FT: Ukraine expects escalation of Russian offensives on multiple fronts as critical stage of war looms
As Russian forces push from multiple directions, Ukraine aims to draft 160,000 soldiers, though officials question if this goal can be met.
Reuters: Trump nominates Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead Pentagon
In the past, Hegseth criticized NATO allies for their weakness in the face of the global threats.
Biden should push NATO to admit Ukraine, says US foreign policy analyst
According to McCain Institute Executive Director Evelyn Farkas, the US should expedite NATO membership for Ukraine to prevent escalating global threats.
Trump to adopt significantly more hawkish view toward war in Ukraine once he takes office, says Pompeo
Mike Pompeo expressed hope that Trump’s team will make him understand the consequences of withdrawing support from Ukraine.
CNN: Ukraine is at one of its weakest points since February 2022
Experts observe a “growing, quiet consensus" that negotiations are the only way to end this war.
Forbes: Ukraine’s forces push back against Russian assaults as “apocalyptic fight” unfolds in Kursk Oblast
Ukrainian brigades are inflicting heavy casualties on Russian forces in Kursk Oblast, with battles so intense they’ve left entire “cemeteries” of destroyed Russian armored vehicles.
Russian attack on clinic kills two, injures five in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Russian artillery and drones targeted Nikopol, hitting a clinic and killing a doctor.
Kursk operation reveals vulnerabilities in Russian defenses, may shift future peace talks, says expert
With fighting intensifying, Russia has mobilized elite units to regain lost ground.
HuffPost: Pro-Ukrainian activists in US push for urgent aid to Ukraine before Trump takes office
Experts suggest that for Trump to have a credible negotiation stance with Putin, he must prioritize military aid to Ukraine, ensuring a position of strength before entering talks.
Russia’s cheap drone tactics aim to terrorize Ukrainian civilians, expert reveals
Russia may also conduct information attacks about agreements between US President-elect Donald Trump and Russian ruler Vladimir Putin regarding ceding Ukrainian territories to Russia.
Russian troops escalate flanking assaults on Kurakhove, targeting key routes
Russian troops advance on Kurakhove, attempting to encircle Ukrainian forces.
Russia is now targeting Kharkiv supermarkets to worsen conditions for nearly a million residents
With food supplies strained and winter approaching, the city’s nearly one million residents, including hundreds of thousands displaced by war, are facing increasingly desperate conditions.
WP: After Trump calls Putin to prevent escalation, Russia launches largest drone attack of war
Donald Trump’s first conversation with Vladimir Putin after his election victory focused on Ukraine, with Trump urging the Russian president to refrain from further escalating the war.
Russia ramps up Shahed drone strikes, raising concerns over future mass missile attacks during cold season in Ukraine
Russian troops have significantly increased their use of Shahed drones, signaling that they have ramped up domestic production of these drones. National security expert Ivan Varchenko suggests that this shift could indicate the buildup of missile reserves for a future mass strike, with Russian forces intensifying daily attacks and testing Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.