After ten months of one of the longest and bloodiest battles in Russia’s war in Ukraine, Ukrainian soldiers are now defending a shrinking half-circle of […]

The war in Ukraine has seen a surge in foreign volunteers joining the fight against Russian-backed separatists. However, with no formal structure for vetting volunteers, individuals with problematic pasts and fabricated military records have become entrenched in the International Legion and other volunteer groups. This has led to unchecked access to weapons and military equipment, posing a significant risk to the safety and security of those involved in the conflict. Formal structures for vetting volunteers are crucial to ensuring that only qualified individuals have access to weapons and military equipment.

On March 22, 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir V. Putin announced an enduring economic partnership that aims to bring more Russian energy to China and more Chinese companies to Russia. The partnership comes at a time of war in Ukraine, and the economic pledges are intended to protect both countries from Western sanctions and other consequences of the conflict. China and Russia have grown closer economically in recent years, with China using its significant reserves to purchase Russian assets and the two countries collaborating on large infrastructure projects and scientific and technological development. The partnership has geopolitical implications, with the two countries circling their wagons against potential punitive measures from the United States and Europe. This growing alliance also has ramifications for Japan, which has taken a clear stance on the war in Ukraine and aligned itself with NATO members.