A FTER WEEKS of nebulous ceasefire talks at the urging of a semi-engaged President Donald Trump, the war between Russia and Ukraine is intensifying again in savage style and with escalating stakes. In the last two weeks there have been record-breaking Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities and spectacular Ukrainian drone raids on Russia’s strategic bomber force,

Following a “worst week of the war” for Russia—marked by Ukraine’s devastating “Operation Spiderweb” drone strike on bomber bases, an attack on the Kerch Bridge, and other infrastructure collapses—Vladimir Putin faces a dilemma on how to retaliate.