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Russia-Ukraine war

News and analysis on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s first major war in decades.

The latest in Russia-Ukraine war

ISIS? Russian sabotage? The biggest security threats at these Olympics.ISIS? Russian sabotage? The biggest security threats at these Olympics.
Olympics

Officials say Paris will be the “safest place in the world” for the Olympics. Here’s what they’re up against.

By Joshua Keating
With Biden out of the election, can US foreign policy be Trump-proofed?With Biden out of the election, can US foreign policy be Trump-proofed?
World Politics

The trickiest country for American foreign policy right now is ... America.

By Joshua Keating
The world is running out of soldiersThe world is running out of soldiers
World Politics

Wars are getting more common and militaries are building up. There’s just one thing missing.

By Joshua Keating
The US tests Putin’s nuclear threats in UkraineThe US tests Putin’s nuclear threats in Ukraine
World Politics

Allowing Ukraine to fire Western weapons into Russia strengthens an ally, but risks violating an unknown red line.

By Joshua Keating
The obscure federal intelligence bureau that got Vietnam, Iraq, and Ukraine right
Future Perfect

INR is “almost always right.” How come nobody has heard of it?

By Dylan Matthews
Why we need a Memorial Day for civilian victims of warWhy we need a Memorial Day for civilian victims of war
Future Perfect

Non-combatants bear the brunt of modern war’s toll, but we don’t know how to memorialize them.

By Bryan Walsh
Congress’s $95 billion Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan aid package, explainedCongress’s $95 billion Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan aid package, explained
Politics

The bill provides billions in foreign aid and could force ByteDance to sell TikTok.

By Li Zhou
Ukraine is finally getting more US aid. It won’t win the war — but it can save them from defeat.Ukraine is finally getting more US aid. It won’t win the war — but it can save them from defeat.
Today, Explained newsletter

New American weapons will buy Ukraine’s defenders some valuable time.

By Joshua Keating
What’s behind the latest right-wing revolt against Mike JohnsonWhat’s behind the latest right-wing revolt against Mike Johnson
Politics

The House could soon pass Ukraine aid — along with a TikTok bill — in a new package that’s raised GOP ire.

By Li Zhou
A very bad year for press freedomA very bad year for press freedom
Today, Explained newsletter

Russia’s year-long detention of Evan Gershkovich is one part of a very grim picture for journalism.

By Caroline Houck
There’s a shadow fleet sneaking Russian oil around the world. It’s an ecological disaster waiting to happen.There’s a shadow fleet sneaking Russian oil around the world. It’s an ecological disaster waiting to happen.
World Politics

The world’s next big maritime catastrophe could involve sanctions-dodging rustbuckets.

By Joshua Keating
The battle for blame over a deadly terror attack in MoscowThe battle for blame over a deadly terror attack in Moscow
World Politics

All signs point to ISIS in a terrorist attack that killed over 130 people near Moscow, but Vladimir Putin is connecting it to the war in Ukraine.

By Joshua Keating
Caught between Trump and Putin, are European countries ready to go nuclear?Caught between Trump and Putin, are European countries ready to go nuclear?
World Politics

The debate over “Euronukes,” explained.

By Joshua Keating
Are Ukraine’s defenses starting to crumble?Are Ukraine’s defenses starting to crumble?
Today, Explained newsletter

What Ukraine’s biggest setback in months tells us about the future of the war.

By Joshua Keating
Where does the fight for a free Russia go now?Where does the fight for a free Russia go now?
Russia-Ukraine war

Yulia Navalnaya picks up her husband’s battle against Putin.

By Ellen Ioanes
US officials are always talking about “deterring” Iran. What does that really mean?US officials are always talking about “deterring” Iran. What does that really mean?
World Politics

Adversaries keep chipping away at America’s military credibility. Trump isn’t helping.

By Joshua Keating
The moral and strategic case for arming UkraineThe moral and strategic case for arming Ukraine
Today, Explained newsletter

Congress should have approved Ukraine aid yesterday.

By Zack Beauchamp
Why Ukraine’s new top general is known as the “butcher”Why Ukraine’s new top general is known as the “butcher”
Russia-Ukraine war

A major military shake-up comes amid a fight in Congress over US funding for Ukraine.

By Ellen Ioanes and Li Zhou
Welcome to the “neomedieval era”
World Politics

Nations like the US have more firepower than ever before — but they also appear weaker than ever. The upshot is a world that feels out of control.

By Joshua Keating
America is exporting more arms than ever. Here’s why.America is exporting more arms than ever. Here’s why.
World Politics

Record arms exports are a sign of America’s commitment to Europe — and its foreign policy failures during the war in Ukraine.

By Nicole Narea
What happens in Ukraine if US aid disappears?What happens in Ukraine if US aid disappears?
World Politics

Should Congress fail to extend aid to Ukraine, it would “change the character of the war.”

By Joshua Keating
Biden weighs a “shocking” revival of Trump’s immigration agendaBiden weighs a “shocking” revival of Trump’s immigration agenda
Politics

The White House is reportedly open to making concessions to Republicans in its negotiations over aid to Ukraine and Israel that go far beyond border security.

By Nicole Narea
There are now more land mines in Ukraine than almost anywhere else on the planetThere are now more land mines in Ukraine than almost anywhere else on the planet
World Politics

Ukraine is staring down a massive humanitarian challenge — now and into the future.

By Jen Kirby
A harrowing film exposes the brutality of Russia’s war in UkraineA harrowing film exposes the brutality of Russia’s war in Ukraine
Your guide to the 2024 Oscars

A conversation with a Ukrainian journalist who documented the siege of Mariupol.

By Jen Kirby
Poland’s democracy is on the brink. Can these elections save it?Poland’s democracy is on the brink. Can these elections save it?
World Politics

The high stakes of Poland’s elections, explained.

By Jen Kirby
The West’s united pro-Ukraine front is showing cracksThe West’s united pro-Ukraine front is showing cracks
Russia-Ukraine war

In the US and across Europe, politics are complicating support for Ukraine.

By Jen Kirby
Congress avoided a shutdown. What happens now?Congress avoided a shutdown. What happens now?
Politics

Kevin McCarthy faced either a shutdown or a right-wing push to kick him out of his job. He chose the latter.

By Ben Jacobs
40 years ago today, one man saved us from world-ending nuclear war40 years ago today, one man saved us from world-ending nuclear war
Future Perfect

On September 26, 1983, Stanislav Petrov saved the world.

By Dylan Matthews
Governments once imagined a future without extreme poverty. What happened?Governments once imagined a future without extreme poverty. What happened?
Future Perfect

As the UN meets in New York, progress and energy around the Sustainable Development Goals is dwindling at the worst possible time.

By Bryan Walsh
Why Volodymyr Zelenskyy had to go to WashingtonWhy Volodymyr Zelenskyy had to go to Washington
Russia-Ukraine war

The Ukrainian president seeks support for the same fight, but under different circumstances.

By Jen Kirby
What a defense ministry shake-up may say about Ukraine’s corruption problemWhat a defense ministry shake-up may say about Ukraine’s corruption problem
Russia-Ukraine war

The removals come two weeks after the removal of the defense ministry and as Ukraine seeks to shore up global support.

By Jen Kirby
What Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un’s meeting might bringWhat Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un’s meeting might bring
World Politics

Kim Jong Un left for a Russian economic summit this week, but weapons could be on the table.

By Ellen Ioanes
Are the US and Ukraine at odds over the counteroffensive?Are the US and Ukraine at odds over the counteroffensive?
Russia-Ukraine war

Reports of squabbles over the counteroffensive are a reminder that Ukraine and the US aren’t sure what comes after this operation — and if they’ll want the same thing.

By Jen Kirby
What went wrong in Ukraine’s counteroffensiveWhat went wrong in Ukraine’s counteroffensive
Russia-Ukraine war

And what’s changed now.

By Jen Kirby
What’s up with all these drones hitting Moscow?What’s up with all these drones hitting Moscow?
Russia-Ukraine war

Ukraine is trying to bring the costs of its war home to Russia.

By Jen Kirby
How bad will things get now that Russia has quit its grain deal with Ukraine?How bad will things get now that Russia has quit its grain deal with Ukraine?
World Politics

Russia quit a deal made to avert a global food crisis and has now launched strikes against the key port city of Odesa.

By Jen Kirby
What Ukraine did — and didn’t — get from the NATO summitWhat Ukraine did — and didn’t — get from the NATO summit
World Politics

NATO got its unity moment, but it put off the big questions for Ukraine.

By Jen Kirby
Biden’s Eurotrip, briefly explainedBiden’s Eurotrip, briefly explained
Joe Biden

Biden’s big Europe trip could have major implications for Ukraine.

By Li Zhou
The US’s controversial decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine, explainedThe US’s controversial decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine, explained
Politics

Why cluster bombs are different from other US weapons sent to Ukraine.

By Jen Kirby
Wagner’s real money never came from diamonds and goldWagner’s real money never came from diamonds and gold
World Politics

Wagner’s businesses in Africa isolate and create dependent economies, not funding for private armies.

By Ellen Ioanes