European Responses and Merz's Warning

Day 1,387.

Today, as Russia attempts to convince the world – or at least Donald Trump – that they are inexorably taking territory, President Zelensky has visited the north-east city of Kupiansk, which has been recently liberated in a rapid recapture of ground. The head of NATO warns that the West faces the prospect of war with Russia on a scale not seen since the days of “our grandparents and great-grandparents” and we examine the latest diplomatic manoeuvres ahead of tomorrow’s meeting in Paris, where the question of territorial concessions will be front and centre. And later, Francis catches up with Ada Wordsworth of KHARPP to hear how your donations to her charity in Kharkiv, made in David Knowles’s memory, are helping vulnerable people this Christmas.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

With thanks to Ada Wordsworth (co-founder of the KHARPP charity)

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Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

KHARPP Charity Website:

https://kharpp.com/

KHARPP Fundraiser for David Knowles:

https://donorbox.org/kharpp-fundraiser-in-memory-of-david-knowles 

Nato chief: Prepare for war with Russia

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/11/nato-chief-prepare-for-war-with-russia/ 

Disrupting Russian Air Defence Production: Reclaiming the Sky https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/research-papers/disrupting-russian-air-defence-production-reclaiming-sky

The decorated marine tipped to be Labour’s next leader https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/12/12/al-carns-labour-next-leader-marine-armed-forces-minister/ 

Listen to Dom interview Al Carns on Battle Lines: https://linktr.ee/BattleLines

Head of US army cut out of Ukraine talks by paranoid Hegseth

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/12/12/pentagon-golden-boy-hegseth-dan-driscoll/

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The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

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