Ukraine war latest: Trump Jr defends father’s peace envoy as Russia rages over leak
Russian military victory in Ukraine 'not inevitable', says ISWRussia’s battlefield claims appear to be exaggerated and data on the Russian forces’ rate of advance indicates that a Russian military victory in Ukraine is not inevitable, a US-based think tank said.The rapid Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk Oblast is not imminent, the Institute for the Study of War said.Citing a senior US military official, the ISW said the war will only worsen for Ukraine as Russia can fight indefinitely and that it is better for Ukraine to negotiate a peace settlement now rather than negotiate from a weaker position later but that the reality on the battlefield indicates that a Russian victory in Ukraine is far from certain.“The Russian rate of advance across the theater intensified since the Alaska summit on 15 August, with Russian forces advancing an average of 9.3 square kilometers per day across the entire theater, between 15 August and 20 November, but these advances are still constrained to footpace,” the ISW said in its latest war update.It also clarified that recent Russian advances elsewhere on the frontline have “largely been opportunistic and exploited seasonal weather conditions”. Arpan Rai27 November 2025 05:42Trump's negotiation sparks concerns for EuropeDonald Trump's brash negotiating style left many in Europe suspecting he wants a quick deal that forces Europeans to make it work and pay for it. All while the US profits.Analysts say the proposal was essentially a US attempt to snatch these assets, coming as Brussels and Washington relaunch trade negotiations over tariffs.Agathe Demarais, a senior fellow at the Berlin-based European Council on Foreign Relations, said the proposal was akin to a "signing bonus" for a peace deal heavily slanted towards Russia.The first draft of Trump's 28-point peace plan called for an investment scheme for Ukraine's reconstruction controlled by the US but financed by $100bn in frozen Russian assets matched by another $100bn from the European Union — with 50 per cent of profits sent back to Washington. Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive of the Brussels-based European Policy Centre, called the US takeover of the assets "outrageous," but suggested it might also be acceptable to Europeans "if that is ultimately the price to pay for a good deal”.After intense discussions between the US, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and representatives from the European Commission, the investment scheme was removed from the new draft peace plan.Russia has already signaled its total rejection of the new draft.Arpan Rai27 November 2025 05:34Russia peddling narrative that Ukraine cannot defend itself, says ZelenskyVolodymyr Zelensky has cautioned against believing a Russian misinformation campaign that tries to downplay Ukraine’s defence capabilities.“The Russians are peddling the narrative around the world that Ukraine allegedly cannot defend itself. They are saying that Ukrainian warriors cannot defend themselves,” he said in his nightly address.“The daily combat results of the Ukrainian army, our special forces, and deep strikes – these are all proof that Ukraine can defend its interests,” Zelensky said.He added that there is plenty of evidence to show it pays off to support Ukraine, including the deaths of Russian “occupiers”, every assault that has been repelled and “every deep strike we carry out”.Arpan Rai27 November 2025 05:02IMF and Ukraine reach agreement on $8.2bn fundingThe International Monetary Fund said it reached a staff-level agreement on a new four-year, $8.2bn programme for Ukraine as the country faces mounting wartime fiscal pressures.The new plan can be taken to the fund's executive board for approval once previous commitments are met and is subject to "adequate financing assurances from donors", according to the IMF.The IMF said the agreement, which replaces the existing $15.6bn Extended Fund Facility approved in March 2023, is meant to help Kyiv maintain macroeconomic stability and strengthen public finances as the war against Russia continues to strain its budget."The program is expected to catalyse large-scale external support to close Ukraine’s financing gaps," IMF official Gavin Gray, who led the fund team's visit, said in a statement, adding that the total financing gap is calculated at around $136.5bn for the 2026-2029 period.Ukrainian officials have said an IMF program is key to obtaining financing from other partners, including a reparations loan. Ukraine funnels most revenues towards fending off Russian forces in the fourth year of Moscow's war.Prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said that the agreement showed that her country's economy is resilient despite the war. She pledged to press on with reforms and called for support in passing next year's budget.Arpan Rai27 November 2025 04:38Trump envoy Witkoff coached Russian official on how to praise US president, leaked call revealsMr Witkoff told Vladimir Putin’s senior aide Yuri Ushakov to ensure the Russian leader congratulated the US president following the announcement of his Gaza deal, insisting that the praise would ensure their discussion would be “a really good call”.A transcript of the recorded phone call from October was released by Bloomberg News on Tuesday. It emerged as Mr Witkoff prepares to meet with Putin next week to discuss a revised peace plan for Ukraine.Arpan Rai27 November 2025 04:25Watch: Moment Ukrainian strike obliterates Russian experimental laser-weapon jetMoment Ukrainian strike obliterates Russian experimental laser-weapon jetArpan Rai27 November 2025 04:04Witkoff's leaked call triggers outrage from Republican lawmakers: 'Can't be trusted'Several congressional Republicans are harshly criticising the Trump administration over its handling of a proposed Ukraine peace plan they say favours Russia, after the leaked call showed his envoy collaborating with Russians.A leaked transcript has revealed Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, advised a senior Russian official on how to praise Trump to facilitate a Ukraine peace deal."For those who oppose the Russian invasion and want to see Ukraine prevail as a sovereign & democratic country, it is clear that Witkoff fully favors the Russians. He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a Russian paid agent do less than he? He should be fired," Republican Representative Don Bacon said on X.Arpan Rai27 November 2025 03:24Trump's son defends US envoy Witkoff on leaksDonald Trump Jr has defended the US envoy Steve Witkoff on the recent leaked details of his conversation with Russian officials.Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday that Witkoff, in a 14 October telephone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin's policy aide Yuri Ushakov, said they should work together on a ceasefire plan and that Putin should raise it with Trump.Trump Jr has said what Witkoff was doing was “classic negotiation techniques to butter up his counterpart”."It's almost like these media and deep state morons have never successfully negotiated a deal in the real world. It's pretty obvious that nearly all of Witkoff's critics want any sort of Ukraine peace deal to fail so they can continue this war endlessly. Enough is enough!" he said in a post.Donald Trump Jr campaigning for his father in Charleston, South Carolina in February 2024 (Getty Images)Arpan Rai27 November 2025 03:14Watch: Zelensky says Ukraine's top priority is warZelensky says Russia's top priority is war after Trump hints Ukraine negotiators 'very close' to peace dealDaniel Keane27 November 2025 03:00Russian nationals among four arrested in France over espionageThe leaders of a pro-Russia group in France behind a poster campaign declaring "Russia is not my enemy" have been taken into custody and are being held on suspicion of intelligence-gathering for a foreign power.The SOS Donbass group confirmed the arrest of its founder, Anna Novikova, in a Telegram post. The group's president, Vincent Perfetti, is also facing charges, his lawyer said.The Paris prosecutor's office identified them only as Anna N and Vincent P, saying that both are in detention.The breakup of the alleged intelligence-gathering operation came as French president Emmanuel Macron warned about Russian destabilization efforts targeting France, a key backer of Ukraine in the nearly four-year war.Macron said this week that Russia is waging "hybrid wars" against Europe, including by employing proxies."It pays people, mercenaries. It has pushed people to carry out destabilisation activities in our countries," he said. Arpan Rai27 November 2025 02:53
