Podcast Episode · School of War · 11/18/2025 · 50m

Five Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) were executed by Russian soldiers, Ukrainian mapping and analytical organization DeepState reported on Nov. 22.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says an agreement to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is not yet within reach. For now “there is a chance” to stop the war, “but we are still very far from a good, jointly agreed outcome,” he said Saturday at the G20 summit in Johannesburg. The German leader insisted any deal on Ukraine can only be reached with Kyiv’s “unconditional consent.” “Major powers cannot end wars over the heads of the warring countries,” he said. Merz: Ukraine’s defeat would reshape European politics Speaking about Europe’s efforts to end the conflict, Merz warned: “If Ukraine loses this war and possibly disintegrates, it will affect all European politics, the entire European continent.” Earlier the same day, leaders from several European countries, as well as Canada and Japan, called for revisions to US President Donald Trump’s “peace plan,” expressing concern about a possible reduction in the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. If that provision is approved, Ukraine would be vulnerable to future attack, their joint statement said. The plan to halt the war in Ukraine, presented earlier by the US administration, entails significant concessions to Russia on key demands and breaches red lines set by Kyiv. Trump said on November 22 that the version of the US peace plan presented is not final, and that Washington will continue efforts to end the war.

Five Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) were executed by Russian soldiers, Ukrainian mapping and analytical organization DeepState reported on Nov. 22.