Putin's War Will Get Uglier

A view of the square outside the damaged city hall of Kharkiv on March 1, 2022, destroyed as a result of Russian troop shelling. (Getty Images)

Vladimir Putin is beginning to understand the immense difficulty of the war he cavalierly launched in Ukraine, but he won’t give up without giving repression every chance to succeed, argues Walter Russell Mead in The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Putin’s political career demonstrates three unwavering commitments: to his personal power, to Russia's expansion, and to the superiority of authoritarian society over the liberal West. Unfortunately for the Russian and Ukrainian peoples, these principles will likely shape his decisions in the days and weeks to come.

Why 'No Limits' Putin Friendship Will Be a Problem for Xi Jinping

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping make a statement to the press following their talks on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on September 11, 2018. (Getty Images)

Time will tell whether Putin’s Ukraine gambit will pay off for the dictator. What is more certain is that Xi Jinping has seriously erred by aligning so publicly with Putin with the recent announcement of their alliance. His miscalculation will make it more difficult for Beijing to achieve its imperial ambitions in Asia even as the West is tied up responding to the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine, writes John Lee in The Australian. 

A Winning Strategy in Ukraine

Ukrainian soldiers on patrol on March 6, 2022 in Irpin, Ukraine. (Getty Images)

There is still much the West can do to avert the total defeat of Ukrainian forces by Russia—provided it acts quickly and with strategic purpose, writes Dr. Can Kasapoğlu in a guest analysis for Hudson Institute. Although the Russians have the upper hand, their vulnerabilities are very real, and swift action to exploit these weaknesses would undermine Putin’s legitimacy and Russia’s prestige.

How the US Can Help Without Risking Nuclear War: Electronic Warfare

A Ukrainian man stands in the rubble in Zhytomyr on March 02, 2022, following a Russian bombing the day before. (Getty Images)

The United States and its allies are belatedly ramping up military aid to Ukraine as invading Russian forces bog down against surprising resistance and winter mud. How can the U.S. provide more extensive assistance without risking an escalation of the conflict? Implement electronic and cyber operations to delay Russian forces and dissuade expansion of the fight in Ukraine, Bryan Clark argues in the New York Post. 

Targeting Putin's Kleptocracy: A Strategic US Approach

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the National Space Centre construction site in Moscow on February 27, 2022. (Getty Images)

The invasion of Ukraine has revived interest in Russia’s kleptocratic governance model as a source of potential leverage to deter and punish Vladimir Putin. In a new briefing, Nate Sibley offers three key areas that the U.S. should prioritize to weaken Putin’s kleptocracy, including supporting Ukraine’s resistance; isolating Putin from other elites in hopes of provoking a palace coup; and closing off avenues to launder dirty money in the West.