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In the past few months, Ukrainian forces have pushed Russian troops back in several areas while grinding Russia’s offensives to a halt across much of the front. At the same time, Moscow continues to burn through staggering amounts of manpower, losing thousands of soldiers every month in exchange for minimal gains. Ukrainian drones are also striking deeper inside Russia with increasing frequency, hammering oil refineries, ammunition depots, and critical infrastructure. This includes targets hundreds of kilometers from the battlefield. Yet despite the mounting losses, recruitment shortages, and growing economic pressure, the Kremlin still refuses to seriously pursue a peace deal or even agree to a ceasefire. In this week’s post, I want to explore what happens if Putin starts to feel cornered. There are several scenarios already being discussed behind the scenes. Some are more dangerous than others. We will look at a few of them, and the possible consequences if they become reality. OVERA...

This week, it's really hard to think what topic to write about. The world right now is constantly changing around us, and attention is being drawn away from the war in Ukraine. What's going on in Iran, the price of oil, the rising cost of living, and the situation with China are grabbing people's attention. In this week's blog, let's focus on Ukraine because it's still necessary to look at the war and what's going on there. SITUATION IN EUROPE The situation in Ukraine has not changed very much, so I won't be focusing on that today. The front line situation is slightly improving in Ukraine's favor. They are pushing back the Russians, but not by much. For Victory Day, there was an exchange of 1,000 prisoners on each side. However, drones and missiles keep hitting Ukrainian cities every single night. People are dying: civilians, children, and the elderly. Europe's situation is now different, so let's focus on that. Why the European situation has...

The Ukraine war is no longer just a conflict between Ukraine and Russia. It has expanded far beyond Europe, reaching into the Middle East and even Africa. But how did this happen? The growing conflict involving Iran has pushed modern drone warfare directly onto NATO’s doorstep and into the strategic calculations of its allies. At the same time, global energy markets have become increasingly interconnected as instability around the Strait of Hormuz threatens one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. As a result, many countries are being forced to rely more heavily on energy supplies from the United States, China, and other regions outside the Middle East. This has also transformed Ukraine’s strategy of targeting Russian oil refineries into something much larger than a regional military tactic. What began as an effort to weaken Russia’s war economy has evolved into a form of kinetic economic warfare with global consequences — affecting fuel prices, supply chains, and energy ...

This week, I want to take a closer look at the war in Ukraine, with a particular focus on the occupied territories. The situation in these areas remains deeply concerning, and it is important that we continue to talk about it. The war has now lasted for more than a decade since Russia’s initial intervention in 2014, and there is always a risk that people outside the region begin to look away. That must not happen. In this post, I will look at which areas are occupied, how civilians are reportedly being treated, and why the future of these regions remains central to any discussion of peace. UKRAINE’S OCCUPIED AREAS Russia currently controls roughly one-fifth of Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory. This includes most or all of Crimea, large parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and occupied areas in the south, including parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Cities such as Mariupol have also been under Russian control since earlier stages of the full-scale invasion. Life in th...

Three weeks in, and the war in Iran is only growing more complicated. As noted last week, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, oil prices are still elevated, and questions about America’s intentions in Iran persist—still unresolved after all this time. One notable development in the conversation surrounding this conflict is the comparison being drawn between Iran and Ukraine: which war matters more, and which is more likely to reshape the balance of power on the global stage? That’s the question I want to explore in this post. In the shadow of a new and escalating crisis, are we beginning to forget Ukraine? WHAT IS GOING ON IN IRAN? At this stage, the situation in Iran remains tense but largely unchanged in its broader trajectory. Reports continue to suggest ongoing exchanges between Iran and opposing forces in the region, with military activity contributing to instability across neighboring countries. States such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are feeling the spillover effects o...

Four years ago, at around 5am on 24 February 2022, Russia launched the largest land war in Europe since the Second World War. Since that morning, Ukraine has fought with extraordinary resilience. Ukrainians of all ages and backgrounds have stepped forward to defend their country, their identity, and their right to choose a future as a free, modern European nation. Russia, meanwhile, has paid for every centimeter of occupied territory at a staggering human cost, with more than a million men killed or wounded.   In this blog post, I reflect on the past four years, how Ukraine and the wider world have been shaped by this war, how it has affected us personally and collectively, and what the future might hold. Could this be the year peace finally comes to Ukraine? TALKS OF PEACE AND CEASEFIRES Since US President Donald Trump entered office in 2025, he has made securing peace in Ukraine a central focus. Both Ukraine and Russia have sought to demonstrate to Washington that they are w...

We are approaching the fourth anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine. Over these years, Ukrainians have been subjected to relentless terror by Russia through a wide range of means—many of them amounting to war crimes, acts of terrorism, and the deliberate infliction of mass civilian suffering. On the front lines, the fighting has been brutal and unrelenting. Away from them, civilian life has offered little refuge. This is especially true now, as winter temperatures plunge and Russia continues to strike Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving millions without heat, electricity, or basic security. In this blog post, I want to focus on the methods Russia uses to terrorize Ukrainians. History shows that this approach is not new. From the era of the tsars through the Bolshevik revolution and beyond, Russia has relied on a war playbook rooted in brutality: targeting civilians, spreading fear, and engaging in ruthless, unethical tactics. These are actions that we in the West would n...

The world feels like it is sliding deeper into chaos. From debates at Davos over Greenland to unfolding events in Minnesota, global attention is scattered, and Ukraine is no longer at the center of focus. This is deeply troubling, because Ukraine continues to suffer under the relentless threat of Russia’s war. Russian attacks on energy infrastructure leave millions without electricity, heating, or running water, forcing civilians to endure cold, hunger, and uncertainty. A severe humanitarian crisis is still unfolding, even if much of the world has stopped paying attention. This week, however, I do not want to focus on the broader battlefield or infrastructure destruction, but on Ukraine’s children. Children suffer every day in war-torn conditions, growing up under the constant threat of bombing and death, deprived of anything resembling a normal childhood. Yet even these children are far more fortunate than those living in occupied territories. The fate of children taken from these reg...

This week, news broke that Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has appointed Kyrylo Budanov as the chief of staff of the president. This is a significant development, as the role is one of the most powerful and consequential positions in Ukrainian politics. Placing a figure as prominent and unconventional as Budanov at the center of the presidential office signals a meaningful shift in how Ukraine is preparing for the future. This also sends a strong message to allies in the way that Zelenskyy wants to take negotiation and Ukraine's politics from now on.  In this post, we will break down what this position entails, who Kyrylo Budanov is and why he has become such a well-known figure, and what this appointment could mean for Ukraine as it moves through 2026. (Photo: Zelenskiy Official / Telegram)   THE ROLE AND POWER OF UKRAINE’S PRESIDENTIAL CHIEF OF STAFF In Ukraine, the chief of staff to the president is one of the most influential positions in the state, serving as th...

As 2025 draws to a close, I can’t say I’ll miss it. From a geopolitical perspective, the year has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. The war in Ukraine escalated in ways we haven’t seen before, while the so-called peace process took a darker turn, intensified in the worst possible way by Trump’s involvement. Across Europe, we witnessed a paradoxical moment: unprecedented unity alongside deepening fractures. In this blog post, I want to look back at the defining moments of 2025 and venture some predictions for 2026. Will Ukraine finally find a path to peace, or will the war continue much as it has? 2025 WAS A YEAR THAT WORE EVERYONE DOWN In 2025, the war in Ukraine showed no real signs of slowing down. Fighting along the front lines remained brutal, while Russia continued its campaign of missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, especially targeting energy systems and civilian areas. Ukraine managed to hold its ground in many places, but the year increas...

As we approach Christmas, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what is happening in Ukraine right now. Why do this? Because it’s important to remember that many of us are spending this season in peace, surrounded by friends and family, sharing a Christmas dinner or lunch. Some of us may still be working. Others may not have friends or family to spend this time with, and the season can feel lonely. But one thing many of us share is peace, something that cannot be taken for granted. This is what we explore in this blog post. MASSIVE ATTACKS AT CHRISTMAS Overnight and into today, Russia carried out a massive drone and missile attack across Ukraine, one of the most intense in recent weeks. Hundreds of drones and missiles targeted multiple regions, striking residential areas and critical infrastructure, particularly energy facilities. At least three civilians were reported killed, including a child, and many areas experienced power outages during freezing winter conditions. Ukrainian air...