Analysis: The U.S.’s gloominess on the war in Ukraine is now clear to see
For months, U.S. officials have privately conveyed their concerns over the course of the war in Ukraine. In public, they stressed their enduring commitment to help Kyiv resist Russia’s brutal invasion and vowed to support its efforts as long as it takes.
But in more candid discussions, with reporters and directly with Ukrainians, they pointed to a tougher reality: A total military victory for Ukraine seemed impossible; the military-industrial base in Western countries required to sustain the flow of foreign munitions and arms to the front was under severe strain; and, at some point, the support of Western publics, especially Americans, would wane, and the spigot gushing tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine would get turned off.
Read the full analysis here.
For months, U.S. officials have privately conveyed their concerns over the course of the war in Ukraine. In public, they stressed their enduring commitment to help Kyiv resist Russia’s brutal invasion and vowed to support its efforts as long as it takes.
But in more candid discussions, with reporters and directly with Ukrainians, they pointed to a tougher reality: A total military victory for Ukraine seemed impossible; the military-industrial base in Western countries required to sustain the flow of foreign munitions and arms to the front was under severe strain; and, at some point, the support of Western publics, especially Americans, would wane, and the spigot gushing tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine would get turned off.
Read the full analysis here.
Ukrainian forces probe front lines for Russian weak spots
DONETSK REGION, Ukraine — Even as they grapple with ammunition shortages and await materiel from Western backers, Ukrainian forces are testing Russian defenses for vulnerabilities ahead of a much-anticipated counteroffensive.
At one trench position just over a kilometer from Russian lines, a Ukrainian corporal is working with a partner unit flying commercial drones to monitor Russian forces, identify weak points and plan strikes to destroy fortifications.
The expected spring offensive has been framed as Ukraine’s make-or-break opportunity this year to recapture territory held by Russian forces, which totals about one-fifth of the country. But the operation has been delayed by weather, slow equipment deliveries and ammunition scarcities, fueling fears of a stalemate.
Read the full story here.
DONETSK REGION, Ukraine — Even as they grapple with ammunition shortages and await materiel from Western backers, Ukrainian forces are testing Russian defenses for vulnerabilities ahead of a much-anticipated counteroffensive.
At one trench position just over a kilometer from Russian lines, a Ukrainian corporal is working with a partner unit flying commercial drones to monitor Russian forces, identify weak points and plan strikes to destroy fortifications.
The expected spring offensive has been framed as Ukraine’s make-or-break opportunity this year to recapture territory held by Russian forces, which totals about one-fifth of the country. But the operation has been delayed by weather, slow equipment deliveries and ammunition scarcities, fueling fears of a stalemate.
Read the full story here.
Here's the latest on Ukraine:
- China’s defense minister, Gen. Li Shangfu, hailed the “substantial achievements” of close cooperation with Russia’s military and said China is ready to deepen the partnership to “make new contributions to stability and security.”
- Li’s trip to Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, follows similar recent visits by top Chinese leaders. Such displays of camaraderie have intensified concern that China is ready to provide lethal aid in support of the invasion.
- Warsaw is set to hold emergency talks with Kyiv on Monday after temporarily banning the import and transit of Ukrainian grain, Poland’s agriculture minister said.
- The death toll from Russia’s rocket strike Friday on the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk has climbed to 15. A 2-year-old boy found in the debris “was alive when we took him from the rubble, but he died in the ambulance,” one rescuer told The Post.
More live updates here.
- China’s defense minister, Gen. Li Shangfu, hailed the “substantial achievements” of close cooperation with Russia’s military and said China is ready to deepen the partnership to “make new contributions to stability and security.”
- Li’s trip to Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, follows similar recent visits by top Chinese leaders. Such displays of camaraderie have intensified concern that China is ready to provide lethal aid in support of the invasion.
- Warsaw is set to hold emergency talks with Kyiv on Monday after temporarily banning the import and transit of Ukrainian grain, Poland’s agriculture minister said.
- The death toll from Russia’s rocket strike Friday on the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk has climbed to 15. A 2-year-old boy found in the debris “was alive when we took him from the rubble, but he died in the ambulance,” one rescuer told The Post.
More live updates here.
Russia sentences Kara-Murza, Putin critic and Post contributor, to 25 years
A Russian court sentenced Vladimir Kara-Murza, a longtime opposition politician and Washington Post Opinions contributor, to 25 years in prison on Monday on charges of treason for criticizing Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Amid a draconian crackdown on dissent, it was the harshest penalty yet for an opponent of the war, in a case that Kara-Murza condemned as “unfounded, illegal and politically motivated.”
The closed trial further highlighted Russia’s isolationist path, as President Vladimir Putin has disregarded Western criticisms of Russia’s human rights abuses and moved to brutally destroy any remnants of his country’s pro-democracy opposition.
Read the full story here.
A Russian court sentenced Vladimir Kara-Murza, a longtime opposition politician and Washington Post Opinions contributor, to 25 years in prison on Monday on charges of treason for criticizing Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Amid a draconian crackdown on dissent, it was the harshest penalty yet for an opponent of the war, in a case that Kara-Murza condemned as “unfounded, illegal and politically motivated.”
The closed trial further highlighted Russia’s isolationist path, as President Vladimir Putin has disregarded Western criticisms of Russia’s human rights abuses and moved to brutally destroy any remnants of his country’s pro-democracy opposition.
Read the full story here.
Exclusive: Russians boasted that just 1% of fake social profiles are caught, leak shows
The Russian government has become far more successful at manipulating social media and search engine rankings than previously known, boosting lies about Ukraine’s military and the side effects of vaccines with hundreds of thousands of fake online accounts, according to documents recently leaked on the chat app Discord.
The Russian operators of those accounts boast that they are detected by social networks only about 1 percent of the time, one document says.
That claim, described here for the first time, drew alarm from former government officials and experts inside and outside social media companies contacted for this article.
Read the full story here.
The Russian government has become far more successful at manipulating social media and search engine rankings than previously known, boosting lies about Ukraine’s military and the side effects of vaccines with hundreds of thousands of fake online accounts, according to documents recently leaked on the chat app Discord.
The Russian operators of those accounts boast that they are detected by social networks only about 1 percent of the time, one document says.
That claim, described here for the first time, drew alarm from former government officials and experts inside and outside social media companies contacted for this article.
Read the full story here.
China willing to work with Russia to maintain global security, defense minister says
The Chinese defense minister has hailed the “substantial achievements” of close cooperation with Russia’s military and said China is ready to deepen the partnership to “make new contributions to stability and security” globally, in the latest sign of Beijing’s commitment to its relationship with Moscow.
“Mutual trust between the Chinese and Russian militaries is growing stronger by the day, and our cooperation has resulted in substantial achievements,” Li Shangfu told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a meeting on Sunday as he began a three-day visit to Moscow.
China is willing to “further improve strategic communication and strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation to make new contributions to stability and security in the region and globally,” Chinese state media on Monday reported Li as saying.
Read the full story here.
The Chinese defense minister has hailed the “substantial achievements” of close cooperation with Russia’s military and said China is ready to deepen the partnership to “make new contributions to stability and security” globally, in the latest sign of Beijing’s commitment to its relationship with Moscow.
“Mutual trust between the Chinese and Russian militaries is growing stronger by the day, and our cooperation has resulted in substantial achievements,” Li Shangfu told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a meeting on Sunday as he began a three-day visit to Moscow.
China is willing to “further improve strategic communication and strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation to make new contributions to stability and security in the region and globally,” Chinese state media on Monday reported Li as saying.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- China’s defense minister, Gen. Li Shangfu, is in Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday.
- A Russian court issued its harshest penalty yet for an opponent of the Ukraine war, sentencing Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison Monday on charges of treason.
- Tracy, the U.S. ambassador, visited detained American journalist Evan Gershkovich at Lefortovo prison for the first time.
- Senior Russian military official Mikhail Teplinsky has probably resumed a command in Ukraine after being dismissed in January, according to British intelligence.
- The risk of civilian casualties in land mine explosions in Ukraine is likely to increase during spring, when more people participate in agricultural activities, Britain’s Defense Ministry warned.
- Slovakia has given Ukraine all 13 of the promised MiG-29 fighter jets it pledged in March, the Slovak Defense Ministry said, according to a Reuters report.
More live updates here.
- China’s defense minister, Gen. Li Shangfu, is in Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday.
- A Russian court issued its harshest penalty yet for an opponent of the Ukraine war, sentencing Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison Monday on charges of treason.
- Tracy, the U.S. ambassador, visited detained American journalist Evan Gershkovich at Lefortovo prison for the first time.
- Senior Russian military official Mikhail Teplinsky has probably resumed a command in Ukraine after being dismissed in January, according to British intelligence.
- The risk of civilian casualties in land mine explosions in Ukraine is likely to increase during spring, when more people participate in agricultural activities, Britain’s Defense Ministry warned.
- Slovakia has given Ukraine all 13 of the promised MiG-29 fighter jets it pledged in March, the Slovak Defense Ministry said, according to a Reuters report.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the command posts of his forces in Ukraine’s Luhansk and Kherson regions, where he was briefed by top commanders, the Kremlin said Tuesday, without disclosing the date of his visit.
- Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is set to appeal his detention on Tuesday.
- Top diplomats of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations said Tuesday that Russia’s threat to put nuclear weapons in Belarus was “unacceptable” and said they would impose “severe costs” on countries helping Russia in its war effort.
- Western officials called for the immediate release of Vladimir Kara-Murza, a top Kremlin critic and opposition lawmaker. He was convicted of treason and sentenced by a Russian court to 25 years in prison, the harshest penalty handed down yet to an opponent of the invasion of Ukraine.
More live updates here.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the command posts of his forces in Ukraine’s Luhansk and Kherson regions, where he was briefed by top commanders, the Kremlin said Tuesday, without disclosing the date of his visit.
- Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is set to appeal his detention on Tuesday.
- Top diplomats of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations said Tuesday that Russia’s threat to put nuclear weapons in Belarus was “unacceptable” and said they would impose “severe costs” on countries helping Russia in its war effort.
- Western officials called for the immediate release of Vladimir Kara-Murza, a top Kremlin critic and opposition lawmaker. He was convicted of treason and sentenced by a Russian court to 25 years in prison, the harshest penalty handed down yet to an opponent of the invasion of Ukraine.
More live updates here.
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Russia rejects U.S. journalist Gershkovich’s appeal of spying charges
Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter jailed in Russia and accused of espionage, appeared in a Moscow court on Tuesday to appeal the charges, which the United States and other Western governments have denounced as spurious.
The whole proceeding lasted barely 90 minutes, and the appeal was rejected.
The arrest of Gershkovich, who is a U.S. citizen, crossed a new threshold in the Kremlin’s widespread crackdown on free speech and political dissent amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
In the first images from the courtroom published by news agencies, Gershkovich stood inside a glass-enclosed defendants dock, wearing a blue plaid shirt with his arms folded in front of him. He made no comments to the dozens of journalists who were let inside for a photo opportunity before the hearing, which was conducted behind closed doors because of the supposedly sensitive nature of the charge
Read the full story here.
Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter jailed in Russia and accused of espionage, appeared in a Moscow court on Tuesday to appeal the charges, which the United States and other Western governments have denounced as spurious.
The whole proceeding lasted barely 90 minutes, and the appeal was rejected.
The arrest of Gershkovich, who is a U.S. citizen, crossed a new threshold in the Kremlin’s widespread crackdown on free speech and political dissent amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
In the first images from the courtroom published by news agencies, Gershkovich stood inside a glass-enclosed defendants dock, wearing a blue plaid shirt with his arms folded in front of him. He made no comments to the dozens of journalists who were let inside for a photo opportunity before the hearing, which was conducted behind closed doors because of the supposedly sensitive nature of the charge
Read the full story here.
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Putin visits two occupied regions in Ukraine, pushing illegal annexation
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a secretive visit to the headquarters of his troops in the partially occupied Kherson region of southern Ukraine where the Russian military in November was forced to retreat from the regional capital despite Putin’s audacious and illegal claim that the territory and its people had been annexed by Russia “forever.”
In a sign of the Kremlin’s acute concerns about security, the visit on Monday, which also included a stop in the occupied eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, was not disclosed until Tuesday morning after Putin had departed Ukraine. The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told journalists that the trip took place a day earlier
The trip was Putin’s second known visit to an area near the front lines since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, and his first known visit to Luhansk since Russia began fomenting a bloody separatist war there in 2014.
Read the full story here.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a secretive visit to the headquarters of his troops in the partially occupied Kherson region of southern Ukraine where the Russian military in November was forced to retreat from the regional capital despite Putin’s audacious and illegal claim that the territory and its people had been annexed by Russia “forever.”
In a sign of the Kremlin’s acute concerns about security, the visit on Monday, which also included a stop in the occupied eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, was not disclosed until Tuesday morning after Putin had departed Ukraine. The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told journalists that the trip took place a day earlier
The trip was Putin’s second known visit to an area near the front lines since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, and his first known visit to Luhansk since Russia began fomenting a bloody separatist war there in 2014.
Read the full story here.
Russia unveils secretive weapon to target SpaceX’s Starlink in Ukraine
Russia’s quest to sabotage Ukrainian forces’ internet access by targeting the Starlink satellite operations that billionaire Elon Musk has provided to Kyiv since the war’s earliest days appears to be more advanced than previously known, according to a classified U.S. intelligence report obtained by The Washington Post.
Moscow has experimented for months with its Tobol electronic warfare systems in a bid to disrupt Starlink’s transmissions in Ukraine, the top-secret assessment, which has not been previously disclosed, contends.
The document, among a cache of sensitive materials leaked online through the messaging platform Discord, dates to March and does not indicate whether any of Russia’s tests have been successful.
Read the full story here.
Russia’s quest to sabotage Ukrainian forces’ internet access by targeting the Starlink satellite operations that billionaire Elon Musk has provided to Kyiv since the war’s earliest days appears to be more advanced than previously known, according to a classified U.S. intelligence report obtained by The Washington Post.
Moscow has experimented for months with its Tobol electronic warfare systems in a bid to disrupt Starlink’s transmissions in Ukraine, the top-secret assessment, which has not been previously disclosed, contends.
The document, among a cache of sensitive materials leaked online through the messaging platform Discord, dates to March and does not indicate whether any of Russia’s tests have been successful.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest on Ukraine:
- Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was detained in late March while on a reporting trip to the city of Yekaterinburg in the Urals. Russia’s Federal Security Service accused him of trying to obtain classified information — a claim that Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal and the U.S. government have denied.
- “The Biden-Harris administration is engaging with Russia through every available channel to bring Evan and fellow American Paul Whelan home, who is also a priority for us,” Jean-Pierre said in a White House briefing Tuesday.
- Putin visited Kherson and Luhansk to inspect the progress of Russia’s so-called “special military operation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
- Western officials called for the immediate release of Vladimir Kara-Murza, a top Kremlin critic and opposition lawmaker.
- The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. ambassador Lynne M. Tracy in protest of U.S. comments about Kara-Muza’s case.
More live updates here.
- Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was detained in late March while on a reporting trip to the city of Yekaterinburg in the Urals. Russia’s Federal Security Service accused him of trying to obtain classified information — a claim that Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal and the U.S. government have denied.
- “The Biden-Harris administration is engaging with Russia through every available channel to bring Evan and fellow American Paul Whelan home, who is also a priority for us,” Jean-Pierre said in a White House briefing Tuesday.
- Putin visited Kherson and Luhansk to inspect the progress of Russia’s so-called “special military operation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
- Western officials called for the immediate release of Vladimir Kara-Murza, a top Kremlin critic and opposition lawmaker.
- The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. ambassador Lynne M. Tracy in protest of U.S. comments about Kara-Muza’s case.
More live updates here.
U.S. charges four Americans with aiding Kremlin efforts
Federal authorities charged four Americans on Tuesday with roles in a malign campaign pushing pro-Kremlin propaganda in Florida and Missouri — expanding a previous case that charged a Russian operative with running illegal influence agents within the United States.
The FBI signaled its interest in the alleged activities in a series of raids last summer, at which point authorities charged a Moscow man, Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov, with working for years on behalf of Russian government officials to fund and direct fringe political groups in the United States. Among other things, Ionov allegedly advised the political campaigns of two unidentified candidates for public office in Florida.
Ionov’s influence efforts were allegedly directed and supervised by officers of the FSB, a Russian government intelligence service.
Read the full story here.
Federal authorities charged four Americans on Tuesday with roles in a malign campaign pushing pro-Kremlin propaganda in Florida and Missouri — expanding a previous case that charged a Russian operative with running illegal influence agents within the United States.
The FBI signaled its interest in the alleged activities in a series of raids last summer, at which point authorities charged a Moscow man, Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov, with working for years on behalf of Russian government officials to fund and direct fringe political groups in the United States. Among other things, Ionov allegedly advised the political campaigns of two unidentified candidates for public office in Florida.
Ionov’s influence efforts were allegedly directed and supervised by officers of the FSB, a Russian government intelligence service.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest on Ukraine:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) about his country’s “defense needs and capabilities” and thanked him for the United States’ “unflagging bipartisan support.”
- Zelensky said he “raised the issue of F-16” fighter jets in his call with McCarthy. The United States has been reluctant to provide Kyiv with the warplanes, and President Biden said in January he would not send the jets.
- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is in Europe this week for meetings that include a gathering of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
- A Moscow court rejected Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich’s appeal against spying charges.
- Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny faces new charges after being provoked by staff at the penal colony where he’s being held, according to his lawyer.
More live updates here.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) about his country’s “defense needs and capabilities” and thanked him for the United States’ “unflagging bipartisan support.”
- Zelensky said he “raised the issue of F-16” fighter jets in his call with McCarthy. The United States has been reluctant to provide Kyiv with the warplanes, and President Biden said in January he would not send the jets.
- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is in Europe this week for meetings that include a gathering of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
- A Moscow court rejected Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich’s appeal against spying charges.
- Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny faces new charges after being provoked by staff at the penal colony where he’s being held, according to his lawyer.
More live updates here.
Exclusive: Egypt nearly supplied rockets to Russia, agreed to arm Ukraine instead, leak shows
Egypt paused a plan to secretly supply rockets to Russia last month following talks with senior U.S. officials and instead decided to produce artillery ammunition for Ukraine, according to five leaked U.S. intelligence documents that have not been previously reported.
The Washington Post last week reported on another document that exposed a covert scheme by Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi in February to provide Russia with up to 40,000 122mm Sakr-45 rockets, which can be used in Russian multiple-launch rocket launchers. Sisi instructed his subordinates to keep the project secret “to avoid problems with the West,” the document said.
Read the full story here.
Egypt paused a plan to secretly supply rockets to Russia last month following talks with senior U.S. officials and instead decided to produce artillery ammunition for Ukraine, according to five leaked U.S. intelligence documents that have not been previously reported.
The Washington Post last week reported on another document that exposed a covert scheme by Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi in February to provide Russia with up to 40,000 122mm Sakr-45 rockets, which can be used in Russian multiple-launch rocket launchers. Sisi instructed his subordinates to keep the project secret “to avoid problems with the West,” the document said.
Read the full story here.
Ukraine accuses Russia of undermining deal on grain shipments
MUKACHEVO, Ukraine — Kyiv officials accused Russia on Monday of sabotaging a deal allowing Ukrainian grain to be exported to international markets, saying that the agreement was under threat of “shutdown.”
Echoing the complaint, Bridget Brink, the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, tweeted that “more than 50 ships” were waiting for approval to proceed to Ukrainian ports “to load grain that will feed those who need it.”
“Russia is trying to choke Ukraine’s economy and slow the flow of food instead of abiding by the terms of its agreement,” Brink wrote.
Under the terms of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations last summer, Russia is supposed to allow free passage for ships carrying grain from three Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, and then traveling onward through the Bosporus.
Read the full story here.
MUKACHEVO, Ukraine — Kyiv officials accused Russia on Monday of sabotaging a deal allowing Ukrainian grain to be exported to international markets, saying that the agreement was under threat of “shutdown.”
Echoing the complaint, Bridget Brink, the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, tweeted that “more than 50 ships” were waiting for approval to proceed to Ukrainian ports “to load grain that will feed those who need it.”
“Russia is trying to choke Ukraine’s economy and slow the flow of food instead of abiding by the terms of its agreement,” Brink wrote.
Under the terms of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations last summer, Russia is supposed to allow free passage for ships carrying grain from three Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, and then traveling onward through the Bosporus.
Read the full story here.