After almost three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor, Putin is now more committed than ever to the war with Ukraine and his broader confrontation with the West.

Momentum in the trajectory of the war in Ukraine is shifting in Kyiv’s favor. Russia’s response to the rout of its forces has been swift: “partial” mobilization, a headlong push to annex Russian-occupied territories, and the brandishing of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.

The coronavirus pandemic poses an unprecedented threat to governments around the world. Are authoritarian states inherently better suited to deal with the pandemic?

As renewed rivalries set in among great powers and instability grows around the world, it is more difficult than ever to predict the nature of future conflicts.