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Displaying 223 comments in series Ukraine War
February 2026
Kremlin struggles to project global relevance amid peace talks
Vladimir Putin may persist with his “military victory” war plan, but he also wants to keep the diplomatic attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who wants to bring the war against Ukraine to an end.
Russia’s hope for trans-atlantic rift at MSC disappointed
Russia hopes to drive a wedge between the United States and Europe through hybrid attacks and nuclear brinkmanship to increase its chances of prevailing against Ukraine.
‘Energy truce’ could be preamble to Ukraine peace deal
In the January 30 “energy truce” Russia and Ukraine agreed to halt strikes on energy infrastructure until at least February 1.
January 2026
Putin’s irrelevance at Davos Forum is irreversible
The agenda of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in Davos, Switzerland on January 19–23, is extensive. The absence of official Russian participants appears politically motivated.
Putin stalling ninety percent complete peace deal
The recent surge in diplomatic activity intended to draft an agreement to end Moscow’s war against Ukraine has yielded U.S. and Ukrainian assertions that the deal is 90 percent ready.
December 2025
Quality of mediation is a major issue in the Ukraine peace process
The ongoing talks between the US, Russian and Ukrainian teams of negotiators may yet produce a “peace deal” – so desired by President Donald Trump – by the end of the tumultuous year 2025, or at least before the disastrous war comes to the four-year mark.
Flaws in Putin’s art of no-deal for peace become apparent
In November, a 28-point U.S.–Russia draft peace proposal was leaked that heavily favored Moscow, sparking backlash from Ukraine and the European Union.
October 2025
Putin returns to brinksmanship after new U.S. sanctions
With hopes for a personal rapport with Trump fading, Putin has returned to nuclear brinkmanship.
Putin–Trump call stalls Tomahawks but reactivates ceasefire discussions
Putin’s phone call yielded a short-term advantage by prompting Trump to delay a decision on supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
Russia ignores global peace developments to focus on Putin’s war
Extraordinary international attention was focused on the Nobel Peace Prize announcement on October 10. Anxiety was palpable in Moscow, where official skepticism had dominated since the award of the 2022 prize to the Memorial Society.
September 2025
Putin raises the stakes of rejecting peace deal
Three years and seven months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, all international initiatives to bring the war to an end have seemingly discontinued.
Moscow downplays drone incursion on Poland
The incursion of at least 19 Russian drones into Polish airspace on September 9–10 produced plenty of shock but hardly any awe.
Putin seeks People’s Republic of China’s support for war-to-victory stance
The PRC is marking the 80th anniversary not only of the defeat of Japanese aggression during World War II, but also the end of the long century of perceived humiliation by various imperialist powers — one of which was, in fact, Russia.
July 2025
Putin tries to build himself a position of strength
Expectations for the third round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul on July 23 had been very low, and the forty-minute-long talks delivered exactly that.
Multipolarity matures, but not according to Putin’s plan
The intensity of turbulence on the global arena has reached such high levels that the 2025 BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro on 6–7 July attracted far less attention than expected.
Putin’s game of war-making and bargaining comes to end
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s fake readiness to negotiate the end of Moscow’s war against Ukraine amid its relentless attacks on Ukraine appears to be coming to a breaking point.
The reintegration of 5 million veterans may be Ukraine’s next major battle: Results from a recent survey in Ukraine
While discussions of a ceasefire remain clouded by diplomatic uncertainty, Ukrainian soldiers continue to fight on the frontlines. Once the fighting on the ground ends, these women and men will likely face their next battle in reintegrating into civilian lives.
Реінтеграція 5 мільйонів ветеранів може стати наступним великим випробуванням для України: Результати недавнього опитування в Україні
На тлі дипломатичної невизначеності щодо мирних угод українські воїни продовжують боронити свою країну на передовій. Як тільки бойові дії закінчяться, ці жінки і чоловіки, ймовірно, зіткнуться з новою битвою - поверненням до мирного життя.
June 2025
Russian retribution for daring Ukrainian strike is postponed. Perhaps indefinitely
The scale and character of Russian retaliation in the aftermath of the daring Ukrainian attack on four Russian aviation bases on June 1 have yet to be revealed.
Russia’s maximalist demands undermine peace talks despite mounting domestic strains
The key goal of the most recent round of talks between Russia and Ukraine, held on Monday, June 2, in Istanbul, is supposed to be an exchange of memoranda on the conditions for ending the war.
May 2025
Putin holds firm to war course, conjuring mirage of victory
The fever of diplomatic battles around Russia’s war against Ukraine in the first three weeks of May has broken, leaving few meaningful results.
Putin Uses Victory Day Spectacle to Mask War Fatigue and Court Partners
The propaganda machine was switched to the maximum volume, turning the sombre memories of tragic battles and painful sacrifices into a celebration of militarism.
April 2025
Russia May be Switching Tactics From Sabotage of Peace Deal to Bargaining
On April 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a three-day ceasefire in his war against Ukraine in the lead-up to the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Second World War (President of Russia, April 28). The ceasefire is due to begin at midnight on May 7 and last until ...
Putin Weighs Risks of U.S. Readiness to Move on From Stalled Peace Efforts in Ukraine
The Kremlin has used delays and distractions to gain all the time and concessions available to it before seriously engaging in peace talks, or at least a genuine pause, in its war against Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon be compelled to admit that procrastination works fine until it ...
Decision Point for Putin is Set Too Close for His Comfort
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Steven Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s key negotiator, last Friday, in St. Petersburg, likely to buy himself more time before making any concessions. On Sunday, Russian missiles struck the Ukrainian city of Sumy, killing 34 people including two children.Russia appears to hope that the ...
Global Trade War Does Not Diminish Pressure on Russia to End Its War
Russia is not directly affected by the new U.S. trade tariffs. The effects on its economy are profound, while the political effects are open to interpretation.
Putin’s Warpath Goes Through Arctic
Russia’s war against Ukraine is stuck in a rigid deadlock. The prospect of agreeing on a ceasefire, which had appeared within reach a couple of weeks ago, has, however, become distant and blurred.
March 2025
Russia Refuses to Make Meaningful Step on Road to Peace
U.S., European, and Ukrainian peace-making policies are now aligned at a possible breakthrough point, as differences in means and methods transmute into complementarities. This fast evolution starkly contrasts with the immobility of Russia’s position. This resolve, so long as it exists, prohibits any discussion of possible compromises for peace (see Strategic ...
Triumphalism in Moscow About Setback in Peace-Making for Ukraine Could be Short-Lived
Moscow’s mouthpieces competed to celebrate and ridicule the individuals involved in the February 28 talks in Washington, D.C. between Ukraine and the United States. To the surprise of many, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left the White House empty-handed after arriving with the expectation of signing a symbolically important minerals deal ...
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