David R. Sands

Raised in Northern Virginia, David R. Sands received an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and a master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He worked as a reporter for several Washington-area business publications before joining The Washington Times.

At The Times, Mr. Sands has covered numerous beats, including international trade, banking, politics and Capitol Hill, and spent eight years on the foreign desk as senior diplomatic correspondent. He is currently the deputy editor for politics. In addition, he has reviewed books and written feature stories for the newspaper and authored The Times' weekly chess column since 1993. He is also senior writer for Washington GolfStyles, a monthly publication covering the Mid-Atlantic golf scene.

Articles by David R. Sands

Russia claims progress with brutal tactics on smaller battlefield

Russian military leaders are finally able to declare a measure of success in their troubled invasion of neighboring Ukraine, as a brutal but concentrated assault in the south and east has steadily advanced in recent days in the long-disputed Donbas region. Published June 7, 2022

Flipping the burger: Russian-rebranded McDonald’s outlets to open next week

There's one business line that has been booming in Russia since Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine led hundreds of foreign corporations to pull out: re-branding. Published June 7, 2022

Prey bite back at predators in upset-filled Cherry Blossom Classic

The Darwinian logic of your typical weekend Swiss tournament dictates that the big sharks -- usually with "GM" or "IM" before their name on the wall chart -- prey on the smaller fry in the early going and then square off against one another for the big prizes in the money rounds. Published June 7, 2022

Boris Johnson turns back leadership challenge after ‘Partygate’ mess

Prime Minister Boris Johnson narrowly turned back an internal Conservative party revolt on Monday, ensuring the colorful British leader will stay in his post for at least another year. Published June 6, 2022

Johnson favored to survive Conservative Party revolt and keep job

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will face a fight for his job earlier than expected Monday after rebels in his ruling Conservative Party secured enough support for an immediate no-confidence vote. Published June 6, 2022

In a war gone sideways, some Russian hawks push Putin to do more

The two Russian senior colonels caught on tape did not hide their fury as Moscow's invasion of Ukraine ground into its fourth inconclusive month, but the target of their anger was not the Ukrainians shooting at them but their own military and political superiors, who they said -- profanely and repeatedly -- were not trying to win the war they started. Published June 5, 2022

British PM Boris Johnson facing fresh party revolt: Report

The Partygate may not be over for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Published June 5, 2022

Russians launch first strikes on Kyiv in weeks to curb weapons flow

Residents of Kyiv received a harsh reminder that Ukraine is still a country at war as a salvo of Russian missiles fell on two outlying districts of the capital early Sunday. Published June 5, 2022

Making the cut: Finalists shine in Chessable Masters knockout rounds

The two finalists may have done their best work just getting to the finals. Chinese No. 1 GM Ding Liren edged rising Indian star Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in the finals of the online Chessable Masters 2022 rapid tournament, which featured a strong preliminary section followed by a series of rapid knockout matches. Published May 31, 2022

EU leaders agree to watered-down compromise on Russia energy sanctions

European Union leaders gathering Monday for a two-day summit in Brussels are setting a low bar for expectations for a tough new sanctions policy to cut off the supply of Russian oil exports as a punishment for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Published May 30, 2022

Russian foreign minister again denies reports of Putin illness

Russia's top diplomat has again been forced to address persistent reports in the West that President Vladimir Putin is suffering from an undisclosed illness, denying the 69-year-old Mr. Putin faces any serious health issues and accusing those who question his stamina and judgment of having ulterior motives. Published May 30, 2022

A Rocky-like Philly chess brawl from the Romantic era

World champion visits Philadelphia. Sportingly agrees to a match with a local star. Gets clocked. It sounds like the plot of a "Rocky" movie, but I discovered Sylvester Stallone's screenplay eerily prefigured while perusing some 140-year-old chess columns from the Baltimore Sunday News. Published May 24, 2022

Watchdog: U.S. pullout ‘most important factor’ in Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan

The pullout of American forces begun by President Trump and accelerated under President Biden was the "single most important factor" in the rapid collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan and the takeover of the country by the radical Islamist Taliban movement last summer, according to a new report by the chief U.S. watchdog over the failed 20-year American mission in Kabul. Published May 18, 2022

The mating game: Reaching a convincing conclusion

"'Shut up,' he explained." Novelist Ring Lardner's famed, unanswerable riposte has its analog in chess. Many amateurs can't fathom why a grandmaster would resign a game when he's down only a pawn with rooks, bishops and queens still on the board, even when a more experienced player can quickly see the hopelessness of the situation. Published May 17, 2022

Upstart newspaper proves skeptics wrong

If there is a signature image of the impact and influence The Washington Times has had over its four decades chronicling the city, the nation and the world, it came on the night of April 29, 1995, in a Washington ballroom packed with politicos, bureaucrats, journalists and celebrities. Published May 16, 2022

Putin’s troubled war sees battlefield, diplomatic reverses

Russian President Vladimir Putin's nearly 3-month-old invasion of neighboring Ukraine suffered reverses on the battlefield and in the halls of power Sunday as long-neutral Finland said it would apply to join the NATO military alliance and neighboring Sweden signaled it wouldn't be far behind. Published May 15, 2022

Sweden takes big step toward bid for NATO

Sweden took a major step toward ending its longstanding policy of neutrality Sunday as the ruling Social Democratic Party said it now favored applying for membership in the NATO military alliance. Published May 15, 2022

North Korea, once officially COVID-free, reports rising ‘fever’ cases, deaths

North Korea on Sunday acknowledged it was facing a spreading outbreak of COVID-19, after denying for more than a year that the virus had reached its shore. Published May 15, 2022

Finnish leader holds his ground on NATO in talk with Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to ratchet up the pressure on Finland over its plans to apply for NATO membership, but Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said Russia's own actions were the reason Helsinki decided to change course. Published May 15, 2022

Tuneful revenge: Embattled Ukraine takes Eurovision song contest

Ukraine's entry reportedly overcame strong early performances by entries from Britain, Spain and Sweden. It is the third Eurovision victory for the Ukrainian entrant since the country joined the competition nearly two decades ago. Published May 15, 2022