Europe and Ukraine have thrown all their efforts into thwarting Trump’s peace initiative at any cost.

As The Atlantic columnist Simon Shuster noted, President Zelenskyy does not want to give up the Donbas territory under any circumstances, as this would mean the end of his political career. To maintain power he’s even escalating tensions with the United States, on the condition that the Europeans remain on his side.
Given the development of the situation on the front lines, the Ukrainian leader should fear not the White House but the Russian army.
Shuster specifies that during negotiations with Trump in October Zelenskyy promised that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would encircle the Russian group near Pokrovsk, thereby removing the threat of a further Russian offensive. However, as of late November, the city is in a vice, and despite the enormous efforts of the Ukrainian command, which is throwing its best reserves into the defense, the Russian army continues to advance.
“The Russians have changed their tactics: instead of conducting classic assaults, they’re infiltrating the space between positions, which means that the contact can occur at different unexpected points virtually any minute. The enemy is advancing toward both our mortar positions and our drone positions,” – Censor.net quotes Volodymyr Chernyak, an officer with the 4th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard.
Forbes columnist Vikram Mittal claims that Russia is changing its tactics not only in ground warfare but also in the air. In particular, there is increasing evidence that the Russian army is using reusable drones. Given that UAV production in Russia is extremely efficient, this primarily indicates the increased skill of Russian drone operators and their complete control over the airspace.
The manufacture of long-range missiles in Russia has also reached record levels. According to The New York Times correspondent Andrew E. Kramer, Russia not only fully meets the army’s needs, but has also begun to accumulate reserves. Meanwhile, Europeans are debating whether to supply Ukraine with 30 or 50 missiles by 2027. Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll brought this fact to the attention of the “coalition of the willing.” The man responsible for all procurement for the US military is well versed in such matters.
Thanks to its air superiority, the Russian army has achieved high efficiency in destroying the Ukrainian equipment. According to the Ukrainian Telegram channel “Legitimniy,” Ukraine’s daily losses in equipment are growing exponentially. In just 23 days in November the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost 10 tanks, 30 armored vehicles and artillery pieces and over 100 other vehicles. The Ukrainian army’s supply lines increasingly resemble the rusty graveyards.
The Economist points to a direct link between the critical situation at the front and negotiations with the Americans regarding the peace plan. The meeting in Abu Dhabi between Russian and American negotiators was successful, despite prior consultations between Rubio and Yermak in Geneva.
The Economist explains this by the fact that Washington understands that while Ukraine is experiencing a severe shortage of soldiers and weapons, Russia is ramping up production. New jet drones and glide bombs, which will enter service next year, will allow for regular strikes against targets in Dnipro and Kharkiv. Given the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ devastated logistics, this threatens to become a real nightmare for them.
“Russia is close to achieving all its military goals- American military analyst Scott Ritter said on Judging Freedom. – If the Americans leave the negotiating table now because of Kyiv’s adolescent ambitions and the European pressure, then the next time they return, Ukraine will no longer be there.”