Russia’s War in Ukraine

News, analysis, and background on military campaigns, battlefield technology, and global diplomacy, negotiations, and sanctions.

Putin, in a black suit and purple tie, holds a champagne flute.
Putin, in a black suit and purple tie, holds a champagne flute.

Trump’s Russia Sanctions Are Really Putting the Hurt On

He was late to the show, but he brought a big stick.

Analysis
Keith Johnson
The first batch of the Ukrainian-made drone missile "Peklo" is shown before its delivery to the Ukrainian military in Kyiv on Dec. 6, 2024.
The first batch of the Ukrainian-made drone missile "Peklo" is shown before its delivery to the Ukrainian military in Kyiv on Dec. 6, 2024.

A Complacent Pentagon Needs to Learn From Ukraine

The Europeans are deeply engaged with Kyiv on defense technology, but Washington is lagging behind.

Analysis
Christian Caryl
A Patriot air defense system protects an airport used for weapons deliveries to Ukraine in Jasionka, Poland, on March 6.
A Patriot air defense system protects an airport used for weapons deliveries to Ukraine in Jasionka, Poland, on March 6.

How to Get More U.S. Weapons to Ukraine

Opening Europe’s 150 billion euro defense fund to U.S. companies could seal the deal. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Bart M. J. Szewczyk
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
Putin gives an interview
Putin gives an interview

From Moldova to Africa, Russia’s Power Is Waning

The defeat of Moscow-friendly parties in the Moldovan election is just the latest of many setbacks.

Analysis
Adrian Karatnycky, Alexander J. Motyl
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

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

Ukrainian servicemen in camouflage uniform ride an armored vehicle down a paved road beneath a cloudy sky. Directly next to the road is forest, pressing up against the soldiers in a wall of lush greenery.
Ukrainian servicemen in camouflage uniform ride an armored vehicle down a paved road beneath a cloudy sky. Directly next to the road is forest, pressing up against the soldiers in a wall of lush greenery.

What Is Ukraine’s Goal in Kursk?

Ukraine is making gains on Russian soil. But is Kyiv losing troops it can’t replace?

Report
Amy Mackinnon, Jack Detsch
U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov looks on during a ceremony to receive credentials from newly appointed foreign ambassadors at the Kremlin in Moscow.
U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov looks on during a ceremony to receive credentials from newly appointed foreign ambassadors at the Kremlin in Moscow.

Inside Putin’s Kremlin

John Sullivan, Washington’s former ambassador to Moscow, on how power works in Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

Insider
Robbie Gramer
Russian tank in Kursk
Russian tank in Kursk

Ukraine’s Invasion of Russia Could Bring a Quicker End to the War

One aim of the surprise breakthrough may be for Kyiv to gain leverage in negotiations.

Analysis
Andreas Umland
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
Black smoke feels the scene behind statues draped with the Ukrainina flag as a mob of protesters surrounds the statues.
Black smoke feels the scene behind statues draped with the Ukrainina flag as a mob of protesters surrounds the statues.

The Stubborn Legend of a Western ‘Coup’ in Ukraine

Ten years on, there is still confusion over what, exactly, transpired on the last days of the Maidan.

Excerpt
Adrian Karatnycky
A woman in a blue suit leans forward to look down the line of world leaders and dignitaries, many in suits.
A woman in a blue suit leans forward to look down the line of world leaders and dignitaries, many in suits.

Inside Ukraine’s Fight for Hearts and Minds

How Kyiv is working to win over the world beyond the West.

Argument
Nataliya Gumenyuk
A man in a T-shirt sits with his hands clasped for a portrait.
A man in a T-shirt sits with his hands clasped for a portrait.

Now Ukraine Is Also Recruiting Prisoners

Will a convict enlistment drive solve shortfalls on the frontline? This article has an audio recording

Report
Liz Cookman
An illustration shows the eyes of Vladimir Putin in a scope. Other details in the image show planes, stars and stripes, and surveillance cameras for a story about political assassinations.
An illustration shows the eyes of Vladimir Putin in a scope. Other details in the image show planes, stars and stripes, and surveillance cameras for a story about political assassinations.

Would the U.S. Consider Assassinating Putin?

When and why intelligence agencies target foreign leaders—and how it often backfires.

Analysis
Douglas London
Flags of NATO member countries flutter on poles arranged in a circle around an open plaza outside the NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Flags of NATO member countries flutter on poles arranged in a circle around an open plaza outside the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

NATO Grapples With a New Long Game Against Putin

Western allies must find a way to deal with a Moscow likely to remain hostile for the foreseeable future.

Analysis
Jack Detsch
Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen straight on as he attends an Orthodox Easter service. Putin wears a black suit and dark tie and a serious expression. Colorful drapes or curtains hang slightly out of focus behind him.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen straight on as he attends an Orthodox Easter service. Putin wears a black suit and dark tie and a serious expression. Colorful drapes or curtains hang slightly out of focus behind him.

Russian Oil Is Still Paying for Putin’s War

After initial success, Western energy sanctions are stalling out.

Analysis
Keith Johnson
People in tiered levels of a convention center work at computers near a large banner that reads "Make American Great Once Again."
People in tiered levels of a convention center work at computers near a large banner that reads "Make American Great Once Again."

‘Our Last-Ditch Pitch’: Nervous U.S. Allies Put Boots on Ground at RNC

Europe’s diplomatic heavyweights are flocking to Milwaukee to court Trump’s party.

Report
Robbie Gramer
Ukrainian servicemen wearing camouflage fatigues proceed up the aisle of a church as they carry the coffin of one of their fallen countrymen. The walls of the church are decorated with ornate portraits and detailing showing Orthodox Christian saints and other figures.
Ukrainian servicemen wearing camouflage fatigues proceed up the aisle of a church as they carry the coffin of one of their fallen countrymen. The walls of the church are decorated with ornate portraits and detailing showing Orthodox Christian saints and other figures.

Whose Terms Will Set a Peace Deal in Ukraine?

The war is unlikely to end in total victory for either Moscow or Kyiv.

Analysis
Eugene Chausovsky
A man dressed in military camouflage fatigues holds a controller as he stands in front of a large robotic vehicle on a dirt road.
A man dressed in military camouflage fatigues holds a controller as he stands in front of a large robotic vehicle on a dirt road.

Ukraine Goes All-In on Ground Robots

The goal is to save more human lives.

Report
Jack Detsch
A man looks down at his cell phone as he walks on a sidewalk beneath a looming billboard showing a photo of a military pilot, the letter Z, and text in Russian translated as "Everything will work out for us." A Moscow city street is seen beneath a blue sky in the background.
A man looks down at his cell phone as he walks on a sidewalk beneath a looming billboard showing a photo of a military pilot, the letter Z, and text in Russian translated as "Everything will work out for us." A Moscow city street is seen beneath a blue sky in the background.

Russians Expect Nothing From Putin’s War

Political apathy is a psychological survival mechanism—and a possible route to peace.

Argument
Kristaps Andrejsons
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looks on before the start of a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looks on before the start of a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.

NATO Is Helping Ukraine to Fight—but Not to Win 

The Washington summit was heavy on promises but light on plans.

Analysis
Amy Mackinnon
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin walk in front of a large crowd.
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin walk in front of a large crowd.

Can NATO Really Cut Off China?

It’s unlikely that the alliance can fully prevent Chinese companies from fueling Russia’s war machine.

Analysis
Lili Pike, Jack Detsch, Robbie Gramer
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