladimir Putin. In the background is a mirror that shows him clearly.
In the foreground is the blurry figure of Vladimir Putin. In the background is a mirror that shows him clearly.

How to Negotiate With Putin

Britain’s former ambassador to Russia on how Trump can avoid falling into the Kremlin’s trap.

Argument
Laurie Bristow
A man in army clothing walks past a poster of a man in a military uniform.
A man in army clothing walks past a poster of a man in a military uniform.

Europe’s Best Bet for Protecting Postwar Ukraine

With U.S. commitment in question, armed neutrality is the most feasible option.

Argument
Rajan Menon
German soldiers unload the U.S.-made MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system in Jasionka, Poland.
German soldiers unload the U.S.-made MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system in Jasionka, Poland.

The Latest Russian Missile Is Bad News for NATO

Oreshnik is a different beast from its predecessors.

Analysis
Decker Eveleth
U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on Feb. 28.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on Feb. 28.

Trump’s Rhetoric Gets Results

The U.S.-Ukraine cease-fire plan reflects the president’s overriding foreign-policy objective: to end the war.

Argument
Matthew Kroenig
U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with energy company CEOs at the White House in Washington on April 3, 2020.
U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with energy company CEOs at the White House in Washington on April 3, 2020.

Comrade Trump

Regardless of why, he’s acting exactly like a Russian asset would.

Argument
Edward Lucas
A woman walks past an advertisement for the Russian army at a bus stop.
A woman walks past an advertisement for the Russian army at a bus stop.

Russia Is Only Winning Inside Trump’s Head

As Russians will tell you, the reality on the ground looks very, very different.

Analysis
Alexey Kovalev
Three men stand on a roof with the flags of Russia and Crimea.
Three men stand on a roof with the flags of Russia and Crimea.

Why Washington’s Stance Will Pave the Way for Russian Expansionism

Trump’s approach of seeking a deal at any cost imperils the security of Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region.

Argument
Natia Seskuria
A collage stile illustration shows a soldier waving a NATO flag. Behind are soldiers walking in front of a blue descending bar chart and graph lines.
A collage stile illustration shows a soldier waving a NATO flag. Behind are soldiers walking in front of a blue descending bar chart and graph lines.

Can Trump’s 5 Percent Defense Spending Threshold Save NATO?

Experts suggest that shifting how the alliance spends its money could be more effective against a Russian security threat.

Explainer
Alexandra Sharp
An employee handles 155 mm caliber shells manufactured at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania on April 16, 2024.
An employee handles 155 mm caliber shells manufactured at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania on April 16, 2024.

Europe Should Make a $200 Billion Deal With Trump

Cash to buy U.S. weapons for Ukraine would also help balance trade.

Argument
Bart M. J. Szewczyk
French President Emmanuel Macron (right) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attend commemorations marking the 106th anniversary of the Nov. 11, 1918, armistice ending World War I, in Paris.
French President Emmanuel Macron (right) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attend commemorations marking the 106th anniversary of the Nov. 11, 1918, armistice ending World War I, in Paris.

Europe Gets Serious About Defense Thanks to Trump’s Retreat

The U.S. president has unified Europe like few since Charlemagne. Now comes the hard part.

Analysis
Keith Johnson
A fleet of cameras and reporters surround Lindsey Graham outside the White House.
A fleet of cameras and reporters surround Lindsey Graham outside the White House.

Trump’s Angry Meeting With Zelensky Prompts Reactions Worldwide

The responses were indicative of the shocking nature of the meeting.

Report
John Haltiwanger
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Feb. 28.
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Feb. 28.

The Perils of a Reality TV Presidency

The Trump-Zelensky shouting match is a reminder that international diplomacy was never meant to be carried out in front of billions of eyes.

Argument
Ravi Agrawal
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