Ukraine's battlefield victories are a reason for celebration. But could it could also usher in another dangerous phase — with Russia's President Vladimir Putin lashing out in other ways.

Given Ukraine’s successful counterattack, the fighting there isn’t going Russia’s way. Nor is the gas supply situation in Europe nearly as grim as Russian propaganda makes out. In these circumstances, Putin finds he does not have so many ways of putting pressure on the West at his disposal. Threatening to torpedo the grain deal is one of his few remaining options.
Russia is a far smaller economy and China is a stronger partner, but the war has exacerbated this trend. Russia is fairly isolated from its ties with the West and it has to turn to China, which gives China an increasing amount of leverage.

In his speech to the General Assembly, the president must emphasize that an open world order grounded in global institutions is the only viable path for peace.
Many Russians are not aware of the situation on the front lines. For them it is still a special military operation happening somewhere in Ukraine.

Join former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and Carnegie Endowment senior fellow Marie Yovanovitch for an extremely timely conversation with four leading civil society figures from Ukraine.
Less than a year before Vladimir Putin unleashed the largest armed conflict on European soil since World War II, the Kremlin quietly expanded the Russian Security Council’s Science Council, an advisory body composed of nearly 150 prominent academics and government figures.

All eyes will be on the China-Russia strategic partnership, but the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Central Asian members have greater confidence and bargaining power than ever before—and Beijing knows it.

Having radicalized Russian ultra-patriots with imperialist slogans and actions, the Kremlin now risks its most vitriolic supporters turning against it.

Ukraine’s recent gains highlight the unpredictability of Russia’s war. The main challenge for Western governments, NATO, and the EU is to act in unison while adjusting to the evolving military dynamics.