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Welcome to The Adversarial. Every other week, we’ll provide you with expert analysis on America’s greatest challengers: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and jihadists. Read more below.***RussiaOver the last two weeks, Russia captured 105 square miles of Ukrainian territory, reportedly entering Pokrovsk and taking most of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk. Chasiv Yar’s fall would bring Moscow closer to encircling Kostiantynivka, a key Ukrainian stronghold.U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to harden his stance on Russia, setting an Aug. 8 deadline for a ceasefire. On Aug. 6 — the same day that White House envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow — Trump signed an order to impose tariffs on India, starting Aug. 27, in response to India’s continued imports of Russian oil, and he has threatened to impose tariffs on other countries that import oil from Russia. However, Trump expressed optimism about Witkoff’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Aug. 1, Trump generated headlines when he ordered two U.S. nuclear submarines to be deployed “in the appropriate regions” in response to provocative comments by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Kremlin officials dismissed the move as non-threatening.The Kremlin remains dismissive of the potential sanctions and confident in a military victory, with the Russian General Staff reportedly telling Putin that Ukraine’s front lines could collapse within two to three months. Moscow is also reportedly considering a pause in drone and missile strikes — while continuing ground operations — to reduce sanctions pressure and attempt to halt Ukraine’s attacks on refineries.The aftermath of a recent Russian drone strike on Lozova railway station in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. Image: State Emergency Service of Ukraine via Wikimedia CommonsChinaOn July 24, Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa during the 25th E.U.-China Summit in Beijing. E.U. leaders raised concerns about Chinese trade practices — including export