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Russia-Ukraine war

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

Biden is letting Ukraine use a powerful new weapon. What happens next?Biden is letting Ukraine use a powerful new weapon. What happens next?
Russia

Putin’s response is renewing concerns about nuclear escalation.

By Ellen Ioanes
Why Ukraine thinks it can still win over Donald TrumpWhy Ukraine thinks it can still win over Donald Trump
Trump 2.0, explained

Ukraine’s new pitch: Democracy out, gas and minerals in.

By Joshua Keating
From Bibi to Putin, here’s how world leaders reacted to Trump’s winFrom Bibi to Putin, here’s how world leaders reacted to Trump’s win
2024 Elections

Thrills, cautious optimism, stony silence: How allies, partners, and adversaries reacted to Trump’s win.

By Ellen Ioanes
Russia’s campaign against the West is getting more aggressiveRussia’s campaign against the West is getting more aggressive
World Politics

The Election Day bomb threats are part of a larger and increasingly dangerous strategy.

By Joshua Keating
Why the Pentagon just can’t quit Elon MuskWhy the Pentagon just can’t quit Elon Musk
Defense & SecurityMember Exclusive

How Musk’s SpaceX became too big to fail for US national security.

By Joshua Keating
41 years ago today, one man saved us from world-ending nuclear war41 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
Ukraine’s dramatic drone strikes on Russia are about making the case for more aidUkraine’s dramatic drone strikes on Russia are about making the case for more aid
Russia-Ukraine war

What to know about Ukraine’s drone strike in Russian territory.

By Ellen Ioanes
The guessing game over Kamala Harris’s foreign policyThe guessing game over Kamala Harris’s foreign policy
Vox’s guide to Kamala Harris’s 2024 policies

Would Harris differ from Biden? Nobody knows.

By Joshua Keating
America isn’t ready for another war — because it doesn’t have the troopsAmerica isn’t ready for another war — because it doesn’t have the troops
Future Perfect

The US military’s recruiting crisis, explained.

By Gil Barndollar and Matthew C. Mai
Zelenskyy’s new plan to end the war, explainedZelenskyy’s new plan to end the war, explained
World Politics

The plan is short on detail but aims to push Russia to negotiate.

By Ellen Ioanes
Did Ukraine just call Putin’s nuclear bluff?Did Ukraine just call Putin’s nuclear bluff?
Politics

By invading Russia, Ukraine was also sending a message to America.

By Joshua Keating
Armed conflict is stressing the bones of the global economyArmed conflict is stressing the bones of the global economy
World Politics

From shipping lanes to airspace to undersea cables, globalization is under physical attack.

By Joshua Keating
Ukraine’s shock Russia incursion, explainedUkraine’s shock Russia incursion, explained
Russia-Ukraine war

Ukraine’s sneak attack has Russia scrambling. What does this mean for the war?

By Ellen Ioanes
The world is getting more violent. A top refugee advocate thinks he knows why.The world is getting more violent. A top refugee advocate thinks he knows why.
Future Perfect

The International Rescue Committee’s David Miliband on Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and the dangers of a “flammable world.”

By Joshua Keating
The US-Russia prisoner swap that freed Evan Gershkovich, explainedThe US-Russia prisoner swap that freed Evan Gershkovich, explained
World Politics

It’s the largest exchange since the Cold War.

By Li Zhou
Arson attacks underscore the security and terror threats to the Paris OlympicsArson attacks underscore the security and terror threats to the Paris 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
Future Perfect

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