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
Canada Bulks Up Diplomatic Footprint in Europe in Wake of Ukraine War
Leaning forward—from the foreign ministry.
Ukraine Wants NATO’s Help Against Russia’s WMDs
Ukraine is calling out Russia’s “state nuclear terrorism.”
Ukraine Is the Korean War Redux
Russia’s invasion heralds the transition to a new global order—but it will be less stable than the Cold War.
The Ukraine War Is Dividing Europe’s Arctic Indigenous People
It has driven a wedge between Sámi in Russia and those in Nordic countries.
Billionaires Can Arm Ukraine
The ultra-rich should dip into their deep pockets—for their own sake.
Biden’s Endgame Shouldn’t Be Victory for Ukraine
There is no realistic scenario for Ukraine to win. Washington should push for a settlement.
Does Kyiv Need a Marshall Plan?
Top policymakers discuss how to rebuild Ukraine.
From Pushkin to Putin: Russian Literature’s Imperial Ideology
Russian classical literature, chock full of dehumanizing nationalism, reads disturbingly familiar today.
Congress Seeks to Declare Putin’s War Genocide
A bipartisan resolution will underscore that Russian war crimes in Ukraine have constituted a genocide.
Here’s How to Help Ukraine Handle Putin’s Food Blockade
Creative storage and transport of the new harvest can undercut Russia’s weaponization of global hunger.
Take Realist Arguments Over Russia in Good Faith
As Thucydides’s history shows, wielding power needs open debate.
The Fall and Fall of Dmitry Medvedev
How the former Russian president went from geeky technocrat to deranged war hawk.
Poland Has Had It With Russia
The ratings are out: And Biden falls alongside Putin.
‘It’s Not Afghanistan’: Ukrainian Pilots Push Back on U.S.-Provided Drones
Both the Biden administration and Ukraine are worried that American strike drones would get shot down quickly.
The G-7 Agrees: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Is a ‘Zeitenwende’
New survey data shows majorities across the group of major industrial countries see Putin’s aggression as a fundamental turning point for the world.
What the Fall of Empires Tells Us About the Ukraine War
Russia’s war can only be understood as a bloody post-imperial conflict.