James S. Robbins

Russian television tells us that Vladimir Putin would rather go nuclear than accept defeat in Ukraine. President Biden has admonished that “idle comments about the use of nuclear weapons” are “irresponsible.” Opinion polls on both sides show widespread concern about a nuclear exchange. But Putin only talks about nuclear war because he has nothing else to say. Read more at 1945

Is inflation on the downslide? Some claimed that the dire inflation numbers recently released came with a ray of hope. Bank of America analysts said inflation has “likely peaked.” Reuters also reported that inflation has likely peaked. Forbes tells us that experts believe inflation has topped out, and that consumer inflation likely peaked in March. Investor’s Business Daily and MarketWatch also say we are “likely”…

As grim evidence of probable war crimes comes to light in Ukraine, it is important to remember that the war itself is a crime, and those who ordered it—even Vladimir Putin—can be held responsible. Russian forces have retreated from the Kyiv suburbs and other previously occupied zones in northern Ukraine. What advancing Ukrainian forces found was…

Let’s not be too hard on President Biden simply for saying what most people believe. On Saturday, the president spoke in Warsaw to demonstrate support for Ukraine in its fierce defense against Russian aggression, and to reassure NATO members that the United States would stand by them should the Kremlin choose to extend its war beyond Ukraine’s borders. The…

The Biden administration reversed course on marginalizing Vladimir Putin’s energy influence. Until last week. Better late than never, the Biden administration has discovered the benefits of using energy as a tool of American global strategy. One positive outcome of the president’s trip to Europe last week was the announcement of a new partnership with the European Union…

A humanitarian mission in Ukraine? What a great idea. Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations recently drafted, circulated, then abruptly pulled a draft resolution calling for humanitarian intervention in Ukraine against an unspecified threat. The resolution called for protecting civilians “in vulnerable situations” and providing safe passage for humanitarian aid workers. Read more at the Washington Examiner

By President Joe Biden’s logic, we can give Kyiv a little but not too much. U.S. policy seems to be to let Ukraine lose the war, just more slowly. Can the United States supply advanced weapons to Ukraine yet remain neutral in its war with Russia? Of course – it has been done before. During the…

Kremlin policymakers should be discussing how to engineer a face-saving retreat, or perhaps consider high-level changes in their own government. Ukraine looks like a tougher nut to crack than many, especially in the Kremlin, expected. In the lead-up to the invasion, it seemed there was not much hope for Ukraine. Few if any commentators and…