Latest Developments At A Glance
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has again ruled out direct peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he called “illegitimate,” prompting the Ukrainian leader to accuse Putin of being “afraid” of negotiating a settlement to the almost 3-year-old war.
- Ukraine’s cabinet officially fired Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov in what appears to be a broader shake-up of the Defense Ministry’s procurement operations
- Zelenskyy said he was optimistic about U.S. pressure on Moscow to end Russia’s all-out war on Ukraine, according to a new interview, though he said he thought President Donald Trump was unclear how to do that.
- On January 27, Zelenskyy pressed efforts to bolster support as world leaders gathered in Poland to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, while on the battlefield Russian forces pressed their assault on Pokrovsk, their major target over recent months.
- During a speech to the global business elite gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Saudi Arabia and its allies in OPEC to ramp up oil output, a move that would push down crude prices, choking a key revenue source for Moscow to fund its war.
Could Trump Cut A Deal With Putin And Leave Ukraine In The Cold?
U.S. President Donald Trump said he wants to end the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible, but his desire for peace raises the possibility of striking a deal that leaves Kyiv out in the cold. Read the report by Reid Standish and RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service here.
Ukrainians Skeptical Of Trump’s Peace Promises
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will be returning to the Oval Office on January 20 after he is sworn in for a second term. He has vowed to use his presidency to bring about a swift end to the war in Ukraine. RFE/RL asked people across Ukraine what they expect from Trump’s peace efforts. By Kateryna Bankova, Yevhenia Nazarova, Oksana Necheporenko, and RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service
Why Are European Troops For Ukraine A Nonstarter?
Donald Trump’s inauguration is focusing minds on a future peace plan for Ukraine, with much talk of European armies providing a military mission. French President Emmanuel Macron has been a particularly strong advocate of boots on the ground — but there are considerable obstacles. Read Ray Furlong’s analysis here.
Why Do Ukrainians Oppose Lowering The Conscription Age?
A Ukrainian mother told RFE/RL that she has sent her teenage sons abroad so that they can avoid military service when they came of age — and she’s not alone. Suggestions by senior U.S. politicians that Ukraine lower the conscription age from 25 to18 are deeply unpopular. Read the report by Ray Furlong, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, and Current Time here.
Ukraine Has Launched A New Offensive Into Russia. Why And Why Now?
Ukraine has launched a new offensive in Russia’s region of Kursk. But it’s not clear why exactly Ukraine is waging a new assault in Kursk, and why now. Read the report by Todd Prince here.
What Awaits Ukraine War In 2025 Amid Shifting Political Climate?
The outgunned Ukrainian military has relied on Western support to buoy its defensive efforts as Russian forces look to seize more Ukrainian territory. Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden is rushing to deliver more aid to the country before he leaves office in January. But it’s unclear how the incoming Trump administration will support Ukraine in 2025. By Donbas.Realities, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, and Austin Malloy
What A Ukraine Peace Plan Could Look Like
In European capitals, behind closed doors, diplomats and leaders are spit-balling what a Ukrainian peace plan might actually look like. European peacekeeping troops are one option (don’t expect much enthusiasm from Moscow). Read the article by Mike Eckel here.
Interactive: Occupied, Militarized Crimea
As Ukrainian leaders vow to reclaim all territories seized by Russia, Moscow has prepared extensive defensive measures, particularly in Crimea, a region unlawfully annexed in 2014. This area, now under Russian occupation, has been heavily militarized with an array of air bases and army bases, making it one of the most fortified zones in the war. View the interactive map by Crimea.Realities, Schemes, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, and Central Newsroom here.