How Putin may react to the rift between the U.S. and Ukraine

NPR | By Steve Inskeep

Published October 16, 2026 at 3:50 AM CDT

Journalist and Russia analyst Julia Ioffe lays out how Vladimir Putin might be trying to exploit the current divide between the U.S. and Ukraine over striking Russian oil refineries.

Tags

Morning Edition

Steve Inskeep

Steve Inskeep is a host of NPR's Morning Edition and Up First.

See stories by Steve Inskeep

NPR News

Do Americans own the president's papers? Appeals court to weigh in

Carrie Johnson

The administration says papers created in the White House belong to Donald Trump, not to the American people. The case could ultimately end up at the conservative-leaning Supreme Court.
Morning news brief

A Martínez, Steve Inskeep

Three children and a teacher were killed in a shooting at an Oregon school, how Russia is viewing Ukraine's strikes and its growing rift with the U.S., DOJ sues California over its voter rolls.
Milwaukee Brewers reach the World Series for the first time in over 40 years

Steve Futterman

The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the World Series for the first time since 1982. The Brewers swept the Los Angeles Dodgers, the two-time defending World Series champion.
Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. on their new album and remaining true to themselves

Noah Caldwell, Ann Powers

The Irish band Fontaines D.C. builds on their global success with the new album "Dopamine Chamber," which a band member describes as the soundtrack to our "glorious age of distraction."
Trump cancels public execution, but a line may already have been crossed

Odette Yousef, Steve Inskeep

President Trump has canceled the livestreaming of the execution of the man behind the attack at Fort Hood in 2009. Some say the public proposal itself - from a Cabinet member - changes norms.