Putin's negotiators ‘soften hardline stance in private’ & Trump links security guarantees to Zelensky ceding territory

Day 1,433.


Today, amid increased Russian military pressure in the Donbas,
and as Ukraine faces what the NATO Secretary General calls its
“harshest winter for a decade”, we bring you the latest from the
Ukraine peace talks, where the United States is understood to be
increasing pressure on President Zelensky’s government to concede
territory to Russia before Washington grants any security
guarantees. But is Moscow’s position under Vladimir Putin softer
than it appears, as some allege? Then we discuss civilian
resilience in Ukraine with an expert from Harvard University.


Contributors


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


Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence).
@DomNicholls on X.


With thanks to Dr Emma Mateo (Harvard University’s Ukrainian
Research Institute). @emm_mateo on X.


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Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your
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analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the
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CONTENT REFERENCED:


Learn more about Harvard’s Ukrainian Research Institute’s
‘Solidarity Within and Beyond Ukraine Conference this Friday and
Saturday:


https://www.huri.harvard.edu/tcup-conference 


France opposes EU plan to buy British Storm Shadows for Ukraine
(The Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/26/france-opposes-eu-plan-to-buy-british-storm-shadows-ukraine/ 


Exclusive: Russian negotiators soften hardline stance in private,
US officials say. Ukrainians urge caution (Kyiv Independent):


https://kyivindependent.com/kremlin-negotiators-drop-hardline-stance-behind-closed-doors-us-official-reveals


US links security guarantees for Ukraine to peace deal ceding
territory (Financial Times):


https://www.ft.com/content/8ca0d4fd-fdfd-4aa3-a3a2-90be00d55b9d 


NATO boss Rutte slaps down calls for European army prompted by
Trump fears (Reuters):


https://www.reuters.com/world/nato-boss-rutte-slaps-down-calls-european-army-prompted-by-trump-fears-2026-01-26/


Commission approves second wave of SAFE defence funding for eight
Member States (EU):


https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_211


‘Bread and War: A Ukrainian Story of Food, Bravery and Hope’ by
Felicity Spector:


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bread-War-Ukrainian-Story-Bravery/dp/1914613783


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