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President Donald Trump recently unveiled another peace proposal for the Russia-Ukraine War. But Russian President Vladimir Putin shows little interest in peace on any terms other than the complete capitulation of Ukraine—an unacceptable outcome for Kyiv and a dangerous one for the US and NATO.
Last month, Luke Coffey, Thomas J. Duesterberg, and Can Kasapoğlu outlined 10 steps for the US to pressure Putin into good-faith negotiations, including aggressive sanctions enforcement, a strong energy policy, and expanded military cooperation with Ukraine.
The West has the power to impose enough costs on Putin to force an end to the conflict. But, with Trump unwilling to ride to the rescue, Europe will need to do more to back Ukraine, argues Walter Russell Mead.
Ukraine’s innovative use of drones—largely driven by private companies—has been crucial to withstanding Russia’s invasion and inflicting significant costs on the Russian economy. Much discussion around the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act has focused on how the US defense industrial base should apply these lessons to produce drones at scale. Nadia Schadlow warns that, rather than embracing a provision for government-driven drone production, the Pentagon should leverage market competition and contract for speed.
Whereas many of America’s European allies have faltered in their support for Ukraine, Japan appears poised to protect its regional interests—and global territorial sovereignty—by aiding in the defense of Taiwan. Miles Yu writes that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent statement offers a model for democracies to articulate their interests clearly and unapologetically.
Aaron MacLean and John Lee discussed the strategic relationship between Moscow and Beijing and how this may affect Ukraine peace negotiations on School of War.
Before you go . . .
On the heels of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s White House visit, Michael Doran and Bernard Haykel will discuss the evolving strategic alignment between Washington and Riyadh, the significance of recent US arms sales, and how Iran has shaped the broader regional landscape. The event will air today at 8:00 a.m.
