If so, it confirms one item I've brought up in many public-facing pieces, which is that the Trump administration has emphasized the peace process because of its value to distracting the American public (pr benefitting them in light of other less popular policies). This doesn't lead to peace.

Russia's assault on women's reproductive rights is steamrolling ahead as lawmakers draft legislation requiring abortion-seekers to notify their husbands (and sometimes even ex-husbands) before terminating a pregnancy. Demographic panic becomes repressive insanity. sozd.duma.gov.ru/bill/1101102-8

While Ukraine apparently receives security assurances from Europe and the US should a ceasefire ever be agreed to, Russian strikes target major Ukrainian cities, from residential units to the energy sector, on some of the coldest nights of the year.

Getting closer and closer to release date!

Leaked consultant's report at Queen's University points to a push to massively downsize the humanities and social sciences as well as the eradication of disciplinary based departments. I wouldn't be surprised if my university has the same consultants. www.queensjournal.ca/leaked-consu...

And we're back to this demand. Remember, Putin made this demand earlier this year. Of course, don't have to add that Russia has frequently delegimitized Zelenskyy as leader of Ukraine and we shouldn't put much in Ushakov's claim that Zelenskyy would be safe.

Getting closer and closer to release date!

All I'll add is given current domestic politics in the US and how Trump values his claim of being a "Peace President", that may explain the renewed focus and pressure for a peace deal re: Russia's War in Ukraine, no matter the cost.

Additionally follow up: apparently US security guarantees are tied to Ukrainian territorial concessions to Russia: www.ft.com/content/8ca0...

My Iranian colleague at work says the figures being discussed on the ground are over 30,000

I'll repost my piece in light of news re: UAE peace talks. Until a treaty is drawn up and signatures are on the doc, followed by ratification by all parties, nothing has changed. Russia has not changed it's tact. There are reports of private shifts. Believe it when you see it.

Spoke to folks in Kharkiv and Kyiv - people are freezing to death while being bombed daily for hours. It’s a humanitarian crisis. Tweets of “how incredibly strong Ukrainians are” and “prayers” aren’t enough. They need help. Now.

Russian forces continue to terror bomb Ukraine, attacking energy and civilian targets, hoping to freeze Ukrainians to get capitulation. Similar tactics were used by the Soviets. To try and force Finland out of the war, USSR dropped 2 300 tonnes of bombs on Helsinki in Feb. 1944. Replaying WW2 cont'd

Pleased to see Replaying the Second World War in the Spring 2026 @columbiaup.bsky.social catalogue. Soon to be out!

some people love quoting "the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must." That was Athens saying that at the height of its empire. Few of those people seem to remember what happened to Athens the very next year.

Pleased to see Replaying the Second World War in the Spring 2026 @columbiaup.bsky.social catalogue. Soon to be out!

Ukraine and the Coalition of the Willing highlight again their willingness to support Ukraine should a peace agreement occur. That said, Russia has consistently stated any peace agreement could not see troops of NATO nations involved in peacekeeping. (1/n)

yes, humiliating for russia, but also consistent with the spheres of influence approach that putin wants (him, xi, and trump can do what they want in their respective zones)

russian war bloggers on telegram are very mad right now, but I suspect it's mostly because russia tried to do the exact same thing in the opening phase of the invasion (see Battle of Hostomel Airport) and failed miserably

Russian Foreign Ministry statement is out and is extremely soft, calls for “prevention of further escalation and to focus on finding a way to advance through dialogue”.

Another night, another Russian attack on Ukrainian civilians. Every time I'm reminded of a peer review of my forthcoming book where it argued I could not state Rus was targeting civilians. That was 2 years ago. Russia keeps doing it; we cannot afford to ignore it. kyivindependent.com/russian-atta...

In a piece of news no one should be surprised by, US intel says Ukraine did not target Putin's house: www.wsj.com/politics/nat...

Happy New Year. Here's hoping 2026 is everything you want it to be and more.

In a piece of news no one should be surprised by, US intel says Ukraine did not target Putin's house: www.wsj.com/politics/nat...

Lavrov threatens Zelenskyy and tells him he'll need to stay in hiding and he is scuttling peace talks. Rus. forces have attempted to kill Zelenskyy multiple times since Feb 2022. And Russia is trying now to ensure Trump only supports the Russian position, preventing further meetings with Zelenskyy.

Noticing a rise in Russian bot accounts on X that are claiming Ukraine is "not a real nation," here is my piece written in March 2022 pushing back of Russia's narrative regarding Ukraine. Use as necessary: activehistory.ca/blog/2022/03...

Lavrov threatens Zelenskyy and tells him he'll need to stay in hiding and he is scuttling peace talks. Rus. forces have attempted to kill Zelenskyy multiple times since Feb 2022. And Russia is trying now to ensure Trump only supports the Russian position, preventing further meetings with Zelenskyy.

Convenient timing. Russia claims Ukraine has attacked Putin's residence. Russian sources claim Trump was shocked "and that it would inform how the US acted going forward" when informed. tass.ru/politika/260...

Why is this important? If the onus is on "Ukraine can't do anything aggressive or security guarantees go bye bye" (esp. as in original peace proposal), this is how easy Russia can manipulate it. One phone call can end Ukraine's protections. Russia can claim what it wants and prevent investigation.

The Russians have tried to assassinate Zelensky many times. Never seems to have bothered Trump.

Why is this important? If the onus is on "Ukraine can't do anything aggressive or security guarantees go bye bye" (esp. as in original peace proposal), this is how easy Russia can manipulate it. One phone call can end Ukraine's protections. Russia can claim what it wants and prevent investigation.

Convenient timing. Russia claims Ukraine has attacked Putin's residence. Russian sources claim Trump was shocked "and that it would inform how the US acted going forward" when informed. tass.ru/politika/260...

Zelenskyy continues to engage in this peace process in hopes the Trump admin realizes Putin is not serious. Trump meanwhile only sounds confident when repeating the standard Trump talking points.

"Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed" Trump says when responding to Russia helping rebuild Ukraine. How magnanimous of him. Just like how Russia "rebuilt" Mariupol and Russifies it.

Trump had another call with Putin before meeting with Zelenskyy. If past events are a guide, Trump is likely to push a more Russian-favourable position. Putin often uses these calls to press Trump to see his side and disadvantage Ukraine. See my piece from Oct: theconversation.com/trump-and-pu...

Zelenskyy continues to engage in this peace process in hopes the Trump admin realizes Putin is not serious. Trump meanwhile only sounds confident when repeating the standard Trump talking points.

"Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed" Trump says when responding to Russia helping rebuild Ukraine. How magnanimous of him. Just like how Russia "rebuilt" Mariupol and Russifies it.

Trump had another call with Putin before meeting with Zelenskyy. If past events are a guide, Trump is likely to push a more Russian-favourable position. Putin often uses these calls to press Trump to see his side and disadvantage Ukraine. See my piece from Oct: theconversation.com/trump-and-pu...

Hearing of the forthcoming Zelenskyy-Trump meeting on Sunday re: peace leads me to make clear that until signatures are on treaties, Putin and Zelenskyy meet, and any guarantees are ratified, nothing is certain. I still doubt Russia will agree to much of this plan.

Hearing of the forthcoming Zelenskyy-Trump meeting on Sunday re: peace leads me to make clear that until signatures are on treaties, Putin and Zelenskyy meet, and any guarantees are ratified, nothing is certain. I still doubt Russia will agree to much of this plan.

I still look forward to seeing some IR scholars and some on the extremes of Western politics nonetheless ignore these documents and focus on overdetermining promises from the early 1990s. And continuing to publish these arguments in analytically poor books.

this is the simple answer to people who keep saying NATO expansion matters. Sure, it matters because it presented an obstacle to Russian imperial ambitions. Putin didn't invade because he hated NATO expansion, he hated NATO expansion because he wanted to invade

The rebuilding of Russified Mariupol continues: www.cbc.ca/news/world/m...

Christmas came early to the Russia scholars with Santa declassifying the Bush-Putin meeting transcripts. That's 2001. Ukraine is Russian land, simply given away for no reason, as if USSR had not collapsed and there was no Ukraine independence referendum. And, long before the 2008 Bucharest Summit

The work of the Lemkin Center helped me highlight many of the points I made in my forthcoming book. I look forward to supporting this continued work.

Out in early 2026!

Excellent news that the Pilecki Institute and Mieroszewski Centre, through the new Lemkin Laboratory, are committing to make 🇵🇱 a home to research on Russian war crimes. When the media attention disappears elsewhere, we will still be working.

NEW: False reports are likely shaping Russian President Vladimir Putin’s understanding of the battlefield situation. Read the full Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 22, 2025: isw.pub/UkrWar122225 More Key Takeaways ⬇️ (1/5)

Allow me to just relink my piece on what Russia really is doing in the US-led hope for peace in Ukraine: theconversation.com/trump-and-pu...

I really wish for peace for Ukraine, but until the US realizes that Putin has no desire for legitimate peace, we'll keep drawing this process out and Zelenskyy has no choice but to engage in hopes of keeping the US involved in the conflict, hopefully on Ukraine's side.