Trump Is Forcing Ukraine into a ‘Transactional’ Peace Deal as Europe Quietly Pushes Back

Dec 14, 2025 | “The trick is never to say no, but instead opt for ‘yes, Mr President, but…’”

Europe is trying to quietly steer Trump away from forcing Ukraine into “very serious and dangerous concessions” by keeping him onside while shifting pressure back onto Putin, says international affairs commentator and Zelensky biographer Gallagher Fenwick.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Russians Will Apologize to Ukraine

This is Zelenskyy’s message.

Ukraine’s Fate Will Be Determined Next Week | Sir Bill Browder

Dec 12, 2025 | Sir Bill Browder joins Times Radio’s Maddie Hale to discuss the United States suggesting Donbas become a free economic zone, Belgium threatens legal action against the EU if it moves ahead with plans to use or effectively seize frozen Russian central bank assets and Ukraine’s strikes halt production on a Lukoil-operated oil rig in the Caspian sea.

Sir Bill Browder is the man who has got the most impressive understanding of this problem. It is so refreshing to listen to him bringing clarity into this most difficult and intractable of problems. Bill Browder cuts to the chase. — © Mark Alexander

Trump’s Secret Business Deals with Putin—Profit over Peace? | To the Point

Dec 4, 2025 | Are U.S.–Russia talks about Ukraine really about peace—or big business? Donald Trump didn’t just send diplomats. He sent his son-in-law Jared Kushner and real estate mogul Steve Witkoff to Moscow. Behind the so-called peace plan, insiders claim major economic deals with Vladimir Putin are on the table. Could this come at Ukraine’s expense and threaten Europe’s security?

Meanwhile, Ukraine is losing ground on the battlefield, and a corruption scandal shakes its leadership. On To the Point we ask: Trump’s secret business deals with Putin—profit over peace?

Guests: Roman Goncharenko, DW – Malte Lehming, Tagesspiegel - Sudha David-Wilp, German Marshall Fund


Diplomats should be negotiating an end to this war, not Trump’s friends and family members. Witkoff has Russian roots and is a man who has made his money in real estate. Making deals will be in his DNA! And as for Kushner, we all know what he’s interested in: big bucks! Isn’t it true to say that the Trump regime is trying to bring this war to a close as quickly as possible so that Trump & Co get on as quickly as possible with enriching themselves? These people don’t give a damn about a just peace or Europe's security. Nor do they care how much land Ukraine has to give up as long as deals with Russia can be made as soon as possible. Trump can see that there are billions to be made and he wants to make those billions now. Time is not on the old man’s side.

Zelenskyy should give up no land to Russia. Not under any circumstances. Putin must be punished for his aggression. If he isn’t, he won’t stop at Ukraine. Poland or the Baltic States will be next on Putin’s list to invade. — © Mark Alexander

Zelenskyy to Hold Urgent Talks with Many World Leaders as US Pushes for Peace Deal | DW News

Dec 11, 2025 | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to hold urgent talks with dozens of world leaders as the US the pushes for a peace deal with Russia. US President Donald Trump says he held a phone call with the leaders of Germany, Britain and France to discuss proposals to end the conflict. Trump says he warned European leaders that Zelenskyy "has to be realistic" about his country's position. Officials say Ukraine has delivered its response to the latest draft of a 20-point peace plan backed by the Washington.

Trump’s Attack on Europe ‘Plays Straight into Moscow’s Hands’

Dec 10, 2025 | “There are a lot of smiles in Moscow these days.”

Trump is undermining his partnership with the EU and emboldening Putin by pushing “an alternate reality” that ignores Europe’s actual security risks, says former EU ambassador to the US João Vale de Almeida.


Trump is a traitorous AH! Moreover, Trump is Putin’s stooge, and for as long as Americans tolerate this dangerous man in the White House, America should not be considered our true friend or ally. We Europeans had better get used to the idea that we are alone. We can no longer count on the Americans. Any hitherto perceived “special relationship” under Trump is dead. Furthermore, we need to stop bellyaching about why this is all happening. To me, there is no real mystery. Much has gone on between Trump and Russia in the past that has yet to come out. The result: Trump is Putin’s marionette; Putin, Trump’s puppeteer! But there is another important dimension, too. It is this: Trump is in a great hurry because he sees great opportunities ahead that his buddy Putin will make possible for him. Trump and his family will be able to profit greatly from an American rapprochement with Russia by bringing Putin in from the cold. Zelenskyy’s intransigence is a hindrance to future billions for the Trump clan. This isn’t rocket science. — © Mark Alexander

Did Zelenskyy Just Spit on Trump's "Peace" Plan? Why Ukraine Won't Bend the Knee to the Kremlin

Dec 9, 2025 | Zelenskyy is refusing to bow to Putin, but Trump seems more than willing to lend Russia's authoritarian leader a hand or anything else. Thom Hartmann explains why Zelenskyy is refusing Trump's latest plan for 'peace' in Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy due to Meet European Leaders for High-level Ukraine Talks | BBC News

Dec 8, 2025 | Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting key European leaders in London on Monday, as Ukraine's allies plan their response to an ongoing US push for Kyiv to accept concessions in peace talks.

The leaders of France and Germany will join Zelenskyy and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at No 10 Downing Street as they seek to ensure any deal deters a future Russian attack.

The high-level meeting follows three days of talks in Florida, where Zelenskyy's chief negotiator pushed for changes to a White House plan widely considered to accommodate central Kremlin demands.

The US and Ukraine said there was progress but US President Donald Trump appeared to criticise Zelenskyy on Sunday, saying he "hasn't read" the draft.

Zelensky’s Top Aide Resigns Amid Widening Corruption Scandal

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff and top peace negotiator, became the highest-ranking casualty of an investigation into a vast kickback scheme.

President Volodymyr Zelensky’s powerful chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, resigned on Friday in the highest-level political realignment in Ukraine since Russia’s all-out invasion nearly four years ago.

The departure of Mr. Yermak, who had headed Ukraine’s negotiating team in peace talks with the Trump administration, also put in doubt the future of the latest round of diplomatic efforts by the United States, Ukraine and European nations to end the war.

Mr. Yermak stepped down amid a spiraling, $100 million embezzlement scandal that has already led to the dismissal of two cabinet ministers and even threatened to topple Mr. Zelensky’s entire cabinet.

“I am grateful to Andriy for always representing Ukraine’s position in the negotiation track exactly as it should be represented,” Mr. Zelensky said in a video address announcing the resignation. He said he had accepted the resignation to “avoid rumors and speculation” about his chief of staff.

Mr. Yermak, 54, is the highest-level official to lose his job in the fallout from the 15-month investigation called Operation Midas, revealed by Ukraine’s top anti-corruption agencies, which said the effort had produced 1,000 hours of wiretaps.

Mr. Yermak has not been officially named in the investigation. But on Friday, investigators searched his home in Kyiv. » | Kim Barker and Andrew E. Kramer | Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine | Friday, November 28, 2025

Trump’s Peace Plan ‘Destined to Be Stillborn’ | Kurt Volker

Nov 20, 2025 | “This is a half-baked idea.”

The newest peace plan presented by the US is akin to “sitting down with Hamas and presenting the plan to Israel”, says former US special representative to Ukraine Kurt Volker.


My comment can be read here.

Trump’s Right-hand Man Has Been ‘A Bit Hasty’: Why Western Leaders Need to Talk Down Trump

Nov 22, 2025 | “Starmer needs to agree with Macron, and Merz and others on a way forward… and then get on the video link to Washington and talk Trump through this.”

Western leaders must show Trump that Witkoff has been “a bit hasty here” in his peace plan with Putin, says former national security adviser Lord Ricketts.


My comment can be read here.

Trump’s ‘Disgraceful’ Attack on Political Enemies a ‘Dangerous Autocratic Move’ | Adam Boulton

Oct 16, 2025 | “It’s a very dangerous and autocratic move.”

Trump’s use of the justice system against people he claims are his enemies is an “absolute disgrace,” says Times Radio’s Adam Boulton.

Putin Preparing to Attack Another European Country, Zelenskyy Says

THE GUARDIAN: Ukraine’s president says Kremlin checking Europe’s capacity to protect its skies following new drone sightings

Vladimir Putin will expand his war in Ukraine by attacking another European country, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has predicted, and accused Russia of recent drone incursions that he said were an attempt to test Nato’s defences.

Speaking in Kyiv after his meeting with Donald Trump at the UN in New York, the Ukrainian president said Russia was preparing for a bigger conflict. “Putin will not wait to finish his war in Ukraine. He will open up some other direction. Nobody knows where. He wants that,” he said.

Ukraine’s president said the Kremlin was deliberately checking Europe’s capacity to protect its skies, after drone sightings in Denmark, Poland and Romania and the violation of Estonian airspace by Russian fighter jets. More drones were spotted on Friday night above a Danish military base, and over a Norwegian base on Saturday. » | Luke Harding in Kyiv | Saturday, September 27, 2025

Guerre en Ukraine : Zelensky menace de viser le Kremlin, des paroles «irresponsables» selon la Russie

LE FIGARO : Le dirigeant ukrainien «balance des menaces à tout va, ce qui paraît assez irresponsable», a réagi Dmitri Peskov, questionné à ce sujet lors de son briefing quotidien.

Le porte-parole de la présidence russe a jugé vendredi 26 septembre «irresponsable» les «menaces» de frappes contre le Kremlin formulées par le président ukrainien Volodymyr Zelensky, dans une interview diffusée la veille. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 26 septembre 2025

Trump Placated by Europe's Leaders to Prevent 'Completely Outrageous' Outburst | Bill Browder

Aug 19, 2025 | "What everybody is trying to do right now is to try to keep Trump onside enough so that he doesn't do something crazy, like say: 'I'm withdrawing from Nato'."

European leaders' presence at the Nato Summit was designed to "placate" Donald Trump for President Zelensky so that he doesn't make outlandish claims which could disrupt talks for a ceasefire, says high profile Kremlin critic and author of 'Red Notice: How I became Putin's Number One Enemy', Bill Browder.

Trump Outsmarted by Zelenskyy and European Leaders as He Delivers Putin Talking Points at Summit

Aug 19, 2025 | Donald Trump thought he was hosting an episode of the EU Apprentice and was outsmarted by European leaders at the White House during his farcical Ukraine summit, delivering Putin's talking points, and saying a whole lot of nothing to end the war.

ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.

Zelenskyy Survives Trump... But Has Anything Really Changed?

Aug 19, 2025 | In a tone entirely different from Zelenksyy’s last visit to Washington in February, this evening saw Trump praising the Ukrainian president. Zelenksyy was on the charm offensive. And it seemed to work. Trump bestowed his other European guests with compliments and promised that America would play a key part in the security guarantees if there is a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

It was in some ways a remarkable event, with European leaders sat around the roundtable kissing the ring of President Trump. But will it amount to anything? Can the US really guarantee the security of Ukraine? Will it? And where does this leave peace talks now?

At White House Summit, a Master Class of Diplomacy. In Courting Trump.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and other European leaders have learned a thing or two about negotiating, Trump-style. So has Vladimir Putin.

Over the course of the last seven months, the leaders of the Western world have been enrolled in an intensive course of Trumpology. One by one, presidents and prime ministers of European countries have traveled to Washington, learning all sorts of lessons about how best to handle the tricky man who sits behind the big desk in the gold-wrapped room shaped like an Oval.

On Monday, the whole class showed up at the White House. The time had come to put their education to use. And it was the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, who seemed to have learned the most since his last visit, when he was mocked for not wearing a suit, deemed insufficiently deferential and ultimately kicked out.

This time he showed up to his Oval Office meeting with a more formal look, a game sense of humor and a letter for the first lady.

“I cannot believe it,” Mr. Trump said as he looked Mr. Zelensky up and down, taking measure of his new black-on-black get-up. “I love it. Look at you.” » | Shawn McCreesh | Shawn McCreesh is a White House correspondent. He reported from Washington. | Monday, August 18, 2025

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5 Takeaways From Trump’s Meeting With Zelensky and European Leaders: The leaders presented a relatively united front and appeared to agree on the next steps in the effort to halt the fighting between Ukraine and Russia. But much remained unresolved. »

Zelensky Says He’s Ready to Meet Putin After Trump Talks: President Volodymyr Zelensky emerged upbeat, but repeated that Ukraine will not cede land to Russia. There were few tangible signs of progress toward a peace deal. »

Trump Says He’s Hoping to Meet With Putin and Zelensky Soon

THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, whose last Oval Office meeting ended in acrimony, was expected to hear a plan from President Trump to cede land to Russia in exchange for security guarantees. Mr. Trump said he would call President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia after Monday’s meetings.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine arrived at the White House on Monday, backed by an extraordinary delegation of European leaders who rushed to Washington to support him as President Trump presses for a quick peace agreement with Russia that would require Ukraine to make sweeping concessions.

Wearing a black suit instead of his usual military clothing, Mr. Zelensky was greeted by Mr. Trump warmly at the entrance to the West Wing. The Ukrainian leader, now three and a half years into a war instigated by Russia, is expected to confront a difficult choice during his visit: surrender territory in exchange for vague U.S. promises for Ukraine’s future security, or hold his ground and risk reigniting Mr. Trump’s anger. » | Maggie Haberman, Jim Tankersley, David E. Sanger and Constant Méheut | Monday, August 18, 2025

‘Moment of Truth’ for Trump & Zelenskyy as JD Vance Told to Keep His Distance | Robert Kelly

Aug 18, 2025 | Professor Robert Kelly joins Times Radio’s Maddie Hale to discuss how Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s meeting on Friday was similar to a past meeting with North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un, whether the US President will advise Volodymyr Zelenskyy to give up Donbas and if Vice-President JD Vance will be benched in Monday’s 1:1 meeting between the US and Ukraine.