By Invitation | Russia and the West

Time is not on Russia’s side, argues Finland’s foreign minister

Elina Valtonen calls for a lower oil-price cap and tougher measures against Russia’s shadow fleet

Illustration: Dan Williams

RUSSIA IS FAR from an unstoppable force of nature. The autocrats who run it rely on a war economy that is unsustainable and shows serious cracks. Democracies should take advantage by increasing the economic pressure. It is we who have the momentum.

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From the January 11th 2025 edition

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Camille Grand on why Ukraine’s future turns on security guarantees

A 20,000-strong European force would be a lot more potent with an American backstop, says the former NATO official

Alex Wang on why China can’t be allowed to dominate AI-based warfare

As the “agentic” age begins, democracies can take inspiration from the past, writes the tech boss


It’s time to treat sexual violence in war as torture, writes a UN rapporteur 

Alice Edwards argues that such crimes are increasingly part of military strategy


Rishi Sunak on why Ukraine should get Russia’s frozen assets, not just the interest on them

Worries that it could rock allies’ financial systems are overdone, says Britain’s former leader

Donald Trump should not replace us with his stooges, warns a fired inspector-general

Mark Greenblatt on the dangers America will face if oversight officials lose their independence

The transatlantic relationship is crumbling, says an ex-head of NATO

Anders Fogh Rasmussen argues that Europe must accept it may be alone—and spend accordingly