Ukraine
A Ukrainian army of 600,000 men is still the second biggest in Europe
One of the proposals in the US 28-point peace plan is that Ukraine reduce its armed forces to 600,000 men. Bankova has already rejected that proposal, but it would still leave Ukraine with the second biggest army in Europe after Russia’s.
Draft US security guarantees offer Ukraine Article 5-style protections – Axios
The US draft security guarantee for Ukraine included in the mooted 28-point peace plan offers Ukraine unprecedented Article 5-like assurances, the biggest concession to Kyiv in the Trump administration effort to bring the war to an end.
US threatens to cut Ukraine off from intel, arms if it rejects the 28-point peace plan - Reuters
The White House got out its stick and threatened to cut Ukraine off from its intelligence and arms supplies if Bankova rejects a proposed 28-point peace plan floated earlier this week, Reuters reports citing two sources said.
KYIV BLOG: Zelenskiy should take the US peace deal
Most of the anglophone coverage of the US 28-point peace plan has been negative, suggesting it is nothing more than a capitulation to Russian aggression. But Russia did make some concessions. Zelenskiy should take the deal.
Russian stocks rally on reports of Trump-backed Ukraine peace plan
Russian equities rallied strongly at the start of trading on November 21 after details of the US 28-point peace plan were released the previous evening. Investor sentiment got a fillip as a possible deal is on the cards.
Text of US 28-point Russia-Ukraine war peace plan released
The full text of the US-Russian 28-point peace plan was released on November 20 that the White House hopes will bring the war in Ukraine to an end.
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US to present a 28-point ceasefire plan to Ukraine as a fait accompli
A new US 28-point plan to end the war in Ukraine suddenly burst on to the scene on November 20, as the White House hopes to use the growing pressure on Ukraine to force terms on Kyiv as soon as this week.
LONG READ: How oil price discounts became a barometer of the sanction’s effectiveness
When Russian troops crossed into Ukraine in February 2022, the country’s main crude export blend, Urals, was still trading in line with its traditional discount to Brent of $2. A month later Russia discounted it by $30 to find buyers.
UBN: Ukraine’s war of drones reaches a new level
The war of drones has reached a level that was impossible to predict just a short time ago. The Western allies are completely unaware of the current military landscape as they talk about defending their borders from a new model of warfare.
Hungary's Viktor Orban says giving more money to Ukraine is like trying to cure an alcoholic with vodka
Hungarian prime minister took to social media to criticise calls by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to provide additional financial assistance to Ukraine.
Corruption and lack of competitiveness threaten fast-track EU enlargement
wiiw study says candidate countries must accelerate deep economic and institutional reforms if they hope to meet ambitious timelines for EU accession.
UBN: Energoatom scandal hurts Ukraine, benefits the Kremlin
The $100bn Energoatom corruption scandal that broken on November 10 has caused outrage in Ukraine. It has hurt Ukraine's reputation and benefited the Kremlin, says UBN's editorial team.
KYIV BLOG: Pokrovsk becomes a modern-day Stalingrad
The battle for Pokrovsk has become a modern-day Stalingrad. Some Russian troops are reportedly refusing to enter the city as that means almost certain death. The fighting is swinging back and forth, but there are no fixed positions.
New jet engines compound Russia’s glide bomb headache for Ukraine
The Russian air force is lobbing as many as 5,000 glide bombs at Ukrainian positions every month, including some bombs weighing 3,000 kg that are powerful enough to destroy any defences.
Ukraine's Energoatom scandal escalates as Zelenskiy dithers on implementing a strong response
The Operation Midas scandal involving close associates of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and senior Ukrainian officials in a $100mn kickback scandal continues to expand and threatens to bring the government down.
Russia hits Kyiv with the largest missile attack of the war
Russia hit Kyiv with the most intense drone and missile bombardment since the war began on November 14, killing six people and injuring a dozen more, as the Kremlin ramps up its campaign to force Ukrainians to suffer a dark and freezing winter.
Ukraine’s Energoatom corruption stole money to protect Ukraine’s power stations, caused blackouts
A Russian missile barrage has plunged Ukraine into darkness as winter approaches but could have been avoided. Money earmarked to build effective defences against Russia’s sustained missile attacks was stolen, leaving them defenceless.
Poland’s PM Tusk warns Ukraine risks losing the war with Russia from the expanding corruption scandal
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk took to social media over the weekend and warned that the expanding Energoatom corruption scandal was undermining support for Kyiv in Europe.
Russian forces fail to consolidate their advantage as the battle of Pokrovsk becomes a modern day Stalingrad
The battle for Pokrovsk continues to rage after Russia came close to taking the Donbas’ key logistical hub last week. A determined counter offensive by Ukrainian troops has kept the Russian forces at bay in what has become a modern day Stalingrad.