Volodymyr Zelenskyy

7 Fault Lines NATO Must Address in Ankara

As NATO leaders gather on July 7 to 8 in Ankara, the summit’s true test lies in unresolved faultlines over U.S. force posture cuts in Europe, host nation Turkey’s disruptive role within the alliance,...

Ukraine unveils reforms to address manpower shortage

Ukraine last week unveiled a set of sweeping reforms for military personnel, promising higher-paying, fixed-term contracts in place of indefinite service. Kyiv hopes these measures will help redress its...

Can Syria Be Friends with Both Europe and Russia?

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has sought to open up relations with Europe while retaining the country’s longstanding ties with Moscow.

Post-Assad Syria Is Mending Fences With Russia

The new Syrian leadership has signaled openness to the West and has even demonstrated cooperation with Ukraine — Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in April....

Reported U.S. Intelligence Notes Threat From Cuba’s Russian and Iranian Drone Stockpile

Latest Developments Cuba Reportedly Acquired 300 Drones, Is Eyeing U.S. Targets: Cuba has reportedly procured some 300 military drones and discussed using them against possible U.S. targets, including...

Deny the Truth at All Costs: Moscow’s Perennial Playbook

Remembering how Moscow dealt with the catastrophe in Chornobyl 40 years ago reveals the cornerstone of the Kremlin’s modus operandi: manage perception first, reality later

Europe Approves 90 Billion Euro Interest-Free Loan to Ukraine

Funding for Defense and Budget Expenses: The European Union gave final approval to a 90-billion-euro loan for Ukraine on April 23 after Hungary lifted its two-month veto. The interest-free...

Readout of meetings with senior defense officials in Taiwan, Japan

Syria focuses on diplomacy amid Iran war

On April 9, Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al Shaibani traveled to Turkey, where he met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. It was Damascus’s second meeting with...

Egypt Welcomes ‘Grain and Energy Hub’ Initiative from Russia

Amid intensifying great-power competition, Egypt is no longer hedging quietly between the United States and its rivals. On April 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Egyptian Foreign Minister...

The War in Iran Is Painful for Poland. It May Also Be in Poland’s Interest.

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 12-14 percent of Europe's liquefied natural gas flows, puts Poland's energy diversification strategy to a serious test. However, this is nothing compared to the risk posed by a nuclear-armed Iran supplying Russia with advanced missiles and drones.

Russia reportedly sending Iran drones for use against the US and Israel

“There’s an axis of aggression between Russia and Iran,” British defense chief John Healey declared on Thursday, accusing Moscow of “sharing tactics, training, and tech” to help Tehran...

Russia Helps Iran Attack U.S. and Its Allies. Ukraine Helps Defend Them.

Despite U.S. courtship, Russia is showing its true colors. Moscow has assisted Tehran with drone tactics informed by Russia’s own use of Iranian-designed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) against Ukraine,...

Can Ukraine’s state-of-the-art drone tech come to US aid in Iran?

President Donald Trump’s Department of War has rightly called Israel a “model ally” — and no wonder, as the world watches Israeli pilots operate alongside their American counterparts in the...

Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: March

Trend Overview Welcome back to the Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker. Once a month, we ask FDD’s experts and scholars to assess the administration’s foreign policy. They provide trendlines...

Ukraine will help combat Iranian drones in Middle East, Zelenskyy says

Years of Russian bombardment with Iranian drones have provided Ukraine with unparalleled experience in finding cost-effective ways to counter these weapons. Now, that hard-won expertise may be about to...

Escalation Without Detonation: Russia’s Nuclear Threats

Fears of a renewed arms race are echoing around the world once again, ignited by last month’s expiration of New Start, the last treaty limiting U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenal deployment. This week,...

Russia Watches Iran War From the Sidelines — Again

Amid its all-consuming war in Ukraine, Russia has repeatedly found itself struggling to shape other global events — from the Caucasus to the Middle East to Latin America. Moscow is now again watching from the sidelines as the United States and Israel seek to topple the regime in Iran, potentially dealing a further blow to Russian interests. In the short term, though, the Middle East conflict carries greater risk for Ukraine, since it could divert U.S. attention and military resources.

Into Year 5: Strategy for Ukraine’s Future

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Marking Four Years of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine