Trump: Zelensky has until Christmas to accept peace deal & the new deadly shadow war of assassinations and hybrid attacks

Day 1,385.


Today, as Commander Syrskyi claims Ukraine has regained several
kilometres of the frontline around Pokrovsk, we examine the
format of the European counter-proposal to the US-Russia peace
plan, as President Trump sets a new deadline of Christmas for
President Zelensky to agree. We also take deep dives into
Belgium’s stance on frozen Russian state assets and the state of
hybrid warfare across Europe, before hearing from the UK Minister
of the Armed Forces on the evolving European position and the
growing dangers ahead.


Contributors


Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley
on X.


Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.


With thanks to Al Carns MP


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CONTENT REFERENCED:


Trump: Zelensky has until Christmas to accept peace deal (The
Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/09/trump-zelensky-must-accept-peace-deal-ukraine-losing/ 


Mapped: Russia and Ukraine’s deadly shadow war of assassinations
(The Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/05/mapped-russia-ukraine-deadly-shadow-war-assassination/ 


Russia’s hybrid warfare puts Europe to the test (Financial
Times):


https://www.ft.com/content/2084e87d-d491-4852-8449-f90b73d4788b 


Zelensky 'ready' to hold elections during war, if partners ensure
security (Kyiv Independent):


https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-ready-to-hold-elections-during-war-if-partners-ensure-security/


Leaked documents expose global Russian soft-power influence
network (New Voice of Ukraine):


https://english.nv.ua/russian-war/how-russia-built-a-worldwide-spy-ecosystem-using-youth-diplomacy-and-soft-power-50564951.html 


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