Is Europe ready?
• That was the question on everyone’s mind at the Munich Security Conference, which I attended last week. The killing of Alexei Navalny—news of which broke just as the conference was beginning—was a chilling reminder of Vladimir Putin’s ruthless regime. The following day saw Ukrainian forces retreat from Avdiivka, while America’s Congress continues to refuse to pass a support package for Ukraine. Add to this Donald Trump’s talk of letting Russia do “whatever the hell they want” with “delinquent” NATO members, and European security is not looking very secure at all.
• Our cover package this week considers how Russian aggression and American wavering have revealed just how ill-equipped the continent is to defend itself. In an accompanying leader we argue that sanctions are not the way to fight Mr.Putin. I’d also like to highlight the work of two outstanding journalists. Shashank Joshi, our defence editor, has written an in-depth briefing on how Europe could defend itself without America, as well as pieces on how Russian spies are more dangerous than ever and whether the US Army’s future lies in Europe or Asia. Arkady Ostrovsky, our Russia editor, who knew Mr.Navalny personally, has written about Russian repression under Mr.Putin and the terrors of the gulag for 1843 magazine. I also recommend you listen to “Next Year in Moscow”, his prescient podcast from last year.

Edited By
Zanny Minton Beddoes
Editor-in-chief