The Monocle Daily

Are the US and Russia secretly working on a peace plan without Ukraine?

9 snips
Nov 19, 2025
Tira Schubart, a journalist focused on space and geopolitics, and Phil Tinline, a documentary maker and author, dive into the intriguing prospect of a clandestine US-Russia peace plan about Ukraine. They explore the possibility of leaks aimed at shifting blame onto Ukraine, discuss necessary security guarantees for the nation, and evaluate potential territorial concessions. The conversation shifts to the G20, addressing Trump's absence and the implications for global cultural dynamics, before wrapping up with insights on Europe's urgent need for independent space capabilities.
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INSIGHT

Back-Channel Peace Plans Exclude Ukraine

  • Reported US–Russia 28-point plan sidelines Ukraine and omits Kyiv from talks.
  • Phil Tinline says such talks reflect one-sided bargaining that ignores Ukrainian consent.
INSIGHT

Diplomacy Amid Ongoing Attacks

  • Tira Schubart stresses heavy Russian strikes continued as diplomacy allegedly proceeded.
  • She notes Trump seeks a Nobel-style peace legacy after mediation claims on Gaza.
INSIGHT

Ukrainian Resolve Limits Concessions

  • Ukraine's public and politicians are unlikely to accept ceding Donbass or halving forces.
  • Tira and Andrew note NATO membership and national resolve drive resistance to territorial concessions.
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