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 Russian Warship and the South China Sea
What lessons does the sinking of the Moskva have for Taiwan?
After Putin’s Land Grab, Zelensky Wants to Fast-Track NATO Membership
Ukraine likely won’t join NATO anytime soon, but it’s a big symbolic move in a war that’s increasingly going against the Kremlin.
Russia’s Annexed Land Is a Crime Scene
Ukraine needs help documenting Russian atrocities.
In Washington, Everyone Wins if Ukraine Wins
How backing Kyiv can bridge the partisan divide and make U.S. foreign policy great again.
Russia’s Clueless New Oligarchs
A new generation of business owners with no experience are snapping up Western companies’ assets at fire-sale prices.
Russia’s Stripped Its Western Borders to Feed the Fight in Ukraine
But Finland and the Baltic states are still leery of Moscow’s long-term designs.
Baltic States Wanted German Tanks in Ukraine Yesterday
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised a new foreign policy. Critics say he has yet to deliver.
Russia’s Defeat Would Be America’s Problem
Victory in Ukraine could easily mean hubris in Washington.
The Crazy Logic of Brinksmanship Is Back
The West can only counter Putin’s nuclear threats with ruinous threats of its own.
Postal Workers Are Keeping Ukraine’s Front-Line Villages Alive
Deliveries of packages and pension payments have helped uphold a fragile sense of normalcy for civilians under fire.
Diplomacy Is Still (Just About) Possible in Ukraine
The Black Sea agreement offers a model for off-ramps to escalation.
Russia Is Sending Its Ethnic Minorities to the Meat Grinder
Chaotic mobilization sparks renewed fears that the pain will not be shared evenly across Russia.
The Baltics Hunker Down for the Long Game Against Russia
The Kremlin is down but not out in Ukraine, and the Baltic states want to make sure they’re not next.
Russia Can’t Protect Its Allies Anymore
Moscow is overstretched in Ukraine—and Armenia is suffering the consequences.
Putin Doubles Down on a Bad Hand With Mobilization
The war in Ukraine is going so bad, he’s willing to risk domestic unrest.
What Russia’s Elites Think of Putin Now
The president successfully preserved the status quo for two decades. Suddenly, he’s turned into a destroyer.