Zelensky gives up NATO ambitions in peace deal ‘concession’ & the missile-sized weak spot in Russia’s air defenses

Day 1,390.

Today, after another weekend of intense diplomatic activity, we take you to Berlin, where President Zelensky is meeting the American delegation – joined by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz – as Europe seeks to reassert itself in the peace process. We also examine the surge in military activity over the weekend, which saw multiple cities plunged into blackout, before turning to Germany’s rapidly evolving position, where comparisons are increasingly being drawn between today and the events that sparked the Second World War.

Contributors

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

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

James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.

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CONTENT REFERENCED:

Zelensky gives up Nato ambitions in peace deal concession (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/14/zelensky-gives-up-nato-ambitions-in-peace-deal-concession/ 

MI6 chief warns Putin: We won’t abandon Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/15/mi6-chief-warns-putin-we-wont-abandon-ukraine/ 

FBI boss met with Ukraine’s top peace negotiators (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/12/12/fbi-boss-ukraine-top-peace-negotiators/ 

Lithuania in state of emergency over smuggler balloons linked to Russia (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/09/lithuania-in-state-of-emergency-over-smuggler-balloons-link/ 

German tank-shaped Christmas calendar ‘glorifying war’ (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/10/german-tank-shaped-christmas-calendar-glorifying-war/ 

New Ukrainian Polling:

https://kiis.com.ua/ 

Chess-FIDE reinstates Russian and Belarusian teams in official contests (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/sports/chess-fide-reinstates-russian-belarusian-teams-official-contests-2025-12-15/ 

‘Disrupting Russian Air Defence Production: Reclaiming the Sky’ (RUSI):

https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/research-papers/disrupting-russian-air-defence-production-reclaiming-sky

Comprehensive approach to security: Federal Council launches consultation on Switzerland's security policy strategy (Swiss Government)

https://www.news.admin.ch/en/newnsb/BLkWfUbUsXtBFoSj-krgU

UN Press Page:

https://press.un.org/en

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