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Russia-Ukraine war

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

A tale of two ceasefiresA tale of two ceasefires
World Politics

What a violent week in Ukraine and Gaza tells us about Trump-style diplomacy.

By Joshua Keating
Trump’s call with Putin, briefly explainedTrump’s call with Putin, briefly explained
The Logoff

What did (and didn’t) just happen with the war in Ukraine.

By Joshua Keating and Patrick Reis
Has Trump already killed NATO?Has Trump already killed NATO?
World Politics

Does anyone still believe the US would go to war to defend Europe?

By Joshua Keating
Can Europe save Ukraine?Can Europe save Ukraine?
Russia-Ukraine war

European countries are about to spend a lot more on defense. It may not be enough.

By Joshua Keating
What Americans really think of Trump’s Ukraine policyWhat Americans really think of Trump’s Ukraine policy
Russia-Ukraine war

Republicans in Washington are now talking more like their voters about Ukraine.

By Nicole Narea
Why Trump’s embrace of Putin is different this timeWhy Trump’s embrace of Putin is different this time
Russia-Ukraine war

Being friends with Russia may be harder than Trump thinks.

By Joshua Keating
The twisted appeal of Trump’s humiliation of ZelenskyyThe twisted appeal of Trump’s humiliation of Zelenskyy
Politics

Why some conservatives took pride in a national disgrace.

By Eric Levitz
A Ukraine ceasefire deal is starting to come into view. Would it work?A Ukraine ceasefire deal is starting to come into view. Would it work?
Politics

It depends on two of the most undependable men on the planet.

By Joshua Keating
Is Trump about to hand Ukraine to Russia?Is Trump about to hand Ukraine to Russia?
World Politics

He’s talking to Putin and fighting with Zelenskyy. Is Kyiv’s nightmare scenario finally unfolding?

By Joshua Keating
Trump’s peace talks with PutinTrump’s peace talks with Putin
Politics

The Logoff explains a major shift in foreign policy.

By Patrick Reis and Joshua Keating
The world has entered the third nuclear ageThe world has entered the third nuclear age
The Highlight

Nuclear guardrails are falling apart — and Donald Trump is about to retake the launch codes.

By Joshua Keating
Are America’s four main adversaries really in cahoots?Are America’s four main adversaries really in cahoots?
World Politics

There’s a new “axis” in town. This time, it might be real.

By Joshua Keating
The Doomsday Clock is running out of timeThe Doomsday Clock is running out of time
Future Perfect

Are we really 89 seconds away from annihilation?

By Bryan Walsh
What it will really take to end the war in UkraineWhat it will really take to end the war in Ukraine
World Politics

Trump wants a ceasefire. The problem is that Russia thinks it’s winning.

By Joshua Keating
The drone hysteria is a glimpse of the futureThe drone hysteria is a glimpse of the future
Future Perfect

Thousands of people were convinced they were seeing drone swarms. Get used to it.

By Bryan Walsh
What really mattered in 2024What really mattered in 2024
Future Perfect

The stories that will endure from a wild year.

By Kelsey Piper
He thought he would die in Putin’s gulag. Now he has a message for the world.He thought he would die in Putin’s gulag. Now he has a message for the world.
World Politics

Leading Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza tells Vox the world needs to start preparing now for Putin’s fall.

By Joshua Keating
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 & Security

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