Andrey Kurkov has spent his life writing about realities so absurd they defy satire. It was perfect preparation for this moment.
Tag Archives: Cold War Era
A Mini-Russia Gets Squeezed by War
The self-declared republic of Transnistria, on the Ukraine border, has been steered by Moscow for decades. During a rare visit, a reporter and photographer get an inside look into how it operates, and hear from Transnistrians their fears of war.
‘You Will Stay Silent’: Photographs From Behind the Iron Curtain
Images taken in the 1970s and ’80s provide a glimpse into life under autocracy.
Finland Moves to Join NATO, Upending Putin’s Ukraine War Aims
Neutral Finland’s leaders unequivocally said they intended to seek membership in the alliance, with Sweden expected to do the same, inviting new threats from Moscow.
Two Europes Confront Each Other Over the Glory, or Shame, of War
On Monday, Vladimir Putin will mark Russia’s Victory Day by extolling the virtues of force. France’s leader, Emmanuel Macron, will honor a very different anniversary.
Ukraine’s Battlefield Is Haunted by Putin’s Chemical Weapons Legacy
While the risk remains ambiguous, the Russian leader’s long infatuation with the toxic arms fuels worries that the deadly poisons could be deployed in Ukraine.
Fears Mount That Ukraine War Will Become a Broader Conflict
American and European officials say their concern is based in part on a growing conviction that the war will not end any time soon.
How the Ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder Became Putin’s Man in Germany
Gerhard Schröder, who is paid almost $1 million a year by Russian-controlled energy companies, has become a pariah. But he is also a symbol of Germany’s Russia policy.
Vladimir Sorokin Says Russian Writers Should Fight Back in War on Truth
With eight forthcoming translations of his books, Vladimir Sorokin is gaining recognition in the West just as, he says, Russian writers need to fight back in a semantic war on truth.
How US and Ukrainian Groups Pierce Putin’s Propaganda Bubble
U.S.-backed news outlets and Ukrainian activists use Cold War techniques and high-tech tactics to get news about the war to Russians.
The Fear of Nuclear War Looms
Three decades after the Cold War ended, Putin has reminded us that many of the nuclear weapons that once terrified us still exist.
Yes, There Is a Clash of Civilizations
What Samuel Huntington foresaw about the current world order.
Marina Goldovskaya, 80, Dies; Filmmaker Documented Russian Life
In about 30 documentaries she looked at the people and history of her homeland, some of it brutally dark.
Would Putin Strike NATO Supply Lines to Ukraine? History Suggests No.
From the Soviets in Afghanistan to the U.S. in Korea, Moscow and Washington have often chosen not to attack the countries aiding their enemies.
This Is What It’s Like to Witness a Nuclear Explosion
I watched a hydrogen bomb detonate. I hope no one ever has to see that sight.
Margaret Atwood on ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ Totalitarianism and U.F.O.s
The acclaimed author explains how stories shape our worlds — by telling me many stories.
In Putin’s Misbegotten War, NATO Sees Danger and Opportunity
The 30-nation alliance had regarded Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as unstoppable just a month ago, but now sees the possibility of a Russian quagmire there.
These Are the Companies That Have Withdrawn From Russia
More than 400 companies have withdrawn, at least temporarily, from Russia since it invaded Ukraine. Some have been there since the fall of communism — symbols of the enduring power of Western culture and commerce.
Germany Is Ready to Lead Militarily. Its Military is Not.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted Germany to revolutionize its security doctrine. But the war has also exposed how weak a link the German military is in NATO.
For a Ukrainian Poet, Putin’s War Is All Too Familiar
Ihor Kalynets, 83, spent a lifetime resisting Soviet domination. Now, he says, he’s not going anywhere.
Cities Move to Sever ‘Sister City’ Ties With Russian Governments
Some city officials say ending ties sends a message condemning the invasion of Ukraine. Others say the best way to have an effect is to use the ties that already exist.
Lithuania, a Vulnerable NATO Link, Readies for Putin and Russia
The Baltics, wedged between Russia and Belarus, have been likened to a modern-day West Berlin. Many here worry that if Ukraine falls, they might be next.
Pandemic Fears Give Way to a Rush for Bomb Shelters
Since Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, European anxiety has shifted from Covid to nuclear annihilation. Bunkers, survival guides and iodine pills are flying off the shelves.
Harry Truman: The Everyman President
Jeffrey Frank’s “The Trials of Harry S. Truman” recounts the great decisions of a president who was forced to overcome his limitations.
Vladimir Putin Has Revived ‘The West.’ Is That a Good Thing?
A clash of civilizations is never a good idea.
Evgeny Maslin, Russian General Who Secured Nuclear Arsenal, Dies at 84
He persuaded Ukraine and other post-Soviet states to give up their weapons, then worked with the U.S. to safeguard and dismantle thousands of them.
On Ukraine’s Border, Moldovans Wonder: Where Will Putin Stop?
Moldovans fear that Transnistria, a region run by Russia-backed separatists in eastern Moldova, might be the next target after Ukraine.
How to Avoid Nuclear War With Russia
It’s often better to constrain yourself than to limit your enemy’s choices.
Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Means This Cold War Will Be Worst Than the Last
Keep the airspeed, altitude and course steady: That was the mantra for American pilots who regularly encountered Soviet aircraft during the Cold War.
We Are All Living in Vladimir Putin’s World Now
It’s shaped by historical resentments and great power politics. And it’s going to be ugly.
Vladimir Putin’s Clash of Civilizations
Putin is embracing a more sinister version of the unconstrained vision that once led George W. Bush astray.
Rash Putin Razes Ukraine
Another insecure male works out his issues in a horrible way.
Biden’s Strategy for Dealing With Russia Is Containment for a New Era
President Biden’s plan to counter Russia faces obstacles in an interconnected world. Russia also has a new, if not very enthusiastic, partner in standing up to the West: China.
Beyond Ukraine, Putin Eyes What He Calls America’s ‘Empire of Lies’
The Russian leader is consumed by revanchist fury and convinced of a relentless Western plot against Moscow.
Beyond Ukraine, the Target is What Putin Calls America’s ‘Empire of Lies’
The Russian leader is consumed by revanchist fury and convinced of a relentless Western plot against Moscow.
The Limits of a Europe Whole and Free
Vladimir Putin sets down a marker in Ukraine. Does the West have the means to stop him?
This Is Putin’s War. But America and NATO Aren’t Innocent Bystanders.
Russia president is trying to hide his poor leadership by becoming a nationalist avenger.
Ukraine’s Zelensky Accuses Western of Appeasement
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine reminded his Western counterparts of what was supposed to be an unforgettable lesson from Europe’s past.
Bond Between China and Russia Alarms U.S. and Europe Amid Ukraine Crisis
The Biden administration plans to build up global coalitions to counter a pact between Vladimir V. Putin and Xi Jinping, portending a new type of Cold War.
In Ukraine Crisis, the Looming Threat of a New Cold War
If he invades, President Vladimir V. Putin is inviting a new global struggle with the West. He should think about how the last one ended, analysts say.
What to Know About the Crisis With Russia
Here’s how the country ended up at the center of a global crisis.
Gail Halvorsen, ‘Candy Bomber’ in Berlin Airlift, Dies at 101
Lieutenant Halvorsen came up with the idea to drop candies, chocolate and chewing gum for the children of West Berlin during a tense Cold War standoff.
The Dark Century: Why Is Liberalism in Decline?
Why our era has grown so ugly.
Finns Don’t Wish ‘Finlandization’ on Ukraine — or Anyone
The Cold War term for a kind of stifled sovereignty has gained attention as a possible solution to the standoff with Russia. But the nation it’s named for would rather forget about it.
Putin Signals Openness to Diplomacy While Blaming US for Crisis
The Russian president seemed to be trying to ratchet down tensions in the standoff over Ukraine, while claiming the United States was seeking to goad Moscow into an invasion.
Angry US-Russia Exchange at UN Punctuates Deepening Ukraine Rift
With vitriolic accusations that echoed the Cold War era, the United States and Russia sparred in a bitter debate over the Ukraine crisis in a Security Council meeting watched by the world on Monday.
Putin Has Long Tried to Balance Europe. Now He’s Working to Reset It.
After years of trying to diplomatically divide and conquer, the Russian leader has seemingly decided to antagonize Europe as a whole in the current Ukraine crisis.
Where Is Germany in the Ukraine Standoff? Its Allies Wonder.
Germany’s allies have begun to question what price Berlin is prepared to pay to deter Russia, and even its reliability as an ally, as it wavers on tough measures.
War Looms Between Russia and Ukraine, but Diplomatic Options Remain
Fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine are growing, but diplomatic options remain.
Biden Predicts Russia Will Invade Ukraine
Mr. Biden’s comments went well beyond the formal intelligence assessments described by White House officials, which conclude that Russia’s president has not yet decided whether to invade.