Russia’s War in Ukraine
Understanding the conflict two years on.
Biden and the G-7 Seek to Reassure Ukraine
A new security agreement and $50 billion funding deal signal that the West remains united in Kyiv’s defense—but how long will it last?
The Changing Nuclear Mind Game
Russia’s nuclear threats to reach conventional goals in Ukraine mark a new era of brinkmanship.
Putin Cuts Ukraine’s Power
With constant assaults on the electricity grid, Moscow is adding an explosive twist to an old playbook.
Now Is Not the Time to Negotiate With Putin
If Ukraine enters peace talks, it must do so from a position of strength.
Battlefield Strategy
Biden’s Catch-22 in Ukraine
Washington’s backing for Kyiv and avoidance of risk are increasingly at odds.
Russia’s War Machine Runs on Western Parts
Despite sanctions, Moscow is still importing critical weapon components from the U.S. and Europe.
How Kyiv Plans to Use American Aid
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba joins FP Live for a wide-ranging discussion.
Fear and Hoarding on Ukraine’s Eastern Front
Ammo shortages are costing lives and time.
Wartime Diplomacy
The Age of Intelligence Diplomacy
The Iraq War highlighted its risks. Russia’s war in Ukraine showcased its opportunities.
Germany Is Failing Ukraine—and Europe
Berlin is scared of acknowledging Russia’s real threat.
NATO Looks to Create New Special Envoy Post in Ukraine
The plan comes as Western leaders debate Ukraine’s ambitions to join NATO.
The U.S. Still Has a Lend-Leash Act for Ukraine
Washington is finding ways to get Kyiv more money—but keeps it hamstrung from actually fighting the war.
Regional Dynamics
Putin’s Baltic Provocations Are Raising Western Hackles
From redrawn maritime borders to suspected sabotage, Moscow is trying to exert power in a long-coveted region.
Claims That Sanctions Hurt Europe More Than Russia Are Wrong
A false narrative is being peddled by the Kremlin and its Western friends.
Putin Is Obsessed With Russian Liberals
Attacks on the movement show how insecure Russia’s dictator feels.
The ‘Military Schengen’ Era Is Here
The first step for Europe’s common military ambitions is figuring out free movement.
Latest Stories
A New Era of Financial Warfare Has Begun
The West’s latest actions against Russia carry risks for the global system and could provoke China.
ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for 2 Top Russian Officials
Gen. Valery Gerasimov and former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu are accused of targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the coldest months of 2022.
Putin Proposes Cease-Fire in Ukraine With Extensive Territorial Conditions
Kyiv immediately denounced the deal, which would cede more than one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory to Russia.
G-7 Outlines $50 Billion Ukraine Loan Deal, New Security Agreements
The bloc’s leaders hope to showcase unity despite facing political threats at home.
Russia Ramps Up Sabotage Operations in Europe
Western officials struggle to respond to a new wave of “hybrid warfare.”
G-7 Leaders Meet to Ramp Up New Pressure on Russia
Leaders look to lock in commitments ahead of tumultuous election cycles.
Are Putin’s Nuclear Threats Working?
A new book examines the past and present of Russian thinking on deterrence.
NATO Members Allow Ukraine to Use Their Weapons Inside Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened escalation amid Moscow’s tactical gains in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.
The Advocate
Ukraine and the Europeans are vexed about how to deal with Trump. Gordon Sondland has a playbook.
Russia Advances on Kharkiv as Ukraine Struggles to Fight Back
Moscow is exploiting Biden’s restrictive rules on U.S. weapons use to make gains, Ukrainian officials say.
Who Is Russia’s New Defense Minister?
Putin’s appointment of economist Andrei Belousov suggests Moscow is digging in for the long haul.
The Resilience of Ukraine’s War Widows
Perhaps tens of thousands of Ukrainian women have lost their partners in the conflict with Russia. They look to rebuild amid precarity and uncertainty.
Kyiv Thwarts Alleged Russian-Backed Assassination Attempt on Zelensky
Plus, Russian authorities detain a U.S. soldier for criminal misconduct.
Putin Begins Fifth Term With Nuclear Drills
The Russian leader was sworn in amid spiraling tensions with the West.
How Georgia Sided With Its Enemy
Georgians are angry at the government’s pro-Russian turn.
‘Russia Feels Like They’re Winning’
A top House Democrat gets real on Ukraine, Israel, and China.
Top House Democrat ‘Deeply Worried’ About Israel’s War Strategy in Gaza
Israel is losing the support of Democrats over how it’s prosecuting the war, lawmaker warns.
What Do Russians Really Think About Putin’s War?
Polling has gotten harder as autocracy has tightened.
U.S. Allies Relieved After Senate Passes Long-Delayed Aid Bill
But the fact it took so long to pass has some worried about future support.
Ukraine Is Still Outgunned by Russia
Even with the approval of new U.S. aid, most of the artillery Ukraine needs won’t get to the front until next year.
Russia Is Committing Cultural Genocide in Ukraine
Historical falsification, youth indoctrination, and the plunder of artifacts reveal the Kremlin’s true objectives.
Russia’s Shadow Fleet Could Create Strange Allies
Both Greenpeace and NATO are working against off-book oil tankers.
NATO Doesn’t Have Enough Troops
For the first time in decades, NATO has a plan to fight Russia. Now it just needs the forces to do it.
Russia’s Rosatom Fuels Putin’s War Machine
The nuclear company’s expanding corporate empire is an urgent target for sanctions.
Ukraine’s Cheap Drones Are Decimating Russia’s Tanks
But experts say they’re not a long-term solution to a lack of artillery rounds.
How Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Became Putin’s Spiritual Guru
The strange story of a global literary hero who went on to inspire Russia’s war on Ukraine.
NATO Tries to Trump-Proof Ukraine Aid
NATO wants to help Ukraine for the long term. But Kyiv needs help now.
The Steady Hand
Jens Stoltenberg has led NATO through a decade of war, chaos, and Trump. What comes next?
Migrants in Russia Are Terrified as Racism Grows After Deadly Attack
Violence and war are shaping Moscow’s brutal response.
Moscow Terrorist Attack Undercuts Putin’s Strongman Image
Russia’s security services are stretched, distracted, and politicized, experts say.
Putin Implicates Ukraine in Moscow Attack Despite Islamic State Claim of Responsibility
Both the United States and France said the terrorist group was solely responsible.
Can Ukraine Escape the Curse of Nonexistence?
A landmark translation of a Ukrainian novel explores a nation caught between the jaws of empire.
Shifting Conflicts Hit Key Energy Routes
From Russia to Yemen, gas and oil exports have become prime targets.
Russia’s Black Sea Naval Ambitions
Ukraine has busted up most of the Black Sea Fleet. Russia is plotting a comeback.
War-Zone GPS Spoofing Is Threatening Civil Aviation
A surge in spoofing from the Middle East to northern Europe is throwing onboard navigation systems off course.
Technology Alone Won’t Break the Stalemate in Ukraine
Kyiv’s Western backers need to grasp that drones are no substitute for a capable fighting force.
Russia Is Betting on Battlefield Gains
As Ukrainian forces brace for a new Russian offensive, Kyiv urgently needs supplemental military aid and ammunition.
The U.S. Military Is Running Short on Ammunition—and So Is Ukraine
If Congress fails to pass a national security supplemental funding bill, Ukraine will be getting fewer bullets.
Russia is Waging Spiritual War in Africa
The Patriarchate of Moscow is trying to steal Orthodox believers to weaken Ukraine.
The West Is Still Oblivious to Russia’s Information War
Paralyzed by free speech concerns, Western governments are loath to act.
State Department Beefs Up U.S. Diplomatic Presence in Kyiv
Lawmakers still think the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv is too small, and diplomats can’t get close enough to the front lines.
Ukrainians Are Using an App to Return Home
The land war may be conventional, but Kyiv’s approach to reconstruction is anything but.
Europe Edges Closer to ‘Plan B’ for Using Frozen Russian Money
Leery of seizing all of Russia’s state assets, Europe may opt for a next-best approach that could still provide Ukraine billions of euros a year.
The West Can No Longer Hesitate on Ukraine
Allies must provide Kyiv with what it needs to win the war and secure the peace: arms supplies and a path to NATO membership.
Ukrainians Are Resilient—But They Still Need Washington
In Kyiv, all eyes are on the U.S. congressional fight over aid.
Making Sense of Macron’s Hint at Troops in Ukraine
Keeping all options open could serve deterrence—but does nothing to help Ukraine now.
Putin Threatens Nuclear War if Foreign Troops Deploy to Ukraine
The Russian leader’s speech was one of his most explicit nuclear warnings yet against the West.
Ukrainian Civilians Are Pioneering the Art of Resistance
Nonviolent tools are undercutting the Russian occupation.
NATO’s Military Has a New Nerve Center
The alliance has transformed its once sleepy headquarters into a war command focused on Russia.
NATO’s Confusion Over the Russia Threat
Scenarios and timelines for Moscow’s possible war goals in Europe are a veritable Tetris game of alliance planning.
A Tale of Haunted Love Captures Wartime Ukraine
“Daybreak” is a nightmarish romance about the horrors of war.
Ukrainian Artists Struggle With War’s Impact
Questions of authenticity and loss hang over new works.
U.S. Sanctions Russia for Two-Year War Anniversary
Yet the Biden administration worries that sanctions alone are not enough to curb Moscow’s military efforts.
The Children Russia Tried to Steal
Tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia. Liza Batsura made it home.
How Do-Gooders Are Deflating the Defense Industry
Investing in weapons manufacturers has long been taboo. Now, ESG policies are hurting the bottom line in Ukraine.
It’s Time to Declare Putin an Illegitimate Leader
Russia’s sham elections next month—with voting on occupied Ukrainian territory—should not be recognized.
Russia’s Democratic Future Won’t Start in Moscow
Regional protests are the seedbed for change.
Ukraine Isn’t Putin’s War—It’s Russia’s War
Jade McGlynn’s books paint an unsettling picture of ordinary Russians’ support for the invasion and occupation of Ukraine.
There Must Be a Reckoning for Russian War Crimes
Systematic atrocities are integral to Moscow’s way of waging war—and should not be condoned.
Ukraine Needs More Fighters
But further mobilization is unpopular—and politically sensitive.
Two Years On, What’s Next in Ukraine?
Eight thinkers shed light on the state of the war.
Specter of Another War in Europe Hangs Over Munich
Fears of a Russian attack on NATO spark existential questions at the Munich Security Conference.
NATO’s Silver Lining Playbook
On Ukraine, Western officials say things are bad but they could be a lot worse.
Ukraine’s War of Art
In Mariupol, a controversial mural is caught up in efforts to rewrite national identity.
Navalny’s Death Shocks World Leaders in Munich
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris declared “Russia is responsible” for the opposition leader’s demise.
Anxious World Leaders Descend on Munich
Doubts on Ukraine and growing alarm about a second Trump term are likely to dominate the agenda.
European Lawmakers Issue Dire Warnings Over Stalled Ukraine Aid Package
“If you don’t want another Pearl Harbor, you better listen to us,” cautioned one Lithuanian politician.
Is Africa Corps a Rebranded Wagner Group?
The death of Yevgeny Prigozhin has accelerated a shift in Russia’s interventions on the continent.
Sweden Is Making the Most of NATO’s Waiting Room
Sweden’s military has taken a 500-year path to joining NATO, from the Vikings through Napoleon and neutrality. So what’s another few months?
Ukraine’s Military Faces Major Shake-up
Valery Zaluzhny, the general credited with many of Ukraine’s battlefield successes, is likely headed for the exits.
How Europe Can Prepare for a Second Trump Term—Now
The continent must bolster its own defense capabilities before an isolationist ringleader returns to the White House.
The U.S. Is Considering Giving Russia’s Frozen Assets to Ukraine
The unprecedented move could offer a tidy way to make Moscow pay for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
U.S. and Germany Push to Delay Ukraine NATO Membership Invite
Ukraine and its Eastern European allies want the invite to come soon, but Washington and Berlin are wary.
Is China Sincere About Peace in Ukraine?
Beijing has done very little to help—but it could.
Europe Braces for Trump 2.0
European officials are scrambling to ensure the transatlantic relationship can survive the U.S. election.
The Broken Bargain of Russian Womanhood
Why they won’t rebel against the war that kills their men.
Ukraine Has a Pathway to Victory
Why the new conventional wisdom that the war is a stalemate favoring Russia is wrong.
NATO Scrambles to Reload Ukraine’s Air Defense
With U.S. military aid to Ukraine frozen, Europe is ramping up support.
The Ukraine War May Be Decided at the Ballot Box
Political and economic changes in 2024 could weaken Kyiv’s struggle.
Ukraine’s Nightmare Scenario Is Now Its Reality
The ground has frozen. The aid is freezing, too.
Russia Is Divvying Up Prigozhin’s Empire Among Putin’s Cronies
Wagner’s African resources are up for grabs.
FP Live Looks Back at 2023
Stephen Walt explains why countries are accusing America of hypocrisy.
Ukraine Braces for Political Disaster in 2024
Grim possibilities in the United States and European Union have Kyiv on edge.
Ukraine Has a Civil Rights Problem
Wartime unity hasn’t healed the wounds of the country’s past.
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Belarus?
Washington’s new envoys face a Sisyphean task.
Zelensky Miscalculates With Republicans
That doesn’t bode well for future U.S. support.
Zelensky Visits Washington to Plead for More Aid
But Republicans continue to block an emergency spending bill over demands for immigration reform.
Ukraine Braces for EU Membership, Funding Fight
As Hungary blocks Kyiv’s membership bid, U.S. senators push back on another aid package.
Russia’s Bank Chief Is Running Her Own PR Campaign
Moscow’s economic paradoxes offer an opportunity for Ukraine.
Russia’s Military Cruelty Begins With Its Own Conscripts
Brutal hazing breaks and humiliates Russian soldiers—and they take it out on civilians.
Putin Could Prevail if Ukraine Aid Cut
U.S. and Ukrainian officials sound the alarm as aid to Kyiv is held hostage by congressional battles over the U.S. southern border.
U.S. Congressional Fight Threatens to Derail Ukraine Aid
If Republicans continue to block the nearly $106 billion package, then U.S. funding for Ukraine will dry up by the end of the year.
Ukraine Doesn’t Want Wartime Elections
Zelensky is following the law—and the public mood.
The EU’s Plan for Ukraine Could Easily Backfire
Membership bids in Europe sometimes accomplish the opposite of what they intend.
America Is a Heartbeat Away From a War It Could Lose
Global war is neither a theoretical contingency nor the fever dream of hawks and militarists.
The Case for Supporting Ukraine Is Crystal Clear
Note to Congress: Ukraine aid is not charity but serves critical U.S. interests.
Russia Is Shrugging Off Sanctions
The West must get tougher on oil revenues to build a more effective regime.
The Inevitable Fall of Putin’s New Russian Empire
What history tells us about collapsed empires trying to restore their former possessions.
McConnell’s Ukraine Legacy Turns Into Political Headache
House Republicans sour plans for major joint funding package on Ukraine and Israel.
The Dream of a European Security Order With Russia Is Dead
How the war ends will determine Europe’s future as much as Ukraine’s.
Fiona Hill: Ukraine’s Fate Now Linked to the Middle East’s
The former White House Russia expert on Biden’s speech linking the two wars—and how Putin might cash in.
How Russia Evaded the Oil Price Cap
The idea worked well until the Kremlin adapted, which is the usual fate of sanctions.
Ukraine Targets Russia With Secret New Supply of U.S. Weapons
Kyiv scores hits with long-awaited ATACMS system.
Negotiating With Russia Is Still a Bad Idea
The rationale for forcing Ukraine to stop fighting keeps changing with the facts on the ground.
Are Ukraine’s Airstrikes in Russia Effective?
The attacks hinder Russian warfighting, but Ukrainian leaders probably seek a more strategic impact.
Ukraine Is Already Working on Its Next Election
The challenges of holding a vote in wartime are both small and big—and often unexpected.
Russia’s Crimean Red Line Has Been Erased
Claims about the territory’s spiritual status have been revealed to be fiction.
U.S. Budget Deal Has Europe Questioning American Resolve on Ukraine
If U.S. military aid falls short, more Ukrainians will die, officials in Kyiv say.
‘We Don’t Want to Lose Our Second Motherland’
Mustafa Nayyem fights to rebuild Ukraine.
North Korea’s Shell Game Is Not a Game-Changer, Pentagon Says
Moscow’s deal with Pyongyang for more artillery rounds will fill Russian gaps—but likely not turn the tables in Ukraine.
What Does Victory Look Like in Ukraine?
Ukrainians differ on what would keep their nation safe from Russia.
Meet Ukraine’s New Defense Boss
He’s not the same as the old boss.
Ukraine Is Getting Its Abrams—but Not What It Really Wants
U.S. military support for Kyiv continues, but political resistance means no long-range fire.
Musk’s Starlink Shutdown Raises Eyebrows
No one man should have all that power, U.S. lawmakers say.
Russia’s Home Port in Occupied Crimea Is Under Fire
“If you’re on a Russian naval ship, you’re not safe anywhere in the Black Sea,” said one retired U.S. admiral.
Russia’s Would-Be Assassins Still Stalk Europe’s Streets
Moscow’s regular spies have been expelled. Their kill squads are still active.
The Washington Whiz Kids Mapping the War in Ukraine
How the Institute For the Study of War became the media’s go-to source for tracking the Russian invasion.
Prigozhin’s Assassination Was Business, Not Revenge
The Wagner chief broke the deal struck with Putin for his survival.
Ukraine’s Long and Sordid History of Treason
For money or out of conviction, some Ukrainians are helping Russia kill their compatriots.
New Russian Schoolbooks Preach Hatred of Ukraine and the West
The Kremlin has taken indoctrination and historical falsification to a new level.
New Russian Law Takes Corporate Hostages
Western companies’ assets are under threat.
Why We Should Not Bet on a Peaceful Russia
The idea that a deal with Moscow will bring peace in Ukraine is based on very flimsy assumptions.
What’s Next for the Wagner Group?
The infamous Russian mercenary group finds itself without a leader, but still with a mission.
A Dead Prigozhin Won’t Stop Tales of a Weak Putin
Interpretations of the Wagner saga are more imaginative than analytical.
Russia’s Murderous Mercenary Prigozhin Is Dead
The Wagner chief’s death in a plane crash was confirmed by Russia’s aviation agency.
Russia’s Illegal Bridges Have Ukrainian Crosshairs on Them
Kyiv is determined to destroy a major supply line into occupied Crimea.
Ukraine’s Appeals to Europe Can Alienate Others
Rhetoric about “European civilization” clashes with anti-colonial ideals.
Ukraine Can Learn From Southeast Asia
Cambodia and Laos have direct experience with the aftermath of U.S. cluster bombs, now deployed on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Belarus Is Abducting Ukrainian Children in Plain Sight
A trail of evidence on social networks and state media detail Minsk’s role in a potential war crime
Biden Scrounges Up More U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Too little, too late?
Russia Is Attempting Genocide in Ukraine
Other states have a legal and moral duty to stop Moscow.
Ukraine Brings the Pain
Kyiv’s forces are finally starting to breach the dragon’s teeth.
Is the Wagner Group a Terrorist Organization?
The answer could have wide-ranging implications for U.S. policy in Africa and beyond
Western Agencies Offer an Open Door for Russian Defectors
The CIA and MI6 are promising a trust Moscow lacks.
Putin’s Paranoia Has Turned on Russia’s Far Right
The security state is targeting nationalists like Igor Girkin.
Sanctions Haven’t Stopped Russians From Having Their Fun in the Sun
Boeing aircraft are still plying tourist routes from Moscow to Turkey, Egypt, and Thailand, and they’re refueling—and possibly getting repairs—en route.
Russia Declares War on Wheat, Peas, and Barley
Moscow used to bang shoes to get attention. Now it blows up grain warehouses.
You See What You Want to See in Russia
Why didn’t Prigozhin’s mutiny against Putin change anyone’s mind?
Inside the Desperate Diplomatic Efforts to Salvage U.S.-South Africa Ties
South Africa’s support for Russia after its invasion of Ukraine has incensed some in Washington.
Putin’s Fear of Strong Generals Is as Old as Russia Itself
Prigozhin’s rise and fall is the latest example of what happens when a ruler in Moscow fears the power of military underlings.
What the Wagner Mutiny Means for China in Africa
When it comes to increasing its security footprint abroad, Beijing is facing a conundrum in reconciling Maoist doctrine with contemporary reality.
How Worried Should We Be About Zaporizhzhia?
It’s not Chernobyl 2.0. But experts say Russian threats to cause a catastrophe shouldn’t be dismissed lightly.
Why Ukraine’s Counteroffensive Has Been Slower Than Expected
Former CIA analyst Andrea Kendall-Taylor with the big-picture view on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Stop Comparing Ukraine to World War I
Normandy in 1944 is a much better historical analogy—and it counsels patience.
Lukashenko Won the Putin-Prigozhin Fight
The dictator of Belarus recognized the mutiny in Russia as an opportunity to empower himself.
Europe Can Flex Its Military Muscle to Protect Postwar Ukraine
Integrating Kyiv into the Joint Expeditionary Force would help deter Moscow.
Russia Is Holding Ukraine’s Farms Hostage
Moscow is weaponizing resources that aren’t even its own.
Cluster Bombs Are Terrible. Ukraine Still Needs Them.
I saw the impact of these weapons on my homeland—but Biden’s decision was right.
Wartime Elections in Ukraine Are Impossible
Voting in the middle of the Russian invasion is legally and practically unworkable.
The Long, Destructive Shadow of Obama’s Russia Doctrine
A series of bad decisions during the Obama years prepared the ground for Vladimir Putin’s war.
Russia’s War Comes for Academia
Severed ties between U.S. and Russian scholars are straining the field to a breaking point.
Prigozhin’s Failed Coup Was a Blessing in Disguise
In times of political instability, Washington prefers the nuclear devil it knows.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen: ‘Putin Has Exploited Our Hesitation’
NATO’s former secretary-general on the case for arming Ukraine and what to expect at the Vilnius summit.
2 Options to Prevent the Next Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Will it be NATO membership or the Israel model?
Biden Set to OK Cluster Munitions for Ukraine
The decision to send the controversial weapons comes after months of knife fights within the U.S. administration.
The Wagner Mutiny Could Strengthen Iran in Syria
Putin faces a choice between punishing Prigozhin and ceding influence and territory to Tehran.
The Putin-Prigozhin Fight Now Has a Syrian Battlefield
The Kremlin is trying to take control of the Wagner Group’s Middle Eastern empire.
Prigozhin Should Study Europe’s Greatest Mercenary
Albrecht von Wallenstein was the Holy Roman Empire’s power broker—until he clashed with his superior.
Is Revolt in Russia Good for America?
The Wagner Group’s short-lived mutiny seems to have weakened Putin—but that isn’t necessarily a win for Washington.
Adam Tooze: How Putin Overstretched His Military in Ukraine
Last weekend’s mutiny was partly the product of a mismanaged authoritarian state.
Russia’s Nukes Are Probably Secure From Rogue Actors
Moscow has a tight command-and-control system—but there’s always a risk.
Xi’s Schadenfreude Over Moscow’s Mutiny
Xi feels vindicated over Putin’s style of governance—but has made a bad bet on the Russian leader.
Wagner Mutiny Rattles the Kremlin’s War in Ukraine
With its good fighters out of the picture, Russia’s manpower problems get worse.
Russia’s Periphery Takes Note of Putin’s Sudden Weakness
In Central Asia and the Caucasus, the Wagner rebellion has exposed Russia’s fragility.
Putin’s Strongman Image Suddenly Unravels for Russians
His mishandling of the revolt puts him in the spotlight—and Russians don’t like what they see.
Putin’s Stability Was Always a Myth
Prigozhin’s revolt has exposed the rotten foundations of a mafia state.
Congress Presses Biden to Deliver Cluster Munitions to Ukraine
Lawmakers from both parties want Ukraine to have the tools to root out entrenched Russian occupiers.
Wagner’s Revolt May Weaken Russia’s Draft
Conscripts will fear being used as stopgaps in Ukraine.
Why Kornilov’s Ghost Haunts Putin
A 1917 attempted coup d’etat is a reminder that even an ineffective mutiny can alter the course of history.
The Global South Is Keeping Russia’s Energy Economy Afloat
Gas and oil flows are reshaping geopolitical alignments.
Cluster Munitions Are Biden’s Latest Slow-Roll on Ukraine Aid
Yes, they can put some civilians at risk—but that should be the Ukrainians’ call to make.
Prigozhin’s Mutiny Is the Beginning of Putin’s End
Nobody in Russia understands what the war in Ukraine is about. And now, nobody knows if that war is coming to them.
What Russian Elites Think About the Wagner Crisis
What Russian elites are thinking about the mercenary leader’s abortive march on Moscow.
How to Curb Corruption in Ukraine’s Postwar Reconstruction
Lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan on managing malfeasance while rebuilding.
How to Use Russia’s Frozen Assets to Rebuild Ukraine
Conventional institutions won’t be able to handle reparations.
Congress Pressures Biden to Help Ukraine Into NATO
Kyiv doesn’t want to get stuck in NATO’s never-never land.
China’s Big Gas Bet Raises Questions About Complicity With Russia
Chinese-linked firms went on a spree of deals in the run-up to the invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainians Are Accusing Russia of Ecocide. What Does That Mean?
The dam blast rekindled a concept with Vietnam War roots but no place in international law—yet.
Ukraine’s Big Counteroffensive Gets Underway
Unlike last fall, Ukraine has to crack hardened Russian lines before doing any open-field running.
Sweden Pushes to Fast-Track Delayed NATO Bid
NATO is revamping defense plans that will be a whole lot harder to execute with Sweden on the outside.
What Ukraine’s Dam Collapse Means for the War
The breach could unleash a disastrous new humanitarian crisis as Kyiv readies its counteroffensive.
Blockade Runners Keep War-Torn Ukraine Working
“We’re basically homeless here, but at least we’re home.”
Taiwan Faces No Trade-Offs With Ukraine
But Taipei is also getting tired of supply chain issues.
Ukrainian U.N. Ambassador: Russia Is ‘Mold That Invades Your House’
Sergiy Kyslytsya talks about Putin’s nuclear blackmail, what to do with the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and how even Henry Kissinger can learn.
Putin Wants You to Think He’s an Anti-Woke Crusader
By pitching himself as a hero to the U.S. right, he’s taking a page from the 1960s North Vietnamese playbook to undermine support for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Farmland Is a Literal Minefield
With their livelihoods threatened and the state stretched thin, agricultural workers are taking demining into their own hands.
A Day Inside Putin’s Surreal Television Empire
How the nonstop blare of Russian state media fuels the war effort—and blurs reality.
The Last Big Weapon on Ukraine’s Wish List
Lawmakers want Biden to send long-range ATACMS sooner rather than later.
No, Russia Is Not Massively Skirting Sanctions
Eight takeaways about Russian evasion of Western sanctions.
It’s Back-to-School Season for Ukrainian Fighter Pilots
Kyiv’s top brass hopes to get Western fighter jets before their kids go off to college.
4 Ways U.S. Support for Ukraine Helps Defend Taiwan
From deterrence to military readiness, Ukraine aid is a major boost to Pacific security.
Russia Is Already Looking Beyond Ukraine
Moscow’s massive losses may not neutralize its threat to NATO countries.
Turn Ukraine Into a Bristling Porcupine
No matter how this war ends, Russia will need to be deterred from attacking again.
Russia’s Frighteningly Fascist Youth
A new generation of Russians glorifies war, death, and Vladimir Putin.
How Kyiv Is Wooing the Global South
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova on convincing the rest of the world to stand on the right side of history.
Holding Russia Accountable for War Crimes Is Harder Than It Looks
Debate rages over whether to pick the “gold, silver, or bronze” medal option for prosecuting war crimes.
A South African Scandal Could Shake Up Relations With Washington
Do South Africa’s denials that it supplied weapons to Russia ring true?
Ukraine Begins Pre-Offensive Probe of Russian Lines
“I would really hate to be a Russian private sitting in a trench right now,” said one former U.S. military commander.
Ukraine’s Next Big Diplomatic Offensive Is in the Global South
More ambassadors, more embassies, and, the hope is, more countering Russia.
China Won’t Let Russia Starve the World
The end of the Black Sea Grain Initiative would hurt Beijing, too.