Urban battles have resumed in Siversk and LymanA month ago, the first street battles were reported in both cities when separate Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups reached them. Since then, the gray zone near Siversk and Lyman has expanded significantly, and small Russian assault groups are increasingly penetrating the cities and beginning to accumulate there. A vast gray zone between Lyman and Siversk has formed due to the continuous forest massif located between the cities. Under the cover of the trees, Russian forces can evade Ukrainian drones and, due to the lack of a continuous defense line, approach the cities very closely. However, Russian forces are currently unable to establish a foothold in Lyman, although they are increasing pressure on the city. To facilitate the offensive on Lyman, the Russian Armed Forces want to first capture Yampil, which has long been an area of constant street fighting. But even here, Russian troops do not have full control and are trying to break through south of Yampil towards Dibrova to cut the Lyman–Siversk road, which runs through Zakitne, and to limit our logistical capabilities for both Yampil and Siversk. However, the Ukrainian forces repelled the attacks on the road with counterattacks and destroyed the Russian sabotage groups.Advancing along both banks of the Siverskyi Donets River, Russian forces have come close to the crossing at Dronivka but cannot capture it to strengthen their offensive on Siversk from the north. However, they managed to break through our redoubts to the eastern and southern outskirts of Siversk. For now, their assault troops are operating on the principle of "see Siversk and die." Although Russian troops were reported in the central districts of the city, they were all eliminated. But on the southern outskirts, specifically on Pushkin Street, they have managed to establish a foothold.The assault on Lyman and Siversk demonstrates the Russians' long-term plans to advance toward Sloviansk and attempt to bypass it from the north. The Russian army has begun a new offensive on DobropilliaWhile the Ukrainian Armed Forces are finishing clearing out Russian soldiers hiding in the single forest strip in the area between Shakhove and Nove Shakhove, Russian forces have significantly intensified their attacks from the left bank of the Kazennyi Torets River towards Volodymyrivka and Sofiivka. Volodymyrivka, which the Ukrainian forces liberated back in September, is now almost completely back in the hands of Russian troops. And Shakhove is teeming with Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups. From the left flank, Russian forces are attacking from Poltavka towards Rusyn Yar. In this way, they want to form a new axis of attack, parallel to the previous one, between Dobropillia and Kostiantynivka, which will be directed at Druzhkivka.On the other side of the river, Russian forces are trying to break through Pankivka. To reinforce their efforts, they are also attacking from Zapovidne towards Ivanivka and Nove Shakhove. In both cases, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding their ground and attempting to counterattack to eventually reach the river and resolve the issue with this bridgehead, which covers the Russian offensive on Myrnohrad from the direction of Chervonyi Lyman and Razine. Daily battles are taking place for the eastern outskirts of Rodynske – Russian sabotage groups enter them and are destroyed by the Ukrainian forces. But we are also unable to advance towards Chervonyi Lyman for now. At the same time, Russian forces have secured a foothold in the section between Razine and Novoekonomichne, which had been a gray zone for months.Pokrovsk – Ukraine is losing the city center but holding the flanksOn one hand, the situation in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad is consistently bad; on the other hand, it is stable—there are no rapid changes or breakthroughs by Russian forces. The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to hold the part of the city north of the railway, as well as the logistical routes that run through Hryshyne and Rivne. The Ukrainian forces managed to repel the offensive on both villages. However, Russian troops, many of whom have already infiltrated the central part of the city, are gradually establishing positions here and continuing to move further north. Their sabotage groups have been destroyed near the road from Hryshyne to Rivne, and in the area of the railway station, they have crossed the tracks and occupied several buildings.Ukraine Russia war live map, November 15-22, photo: EspresoOn the southern flank between Myrnohrad and Pokrovsk, the Ukrainian Armed Forces still hold positions in the area of Sukhyi Yar and Lysivka, although the gray zone through which Russian forces are infiltrating has spread far into their rear. Moreover, the Selydove–Pokrovsk road is under the full control of Russian troops. In this area, Ukrainian positions are particularly vulnerable, especially as Russian forces increasingly infiltrate the southern districts of Myrnohrad and could eventually completely encircle our defenders on the southern flank. A withdrawal from these positions would seem logical to strengthen defenses in other areas, but for now, the defense is holding, which is important, among other things, for holding Myrnohrad.Novopavlivka – a quick breakthrough and a lightning-fast cleanupWhile the Vovcha River has become a reliable barrier for the Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian forces have been unable to create a bridgehead on its right bank in either Ivanivka or Filia. However, recently, under the cover of fog, Russian troops forced a crossing of the Vovcha River with armored vehicles in the Dachne area and traveled 9 km without a fight to Novopavlivka, where they landed troops. They managed to do this twice. But just as quickly as the forces managed to reach Novopavlivka, their attempt to establish a foothold there failed.The Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated most of the landing force and captured the rest. Although this blitzkrieg failed, the Russian army is now trying to hold the bridgehead near Dachne to be able to attack Novopavlivka again in the future. The Ukrainian forces, in turn, want to clear this bridgehead before the severe frosts begin, when the river could freeze and give Russian troops more opportunities to cross it.Huliaipole crisis threatens the Dnipropetrovsk regionAfter breaking through the front on the Yanchur River and rapidly advancing 10 km into the Ukrainian rear, the Russian forces have somewhat slowed their pace of attack. They captured the commanding heights near Rivnopillia and are now moving south and north along the high ground to level the front on the flanks. They first rushed south, where our fortified area near the villages of Vysoke and Zelenyi Hai had held the defense for many years. Unfortunately, in a week, they broke through 5-6 km, occupied the village of Vesele, and entered Zelenyi Hai, where fighting is now ongoing. Ukrainian defenders are under fire from three sides simultaneously, so the defense here will not last long, and our soldiers will have to retreat to Huliaipole.Russian forces are also advancing on the city, both frontally and by bypassing it. Advancing head-on along the road, the Russian army had to overcome two natural barriers in the form of gullies, but they began to bypass them through the village of Zatyshshia. Here they have created a threat of cutting off the retreat route for the defenders who will be withdrawing from Vysoke.On the right flank, a triple line of defense awaits the Russian forces: the Pokrovske–Huliaipole road, a powerful defensive line running along the road, and the fairly wide Haichur River, which flows between the road and our redoubts. The river also runs through Huliaipole itself and will serve as a natural defensive barrier in the city.Russian troops are looking for a weak spot in Ukraine’s defense and will try to break through all three lines. They have another 8 km to go to reach the highway directly. However, they are directing their efforts further north to the Ternuvate area. Here, on the border of the regions and in the area between the Haichur, Yanchur, and Vovcha rivers, the Ukrainian defense line is not as strong as near Huliaipole or Pokrovske. Russian forces have already attacked Yehorivka, and some of their assault groups have been destroyed in Danylivka, which is located right on the road and could become the key to our defense. Here, the Russian army could get behind not only the defenders of the southern front and create a threat to Orikhiv, but also bypass from the flank and begin a siege of Pokrovske—the first city in the Dnipropetrovsk region.The front has moved critically close to ZaporizhzhiaThe front line south of Zaporizhzhia has been one of the most stable in this war. In nearly four years, Russian forces here have advanced less than 10 km toward the regional center, and there are still 20 km to the outskirts of Zaporizhzhia. However, recently, Russian forces have intensified their offensive on Stepnohirsk, a settlement that stands as the last obstacle preventing them from shelling Zaporizhzhia with artillery. Russian troops have been unable to storm Stepnohirsk for six months. Therefore, they are bypassing it from the flank along the bank of the Dnipro River. Here, they have established a foothold in Plavni and are trying to break through the streets of Prymorske to flank the defenders of Stepnohirsk. In the last month, they have managed to reduce the distance to Zaporizhzhia by 2 km. Their advance here is critical and requires a swift response, just like many other sections of the front that have become critical for our defense.Several attempts to attack Orikhiv from Malaya Tokmachka using armored vehicles failed—the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed small enemy columns. The maps were created based on information received from the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ General Staff, as well as from other open and verified sources. At the same time, the maps are not completely accurate and only conditionally reflect the trends in the combat zone.

Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton expressed this opinion in an interview with Espreso TV."I have never believed that Ukraine should agree to a ceasefire along the current front line followed by negotiations. I have been convinced of this for a long time because, even if Putin doesn't admit it, it is Russia that would gain the most from such a scenario. Establishing a ceasefire on the current line of contact would give Moscow the opportunity to freeze the conflict, prolonging negotiations devoid of real substance and a final outcome, and gradually transform this front line into a new de-facto border between Russia and Ukraine," Bolton commented.According to him, this poses a serious risk for Ukraine, and the government must consider it with the utmost attention."The current goal should not be to prepare for negotiations, but to change the military balance in Ukraine's favor. Only such a change will force Moscow to genuinely seek negotiations. As long as Russian troops are advancing, even slowly and at the cost of enormous losses, the conflict will continue. Without a superiority of force, the situation will not change," stressed the former advisor to Trump.On November 20, it was reported that U.S. President Donald Trump approved a 28-point peace plan for settlement between Russia and Ukraine. The plan was developed by high-ranking officials in his administration over recent weeks in consultation with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Ukrainian representatives.

Dmytro Lykhoviy, spokesperson for the General Staff, stated this during an open dialogue with representatives from FirePoint, as reported by Espreso correspondent Kateryna Halko."These are the drones making the single largest contribution to hitting and destroying dozens of Russian oil refineries, which became a trend in the summer and autumn of 2025. The Saratov, Novokuibyshevsk, Volgograd refineries, and others are targets hit by FirePoint UAVs—specifically the fp1 drone, which is proving itself to be effective," Lykhoviy stated.According to him, the Russian economy is suffering billions of dollars in losses from the work of FirePoint's UAVs, "and these losses are many times greater than the amount spent on the production and procurement of the drones for these attacks.""Over 2 years, the FirePoint drone—specifically the fp1—has undergone significant development and improvement. It has been modernized by the manufacturing company, taking into account numerous requests from its operators, especially from Special Operations Forces units. Currently, fp1 drones make up the majority of the main types of UAVs used for deep strikes," emphasized the General Staff spokesperson. He adds that this drone is three times cheaper than the Antonov UAV, which allows the fp1 to be used in greater numbers."If our Western partners, like the Americans, were truly helping us—that is, if Western technology were added to the Flamingo—everything would be much simpler and much better. As it is, it's being developed through the efforts of a domestic manufacturer. This comes down to a difference in the scale of their use. The Flamingo is being used, but while the fp1 has been in use for 2 years and has undergone extensive modernization and improvement based on the challenges of the war, this is more difficult to do with the fp5 because its launches are counted in different numbers," Lykhoviy said.On November 18, the joint-stock company Ukroboronprom and the Czech company Air Team signed an agreement on the joint development of drone technology for intercepting aerial targets.

Bartosz Cichocki, an expert on international security and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to Ukraine from 2019-2023, stated this on Espreso TV."The geography of Russian escalation has already extended beyond Ukraine. Today, a train derailed in the Czech Republic. I don't yet know the cause, but I would not be surprised if it was sabotage. I think this will not be the last such act. The Russians might resort to something more serious, for example, a response to the Nord Stream explosion. Minister Sikorski closed the Russian consulate in Gdansk, and Prime Minister Tusk, in the Sejm, officially blamed the Russian state for this act of railway sabotage, which was carried out by two men with Ukrainian passports. But officially, the head of the Polish government stated that Russia is responsible for the intent to kill or injure a large number of Polish citizens. This is a very serious situation. I believe we will also see bloodshed if we do not understand Russia's desire for Ukraine to capitulate," Cichocki explained.The diplomat emphasized that Russia needs a pause in hostilities to rebuild its military reserves, ease sanctions, and improve its economy, only to resume the war later."Why is Russia doing this now? Because Russia is also in a very difficult situation. For years, they have been fighting to win square kilometers over a large area, losing hundreds of thousands of their soldiers in the process. President Trump imposed oil sanctions on them, and now Russia is in a very difficult economic situation. And I can imagine that Russia needs a pause to reorganize, to restore its military reserves, to somehow convince the international community to ease sanctions, to disorient and create discussions within the camp of Western states, and to return to war when they are ready for it," he concluded.

Journalist Vitaly Portnikov stated this on Espreso TV."I don't understand one thing, where does Trump get the confidence that sanctions will force Putin to agree to a ceasefire. Back in Anchorage, Trump agreed to Putin's plan that a peace agreement comes first, and then a ceasefire. Although Trump had the idea that a ceasefire comes first, and then we negotiate for peace. In Alaska, he met Putin halfway, but it led to nothing. Now he is returning to the peace plan again, and again in the sequence that is beneficial to Putin - first peace, then a ceasefire," Portnikov explained.Portnikov emphasized that Moscow has never hidden its plans to capture and destroy all of Ukraine. They are interested in a multi-year war during which they plan to destroy Ukrainian statehood."However, the problem is that Trump wants a quick peace, while Putin wants peace negotiations that could go on for years, improving relations with the U.S. and destroying Ukraine at the same time. These are different goals. Putin needs neither a ceasefire nor a quick peace. He needs a multi-year war because he hopes to put an end to the existence of Ukrainian statehood during this war. No one in Moscow has hidden this. By the way, Trump never hid this. He always said that Putin needs all of Ukraine," he added.On November 19, Axios reported that the White House is quietly working with Moscow on a comprehensive framework to end the war in Ukraine, drawing inspiration from the recent Gaza ceasefire deal.According to Reuters, the U.S. has signaled to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine must accept a U.S.-drafted framework to end the war with Russia that proposes Kyiv giving up territory and some weapons.On November 21, the British publication The Telegraph published the full list of the 28 points of the U.S. peace plan, which Washington is proposing to Ukraine and Russia as a basis for ending the war. The document reportedly involves significant concessions from Kyiv, but does not prohibit it from joining the EU.

Military analyst Ivan Tymochko stated this on Espreso TV."Currently, the opposing side is trying to shift the focus of its offensive to where it is more advantageous for them. Oleksandrivka and Huliaipole are directions adjacent to the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad front, where the Russian forces share logistics. Russian forces can transfer their units over short distances: reinforcements, movements, artillery support—even without removing it from combat positions—and use them in both the Pokrovsk and Oleksandrivka directions. The same applies to operators and armored vehicles," noted Ivan Tymochko.According to him, the objective regarding Huliaipole is clear: to try to capture this settlement, not only for political reasons as the birthplace of Makhno, but also because it is a fairly significant railway hub. Nearby, there is a settlement whose name speaks for itself—Zaliznychne, which means 'Railway'."It is clear that Huliaipole is a priority for the invaders. However, we should not forget that at this stage, the Russian forces lack the strength for an offensive on such a settlement and fortified area. Therefore, they are currently trying to advance through small settlements and establish positions there. Overall, we understand that it is of significant interest for the opposing side to reach the lateral road that runs along the front line, connecting Oleksandrivka with Huliaipole. Of course, they plan to use this road for their logistics and, at a minimum, to disrupt our logistics," the military analyst commented.In his opinion, this road is of interest to the Russian forces as a line for building some form of defense or clear counteraction in this direction, as they lack the strength for a major, large-scale operation to break into open operational space."The Russians will assess the situation to consolidate their units wherever they manage to advance. However, Huliaipole and Oleksandrivka are priority directions, as one settlement is a railway line, and the other is a direction that Russian forces might consider as a staging ground for an offensive towards the Dnipropetrovsk region," Tymochko summarized.On November 21, the Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff reported 130 combat clashes on the Russian-Ukrainian front. In the Oleksandrivka direction, since the beginning of the day, Ukrainian defenders have repelled 20 assaults in the areas of the settlements of Andriivka-Klevtsove, Yalta, Sichneve, Vorone, Stepove, Verbove, Pryvilne, and towards Oleksiivka. In the Huliaipole direction, Russian forces attempted to advance on our troops' positions three times in the Rivnopillia area and towards Zatyshshia, with one battle still ongoing.

Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton expressed this opinion in an interview with Espreso TV."I think the unpleasant truth is that Donald Trump views international relations as a network of personal sympathies and friendships, and believes that a special bond exists between him and Putin. Putin, much like Xi Jinping or Kim Jong Un, has never seen it in those terms, but that is how Trump frames his relationship with them," commented the former presidential advisor.In his view, Putin, as a former KGB officer, skillfully uses his training to manipulate Trump. The Kremlin sees Trump, in Lenin's famous phrase, as a "useful idiot." They understand perfectly how to influence him and do so with extreme effectiveness.On November 20, it was reported that U.S. President Donald Trump approved a 28-point peace plan for settlement between Russia and Ukraine. The plan was developed by high-ranking officials in his administration over recent weeks in consultation with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Ukrainian representatives.

Bartosz Cichocki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to Ukraine, expert on international security, stated this on Espreso TV."The situation is escalating very quickly. It seems to me that it is no coincidence that we are simultaneously learning about an anti-corruption operation by NABU, which, I'm not saying there are no reasons to be concerned about the behavior of high-ranking officials, but it politically weakens the President of Ukraine. It could force him to accept a plan, to accept an agreement that he would never have signed under other circumstances. For now, this is the information situation we have. We are learning about it from the media, to which someone has leaked it. And here it is important whether it is the Russian side, or if there really is some kind of plan, but some process is taking place. And it is important not to allow ourselves to make mistakes," Cichocki explained.The diplomat emphasized that Russia is trying to impose its conditions in negotiations through escalation. In particular, not only through terrorist missile attacks on Ukraine but also through hybrid attacks on Europe."The situation is also very difficult in Poland. I am sure that this is also not a coincidence: we have acts of terrorism on the railway, and our ambassador to Russia was attacked in St. Petersburg on Sunday. It seems to me that this is a kind of Russian preparation for some negotiations through escalation. They somehow want to get out of this war, but, of course, on their own terms. And these missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, Pokrovsk, NABU, the attacks on us - this is intended to create a situation where our public, our society, especially in Ukraine, will be more open to any compromise, to simply freezing this conflict. This cannot be allowed, because if these 28 points are confirmed, it is clear that it will be even worse than the Minsk agreements. They will give Russia the opportunity to return with attacks, with aggression, on much better terms than today," he added.He also noted that in this situation, the military-political leadership of Ukraine must coordinate its actions with European leaders. Also, in his opinion, 'Mindichgate' does not strengthen Ukraine's negotiating position."Therefore, it seems to me that the leaders of Ukraine now need to coordinate very closely with the leaders of Europe. It is very unfortunate that this anti-corruption scandal is happening at a time when we are working very intensively on unfreezing Russian assets and giving this money to Ukraine, when we are working on a new financial support mechanism for Ukraine for two years. 'Mindichgate' does not strengthen Ukraine's negotiating position. But we must be very careful, we must see the broader situation and focus on what is really important. What is really important now is the attempt to push for a more or less capitulation of Ukraine," he concluded.On November 19, Axios reported that the White House is quietly working with Moscow on a comprehensive framework to end the war in Ukraine, drawing inspiration from the recent Gaza ceasefire deal.According to Reuters, the U.S. has signaled to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine must accept a U.S.-drafted framework to end the war with Russia that proposes Kyiv giving up territory and some weapons.On November 21, the British publication The Telegraph published the full list of the 28 points of the U.S. peace plan, which Washington is proposing to Ukraine and Russia as a basis for ending the war. The document reportedly involves significant concessions from Kyiv, but does not prohibit it from joining the EU.

Journalist Vitaly Portnikov spoke about this on Espreso TV."I have a feeling that we are once again discussing and are forced to comment on some kind of nonsense. I can explain why. I would have thought that we should analyze all the points of this peace plan in detail if Russia had at least somehow reacted to it. If at least Foreign Minister Lavrov had appeared and announced that they are considering this plan with the Americans, that these are serious proposals, and that they are ready to discuss them and meet with Marco Rubio. Nothing of the sort is happening. Russian leaders are not reacting to this plan at all," Portnikov explained.The journalist emphasized that official representatives of the Russian Federation have not commented on the peace plan from the U.S. This once again confirms that Russia is not interested in this plan."I'm not talking now about Kirill Dmitriev, whose function is to react to all such nonsense. He exists for this purpose. The spokesperson for the Russian MFA, Zakharova, and she is an official, said that Russia knows nothing about this plan. Peskov is not commenting on this at all. On the day this plan was published, Russian leader Putin visited some military positions to meet with Gerasimov and said that all the goals of the so-called 'special military operation' will be achieved, calling the Ukrainian leadership criminal and corrupt. At the same time, Gerasimov reported to Putin about the so-called liberation of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, which the Russian Federation recognizes as Ukrainian territory, unlike the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. That is, we see that the Russian Federation has no interest in this plan," he added.On November 19, Axios reported that the White House is quietly working with Moscow on a comprehensive framework to end the war in Ukraine, drawing inspiration from the recent Gaza ceasefire deal.According to Reuters, the U.S. has signaled to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine must accept a U.S.-drafted framework to end the war with Russia that proposes Kyiv giving up territory and some weapons.On November 21, the British publication The Telegraph published the full list of the 28 points of the U.S. peace plan, which Washington is proposing to Ukraine and Russia as a basis for ending the war. The document reportedly involves significant concessions from Kyiv, but does not prohibit it from joining the EU.

Sky News reported the information, citing European sources.The anticipated conversation comes as Zelenskyy prepares to consult with leaders from the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Germany before engaging with Trump on the matter.The peace proposal in question has encountered significant resistance across Europe, with EU foreign ministers voicing strong objections during a meeting in Brussels on Thursday. Poland, Italy, France, Lithuania, and Germany were among the most vocal critics of the plan, sources said.The European Union is reportedly placing its hopes on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to help steer the situation in a direction more favorable to European interests.Meanwhile, EU sources have confirmed that U.S. officials will brief EU ambassadors in Kyiv later today around lunchtime, as the diplomatic maneuvering intensifies over the future of the Ukraine war.The upcoming Trump-Zelenskyy call represents a critical moment in international efforts to resolve the war, with European capitals anxiously watching how the incoming U.S. administration will approach the conflict that has reshaped the continent's security landscape.On November 19, Axios reported that the White House is quietly working with Moscow on a comprehensive framework to end the war in Ukraine, drawing inspiration from the recent Gaza ceasefire deal.According to Reuters, the U.S. has signaled to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine must accept a U.S.-drafted framework to end the war with Russia that proposes Kyiv giving up territory and some weapons.On November 21, the British publication The Telegraph published the full list of the 28 points of the U.S. peace plan, which Washington is proposing to Ukraine and Russia as a basis for ending the war. The document reportedly involves significant concessions from Kyiv, but does not prohibit it from joining the EU.

The propagandist state agency TASS reported the information.Peskov says that the U.S. and the Russian Federation are not discussing anything substantively, but "there are certain considerations from the American side regarding the peace plan.""Kyiv must make a responsible decision on a peaceful settlement right now, later it will be too late," said Putin's spokesman.According to him, Moscow is "fully open to peace negotiations" but will not conduct them in "megaphone mode" because it "wants them to be successful."On November 21, at the U.N. Security Council, Ukraine outlined the red lines for a peace agreement with the Russian Federation.

Military analyst Vasyl Pekhnio said this on the Espreso TV channel."This is a surrender agreement. These are Putin's demands written in English. I got the impression that ChatGPT wrote this agreement. In reality, we are being slapped with capitulation demands, and it is obvious that it will be very difficult for us in the coming week," noted Pekhnio.According to the military analyst, the Americans are very eager to have these agreements approved by November 27, Thanksgiving Day. The President of Ukraine also announced that the upcoming week will be very difficult. But these demands are not viable."Even though Russia has an advantage on the front, we are not in a hopeless situation. We still have reserves of people who have not served, weapons production is ongoing, we continue to strike the enemy, and Europe still stands behind us. Ukraine and the Europeans will not agree to these agreements because it is a surrender," stressed Pekhnio.On November 19, Axios reported that the White House is quietly working with Moscow on a comprehensive framework to end the war in Ukraine, drawing inspiration from the recent Gaza ceasefire deal.According to Reuters, the U.S. has signaled to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine must accept a U.S.-drafted framework to end the war with Russia that proposes Kyiv giving up territory and some weapons.On November 21, the British publication The Telegraph published the full list of the 28 points of the U.S. peace plan, which Washington is proposing to Ukraine and Russia as a basis for ending the war. The document reportedly involves significant concessions from Kyiv, but does not prohibit it from joining the EU.

Valentyn Badrak, the director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies and co-founder of the Defense Information Consortium, shared these insights with Espreso TV.Unmanned systems are a key area of focus for the Russian Federation. On November 12, 2025, it was announced that Russia had established dedicated unmanned systems troops within its armed forces, following Ukraine's example. This systematic effort could present a new challenge for the Ukrainian Defense Forces.Valentyn Badrak highlights that in 2025, although the Defense Forces were outnumbered in terms of drones, they held an advantage in the creativity of their designs and operational tactics. In the realm of naval and ground-based robotic systems, the situation was one of parity or near-parity. He also notes that there are grounds to believe the Defense Forces are more effective in their use of interceptor drones.Among Russia's most significant 'breakthroughs' during this period, the expert identifies the development of 'kamikaze' drone swarms equipped with combat AI. These swarms, launched from carrier drones ('mother ships'), can attack targets up to 100 km deep. Another notable development is the Shahed drones, which can autonomously bypass air defense systems."Unfortunately, we've also had negative experiences where a well-developed domestic technology is captured by the enemy and then mass-produced. This was the case with fiber-optic guided UAVs, which first appeared in Ukraine in the summer of 2023. However, the Russian Federation was quicker to master their large-scale deployment," Badrak remarks.He recalls that Russia is constructing a 'giant drone empire,' involving 900 companies in production, 70% of which are small and medium-sized businesses."In the autumn of 2025, drones began to systematically target not only military arsenals and logistical routes but also moving vehicles," the expert notes.In November, reports also indicated that Ukraine's effectiveness in intercepting Russian Shahed drones and missiles was declining. The interception rates by Ukrainian air defense in October were the lowest of the year, with only 80% of Russian drones and 54% of missiles being shot down or suppressed."Regrettably, this is a result of both a sharp increase in the number of drones launched by Russia and Ukraine's shortages of ammunition and the decisions being made," Badrak believes.According to the expert, while the oversight of weapon development and modernization holds similar importance in both Ukraine and Russia, the funding for development is substantially better organized in Russia. It has a state support system that selects and scales the most advanced solutions.He also points to Ukraine's internal challenges with the standardization of its unmanned systems, noting that the absence of a single decision-making center continues to slow down several domestic projects."It is extremely difficult to find signs of productive ideas in the work of the military department's leadership during the war. This ranges from former Defense Minister Reznikov's initial dismissal of 'wedding drones,' which ended up playing a major role at a certain stage of the war, to current Defense Minister Umerov's failure to grasp the significance of a 'drone line' concept. The cost of such errors is hundreds, and possibly thousands, of our defenders' lives on the front, where they have faced daily shortages of weapons, ammunition, and effective solutions," Valentyn Badrak concludes.

In short:1. The agreement, even if it is not signed, provides for the partial unfreezing (transfer to the recovery fund of Ukraine) of these same assets voluntarily by the Russians. Therefore, I do not believe that Belgium (the main holder of the reserves) will agree to unfreeze them forcibly now.2. The agreement provides for the unfreezing of 100 out of 300 billion. I would not be surprised if the Russians offer the EU to unfreeze an additional 100 billion for the "recovery" of Ukraine for the EU, and thereby "buy" them.3. As of March 1, 2026, Ukraine will not have the money for most of its needs. This issue can only be resolved with the help of the Europeans (see point 2).4. The stories about this money going towards recovery are a myth. For the next year, we need an additional 70 billion to cover the budget deficit. Even without the war, this figure would be 50 billion. In other words, this is money for patching holes.5. It seems the question now is not about signing or not. The questions are exclusively about whether it will be possible to adjust this ultimatum-like agreement, and when and who will sign it.SourceAbout the author: Vadym Denysenko, political scientist.The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the authors of blogs.

Military observer Vasyl Pekhnio stated this on Espreso TV."Everything happening in the Pokrovsk-Mynohrad agglomeration can now be described as a controlled withdrawal maneuver. The 7th Air Assault Corps is currently executing the most complex maneuver in military tactics—a controlled withdrawal from the entire Pokrovsk-Mynohrad agglomeration," Pekhnio noted.According to the military observer, retreating without allowing the front to collapse, and preventing the Russian army from exploiting the breach to break through, is an exceptionally difficult maneuver."And our paratroopers are now performing it, preventing the enemy from simply passing through, breaking the front, or advancing anywhere. But in a broader sense, we are losing this agglomeration," Pekhnio added.Over the course of November 20, 173 combat clashes were recorded on the Russian-Ukrainian front, 59 of which took place in the Pokrovsk sector.

The Financial Times reported the information.Ukrainian officials stated that Washington is exerting strong pressure, demanding the swift adoption of a 28-point plan developed by the U.S. and Russia, which would involve significant concessions from Kyiv. Sources for the publication compared the current U.S. approach to previous pressure on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding an agreement on mineral resources.Specifically, the Trump administration informed the Ukrainian leader and other members of his team that the White House was working on an aggressive timeline to finalize the proposal in order to end the war by the end of the year. The publication's sources noted that American officials expect the President of Ukraine to sign the agreement by Thanksgiving on November 27, with the goal of presenting the peace deal in Moscow at the end of this month and finalizing the process in early December.The publication added that this timeline seemed unlikely, as officials in Zelenskyy's office had stated that there were several points that were clear red lines for Kyiv.The British publication The Telegraph published the full list of the 28 points of the U.S. peace plan, which Washington is proposing to Ukraine and Russia as a basis for ending the war. The document reportedly involves significant concessions from Kyiv, but does not prohibit it from joining the EU.

We still haven't seen any official texts. Without documents, a substantive discussion is meaningless. Wars do not end based on rumors.The text of the 'agreement' of unknown origin circulating online is a document that Putin will never sign. Therefore, it's not even worth considering how to evaluate it from a Ukrainian point of view.On Thursday evening, the Kremlin distributed footage from Putin's meeting where he not only announced the "capture of Kupiansk" but also stated that the leadership of Ukraine is a "criminal group that has usurped power under the pretext of continuing the war." This means that under no circumstances will Putin meet with Zelenskyy or negotiate with him.In these conditions, the most rational course of action for Ukraine is to pass the negotiation ball into the Russian court. That is why Zelenskyy did not throw the proposed text in the trash but formally suggested "working on it."In other words, no real peace agreement project that could end the war currently exists. Russia will not make any agreements because Putin believes he has already 'defeated' Ukraine, and he has nothing to talk about with a 'criminal group.' The only thing that will satisfy him is the complete capitulation of Ukraine. How this should happen, in his opinion—whether Ukraine falls on its own or Trump 'helps'—is irrelevant to Putin.SourceAbout the author. Mykola Knyazhytskyi, journalist, Ukrainian MP.The editorial office does not always share the opinions expressed by the authors of blogs or columns.

The Telegraph revealed the entire 28-point plan.The deal outlines a detailed framework that European governments have criticized as capitulation to the Kremlin. The agreement includes the following provisions:Ukraine's sovereignty will be confirmed.A comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe, settling all ambiguities of the last 30 years.Russia will not invade neighboring countries and NATO will not expand further.A U.S.-mediated dialogue between Russia and NATO will resolve security issues and create conditions for de-escalation.Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees.The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel.Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO, and NATO agrees to include in its statutes that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future.NATO agrees not to station troops in Ukraine.European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland.U.S. guarantee provisions include compensation for America, loss of guarantee if Ukraine invades Russia, reinstatement of all sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine, and invalidation of security guarantee if Ukraine launches missiles at Moscow or St. Petersburg without cause.Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will receive short-term preferential access to the European market.A powerful global package to rebuild Ukraine includes creation of a Ukraine Development Fund for technology and AI investments, U.S. cooperation on gas infrastructure development, joint rehabilitation of war-affected areas, infrastructure development, mineral extraction, and World Bank financing.Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy through staged sanctions lifting, long-term U.S. economic cooperation in energy and natural resources, and invitation to rejoin the G8.Frozen funds will be allocated with $100 billion in Russian assets invested in U.S.-led Ukraine reconstruction (U.S. receives 50% profits), Europe adding $100 billion, unfreezing of European funds, and remainder invested in joint U.S.-Russian projects.A joint American-Russian working group on security issues will be established to ensure compliance.Russia will enshrine in law its policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine.The United States and Russia will extend nuclear non-proliferation treaties, including START I.Ukraine agrees to be a non-nuclear state under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will operate under IAEA supervision with electricity distributed equally between Russia and Ukraine.Both countries will implement educational programs promoting cultural understanding, with Ukraine adopting EU religious tolerance rules, guaranteeing media and education rights, and rejecting Nazi ideology.Territorial arrangements include recognition of Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk as Russian, freezing Kherson and Zaporizhzhia along contact lines, Russian withdrawal from other territories, and creation of a demilitarized buffer zone in the Donetsk region.Both nations commit not to change territorial arrangements by force, with security guarantees voided for violations.Russia will not prevent Ukrainian commercial use of the Dnipro River and will allow free grain transport across the Black Sea.A humanitarian committee will oversee prisoner exchanges, return of civilian detainees and children, family reunification, and victim assistance.Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days.All parties receive full amnesty for wartime actions with no future claims or complaints.The agreement will be legally binding, monitored by a Peace Council headed by President Trump, with sanctions for violations.The ceasefire takes effect immediately after agreement, with both sides retreating to designated points to begin implementation.European governments have reportedly derided the proposal as surrender to Moscow, though they have not seen the document's full contents before making their assessments.

Ukraine's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Khrystyna Hayovyshyn stated this at the UN Security Council, as reported by Ukrinform.Speaking at the Security Council meeting on Thursday, Hayovyshyn noted that "Russia's continuous escalation is not just a series of military attacks, but also an outright rejection of peace." According to her, "every Russian missile... is a statement that Moscow prefers escalation over dialogue."The diplomat emphasized that since the beginning of the full-scale aggression, Ukraine has sought peace and supports all meaningful initiatives that can bring it closer."Since the beginning of this year, Ukraine has supported President Trump's proposals aimed at ending the war," she indicated, adding that Kyiv is ready to work constructively with the American side and partners in Europe and the world.Hayovyshyn added that Ukraine has received a draft peace plan from the U.S."We have outlined the fundamental principles that are important to our people. We agree to work on the provisions of the plan in a way that ensures a just end to the war," she stated.Outlining the red lines, the diplomat declared: "There will never be any recognition—formal or otherwise—of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as 'Russian'. Our land is not for sale."She also stressed that Ukraine will not accept limitations on its right to self-defense, on the size or capabilities of its Armed Forces, nor any interference in its right to choose alliances."Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine – and nothing about Europe without Europe," emphasized the Deputy Permanent Representative.On November 19, Axios reported that the White House is quietly working with Moscow on a comprehensive framework to end the war in Ukraine, drawing inspiration from the recent Gaza ceasefire deal.According to Reuters, the U.S. has signaled to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine must accept a U.S.-drafted framework to end the war with Russia that proposes Kyiv giving up territory and some weapons.The author of the Resurgam Telegram channel noted that the leaked details of a purported 28-point peace plan raise suspicions about the motives behind the disclosure and the credibility of sources involved in the negotiations.

Axios reported the information.President Trump's peace proposal for Ukraine includes a security guarantee patterned on NATO's Article 5, committing the U.S. and European allies to treat any attack on Ukraine as an attack on the entire "transatlantic community," according to documents reviewed by the publication.The 28-point plan, presented by U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to President Zelenskyy on Thursday, promises that "Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees." A separate draft agreement specifies that any "significant, deliberate, and sustained armed attack" by Russia on Ukraine "shall be regarded as an attack threatening the peace and security of the transatlantic community," with the U.S. and allies prepared to respond militarily if necessary.The proposed guarantee would remain in effect for an initial 10-year period and could be extended by mutual agreement. The document includes signature lines for Ukraine, the U.S., the EU, NATO, and Russia, though it remains unclear whether Putin's signature would be required. A senior White House official confirmed that Russia has been briefed on the proposal.Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who led the drafting effort, discussed the security guarantee with Zelenskyy's national security adviser Rustem Umerov over the weekend. A White House official described the proposal as a "big win" for Ukraine's long-term security, though the official cautioned that the agreement will require discussion with European partners and could still be modified.The plan demands significant Ukrainian territorial concessions and would involve lifting sanctions on Russia and granting amnesty for war crimes—a trade-off that could expose Trump to criticism from his America First supporters, given the military commitment it would entail.On November 19, Axios reported that the White House is quietly working with Moscow on a comprehensive framework to end the war in Ukraine, drawing inspiration from the recent Gaza ceasefire deal.According to Reuters, the U.S. has signaled to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine must accept a U.S.-drafted framework to end the war with Russia that proposes Kyiv giving up territory and some weapons.The author of the Resurgam Telegram channel noted that the leaked details of a purported 28-point peace plan raise suspicions about the motives behind the disclosure and the credibility of sources involved in the negotiations.

This is the very case where the views of Russian official propaganda and Russian liberals are almost identical.With incredible enthusiasm, Russian propagandists try to air our dirty laundry—as if they themselves don't live in a state of total corruption—but they place a special emphasis on the possible involvement of Volodymyr Zelenskyy in corruption schemes. Because from their point of view, the reputational problems of the head of state are the problems of the state itself. And if Zelenskyy turned out to be bad, then why do you need this Ukraine at all?And I immediately remembered the materials about myself that appeared on Russian television channels during the Maidan. The stories about what a scoundrel and a CIA agent I was invariably ended with interviews with "Maidan participants" who worriedly said that it was now definitely time to go home. The fact that the leader of the Maidan was the people, and not some political figure or journalist, never even occurred to these idiots."For the most part, when Russian oppositionists talk about the scandal, they also start defending Zelenskyy and talking about what a catastrophe it would be—not even his resignation, but the delegation of his power within the framework of current legislation."And I immediately recall how in February 2022, a colleague of mine, an opposition Russian journalist, clearly formulated the Russian liberal vision of aggression: he attacked him because he was jealous of him. Because Putin is old and unattractive, and Zelenskyy is young and charismatic. The idea that this is about the defense of Ukraine, that the Ukrainian people are not fighting for Zelenskyy, but that Zelenskyy is an ordinary representative of these people at the state level, does not even occur to these people. On a mental level.Because in their history, they have always fought for a prince, for a tsar, for a general secretary. For the Motherland, for Stalin. But Ukrainians have never gone to the battlefield for a prince, a hetman, or a president.They have always fought for their home. For Ukraine. And this is what makes Russians and Ukrainians peoples from two different planets.SourceAbout the author. Vitaly Portnikov, journalist, laureate of the Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine.The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.

The author of the Resurgam Telegram channel discussed the issue.The warning signs are everywhere. For the first time since tax increases were implemented in October, non-oil and gas revenues have declined by 5%, compounding the damage from a 27% drop in oil and gas revenues. A source working for the Kremlin told the investigative outlet Vazhnye Istorii that the country is experiencing "a systemic struggle for any resources, because there are clearly far fewer of them now." The insider added that the political system is gradually reaching a state where there are no rules whatsoever—"it doesn't matter whether they're good or bad. Everyone has realized that on one hand, there are no boundaries, you can do whatever you want, but on the other hand, no one is protected, and no amount of proper behavior or proper connections guarantees anything. To anyone. Absolutely no one."This breakdown isn't happening in a vacuum. A cascade of economic failures across multiple sectors is now threatening federal budget revenues and exposing the fragility of Russia's wartime economy.In November alone, the retail clothing giant Modis—which operates over 120 stores—announced plans to file for insolvency after facing 17 lawsuits from suppliers over unpaid debts totaling more than 700 million rubles. Management attributed the crisis to a 33% collapse in revenue this year.State energy behemoth Gazprom is reportedly selling off a petrochemical complex in Bashkiria for up to 270 billion rubles. An executive close to the company revealed that the sale is driven by an urgent need to cover current losses.The real estate sector is also in freefall. In November, 19% of developers postponed project completions by more than six months and were classified as troubled. Investment in real estate plummeted 44% in the first half of 2025, while banks have dramatically tightened lending standards—rejecting over half of all mortgage applications in June.The transportation industry is hemorrhaging companies. The industry association AvtoGruzEks reported that approximately 6,700 freight carriers are currently in liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings. The founder of Leader Trans, a logistics company, stated: "We haven't seen a situation like this in 17 years. The volume of equipment being repossessed from leasing has been breaking records and has been increasing by 20% every month since June 2025."Perhaps most alarming is the coal industry's collapse. According to the Financial Times, 23 coal companies have already shut down this year, with another 53 on the verge of bankruptcy out of roughly 200 active firms. The sector recorded losses of 225 billion rubles in just the first seven months of 2025—double the losses for all of 2024. This represents a stunning reversal from 2023, when the industry posted nearly 375 billion rubles in profit. One Kremlin-connected businessman commented bluntly: "The war is bad for most of our businesses, if not all of them. But the coal sector is in truly deep shit."Corporate debt has become a systemic threat extending far beyond the defense sector. In October 2025, overdue corporate debt surged to $37 billion—the highest level in the decade that statistics have been tracked. Total corporate loans now exceed $984 billion, up 10% from last year. Of the 714,000 legal entities with loans, one in four—some 171,000 companies—are already behind on payments. The reason is clear: record debt burdens are forcing businesses to spend over 36% of pre-tax profits just servicing their loans.The share of unprofitable companies in Russia reached 30.4% in the first half of 2025, the highest level since 2020, when the pandemic paralyzed the economy and pushed 35% of enterprises into the red. Official statistics show that in the first half of the year, approximately 43,000 organizations reported profits totaling 18.4 trillion rubles, while nearly 19,000 companies declared losses exceeding 5 trillion rubles. Analysts note that 30% unprofitability represents a level of systemic crisis affecting entire economic sectors.The Kremlin is desperately trying to conceal the scale of corporate payment problems that could trigger public backlash. Authorities are avoiding the term "bankruptcy" altogether and instead forcing banks to manually restructure debts in ways that circumvent Central Bank criteria and requirements—a clear sign that the government fears the political consequences of acknowledging the true depth of Russia's economic distress.As of November 20, the Russian economy is entering a phase of rapid growth in corporate defaults, which could cause mass bankruptcies and significant pressure on regional budgets, according to Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service.

Yurii Romaniuk, an expert on international affairs and head of the All-Ukrainian Public Organization Ukraine in NATO, stated this on Espreso TV."It is worth starting with the fact that this is not the Witkoff and Dmitriev plan. This is a new version of the plan with a maximalist version of the 2022 Istanbul track, which was rejected by Ukraine. And what they are offering us today is definitely not a peace plan, but our capitulation under the patronage of Putin and Trump," Romaniuk explained.The expert emphasized that Ukraine will not be able to agree to the proposed terms of the agreement from the U.S., as it would be a disaster for the country."In fact, this plan is a diagnosis of the complete degradation of the diplomacy and intellectual abilities of the U.S. and Trump's team. After all, to offer such nonsense to Ukraine in the fourth year of a full-scale war is a catastrophe and a disgrace for the U.S. It does not take into account any of Ukraine's interests and imposes a maximalist scenario of Putin's wishes, with mines laid under the guise of leasing territories. It's a trap! If Ukraine were to hypothetically sign such an agreement, it would be a disaster. We would lose the legal right to these territories, as well as the right to reparations. There is no EU, no Ukraine. Negotiations are being held at the table without Ukraine, but we are on the menu. They are simply dividing us. This is all being done to overshadow the domestic political situation in the U.S. The Epstein case is being discussed very heavily there right now. Now Trump has no choice but to give all researchers all the Epstein files, where he may not be presented in a very good light. Therefore, he needs to overshadow this information with supposed successes in peacekeeping activities," he concluded.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has obtained a draft U.S.-backed framework to end the war with Russia that reportedly demands significant territorial concessions and military restrictions, sparking immediate resistance from European allies who view the terms as tantamount to surrender.

This refers to the so-called "detachments" named after Alexander Matrosov and Martyn Pushkar. Corresponding video evidence has already been handed over to special services for the identification of the traitors.Notably, the Russians are trying to present this almost as an element of a "civil war," meaning Ukrainians are fighting against Ukrainians.According to the Main Intelligence Directorate, Russia has created four units controlled by the Main Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff. These are the Bohdan Khmelnytskyi battalion, the Maksym Kryvonos battalion, the Martyn Pushkar detachment, and the Alexander Matrosov detachment.These are the units that recruit Ukrainian soldiers who have been captured.According to Russian State Duma deputy Vodolatsky, captured soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who allegedly refused to be exchanged and return home are being enlisted in a "Ukrainian battalion under the command of the Russian Armed Forces.""Today, there are prisoners of war who refuse to return home and want to stay here. Some, after being vetted, sign contracts with units formed from soldiers of the Ukrainian army under the command of the Russian Armed Forces," he stated.It is worth recalling that on September 24, 2022, the Russian propaganda outlet TASS reported that Ukrainian prisoners of war held in the Olenivka camp had "asked" the authorities of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" to allow them to fight in the "Bohdan Khmelnytskyi volunteer Cossack battalion" of the so-called "DPR."And by October 2023, the Russian propaganda agency RIA Novosti reported that the first battalion of former Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers—the "volunteer battalion" named after Bohdan Khmelnytskyi—had entered service with the Russian operational-combat tactical formation Kaskad. This "battalion" was formed on the territory of the so-called "DPR" from Ukrainian prisoners of war. The Russian media reported at the time that about 70 Ukrainian prisoners of war had volunteered for the "battalion." After combat coordination, the occupiers planned to redeploy this unit to the front line.Incidentally, it is no coincidence that this formation was included in the Kaskad battalion, which is headed by another traitor to Ukraine, former SBU colonel Khodokovsky.I will note that the appearance of information about this unit on October 27, 2023, was not accidental. The day before, information appeared in the media that a battalion of Russian citizens had been formed within the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The propagandists' mistake was that in spreading information that the "battalion" was undergoing combat coordination, they made a serious error—the fighters had not taken an oath. At that moment, the "battalion" existed only on paper or in the Russian imagination.A battalion consists of at least 800–1,000 personnel. But after a year, the Russians are citing a figure of 70 people when talking about the number of prisoners who volunteered for this unit. "That is, even under conditions of physical and moral pressure from the invading Russian forces, lack of information, and torture, which Ukrainian prisoners of war endure, the Russians have not been able to form a real military unit over a long period."The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine did not confirm the use of the Bohdan Khmelnytskyi battalion, formed from Ukrainian prisoners in the so-called "DPR," by the Russians on the front lines."It has been over a year since the information about the creation of the so-called Bohdan Khmelnytskyi battalion was released, and for the most part, it has been an information-psychological special operation. Currently, the combat use of this unit has not been recorded," stated intelligence representative Andriy Yusov in a comment to Ukrinform in November 2024.Russian propaganda uses units formed from Ukrainian prisoners, which are controlled by the Main Directorate of the Russian General Staff, to reinforce narratives about "Ukrainian fascism," the "illegitimate Kyiv regime," and a "civil war" in Ukraine. Furthermore, Russian propagandists are trying to create a "picture" of supposedly mass collaboration and the readiness of Ukrainians to fight on the side of the Russian forces against their own state.However, cases of collaboration among Ukrainian prisoners are isolated and not widespread.According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, they have verified information about 62 contracts signed by Ukrainian prisoners of war with the Russian Ministry of Defence to participate in the war against Ukraine in these units. There is even one soldier from the Maksym Kryvonos battalion who was captured by our forces.It is worth noting that the use of Ukrainian prisoners of war in these "battalions" is a violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. The document prohibits the use of prisoners in military activities on the side of the power that captured them and also states that no prisoner of war may at any time be sent to or detained in areas where he may be exposed to the fire of the combat zone.Currently, Russia holds Ukrainian prisoners in more than 300 colonies without access for international organizations and human rights defenders. These camps are located in Russia, Belarus, and the occupied territories of Ukraine.Over 90% of Ukrainian soldiers who have returned from captivity state that they were tortured. They were also deprived of adequate sleep and food.Specially for EspresoAbout the author. Dmytro Sniehyrov, military expert, co-head of the Prava Sprava public initiative.The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.

Reuters reported the information.Zelenskyy's office confirmed Thursday that the president received the American proposal and expects to hold discussions with President Donald Trump "in the coming days" to address "key points required to achieve peace." The announcement comes as Washington has signaled to Kyiv that it must accept the U.S.-drafted framework, according to two sources.The plan, which has not been made public, would require Ukraine to cede additional territory beyond the nearly one-fifth of the country Russia currently occupies and accept partial disarmament of its armed forces—conditions that have drawn sharp criticism from European capitals."We are ready now, as before, to work constructively with the American side, as well as with our partners in Europe and around the world, so that the outcome is peace," Zelenskyy's office said in a statement.At a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday, officials indicated they would not support demands for punishing Ukrainian concessions. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot was particularly blunt in his assessment."Ukrainians want peace - a just peace that respects everyone's sovereignty, a durable peace that can't be called into question by future aggression," Barrot said. "But peace cannot be a capitulation."The diplomatic push comes at a precarious moment for Ukraine. Russian forces are advancing on the eastern city of Pokrovsk, which would mark Moscow's first capture of a substantial city in nearly two years. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy's government has been weakened by a corruption scandal that led parliament to fire two cabinet ministers on Wednesday.Moscow downplayed the American initiative. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "consultations are not currently under way," though he acknowledged ongoing contacts. He reiterated that any peace agreement must address what Russia calls the "root causes of the conflict"—a phrase the Kremlin has long used to reference its demands.U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would "continue to develop a list of potential ideas for ending this war based on input from both sides of this conflict," adding that "achieving a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions."A U.S. Army delegation led by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Chief of Staff Randy George arrived in Kyiv and was expected to meet with Zelenskyy late Thursday. The delegation met with Ukraine's top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi on Wednesday, who argued that securing a just peace requires defending Ukraine's airspace, extending its deep-strike capabilities into Russia, and stabilizing the front line.On November 19, Axios reported that the White House is quietly working with Moscow on a comprehensive framework to end the war in Ukraine, drawing inspiration from the recent Gaza ceasefire deal.According to Reuters, the U.S. has signaled to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine must accept a U.S.-drafted framework to end the war with Russia that proposes Kyiv giving up territory and some weapons.The author of the Resurgam Telegram channel noted that the leaked details of a purported 28-point peace plan raise suspicions about the motives behind the disclosure and the credibility of sources involved in the negotiations.