Russia

Why Putin Will Never Give Up Kyiv, with or without a Trump-Brokered Deal

Putin invaded Ukraine not out of any material reason like economic interest or force projection, but of the spiritual conviction that Russia cannot be whole without Kyiv

Revisiting the Push for Peace in Ukraine

Harry Truman sought to end the Korean War years before it settled into a bloody stalemate characterized by attritional warfare. Could Trump be attempting something similar with Ukraine?

The Just Statecraft of Trump’s Ukraine Diplomacy

Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible is in keeping with the just war criteria of only supporting wars that can be won, however clear the morality of the conflict

Putin’s Perpetual Political Theater and “The Wizard of the Kremlin”

A new novel (and movie) about Vladimir Putin’s chief spin-doctor explain how the true battle between Ukraine and Russia is not one of warring armies, but of competing narratives

America Must Not Legally Recognize Russia’s Annexation of Eastern Ukraine

The United States never legally recognized the Soviet occupation of the Baltics, and neither should America recognize Russia’s annexation of eastern Ukraine

Christian Realism & Ukraine

There should be no equivocation about where America stands.

Only Credible Deterrence Can Assure Lasting Peace

Ending conflicts is all well and good, but only if the peace is durable, reasonable, and within the national interest

Ambassador John Sullivan’s “Midnight in Moscow” and the Future of the War in Ukraine

Former US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan’s account of his time in Moscow during and after the invasion of Ukraine is essential reading for understanding the lead-up to Putin’s decision to attack Ukraine

How the Trump Administration Should Approach Ukraine

Recent remarks by Vice President J.D. Vance in his February 14 interview with The Wall Street Journal signal a smart and realistic approach to US efforts to end Russia’s war on Ukraine.