Displaying items by tag: War

Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, has warned that the nation needs more people prepared to defend the country amid growing global instability and rising threats from Russia. He called for a 'whole-of-society response' to deter conflict, stressing the importance of strengthening regular forces, reserves, cadets, and the defence workforce. While he said the likelihood of a direct Russian attack on the UK remains remote, he highlighted intensifying hybrid threats, including cyber-attacks, suspected sabotage, and hostile surveillance near UK waters. He described Russia’s military as increasingly sophisticated, combat-experienced, and expanding in hard power, despite setbacks in Ukraine. The UK, he said, must become a 'harder target' to avoid war rather than provoke it. Building national resilience, he argued, goes beyond military strength and includes universities, industry, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing. With defence spending set to rise sharply, he emphasised the need to inspire young people to pursue careers supporting national security. Recent investments include £50 million for new defence technical colleges to address critical skills gaps.

Ukraine has reported a significant battlefield development, with its armed forces reclaiming control over nearly 90% of the strategically important city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced the advance during a meeting with international allies, crediting targeted ‘search-and-strike’ operations and the resilience of his troops. Kupiansk, close to the Russian border, has long been a critical logistical hub and a focal point of intense fighting. Analysts say the Ukrainian gains could ease pressure on nearby frontline areas and disrupt Russian supply routes, though the wider conflict remains volatile, especially as winter conditions worsen. The update shows the fluid and contested nature of the war and the ongoing human and strategic costs of the conflict. Ukraine has also claimed to have destroyed a Russian submarine in the Black Sea: see Meanwhile, in a crucial summit on 18 December, at the time of writing European leaders are deadlocked on the thorny issue of whether to use frozen Russian funds to help Ukraine. See

Donald Trump’s push to end the war in Ukraine is increasingly shaped by his impatience with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders who he believes are obstructing peace and future US–Russia economic ties. Stating that ‘Russia has the upper hand’ (a claim disputed by experts), he insisted Zelensky must ‘play ball’. Meanwhile, Zelensky and European partners worked to revise the US-led peace proposal, removing provisions which they considered unacceptable and stressing the need for firm security guarantees. Many commentators, alarmed by Trump’s pressure on Kyiv and his favourable posture toward Moscow, warn that conceding to Russia would reward aggression and endanger broader European security. In reply to Trump’s claim that Zelensky is using the war as an excuse to avoid holding elections, Zelensky has offered to do so if security could be guaranteed, although it would mean altering the constitution: see

The current round of diplomacy over the war in Ukraine suggests that Vladimir Putin remains firmly unwilling to accept any current peace proposal. After lengthy talks with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov admitted that no compromise version has yet been found – not surprising given Putin’s increasingly uncompromising tone. He has denounced Ukraine’s leadership as a ‘thieving junta’, accused European leaders of obstructing peace efforts, and insisted Russia holds the battlefield initiative, even though many of his supposed gains are disputed by Ukraine and international observers. Russian state media has showcased Putin in military fatigues studying front-line maps, projecting confidence and momentum nearly four years into the invasion. Putin appears determined to convince both domestic and foreign audiences that he cannot be pressured into changing course. Yet sustaining war requires resources: oil and gas revenues are slipping, economic imbalances are widening, and the budget deficit is growing. The critical unknown is whether mounting economic strain will eventually alter the Kremlin’s wartime calculations.

Hopes of a swift peace agreement to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have been tempered after the Kremlin cautioned against assuming a deal is close. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was ‘premature’ to suggest a resolution may soon be reached, adding that outside actors - including the USA - might try to derail progress. His remarks followed more optimistic comments from Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, who confirmed Moscow had received a revised US-backed proposal developed with Ukrainian officials. Transcripts of leaked conversations suggest Russian negotiators believe the final document could align closely with their demands, while Steve Witkoff is expected to meet Vladimir Putin for further talks. Donald Trump has repeatedly highlighted what he calls strong momentum, claiming major points of disagreement have already been resolved. Yet elements reportedly included in draft proposals, such as Ukraine relinquishing the Donetsk region and abandoning NATO ambitions, remain deeply contentious for Kyiv. Diplomatic negotiations continue amid uncertainty and conflicting public signals.

Watched by US military officers and delegates from Turkey and Hungary, Russia and Belarus have launched large-scale military exercises across their territories and nearby seas, showcasing advanced weaponry and tactical nuclear capabilities near NATO’s eastern flank. The drills, involving roughly 6,800 troops as well as fighter jets and missiles, practised modern combat tactics like drone-assisted infantry assaults. Relations between Washington and Minsk seem to be improving; Belarus has recently released 52 political prisoners, prompting the Trump administration to ease some sanctions. Meanwhile, NATO allies remain uneasy after Russian drones repeatedly violated Polish and Romanian airspace. European leaders worry the exercises highlight Russia’s growing nuclear reach and evolving battlefield strategies, while Moscow insists it is open to dialogue but blames Western nations for obstructing progress toward resolving regional tensions.

Russia’s unprecedented drone strikes on Poland on 9 September are framed as both a test and a warning to Europe and NATO. Moscow, adept at ‘salami-slicing’ escalation, is probing allied resolve with incremental provocations - from bombings in Kyiv to GPS jamming: each crossing a new line while eliciting mostly rhetoric. Similar tactics enabled the 2014 seizure of Crimea, and hitting Polish territory is a larger slice meant to measure the alliance’s willingness to honour Article 5. A direct military response is deemed unlikely, yet inaction risks projecting weakness and inviting the next escalation. Sanctions talk will grow, but prior rounds neither deterred invasion nor reversed it; energy sanctions that might bite remain politically constrained. The strikes also serve as a warning against deeper Western involvement in Ukraine: Russia’s deniable, ambiguous tactics could complicate any future allied deployment after a ceasefire. The core question: can NATO deter without stumbling into a wider war?

Estonia’s president, Alar Karis, has said it is prepared to contribute troops to an international reassurance force that the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ plans to send to Ukraine as a post-ceasefire security guarantee. He said  Estonia is not overly concerned that this would weaken NATO’s eastern flank, though discussions with alliance leaders continue. Lithuania and Latvia are also willing to participate, but Poland has declined, citing the need to protect its own borders. The reassurance force would be deployed only in non-contact areas within Ukraine. NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte noted that while NATO itself will not formally participate, the alliance is quietly discussing how to ensure resources are not overstretched. About 80,000 US troops are currently in Europe, but there could be a reduction in numbers as Washington’s foreign policy pivots towards the Indo-Pacific. The 'Coalition of the Willing' will meet again on 4 September; the security guarantees it will aim to provide for Ukraine following a truce are almost ready, but confirmation of US support is now needed.

Donald Trump has stirred controversy by suggesting Ukraine is to blame for confronting a nation ‘ten times’ its size, despite Russia being the aggressor in the ongoing war. He downplayed Russia’s responsibility for the invasion, instead criticising former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama for their handling of the conflict. He argued that Biden ‘started’ the war and accused Obama of ‘giving away’ Crimea in 2014. He also asserted that Ukraine had only been able to resist due to American weapons and aid. His comments followed the White House meeting on 18 August with Volodymyr Zelensky, European leaders, and NATO officials, at which he pledged US support for Ukraine’s future security. Trump also touted his ‘good relationship’ with Vladimir Putin, saying that he had spoken to him about arranging a trilateral meeting with Zelensky. While he presented this as an early step toward peace, the question now is how Putin will respond.

Donald Trump has warned of ‘very severe consequences’ if Vladimir Putin refuses to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine during their meeting in Alaska on 15 August. While not detailing the measures, Trump has previously suggested economic sanctions and hinted at a follow-up meeting that could include Volodymyr Zelensky. Concerns persist among European leaders and Kyiv that any peace proposal might involve Ukraine surrendering territory - particularly the Donbas region - in exchange for halting further Russian advances. In a high-level virtual call hosted by Germany, Zelensky, Trump, and key European leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty and continued pressure on Moscow. Zelensky dismissed Putin’s threats as bluffs, insisting that sanctions and united international resolve remain crucial. The Alaska summit is seen as both a diplomatic opportunity and a high-stakes gamble, with Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the broader stability of Europe hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, on 12 August Russian troops tried to make a big advance, possibly to put extra pressure on Kyiv to cede territory: see