Russia Matters

Is the Russia-Ukraine conflict “ripe for conclusion”? Plus: What core similarities do the Ukraine and Iran wars share? This and more in our weekly analysis round-up. https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-analytical-report/russia-analytical-report-may-26-june-1-2026
(AP Photo/Emma Burrows)

Selling peace: With no military triumph in sight, leaders on both the Russian and Ukrainian sides will face an uphill battle in convincing their constituents they have won the Ukraine war, writes Simon Saradzhyan. https://www.russiamatters.org/analysis/selling-peace-ukrainians-russians
(Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council press office via AP)

Has the Ukraine war entered a new phase? Plus: Putin repeats his claim that the war is nearing its end. This and more in our weekly news round-up. https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-review/russia-review-may-22-29-2026
(AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Zaluzhnyi says survival is victory. Plus: Tooze comments on whether Russian economy is going to collapse. This and more in our weekly analysis round-up. https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-analytical-report/russia-analytical-report-may-18-26-2026
(AP Photo/Andrii Marienko)

Xi-Putin summit produces 40 agreements, but no deal on Power of Siberia 2. Plus: DoD says neither Russia nor Ukraine achieved decisive breakthroughs in Q1. This and more in our weekly news round-up.

Russia in Review, May 15–22, 2026 | Russia Matters Russia in Review, May 15–22, 2026 2 Things to KnowVladimir Putin completed his May 19–20 trip to China to meet with Xi Jinping without concluding a long-anticipated agreement on the Power of Siberia 2, 50 bcm-per-year gas pipeline, which Russia continues to view as central to expanding its energ...

“Beijing can no longer treat Moscow as a junior partner.” Plus: Three “positive elements for Russia” in Iran war. This and more in our weekly analysis round-up. https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-analytical-report/russia-analytical-report-may-11-18-2026
(Suo Takekuma/Pool Photo via AP)

FT: Putin believes he can take all of Donbas by fall. Plus: Xi, Trump see beginning of the end for Ukraine war; Xi to host Putin May 20. This and more in our weekly news round-up. https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-review/russia-review-may-8-15-2026
(AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Russians and Ukrainians both echo need to sell outcome of war as victory. Plus: What did Putin mean by “the matter is coming to an end” regarding the Ukraine war? This and more in our weekly analysis round-up. https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-analytical-report/russia-analytical-report-may-4-11-2026
(Shamil Zhumatov/Pool Photo via AP)

Trump announces three-day ceasefire in Russia-Ukraine war. Plus: Russia’s oil export revenues at post invasion high but economy contracts. This and more in our weekly news round-up. https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-review/russia-review-may-1-8-2026
(AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

Ignatius doesn’t see “precursors of a coup” in Russia. Plus: It’s a question of how to sell the outcome as victory, Zaluzhnyi says. This and more in our weekly analysis round-up. https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-analytical-report/russia-analytical-report-april-27-may-4-2026
(AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)