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International Russia/Ukraine Megathread V15
- Thread starter Strychnine
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This is just... Sad.
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Hey dummy, like San Marino you're not much on nuance and detail. President Zelenskyy has learned the art of not saying 'no' to Trump but instead saying things which may as well be no because Putin will never agree to them.
Please refer to the first paragraph which I put in bold and made a much larger font size in case you have vision or comprehension problems.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/...reating-a-free-economic-zone-in-ukraines-east"
"
By —
Samya Kullab, Associated Press
Zelenskyy says he's open to withdrawing troops and creating a free economic zone in Ukraine's east
Updated on Dec 24, 2025 1:57 PM EST — Published on Dec 24, 2025 12:13 PM EST
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would be willing to withdraw troops from the country's eastern industrial heartland as part of a plan to end Russia's war, if Moscow also pulls back and the area becomes a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces.
The proposal offered another potential compromise on control of the Donbas region, which has been a major sticking point in peace negotiations.
Zelenskyy said the U.S. proposed the creation of a "free economic zone," which he said should be demilitarized. But it was unclear what that idea would mean for governance or development of the region.
A similar arrangement could be possible for the area around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is currently under Russian control, Zelenskyy said. He said any peace plan would need to be put to a referendum.
Zelenskyy spoke to reporters Tuesday to describe an overarching 20-point plan that negotiators from Ukraine and the U.S. hammered out in Florida in recent days, though he said many details are still being discussed.
Russia has given no indication that it will agree to any kind of withdrawal from land it has seized. In fact, Moscow has insisted that Ukraine relinquish the remaining territory it still holds in the Donbas — an ultimatum that Ukraine has rejected. Russia has captured most of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk — the two areas that make up the Donbas.
Asked about the plan, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that Moscow would decide its position based on information received by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who met with U.S. envoys in Florida over the weekend. Peskov declined to share further details.
American negotiators have engaged in a series of talks with Ukraine and Russia separately since U.S. President Donald Trump presented a plan to end the war last month — a proposal widely seen as favoring Moscow, which invaded its neighbor nearly four years ago. Since then, Ukraine and its allies in Europe have worked to pull the plan closer to Kyiv's position.
Zelenskyy said figuring out control of the Donbas region is "the most difficult point."
Meanwhile, on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the U.S. has proposed creating a consortium with Ukraine and Russia, in which each party would have an equal stake.
Zelenskyy countered with a proposal for a joint venture between the U.S. and Ukraine, in which the Americans would be able to decide how to distribute their share, including giving some of it to Russia.
Zelenskyy acknowledged that the U.S. has not yet accepted Ukraine's counter-proposals.
"But we have significantly brought most of the positions closer together," Zelenskyy said. "In principle, all other consensus in this agreement has been found between us and them."
Zone would require difficult discussions
Creating the demilitarized economic zone in the Donbas would require difficult discussions on how far troops would be required to move back and where international forces would be stationed, Zelenskyy said, adding that it should discussed at the leaders level.
The working U.S.-Ukraine draft also proposes that Russian forces withdraw from the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Zelenskyy envisions that international forces could be located along certain points of the contact line within the zone to monitor the implementation of the agreement.
Managing the Zaporizhzhia power plant
Ukraine also proposes that the occupied city of Enerhodar, which is the closest city to the Zaporizhzhia power plant, become a demilitarized free economic zone, Zelenskyy said.
This point required 15 hours of discussions with the U.S., he said, and no agreement was reached.
For now, the U.S. proposes that the plant be jointly operated by Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia, with each side controlling a 33% stake in the enterprise — a plan Zelenskyy called "not entirely realistic."
"How can you have joint commerce with the Russians after everything?" he asked.
Ukraine instead suggested that the plant be operated by a joint venture with the U.S. in which the Americans can determine independently how to distribute the energy from their 50% share.
Zelenskyy said billions in investments are needed to make the plant run again, including restoring the adjacent dam.
More details on security guarantees
The working draft ensures that Ukraine will receive "strong" security guarantees that would require Ukraine's partners to act in the event of renewed Russian aggression. That would mirror NATO's Article 5, which says an armed attack on one member of the alliance is an attack on all.
Zelenskyy said a separate document with the U.S. will outline these guarantees. It will detail the conditions under which security will be provided, particularly in the event of another Russian assault, and it will establish a mechanism to monitor any ceasefire. The document will be signed with the main agreement to end the war, Zelenskyy said.
"The mood of the United States of America is that this is an unprecedented step towards Ukraine on their part. They believe that they are giving strong security guarantees," he said.
The draft contains other elements, including keeping Ukraine's army at 800,000 during peacetime and making Ukraine a member of the European Union by a specific date. Limiting the size of Ukraine's military is a key Russian demand.
Elections and boosting the economy
The document also proposes accelerating a free-trade agreement between Ukraine and the U.S. The U.S. wants the same deal with Russia, Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine would like to receive short-term privileged access to the European market and a robust global development package that would include the creation of a development fund to solicit outside investment in Ukraine's industries.
Other points include raising funds for Ukraine's reconstruction, with the goal of attracting $800 billion through equity, grants, loans and private sector contributions.
The draft proposal also requires Ukraine to hold elections after the signing of the agreement. Zelenskyy's five-year term was scheduled to end in May 2024, but elections were put off due to Russia's invasion.
Ukraine is also asking that all prisoners taken since 2014 be released at once, and that civilian detainees, political prisoners and children be returned to Ukraine.
In other developments, an explosion in Moscow on Wednesday killed three people, including two police officers, Russian investigators said, days after a car bomb killed a high-ranking general not far away.
An official from Ukraine's military intelligence agency, known as GUR, told The Associated Press that the attack had been carried out as part of an agency operation. Another official from the agency said the police officers had taken part in Russia's war in Ukraine, without providing details. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter."
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That's crazy, this guy was proven to be a liar and a coward and he's still talking shit and being condescending.
Why did Zelensky offer an energy truce of the energy/fuel site strikes from Ukraine to Russia are so much in Ukraine's favor?
What's the tactic there if Putin accepts?
Anyways, 2026 is mostly going to be about the Donbass Fortress Belt. The last obstacle to Russian full control of the Donbas.
At least one of these cities will be taken by summer.
This will go hand-in-hand with continuing advancements in Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Sumy.
Efforts to defend the fortress belt will stretch Ukrainian defensive resources even further, accelerating the decline of Ukrainian land loss.
By end of 2026, 23-25% of Ukrainian land will be under Russian control, leading to huge frontline collapse in 2027.
Why did Zelensky offer an energy truce of the energy/fuel site strikes from Ukraine to Russia are so much in Ukraine's favor?
What's the tactic there if Putin accepts?
Anyways, 2026 is mostly going to be about the Donbass Fortress Belt. The last obstacle to Russian full control of the Donbas.
At least one of these cities will be taken by summer.
This will go hand-in-hand with continuing advancements in Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Sumy.
Efforts to defend the fortress belt will stretch Ukrainian defensive resources even further, accelerating the decline of Ukrainian land loss.
By end of 2026, 23-25% of Ukrainian land will be under Russian control, leading to huge frontline collapse in 2027.
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Seversk was taken weeks ago but Kiev and the group of delusional cosplayers here have to wait weeks for everything to get to the point where it's impossible to deny it.
Same situation over and over and over again.
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Hey little fella, if you're going to talk shit at least tag or quote me.
How am I a 'liar' and 'coward'? Please explain I'd love to know.
You are not smart enough to read this information.Why did Zelensky offer an energy truce of the energy/fuel site strikes from Ukraine to Russia are so much in Ukraine's favor?
What's the tactic there if Putin accepts?
Anyways, 2026 is mostly going to be about the Donbass Fortress Belt. The last obstacle to Russian full control of the Donbas.
At least one of these cities will be taken by summer.
This will go hand-in-hand with continuing advancements in Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Sumy.
Efforts to defend the fortress belt will stretch Ukrainian defensive resources even further, accelerating the decline of Ukrainian land loss.
By end of 2026, 23-25% of Ukrainian land will be under Russian control, leading to huge frontline collapse in 2027.
Putin will never agree on UN or NATO forces filling in the vacuum. President Zelenskyy knows this full well and that's why he's proposing it. President Zelenskyy has mastered the art of bullshitting with the bullshitters.
"Oh you want to pretend like you want peace....? Well I can do that just as well as you while assassinating your generals in Moscow, destroying your fleet in the Black and Caspian Seas and making you look like a giant asshole as I use a wheelbarrow for my enormous nuts as I go to the frontline in Kupyansk ...a city you claimed to control..." - signed President Zelenskyy
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https://english.nv.ua/russian-war/z...ot-abandon-nato-membership-goal-50570989.html"
December 24, 2025, 06:45 AM
Zelenskyy says Ukraine will not abandon its bid to join NATO
Zelenskyy stresses Ukraine will not agree to renounce NATO membership (Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is not abandoning its goal of joining NATO, according to Interfax-Ukraine.
Speaking with journalists, Zelenskyy said any agreement to end the war would involve the United States, Ukraine, Europe, and Russia. At the same time, he stressed that Ukraine’s accession to NATO depends on the decision of the Alliance’s member states.
“This is an agreement among the parties: America, Ukraine, Europe, and Russia. In our view, it is the choice of NATO members whether Ukraine joins or not. And our choice has already been made,” Zelenskyy said.
He emphasized that Ukraine does not agree to demands to renounce NATO membership that were included in an earlier U.S. peace plan consisting of 28 points.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine has developed strong arguments on the issue.
“They want to negotiate separately, NATO and Russia, about the future. I believe that within these separate arrangements they will raise the issue of Ukraine’s NATO membership,” he said. “But this would still be an agreement between others, not ours. And I think this is critically important for Ukraine’s future.”
On Dec. 15, Zelenskyy said Ukraine could consider giving up NATO membership only in exchange for security guarantees similar to Article 5 of the Alliance from the United States and European partners.
Article 5 of the NATO Charter, known as the 1949 Washington Treaty, enshrines the principle of collective defense. It states that an attack against one or more NATO members is considered an attack against all, obliging each member to assist the attacked ally, including through the use of armed force if necessary, to restore and maintain security.
On Dec. 18, Zelenskyy said he does not believe Ukraine needs to amend its Constitution regarding its course toward NATO membership, adding that such a decision should be made by the Ukrainian people.
Earlier, Axios, citing a senior U.S. official, reported that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is prepared to offer Ukraine legally binding security guarantees modeled on NATO’s Article 5.
"
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Ukraine claims that hundreds of drones and missiles were intercepted, yet visible damage, power outages, and infrastructure disruption still occurred. So, what actually happened, and how can both statements be true at the same time?
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ISW - 23 December 2025
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Russia conducted another large-scale combined missile and drone strike against Ukraine overnight on December 22 and 23, primarily targeting energy infrastructure in western Ukraine. *
- Russian forces conducted a reduced battalion-sized mechanized assault in the Dobropillya direction, and a reduced-platoon sized mechanized assault in the Kostyantynivka direction on December 22.
- Russian forces recently advanced near Pokrovsk and in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.
- Scale of Attack: Ukrainian officials reported Russia launched 673 aerial targets, including 38 missiles and 635 drones. Ukrainian air defenses claimed to have downed 34 cruise missiles and 587 drones.
- Primary Targets: The strikes focused heavily on energy infrastructure, particularly in western Ukraine, triggering widespread emergency power cuts.
- Civilian Impact: At least three people were killed, and dozens were injured across 13 regions.
- International Response: Poland and allied NATO forces scrambled fighter jets to protect Polish airspace as strikes occurred near the border.
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Ukrainian Army size, December 2025: Approximately 900,000 troops are currently serving in an active capacity.
Ukrainian Army killed, December 2025: Estimated range - 140,000.
Russian Army size, December 2025: Approximately 1,320,000 troops are currently serving in an active capacity.
Russian Army killed, December 2025: Estimated range - 345,260.
Ukrainian Army killed, December 2025: Estimated range - 140,000.
Russian Army size, December 2025: Approximately 1,320,000 troops are currently serving in an active capacity.
Russian Army killed, December 2025: Estimated range - 345,260.
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Let's pretend this is accurate (it's quite plausible), why is Russia attacking with 1.32M troops to 0.9M troops given the common 3-1 attacking-to-defensive force ratio that's necessary to overcome fortified defensive positions? Simple math dictates/necessitates that Russia needs at least 2.7M. Why can't Russia come up with such a small number despite being such a large country?
Would you say the current drone warfare has made the attacking-to-defensive force ratio lower or higher? Common sense dictates that it's now even lower like 5-1 or even 10-1. What is Russia hoping to accomplish with such small troop numbers for their relative goals? Now you can have a granny kilometers away taking out a Russian soldier with a drone.
I posed this same question to Google and this is what its AI provided:
"
AI Overview
Drone warfare has likely made the traditional 3:1 attacking-to-defensive force ratio
lower, or even irrelevant in some contexts, by enabling smaller, less-resourced forces to achieve disproportionate effects against larger adversaries.
The 3:1 ratio is a historical rule of thumb, not a fixed law, which suggests an attacking force generally needs a three-to-one numerical advantage to overcome a dug-in defender. Drone technology challenges this traditional dynamic in several ways:
- Cost Imbalance: Inexpensive, commercially available drones can effectively destroy high-value military equipment like tanks and artillery systems that cost millions of dollars, allowing a financially constrained force to inflict significant damage with fewer resources.
- Enhanced Intelligence and Precision: Drones provide continuous, real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), which allows for highly accurate and timely targeting of enemy positions, logistics, and command centers. This precision reduces the need for massed forces to ensure success.
- Force Multiplication: Drones act as a significant force multiplier for infantry, armor, and artillery units, enabling existing forces to be far more lethal and efficient. For example, pairing drones with artillery makes fire support lethally accurate, allowing a smaller force to achieve effects previously requiring much larger numbers.
- Asymmetric Advantage: Drones have been a game-changer for weaker or non-state actors, allowing them to use unconventional strategies to avoid conventional engagements with a superior force and minimize risk to their personnel.
- Decentralized Warfare: The future of conflict is shifting towards more decentralized, digitally driven campaigns, where the decisive factor is not merely the number of forces, but the ability to rapidly adapt, scale drone deployment, and integrate data and AI. "
Are you going to admit you were mistaken about me not having you on 'ignore'?
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Some of the best allies Ukraine have are the Russian Generals who just feed meat into the grinder.
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Seversk lasted 41 months! So it's hardly some huge success for the Russians.
Ukrainians shot down 34/35 cruise missiles and all but 50 or so drones from 678 drones. Ballistic missiles are the hardest so far to shoot down without a supply of Patriot or other similar systems.
Ukraine has now built up new defense lines. 21 lines of barbed wire, several anti tank ditches, dragon teeth, etc...
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Typical Nazi Russophobe.
I'm not fat anymore. There's a couple of videos where I'm fat but I literally have six-pack abs now because I lost 40 lbs and put on muscle since my ChessJitsu exhibition match video:
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There's a huge difference in answers you get from American AI engines and Chinese AI engines in regards to Russia/Ukraine topics.
With Google AI it's largely driven by ISW content and stuff.
With Chinese AI it funnels information from larger array of publications.
You can't just keep living in one information space.
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