David Ignatius's Blog, page 36

Putin as chess master: Strong opening but weak endgame in Ukraine

The Russian leader's bold moves have been met with a surprisingly resolute counter from President Biden and his NATO allies.

Does Putin want a diplomatic solution in Ukraine? It’s not looking that way.

Putin seems convinced that this ever-intensifying war of nerves is helping Russia, but White House officials believe this tactic may be backfiring.

Putin’s impending ‘march of folly’ in Ukraine

If Russia invades, Ukraine may seem a triumphal victory for Putin at first, but it’s unlikely to have a happy ending.

In Ukraine, political infighting could complicate war with Russia

Ukraine’s struggle for political unity is a reminder of its fragility in what’s likely to be a continuing confrontation with Vladimir Putin.

The crisis in Ukraine is one for the history books

Suez moment? Cuban missile crisis in reverse? The historical echoes — and implications — of the looming Russian invasion of Ukraine.

America led in hypersonic technology. Then other countries sped past.

Hypersonics are “the threat of the future.” The U.S. failure to develop them helps explain why it’s so hard to modernize the magnificent monstrosity that is the U.S. military.

Biden’s resolute campaign of deterrence against Russia in Ukraine

Putin may have hoped to exploit what he saw as Biden’s political weakness, but Biden’s difficulties instead seemed to stiffen his backbone.

The fight ahead in Ukraine: Body bags and cyberwar

Unless the West bends, this war will almost certainly end with a defeat for Putin, and Russians rebelling at the cost of this “war of choice.”

As invasion looms, Ukrainians are calmly defiant

If Putin believes Ukrainians share his conviction that Russia and Ukraine are a single nation, he is wildly mistaken.

The Marines are establishing a beachhead for needed change at the Pentagon

A smaller, more-agile Corps has started to grapple with the challenges presented by a high-tech adversary such as China.