Russia’s War in Ukraine

Military news, global diplomacy, negotiations, and sanctions.

All four men sit on matching chairs in front of the flags of their respective countries, side by side, with their feet resting on the border of an ornate rug. Starmer and Zelensky's eyes are locked; the other two watch intently from either side.
All four men sit on matching chairs in front of the flags of their respective countries, side by side, with their feet resting on the border of an ornate rug. Starmer and Zelensky's eyes are locked; the other two watch intently from either side.

A Ukraine Peace Deal Could Be Getting Closer

Here’s what Trump can do to get there.

Argument
David Ignatius
Maria Semyonova, wife of a Russian soldier, poses in front of a recruitment poster in Moscow on December 17, 2023.
Maria Semyonova, wife of a Russian soldier, poses in front of a recruitment poster in Moscow on December 17, 2023.

How to Fight Putin on the Information Battlefield

The West can’t fully adopt Russia’s methods—but it should study them. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Peter Pomerantsev, Sviatoslav Hnizdovskyi
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets Ukrainian troops being trained to command Challenger 2 tanks at a military facility on February 8, 2023 in Dorset, England.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets Ukrainian troops being trained to command Challenger 2 tanks at a military facility on February 8, 2023 in Dorset, England.

Ukraine Can Only Rely on Itself

In any peace deal with Russia, security guarantees from outsiders won't guarantee much. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Anchal Vohra
A blond woman in a black suit sits behind a sign with her last name on it. The EU flag is seen behind her.
A blond woman in a black suit sits behind a sign with her last name on it. The EU flag is seen behind her.

Ukraine’s New U.S. Ambassador Previews Her Pragmatic Approach to Washington

“I am Ukrainian, right? I’m not a Democrat or Republican.”

Interview
Sam Skove
Dmitriev, a man with white but balding hair in a suit and wearing glasses, stands next to a young soldier in an ornate dress uniform and helmet. The younger man is giving Dmitriev the side-eye.
Dmitriev, a man with white but balding hair in a suit and wearing glasses, stands next to a young soldier in an ornate dress uniform and helmet. The younger man is giving Dmitriev the side-eye.

Putin’s Unlikely Envoy to Washington

Kirill Dmitriev is a prominent purveyor of the Kremlin’s line—but real power may lie elsewhere. This article has an audio recording

Profile
Sam Skove, John Haltiwanger
Joe Biden, in silhouette, walks up stairs to board a plane, with ominous dark clouds in the background.
Joe Biden, in silhouette, walks up stairs to board a plane, with ominous dark clouds in the background.

Biden’s Long Shadow Over Ukraine

His administration failed Ukraine at almost every turn, shaping the war to this day. This article has an audio recording

Essay
Adrian Karatnycky

Battlefield Strategy

A fiery orange and black explosion behind a gray razor wire fence.
A fiery orange and black explosion behind a gray razor wire fence.

Ukraine Is Hitting Russia Where It Hurts: Its Oil Refineries

Kyiv’s two-year offensive against Russian oil facilities has intensified, eating away at Moscow’s energy revenues.

Analysis
Keith Johnson
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
Drones fly above grass in an open field dotted with trees and small sheds.
Drones fly above grass in an open field dotted with trees and small sheds.

How Russia Is Escalating the Drone Arms Race

Routine strikes involve smaller, daily launches designed to keep steady pressure on Ukraine. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Yasir Atalan
The oil tanker Eagle S is seen anchored near the Kilpilahti port in Porvoo, on the Gulf of Finland, on Jan. 7.
The oil tanker Eagle S is seen anchored near the Kilpilahti port in Porvoo, on the Gulf of Finland, on Jan. 7.

The ‘Paper Tiger’ Still Has Its Shadow Fleet

Trump says Russia is in economic trouble—but there’s a loophole in the West’s sanctions.

Argument
Petras Katinas

Wartime Diplomacy

From left, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
From left, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

Trump Makes U-Turn on Ukraine Rhetoric

Trump says Ukraine can win back all of its territory.

Report
Sam Skove
A Finnish defender is seen near the front during the Finnish-Soviet Winter War in early 1940.
A Finnish defender is seen near the front during the Finnish-Soviet Winter War in early 1940.

The Ghost of Finlandization Is Haunting the Ukraine Debate

A 1944 armistice that traded land for peace is a poor precedent for ending Russia’s war. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Kristi Raik
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
Ukrainian soldiers hold the Ukrainian and Lithuanian flags over the coffin of Tomas Valentelis, a Lithuanian volunteer in the Ukrainian army who was killed in battle in Ukraine, at a funeral ceremony in Kyiv on April 16.
Ukrainian soldiers hold the Ukrainian and Lithuanian flags over the coffin of Tomas Valentelis, a Lithuanian volunteer in the Ukrainian army who was killed in battle in Ukraine, at a funeral ceremony in Kyiv on April 16.

To Deter Russia, Europe Needs Ukraine

A Ukraine-Baltics defense pact would bring Kyiv into Europe’s security architecture.

Argument
Fredrik Wesslau
The oil tanker Eagle S next to Finnish border guard ship Uisko and tugboat Ukko in the Gulf of Finland on December 28, 2024.
The oil tanker Eagle S next to Finnish border guard ship Uisko and tugboat Ukko in the Gulf of Finland on December 28, 2024.

Anchors Away

Finland’s failure to convict Russian crew clears the way for more cable-cutting attacks.

Argument
Elisabeth Braw
A photo of two white tanks near a yellow crane. A blue-and-white tanker carrying liquified natural gas is docked nearby in snow and sea ice. White smoke billows out of its smokestack.
A photo of two white tanks near a yellow crane. A blue-and-white tanker carrying liquified natural gas is docked nearby in snow and sea ice. White smoke billows out of its smokestack.

The China-Russia Axis Is Getting Firmer, and It’s Built on Gas

Moscow pivoted to the east a decade ago, but it is now besmitten—or captive.

Analysis
Keith Johnson

Latest Stories

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
A close-up photo of Netanyahu and Putin standing face to face and smiling at each other.
A close-up photo of Netanyahu and Putin standing face to face and smiling at each other.

The Deeper Reason Netanyahu Won’t Arm Ukraine Against Russia

Jerusalem’s ties to Moscow are partly about security. They’re also about illiberalism.

Analysis
Steven A. Cook
Putin mural in Serbia
Putin mural in Serbia

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.

Argument
Ivana Stradner
Polish soldiers hold a NATO flag during a family photo after a training demonstration with the NATO multinational battle group eFP at the Orzysz training ground in Orzysz, Poland.
Polish soldiers hold a NATO flag during a family photo after a training demonstration with the NATO multinational battle group eFP at the Orzysz training ground in Orzysz, Poland.

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.

Exclusive
Robbie Gramer, Amy Mackinnon, Jack Detsch
A view of the Kerch Bridge, which links Crimea to Russia, taken near the city of Kerch on Oct. 12, 2022.
A view of the Kerch Bridge, which links Crimea to Russia, taken near the city of Kerch on Oct. 12, 2022.

Why Crimea Is Not a Bridge Too Far

Withholding support for Ukraine in reclaiming the territory risks undermining gains made thus far.

Argument
Michael Allen
An M1 Abrams battle tank of the U.S. Army
An M1 Abrams battle tank of the U.S. Army

Ukraine’s Makeshift Army Is Getting More Misfit Toys

Western tanks pack a punch. They also bring a long tail.

Report
Robbie Gramer, Jack Detsch, Amy Mackinnon
U.S. Army M1 Abrams tanks pictured at Mockava railway station in Lithuania.
U.S. Army M1 Abrams tanks pictured at Mockava railway station in Lithuania.

The M1 Abrams Is the Right Tank for the Job in Ukraine

Sending American tanks now helps guarantee a safer world tomorrow.

Argument
Gabriel Collins, Christopher Bronk
French President Emmanuel Macron is interviewed by French television host Caroline Roux in Paris on Oct. 12, 2022.
French President Emmanuel Macron is interviewed by French television host Caroline Roux in Paris on Oct. 12, 2022.

Europe Needs a Strategy for Russia After Putin

Competing ideas about the end state of the war are striving for dominance.

Argument
Bart M. J. Szewczyk
Vladimir Putin meets with workers at a missile manufacturing plant in St. Petersburg.
Vladimir Putin meets with workers at a missile manufacturing plant in St. Petersburg.

The World Economy No Longer Needs Russia

With alternative sources in place, Putin’s attempt at blackmailing Europe on energy has failed.

Argument
Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld, Steven Tian
Two Leopard 2 main battle tanks participate in NATO military exercises.
Two Leopard 2 main battle tanks participate in NATO military exercises.

Tanks, but No Tanks

The United Kingdom and Eastern Europe are pushing for the United States and Germany to seriously arm Ukraine—and quickly.

Report
Jack Detsch, Amy Mackinnon
A sign at the entrance to Kherson, Ukraine, reads: "Do you know about a collaborator or traitor? Inform us."
A sign at the entrance to Kherson, Ukraine, reads: "Do you know about a collaborator or traitor? Inform us."

Russia’s Fifth Column in Ukraine Is Alive and Well

A year after the invasion, Ukraine is riddled with Russian collaborators and sympathizers.

Dispatch
Stefanie Glinski
A view of the super-yacht 'Phi' which remains impounded by the U.K.'s National Crime Agency because of sanctions against Putin associates on March 30, 2022, in London, England.
A view of the super-yacht 'Phi' which remains impounded by the U.K.'s National Crime Agency because of sanctions against Putin associates on March 30, 2022, in London, England.

Freeze—Don’t Seize—Russian Assets

Permanently confiscating Russian assets is tempting—but expropriating them without evidence of a crime would endanger Western companies. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Elisabeth Braw
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