In the Ukraine war, totalitarianism is beating capitalism

News Snapshot:

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago was a shambolic mess. Instead of the quick surrender Russian President Vladimir Putin expected, Ukraine stood firm and an alliance of Western nations clapped back with military aid for Ukraine and unprecedented economic sanctions on Russia. In the first months of the war, it looked as if Putin had made a colossal mistake. Two years later, Russia has surprised the world with its economic resilience and its ability to absorb horrific losses that would paralyze most other nations. Ukraine and its allies aren’t losing, but they aren’t winning either, and Putin could yet...