Putin, Vladimir V
What 70 Years of War Can Tell Us About the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Any Russian invasion of Ukraine was long expected to play out as a kind of postmodern war, defined by 21st-century weapons like media manipulation, battlefield-clouding disinformation, cyberattacks, false flag operations and unmarked fighters. Such elements have featured in this war. But it is traditional 20th-century dynamics that have instead dominated: shifting battle lines of tanks […]
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As Russians Steal Ukraine’s Art, They Attack Its Identity, Too
KHERSON, Ukraine — One morning in late October, Russian forces blocked off a street in downtown Kherson and surrounded a graceful old building with dozens of soldiers. Five large trucks pulled up. So did a line of military vehicles, ferrying Russian agents who filed in through several doors. It was a carefully planned, highly organized, […]
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U.S. Aid Is ‘Not Charity,’ Zelensky Tells Congress as a Lengthy War Looms
Later, when a reporter from Ukraine asked Mr. Biden why he didn’t just give Mr. Zelensky all the weapons he wanted, Mr. Biden quipped: “His answer is yes,” pointing at the Ukrainian president. “I agree!” Mr. Zelensky responded quickly in English, prompting laughter from the audience. The visit to the White House comes as both […]
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Lauding Their Soldiers, Putin and Zelensky Signal Long Fight Ahead
It was a moment that captured the intractability of a war that began nearly 10 months ago, featuring two antagonists presenting very different versions of the conflict. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, wearing a plain army-green jacket, on Tuesday made perhaps his most dangerous trip to the front lines since the fighting began in February, […]
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Biden Faces New Challenges Holding Together a Coalition to Support Ukraine
“We have enjoyed and continue to enjoy terrific bipartisan support for our approach to Ukraine and the kinds of security assistance that we’re providing, and we’re going to need that support going forward,” Mr. Kirby said. “The president’s not worried about that.” Biden allies said Democrats had proved to be self-correcting when it came to […]
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Vladimir Putin When Cornered Is More Dangerous Than Ever
Vladimir V. Putin’s menacing televised address on Wednesday was much more than a bid to change the course of his faltering war against Ukraine. It attempted to invert a war of aggression against a neighbor into one of defense of a threatened “motherland,” a theme that resonates with Russians steeped in patriotic history. Mr. Putin, […]
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U.S. and Allies Condemn Putin’s Troop Mobilization and Nuclear Threats
Michael Kofman, director of Russia studies at CNA, a defense research institute in Arlington, Va., said the Kremlin’s first step would likely be to call up reserve officers and others with more recent military experience to replenish badly depleted units in the field, perhaps in the next month or so. The Russian military has been […]
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Russia Signals Annexation of Parts of Ukraine, Raising Stakes in Fighting
After stunning battlefield setbacks, Russia moved to cement its grip on territory it occupies in eastern and southern Ukraine, as Kremlin proxies there announced plans on Tuesday for referendums on annexation to Russia, indicating a possible escalation of the war. The Kremlin signaled that if Russia were to go forward with annexation — even if […]
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U.S. Shores Up Ukraine Support as Energy Crisis in Europe Looms
In promising Ukraine billions of dollars in long-term military aid, the Biden administration is seeking to prove that U.S. support in the war can outlast Russia’s determination. Rallying American lawmakers and the public around that assistance, and billions in more immediate help, has been relatively painless for President Biden. But he must also keep Europe […]
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