Day 1,391.

Today, we assess what some are calling a “breakthrough” in talks between Europe, Ukraine, and the United States, after reports that Washington is offering Kyiv security guarantees equivalent to NATO’s Article 5. But is the proposal all it appears to be – and would Vladimir Putin ever accept it? We then report a first in military history: the sinking of a submarine in port by a drone, before examining internal pressures within Russian society, and reflecting on what Moscow has done to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, reopening its destroyed theatre with a performance many see as shockingly insensitive.

Contributors

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

Roland Oliphant (Chief Foreign Analyst). @RolandOliphant on X.

James Kilner (Russian Analyst). @jkjourno on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

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:

US tells Ukraine: Take our ‘platinum’ security guarantees or lose them (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/15/germany-witkoff-and-kushner-far-from-ideal-negotiators/

Ukraine ‘blows up £300m Russian submarine’ with underwater drones (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/15/ukraine-blows-up-300m-russian-submarine-underwater-drones/

The bedroom farce at the centre of a Russian war-crime propaganda plot (Roland Oliphant on Maruipol in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/11/mariupol-theatre-putin-ukraine-plans/

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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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