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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