Zelenskyy: Our choice is our dignity vs risking losing [the US] support.
It is a 28-point “peace” vs an extremely hard winter.
We asked to live without freedom, dignity, and justice. We are asked to trust [Russia], which has betrayed us already twice. 1/
Zelenskyy: [The US] asks to give an answer if we agree to this.
But I already answered in 2019 when I became president and swore an oath to protect Ukraine, its sovereignty and independence, people's rights, and justice. 2/
Zelenskyy: We will work on diplomacy. We will rely on EU support. We will not allow Russia to depict us as dealing with the peace process. But we will not betray Ukraine. 3/
Axios published a full 28-point Trump’s Ukraine-Russia peace plan. Trump will drive it hard and Zelenskyy might not have much choice.
Trump is aiming to get it done before the end of the year to have the cycle move off Epstein. 0/
The deal is pro-Russian but might be the only deal Ukraine can ever get given the US and Europe are unwilling to fund Ukraine
Ukraine is forced to give up territory, stay out of NATO, weaken its military, accept a vague U.S. guarantee and give Russia amnesty. 1/
Here is it point by point:
1. Ukraine’s sovereignty “will be confirmed,” according to the plan.
2. A comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine, and Europe, declaring all ambiguities of the last 30 years settled. 2/
Timothy Snyder in Subsyack explains how negotiations with Russia must work and why any deal built on Moscow’s demands is doomed.
His 10 principles show what real peace requires for Ukraine and global security.
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1. Concessions can’t come first.
Snyder notes that some U.S. ideas already floated, so no NATO for Ukraine, no trials for Russian war criminals, no reparations give Russia major rewards upfront.
Giving Moscow anything “in advance” is counterproductive and unjust, especially when offered on behalf of Ukrainians.
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2. Ukrainians must be heard.
Russia understands exactly why it invaded: to dominate Ukraine and erase its independence.
Any negotiation that ignores Ukrainian voices misreads the entire war. Americans must listen to Ukrainians or risk repeating catastrophic strategic mistakes.
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Ukraine is now shooting down Russian Shaheds using mixed teams of soldiers and civilians — a new nationwide air-defense layer built from 700 interceptor-drone crews trained to chase targets at 300 km/h.
Le Monde reports on this new civil–military drone hunt system.
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On the frontline near Kherson and Mykolaiv, 39th Brigade crews use French Mistral missiles.
Teams change position within minutes, because once they fire, Russian Lancet loitering munitions immediately hunt them down.
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A Shahed costs about €200,000, carries 90 kg of explosives and flies 240 km/h.
Russia mixes real Shaheds with cheap Gerber decoys to overwhelm defenses.
Ukraine cannot afford to waste €200,000 Mistrals on €2,000 tactical drones.
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Ukraine’s Spy Chief, Budanov: The situation around Pokrovsk is extremely hard, but we are holding.
The operation was needed because Russia had already claimed the city was taken. Our actions bought time for the main units to reach and reinforce the city.
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Budanov: In negotiations you cannot take and discard a key factor. You cannot ignore the real situation on the battlefield or the social state.
A negotiation on ending hostilities is always multidomain — much deeper and wider than something like oil supply talks.
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Budanov: There is a fact — a corruption case that became public, and in energy, one of the most painful sectors.
The anti-corruption bodies did their job: they exposed it and at least stopped it. The President reacted correctly: he removed the people involved, and now the court must decide.
Whitaker: President Trump is frustrated with Vladimir Putin.
Every time they talk about a ceasefire or peace, more bombs hit Ukrainian cities. Trump is sustaining pressure with sanctions and expects European allies, including Germany, to use the same leverage.
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Whitaker: The resilience of the Ukrainian people and their desire to defend their country and freedoms struck me.
Their innovation with drones and other autonomous vehicles, their creativity, and their willingness to experiment in a real-time battle lab impressed me.
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Whitaker: Ukrainians are willing to enter a ceasefire and negotiate a peace.
Russians are unwilling to come to the table. Ukrainians are waiting; Russians need to get there. President Trump is using leverage and sanctions to push Russia to negotiate.