The hottest Ukraine Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top World Politics Topics

Towards a Greater Middle Eastern War & Defeat in Ukraine

Glenn’s Substack • 1039 implied HN points • 24 Sep 24
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. The conflict in Gaza is spreading and could bring in more countries, which worries local leaders facing protests for not being tougher against Israel and the US.
  2. Ukraine is struggling with a lack of resources, and the situation is getting worse as public support is fading and political divisions grow.
  3. Both the Middle East and Ukraine are heading towards major wars, and the US seems to lack a clear plan to deal with these rising tensions.

Watching the Olympics in Ukraine

Thinking about... • 445 implied HN points • 21 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. War shapes even leisure: air-raid sirens, power cuts, and the deaths of athletes make watching the Olympics in Ukraine a precarious and poignant experience.
  2. Ukrainian coverage feels human and unscripted, offering small comforts and clear explanations that let viewers actually enjoy the sports while personal stories remind us of the wider sacrifice.
  3. Remembering others’ suffering and practicing empathy are essential to freedom; when a society cares only about winning or outcomes it risks tolerating indifference and empowering tyrants.

Germany and the EU Abandon Reason and Risk Collapse

Glenn’s Substack • 839 implied HN points • 09 Sep 24
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. Germany and the EU need to rethink their approach to the Ukraine crisis or they might end up in serious trouble together. Changes are necessary to avoid breaking apart.
  2. Some experts believe NATO made mistakes that helped to spark the Ukraine war and that these mistakes are causing more issues for Europe now.
  3. There's growing concern about political violence and less freedom of speech in Germany. New political movements are also rising, which the current government does not approve of.

Weekend Update #173: Ukraine Liberates Hundreds Of Square Kilometres, What Might It Mean?

Phillips’s Newsletter • 374 implied HN points • 22 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. Ukraine says it liberated about 300 square kilometres in the south, but that may mostly be clearing small Russian infiltration units rather than one big counterattack, and maps often lag real gains.
  2. US‑brokered talks look increasingly performative — negotiators walked out after a short time, Ukrainians feel pressured to cede land, and European leaders are pushing for a more serious, independent role.
  3. Ukraine used FP‑5 Flamingo cruise missiles to strike deep inside Russia at a major missile factory, showing growing long‑range strike ability and a focus on degrading Russian missile production rather than relying only on scarce air defenses.

Weekend Update #171: The Week Trump Helped Putin Commit Two War Crimes

Phillips’s Newsletter • 253 implied HN points • 08 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. Trump’s public claims about a humanitarian pause helped mask a Russian buildup that enabled two coordinated mass attacks that severely damaged Ukrainian power and heating infrastructure.
  2. The U.S. and Russia look to be negotiating big economic deals without Ukraine’s input, so Europe must demand a seat at the table to avoid being sidelined in decisions about Ukraine’s future.
  3. The claim that India agreed to stop buying Russian oil is false and the joint statements only show vague intentions, so press reports presenting it as a firm pledge were misleading.
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The Ukraine war is ultimately about Poland

Noahpinion • 36647 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is deeply tied to Russia's historical rivalry with Poland and its desire to extend its influence over East Europe.
  2. Ethnic imperialism, where a country seeks to dominate a region due to linguistic and cultural similarities, is a core motivation behind Russia's actions in Ukraine.
  3. Poland's economic success and strategic autonomy pose a threat to Russia's dominance in East Europe, fueling Putin's desire to maintain control and influence in the region.

China Plays Putin

Diane Francis • 1019 implied HN points • 17 Jun 24
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. The G7 has imposed sanctions on Russia, leading to economic troubles for them. Russians are struggling to buy dollars because of this.
  2. Ukraine is strengthening its security by signing deals with the U.S. and NATO countries, aiming to become a NATO member soon.
  3. China is benefiting from Russia's situation by buying cheap Russian oil and selling them consumer goods, making Russia more dependent on China.

Left in the dark

Comment is Freed • 99 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. Modern battlefield operations depend heavily on continuous connectivity—commanders use live feeds, target data, and smartphones to coordinate artillery, drones, and unit movements, so losing that connection can be catastrophic.
  2. Russia recently lost access to thousands of unauthorized Starlink terminals and suffered deliberate degradation of Telegram, disrupting troop communications and slowing information flow; those disruptions have already hindered Russian operations and opened opportunities for a Ukrainian counter-offensive.
  3. This episode is a real-world test of how a military adapts when cut off from internet-based systems, and it exposes weaknesses in Russia’s reliance on improvised, unofficial connectivity solutions.

Ukraine trans military spox who said dissidents would be 'hunted down' confirms, then later denies, that he's a U.S. government asset

The Dossier • 4579 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. A Ukrainian military spokesperson made controversial statements and later confirmed/denied being a U.S. government asset.
  2. The spokesperson declared that Russia's 'propagandists' would be 'hunted down' worldwide.
  3. There are questions raised about broader American support for the Ukraine war effort.

The Object of War

imetatronink • 4107 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. In war, the focus should be on destroying the enemy army.
  2. The acquisition and retention of territory is not the primary measure of success in war.
  3. Effective warfare can involve fighting defensively to destroy enemy forces.

Is Ukraine's position improving? What's Russia's breaking point? Is House of Dynamite accurate?

Comment is Freed • 77 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. Russian operations have slowed this year because of freezing weather, disruptions to key communications like Starlink, and manpower and quality problems, and recent failures undermine the idea of an inevitable Russian victory.
  2. The front is long and hard to track, but Ukrainian forces are on the offensive in roughly a quarter of engagements and could exploit thinly held Russian sectors, though Kyiv is likely to avoid a risky large-scale counteroffensive.
  3. Russia is deploying about 711,000 personnel in Ukraine with estimated daily losses of 1,000–1,100, making replacements difficult and forcing reliance on questionable recruits, which strains its fighting capacity.

Biden, Romney, Kerry, Pelosi, all had children working for Ukrainian gas companies...do you understand this? do you know how many republican & democrat children & grandchildren names appear on Ukraine

Alexander News Network -Dr. Paul Elias Alexander's substack • 1867 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ukraine
  1. Several prominent politicians had children working for Ukrainian gas companies.
  2. The article questions the relationships between Ukrainian businesses and American politicians' families.
  3. Assertions of a corrupt money laundering scheme involving individuals from both Republican and Democratic parties.

Ambulances for Ukraine

Thinking about... • 238 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. Drone-jamming vehicles are being refitted and sent to the Ukrainian National Guard's second corps (Khartiia) so medics and wounded can be transported safely without being targeted by drones.
  2. A public fundraiser aiming for one million dollars has reached about 87% with over five thousand donors, and several of the retrofitted vehicles have already been delivered to Kyiv and the front.
  3. Supporters are asked to donate to help finish the project, with information on claiming a US tax deduction through the fundraiser platform and an option to give directly to the Ukrainian presidential platform United 24.

Weekend Update #163: Ukraine Goes From Collapsing to Liberating Kupyansk

Phillips’s Newsletter • 326 implied HN points • 14 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. Ukraine’s recent push around Kupyansk shows it isn’t collapsing and can still mount quick, effective local counterattacks to blunt Russian advances.
  2. The current U.S. diplomatic approach appears to seek Russia’s reintegration without real penalties and to pressure Ukraine into concessions, creating a lopsided negotiation that favors Moscow.
  3. European reaction is shifting: many leaders are wary of the U.S. posture and the EU has moved to freeze Russian assets, indicating growing independent support for Ukraine.

Weekend Update #162: The Best Week Since November 5, 2024

Phillips’s Newsletter • 270 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. The US has shifted toward accommodating Russia and is no longer committed to strongly defending Ukraine or European security. That shift suggests the US would accept a weaker, territorially reduced Ukrainian state.
  2. The Tomahawk episode was a deliberate public tease that made people believe the US would give Ukraine long-range strike weapons, but it was never a realistic policy and served to mislead European and Ukrainian leaders. That false hope distracted Europeans from mobilizing their own urgent support.
  3. Russia is conducting mass drone and missile attacks that cause major power outages while Ukraine struggles with limited air defenses and heavy fighting around places like Pokrovsk. European states need to urgently provide anti-air systems and long-range capabilities because US support is unreliable.

Trump Was Working With Putin The Entire Time

Phillips’s Newsletter • 332 implied HN points • 19 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ukraine
  1. Trump and Putin have secretly worked together on a plan regarding Ukraine, which leaves Ukraine out of the negotiations.
  2. European countries are also excluded from these discussions and could face pressure to accept the deal once it is proposed.
  3. This partnership between Trump and Putin could lead to significant consequences for Ukraine and Europe, pushing them towards an unwanted agreement.

The Ukraine War

The Cosmopolitan Globalist • 9 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. The war is a large-scale, brutal conflict whose outcome will shape the global order, revealing Russian imperial ambitions and weaknesses in European and U.S. strategic responses.
  2. Ukraine has shown unexpected resilience and societal mobilization. The fighting has become attritional and adaptive, challenging pre-2022 assumptions about how modern wars unfold.
  3. A focused symposium with Vladislav Davidzon stresses preparation: participants must complete a short mandatory reading list and engage with pointed study questions to have a serious, informed discussion about the war’s character and likely end states.

The Bloomberg Story Demonstrated Just How Much Some People Will Make Excuses For Trump

Phillips’s Newsletter • 235 implied HN points • 26 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ukraine
  1. Many people are making excuses for Trump's actions, even though his decisions can lead to serious consequences. This trend shows a refusal to hold him accountable for what he does.
  2. The conversation between Witkoff and a Russian adviser proves Trump was informed about ongoing negotiations. It suggests that he is actively involved and aware of the situation.
  3. Despite the troubling evidence, Trump continues to support people like Witkoff. This behavior reflects a pattern of surrounding himself with individuals who often act in ways that benefit Russian interests.

This Deal Is Trump's--It Has Always Been Trump's

Phillips’s Newsletter • 248 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ukraine
  1. The recent deal is not just a random action; it clearly reflects Donald Trump's views and intentions. It's important to recognize that he was behind it from the start.
  2. Many in the media initially tried to distance Trump from this deal, but evidence shows he was involved and approved it ahead of time. This changes how we view his role in the situation.
  3. Trump's vision for peace seems to favor Russia while ignoring Ukraine's needs. This sheds light on his priorities and raises concerns about his approach to democracy and freedom.

Strategic Stability and Prospects for Nuclear War

Black Mountain Analysis • 1631 implied HN points • 26 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. During the cold war, both superpowers had processes for mutual destruction in case of vital interests being jeopardized.
  2. Forward deploying nuclear weapons can lead to serious consequences and potential for rapid escalation.
  3. The American strategy to kick Russia out of the game failed, leading to potential retreat and focus on emerging world order.

Big Brother: War is Good

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 5963 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. The war in Ukraine has become a key point of global propaganda, with narratives being forcefully maintained over actual truths.
  2. Public opinion in conflict zones can be manipulated by controlling the narrative and stifling contrary information.
  3. Government officials may push for wider conflicts without public support, suppressing the reality of the situation.

World roundup: February 3-4 2024

Foreign Exchanges • 786 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. The United States conducted airstrikes on Iranian-linked targets in Iraq and Syria, resulting in casualties and tension with the governments of those countries.
  2. In the Israel-Palestine conflict, Hamas is considering a ceasefire proposal while the Israeli military expands its operations in Gaza.
  3. President Macky Sall of Senegal postponed the country's presidential election, sparking protests and concerns about a potential self coup.

World roundup: January 22 2024

Foreign Exchanges • 727 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. There is movement towards a potential hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, with the involvement of the US administration and potential ceasefire and prisoner exchange offers from Israel.
  2. Today in history includes significant events such as the Ottomans defeating the remnants of the Mamluk army in 1517, the start of the 1905 Russian Revolution with the Bloody Sunday massacre, and the birth of the Republic of Mahabad in 1946.
  3. The Israeli government's offer to Hamas for a ceasefire and phased prisoner exchange may not meet all of Hamas's demands but could open up possibilities for improving the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

World roundup: February 5 2024

Foreign Exchanges • 648 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Saudi Arabia as part of his Middle East trip.
  2. Hamas is deliberating on a ceasefire proposal with some hope for an agreement.
  3. Discussed historical events: the Siege of Cádiz and Alexandru Ioan Cuza becoming Domnitor of Romania.

Why Kupyansk Matters

Comment is Freed • 102 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. Russia pushes a story that its bigger forces and readiness to take heavy losses make victory inevitable, and that idea encourages fatalism about Ukraine’s chances.
  2. Western media and some policymakers repeat this framing, which creates pressure to accept deals that would hand over Ukrainian territory.
  3. Ukrainian resistance at places like Kupyansk shows the picture isn’t so clear, and those defensive successes weaken Moscow’s claim of inevitable victory and change the political calculations.

World roundup: January 12 2024

Foreign Exchanges • 628 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. Soviet Red Army's Vistula-Oder Offensive in 1945 helped defeat German Army Group A and liberate Nazi concentration camps in Poland.
  2. End of Biafran War in 1970 marked by surrender of separatist Biafran army to Nigerian authorities.
  3. Israel is causing environmental damage in Gaza by flooding tunnels with seawater, affecting groundwater supplies and agriculture.

Zelensky resists ceding Donbas, after abandoning it years ago

Aaron Mate • 107 implied HN points • 12 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. Zelensky is publicly refusing to cede the Donbas to Russia and has suggested holding a national vote or elections so Ukrainians can decide the region's fate.
  2. A Ukrainian-administered referendum would likely exclude most people who now live in Donbas because they are under Russian control, so such a vote wouldn’t capture the region’s current residents.
  3. Ukraine had earlier chances—most notably the 2015 Minsk accords—to keep Donbas inside Ukraine with limited autonomy (and forego NATO aspirations), but successive governments rejected that compromise and pursued military options instead.

World roundup: October 21-22 2023

Foreign Exchanges • 786 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. The Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in a high number of casualties and intense bombing, leading to a significant death toll.
  2. There is uncertainty about a potential ground invasion by Israel in Gaza, with pressure on both sides to negotiate or escalate the situation.
  3. The far-right Swiss People's Party saw a rise in support in Switzerland's federal election, while in Argentina, the presidential election is headed to a runoff between Sergio Massa and Javier Milei.

February 1, 2024: Russian Digest

Unmasking Russia • 353 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Ukraine
  1. Ukraine claims to have sunk a Russian warship and launched missile attacks on Crimea.
  2. China warns Ukraine about the consequences of labeling Chinese companies as 'international sponsors of war'.
  3. Russia's intelligence services are impersonating Western researchers in a hacking campaign to access email accounts.