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Padmashree Anandhan
21 November 2025 |
What happened this week?
1. Trump’s 28-point peace plan
On 20 November, US President Donald Trump’s 28-point peace plan draft was discussed among Ukraine, Russia and Europe officials. The plan requires Ukraine to cede its Donbas territory, including the area controlled by Ukraine. It demands that Ukraine restrict its military to 600,000 troops and forgo its NATO membership efforts in exchange for US security guarantees and economic reconstruction aid. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated it's a US vision rather than a final deal. The plan also includes Russia’s reintegration into global institutions and outlines recognition of Russian Russian-controlled Crimean region and establishment of a demilitarised buffer zone. It calls for an election and proposes a long-term US-Russia cooperation with implementation monitored by the Trump-led Peace Council.
2. War on the ground in Ukraine
On 20 November, a Ukrainian military official reported Russian drone (470) and missile (48) strikes across western Ukraine, resulting in 26 fatalities and nearly 100 injuries. On 14 November, Ukraine's military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, emphasised that despite the increased attacks from Russia's Rubicon drone unit, the city was not encircled. Zelenskyy also expressed he would back commanders if a withdrawal became necessary to save soldiers' lives and visited forces near Orikhiv, describing the circumstances there as “one of the most challenging.” On 19 November, a missile strike in Kharkiv injured at least 32, marking the third attack on the region within three days, as Russian efforts to damage Ukraine’s energy infrastructure intensified.
3. Responses from Europe
European leaders sharply criticised Trump’s new cease-fire proposal, arguing it heavily favours Russia and would reward aggression while undermining Europe’s security. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas criticised, any viable peace deal must be backed by both Kyiv and Europe. European diplomats caution that conceding to the Kremlin would embolden Russia to threaten not just Ukraine but also EU and NATO states. Germany’s Friedrich Merz vowed to push for a coordinated European response that keeps Ukraine’s interests central.
What are the issues?
1. Trump’s new peace plan for Ukraine
Since his presidency began, his relationship with Zelenskyy has been quite intense, aside from the most recent interactions. Trump has gone from blaming Ukraine for dragging the war out to some notable confrontations in the Oval Office. He’s been pretty hesitant about providing military and political support to Ukraine. However, following the minerals deal and the gradual coming together of EU leaders, he softened his stance. He transitioned from cutting off military aid to promising security guarantees and delivering Patriot missiles. In August, Trump and Putin’s first meeting since the war did not succeed in ending the Russian aggression against Ukraine, but the current peace plan seems to have sided in favour of Russia.
2. Russia’s domination of the skies
Russia’s growing dominance of the skies stems from its ability to combine mass drone swarms, long-range “Shahed”-type UAVs, upgraded glide bombs and coordinated missile–drone saturation strikes that routinely exhaust Ukraine’s depleted air-defence systems. Simultaneously, Russia’s surveillance drones are used tactically to disrupt rear-area supply routes and destroy Ukrainian armour before it reaches the front, creating a form of persistent aerial interdiction that Ukraine cannot match. This approach of high-volume aerial attacks gives Russia a decisive advantage, supports its ground advances, and steadily degrades Ukraine’s ability to manoeuvre.
3. Fighting over Pokrovsk city
Pokrovsk has emerged as one of the most volatile fronts in eastern Ukraine, where Russia is applying multi-axis pressure. This includes eroding Ukrainian defences and gaining tactical footholds across several districts. Several analysts from the West report Russian troops to be appearing “in every district.” Whereas, the Ukrainian commander confirmed the direct presence but stressed that it was not encircled and that the front remains dynamic for vital supplies and evacuation. For Russia, Pokrovsk is a strategic location as it serves as the “gateway to Donetsk.” This means, capturing the city could help deeper Russian advances and challenge Ukraine to resist and adapt its counter-offensive.
About the author
Padmashree Anandhan is a Project Associate at NIAS.
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