US, Ukrainian and European officials are discussing security guarantees: European forces, US intelligence support and possible US-backed air patrols. Russia demands strict limits on the Ukrainian army, rejects any foreign troops and still says that it is “ready for peace” 4X
Full-scale invasion and national resilience, broadcasted live.
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Trump team discusses deal to force Ukraine out of Donetsk, Zelenskyy rejects
Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine: most of Luhansk and Donetsk plus Crimea. Putin claims all of it as Russian territory. Trump’s team is discussing a deal that could force Ukraine out of parts of Donetsk. Zelenskiyy and Ukrainians reject it. 3/
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US Intelligence: Putin Wants All Ukraine, Reclaim Soviet-Era Europe
US intelligence warns that Putin does not want a peace. He still aims to take all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that were under Soviet control. This assessment hasn’t changed, even as Trump’s negotiators say Putin wants to end the war, reports Reuters. 1/
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Ukrainian soldiers train in Polish forest camp with NATO Allies
#StandWithUkraine Deep in the forests of south eastern Poland, Ukrainian soldiers are training hard at a new camp established by the Norwegian Army and backed by seven other NATO Allies
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Putin aide Dmitri Kozak and Ukraine war
Source: https://
nytimes.com/2025/12/18/wor
ld/europe/russia-putin-aide-dmitri-kozak-ukraine-war.html
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Resigned in 2025, Kozak’s system continues destroying Ukrainian cities
He resigned in September 2025. His analytical notes and pleas changed nothing. While Kozak silently traveled to Israel for treatment, the system he had built for 30 years continued to grind away human lives and destroy Ukrainian cities. 7X
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Kozak’s memo to Putin: stop war, negotiate, reform judiciary
Kozak later sent Putin a stunning memo proposing: stop the war, negotiate with Ukraine, make the judiciary independent of security services. He shared it outside the Kremlin, separating himself from Putin. 6/
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Kozak negotiated ceasefire with Ukraine; Putin demanded surrender only
On Feb 25, Kozak was negotiating a cease-fire with Ukrainian officials involving Russia withdrawing from all areas except Crimea and Donbas. Putin was furious, accused him of exceeding his mandate, and demanded he negotiate only surrender. 4/
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Kozak’s history with Putin: re-election, Olympics, Crimea, and Ukraine talks
Kozak had worked with Putin since the 1990s in St. Petersburg. He managed Putin's first re-election, oversaw the 2014 Olympics, and integrated Crimea. He was negotiating genuinely with Ukraine when Putin invaded. 3/
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Dmitri Kozak refused Putin’s orders, offered to be arrested or shot
Dmitri Kozak, ex Putin aide, refused the president's orders on day two of the Ukraine invasion, insisting he didn't know Russia's goals. He told Putin he was ready to be arrested or shot, — NYT. 1/