Ukraine-Russia War

Ukraine presents a strategic economic opportunity for the United States, particularly as the nation is rich in critical minerals and advanced technology sectors. Investing in Ukraine not only enhances economic ties but also fortifies U.S. national security interests amid geopolitical tensions, per commentary from Council on Foreign Relations.

• Brookings Foreign Policy Fellow Valerie Wirtschafter examines the growing influence of Russian state-affiliated accounts on TikTok and compares it with their presence on other social media platforms like Telegram and X (formerly Twitter).
• Russian state-affiliated accounts are leveraging TikTok's reach to disseminate state-backed narratives.
• Despite lower overall activity compared to other platforms, the engagement per post on TikTok is significantly higher.

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• Recent developments, particularly Russia's involvement in Ukraine and its reliance on Iran, have strained its relations with Israel, marking a departure from the previously improving ties under Putin's leadership.
• Russia's strategic positioning in the Middle East, balancing relationships with Israel, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, aiming to be a central player capable of engaging with all sides.

• Brookings experts are watching the EU's capability to fund Ukraine, NATO's strategy for integrating Ukraine, and the possibility of either Russia or Ukraine breaking through stalemate on the battlefied.
• They are also watching Western defense industry's ability to match Russia's, the international community's potential appropriation of Russian assets for Ukraine's rebuilding, and the influence of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

• AEI expert Hal Brands writes that the war in Ukraine is a critical test of democratic resilience against authoritarian forces.
• The outcome of this conflict could either reinforce or erode the current global order, depending on the sustained commitment of democratic nations.

• The U.S. is increasing its production of artillery rounds, with plans to produce more than 80,000 rounds per month next year and potentially 100,000 shells per month by 2025.
• Supporting Ukraine is pushing the American defense industrial base to produce high quantities of weapons in a short amount of time across various states.