By Invitation | Russia and Ukraine

Alexander Gabuev writes from Moscow on why Vladimir Putin and his entourage want war

Elites have hijacked Russia and conflated the country's interests with their own

ANYWHERE YOU turn in Moscow, it's easy to find members of the Russian elite who wonder why the West thinks that war in Ukraine is the Kremlin’s preferred course of action. Even if the Russian army managed to force Kyiv into a swift and humiliating defeat without too many casualties, the damage to Russia’s national interests would surely outweigh any potential military gains.

More from By Invitation

Time is not on Russia’s side, argues Finland’s foreign minister

Elina Valtonen calls for a lower oil-price cap and tougher measures against Russia’s shadow fleet

Oriana Skylar Mastro makes a case for paring America’s nukes

The political scientist explains why beefing up is bad China strategy


A new Iranian approach to regional security and prosperity, by M. Javad Zarif

Iran’s vice-president on how his country can make the region more secure and prosperous


America’s debt cannot keep stacking up, says Jeffrey Gundlach

The “King of Bonds” sees the risk of a debt restructuring with global repercussions

South Korea’s crisis highlights both fragility and resilience, writes Wi Sung-lac

The country is deeply polarised, but its living memory of military rule strengthens its commitment to democracy

How to turn European savings into investment, innovation and growth, by Christine Lagarde

A fragmented financial infrastructure means that Europe gets less bang for its euro