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Russia

Military & Security

Politics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia had not yet achieved its objectives in Ukraine and that military operations would continue, but that Moscow remained open to political and diplomatic avenues to reach those goals, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Feb. 24.

Russia, Ukraine: Kremlin Says War Objectives Unmet, Military Operations To Continue

Lithuania

Poland

Belarus

Belarus began mass snap reserve call-ups in its western Grodno region bordering Poland and Lithuania as part of an unscheduled combat readiness inspection, with thousands reportedly summoned on hours' notice and transported to training grounds, Charter'97 reported on Feb. 23.

Belarus: Snap Reserve Call-Ups Near NATO Borders

Europe

Hungary

Economics

Energy

Hungary vetoed approval of a 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) emergency loan for Ukraine as well as a new sanctions package against Russia, Politico reported Feb. 23. 

EU, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine: Hungary Blocks EU Ukraine Loan and Russia Sanctions 

The second day of U.S.-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks in Geneva, Switzerland, ended after roughly two hours, Reuters reported on Feb. 18.

Russia, Ukraine, U.S.: Geneva Talks Conclude With Kremlin Demands Unchanged

Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators convened in Geneva, Switzerland, for two days of U.S.-mediated talks, Reuters reported on Feb. 17.

Russia, Ukraine, U.S.: Geneva Talks Open With Territorial Divide Intact

Switzerland

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia, Ukraine and the United States would hold the next round of peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb. 17-18, with presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky leading the Russian delegation, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Feb. 13.

Russia, Ukraine, U.S: Geneva Talks To Resume Feb. 17-18

Germany

The 62nd Munich Security Conference opened on Feb. 13 in Munich, Germany, with an address by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Germany: Munich Security Conference Kicks Off With Speech by Friedrich Merz

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it was premature to discuss elections in Ukraine, commenting on media reports that Kyiv could soon announce a presidential election and a referendum on a peace deal to be held in May, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Feb. 11.

Ukraine, Russia: Moscow Downplays Election Reports as Kyiv Denies Plans

Assessments

City authorities and businesses rebuild residential buildings damaged by Russian shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on July 12, 2023.

While European governments can fund Ukraine's war effort this year and next, securing the investment needed to rebuild damaged infrastructure will face significant political, economic and structural hurdles.

The Challenge of Rebuilding Ukraine's Economy

Columns

On Geopolitics

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a press conference at the European Commission's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Aug. 17, 2025.

Despite its strategic imperative to secure Ukraine's Western alignment, the EU remains unlikely to grant the country full or partial membership anytime soon due to numerous challenges, with the ongoing war being chief among them.

To Keep the Promise of Ukraine's Accession Alive, the EU Mulls Alternative Options

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Indonesia

Vietnam

Slovakia

India

U.S. President Donald Trump (C) holds up his signature on the founding charter of the Board of Peace among other world leaders at the World Economic Forum on Jan. 22 in Davos, Switzerland.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: The Board of Peace Convenes, Russia-Ukraine-U.S. Talks in Geneva

Snapshots

United Arab Emirates

Emirati flags on Feb. 4 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. On Feb. 4-5, delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States held a second round of trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates.

The talks are unlikely to produce a near-term settlement, as Russia will continue to press its territorial demands while using diplomacy to manage sanctions pressure and build leverage ahead of a spring-summer offensive.

The Limits of Russia-Ukraine-U.S. Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a meeting with European national security advisors in Kyiv on Jan. 3, 2026. 

The reshuffle seeks to strengthen Zelensky's negotiating position and mitigate the political fallout from a likely unfavorable peace deal amid weakening Western support and Russia's continued battlefield advances.

Ukraine's Government Reshuffle Signals Preparation for a Tough Peace Deal

Greenland

Denmark

A sniper police officer on the Congress hotel during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum on Jan. 24, 2025, in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland.

The Weekly Rundown: Davos, Europe Steps Up Greenland Deployments

Nigeria

Colombia

Cuba

Mexico

Venezuela

Iran

China

Taiwan

Norway

Pakistan

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

Global Trade

Social Issues

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

Science & Technology

RANE's Top 10 Risks for 2026 highlights high-impact, low-probability risks and trends from the annual forecast presented in more extreme terms.

RANE's Top 10 Risks for 2026

Media

Forecast Webcast

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2026 Annual Geopolitical Forecast.

2026 Annual Geopolitical Forecast Webcast

Saudi Arabia

Yemen

North Korea

South Korea

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet takes off from Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport on December 15, 2025 in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. If U.S. strikes escalate and cause significant casualties, it could make retaliatory measures -- including the arbitrary detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela or the harassment of energy sector vessels in the region -- more likely.

The Weekly Rundown: South Korea's President Visits Beijing, U.S. Operations in Venezuela

Benin

Burkina Faso

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Madagascar

Mali

Niger

Rwanda

Canada

Paraguay

Egypt

Lebanon

Morocco

Qatar

Syria

Turkey

Australia

Cambodia

Timor-Leste

Japan

Mongolia

Myanmar

Philippines

Thailand

Bulgaria

Afghanistan

Nepal

Flight routes.

As 2026 approaches, we look back at the previous year and consider the top five patterns and trends as measured by geopolitical impact.

2025: A Geopolitical Review

Eurasia

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 28, 2025.

While the U.S. and Ukrainian presidents have narrowed their differences on a 20-point peace framework, the Kremlin's insistence on full control of the Donbas complicates the prospects of a negotiated deal.

Ukraine Peace Deal Still Elusive Despite Trump-Zelensky Talks

Central African Republic

Guinea

Cyprus

Kosovo

The Bulgarian flag and the European flag waving in the wind.

The Weekly Rundown: Bulgaria Adopts the Euro, U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Persist

<p>Ukraine is the quintessential borderland state. The country borders three former Soviet states (Russia, Belarus and Moldova) and four countries in the European Union (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania). Ukraine also has a coastline along the Black Sea to the south. Ukraine sits on the Northern European Plain, the area that has historically served as an invasion superhighway going east and west. Beyond its strategic location, Ukraine&#39;s geography has only facilitated such invasions. The country consists of flat and fertile plains, with the exception of the Carpathian Mountain range that arches into the far west of the country. But even these mountains can be penetrated and have not posed a significant barrier to invasion. Given such lack of barriers, Ukraine&#39;s wide-open geography is inextricably linked to that of Russia. Ukraine&#39;s agricultural and industrial belts have traditionally been integrated with Russia&#39;s, and Ukraine serves as the primary transit state for Russian energy exports to Europe. Due to its location and abundance of agricultural and mineral resources, Ukraine has been contested between regional powers for centuries. This competition is currently playing out in an extreme form today, with a Western-backed government confronting a Russian-backed uprising in eastern Ukraine. Further complicating the situation is the fact that Ukraine has several population and political cores, including Lviv in the west, Kiev in the center and the eastern cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. These different cores make administering Ukraine difficult. The current crisis in Ukraine is therefore merely the latest iteration of the country&#39;s internal divisions and the long-standing East-West conflict over the country. Maintaining sovereignty and unity in the face of this competition is Ukraine&#39;s primary geographic challenge.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

Russia, Ukraine: Kremlin Says War Objectives Unmet, Military Operations To Continue

Belarus: Snap Reserve Call-Ups Near NATO Borders

EU, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine: Hungary Blocks EU Ukraine Loan and Russia Sanctions

Russia, Ukraine, U.S.: Geneva Talks Conclude With Kremlin Demands Unchanged

Russia, Ukraine, U.S.: Geneva Talks Open With Territorial Divide Intact

Russia, Ukraine, U.S: Geneva Talks To Resume Feb. 17-18

Germany: Munich Security Conference Kicks Off With Speech by Friedrich Merz

Ukraine, Russia: Moscow Downplays Election Reports as Kyiv Denies Plans

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