Ukraine: The Latest Russia: Trump has ‘promised us Ukrainian territory’
Dec 17, 2025
Dominic Nicholls, Associate Editor of Defence at The Telegraph with extensive military insight, joins Michael Weiss, Editor of The Insider specializing in Russian intelligence. They discuss the recent drone strikes in Russia, including the intriguing incident involving a damaged submarine. Weiss reveals insights into U.S. foreign policy chaos around Ukraine, while Nicholls emphasizes Russia's continuous portrayal of the West as a threat. The conversation also touches on the complexities of Europe's debate over frozen Russian assets and the role of Ukraine's political maneuvering.
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Moscow Claims West Promised Ukrainian Land
- Russia frames any US-European peace plan as proof the West promised Ukrainian territory to Moscow.
- Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin outlets push this narrative to delegitimise concessions and rally domestic support.
Frozen Russian Assets Divide Europe
- EU leaders face a knife-edge decision on using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine via a reparations-style loan.
- Belgium's legal and financial hesitancy plus US commercial aims complicate any immediate transfer for Kyiv.
Europe's Military Aid Is Falling Fast
- European military assistance has fallen sharply in 2025, risking a capability gap if US support drops.
- The Kiel Institute tracker shows Europe allocated only €4.2bn in new military aid, far below earlier levels.