Donbas (Ukraine)

• Another New Year at War: Ukraine’s Troops Doubt It Will Be the Last - After a year of Russian advances, the goal for 2026 is simply to survive, said one officer in eastern Ukraine. “It’s hard to make any plans,” he said.
• Zelensky to Meet With Trump at Mar-a-Lago About Plan to End War With Russia - President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine brings a revised 20-point peace proposal, as well as doubts about whether Russia is serious about pursuing peace.
• Battlefield Picture Worsening for Ukraine as Trump Pushes Peace Plan - Russian forces have advanced on several fronts recently. President Vladimir V. Putin signaled after talks with U.S. officials that he was not budging from demands.
• Putin to Meet With Trump’s Envoy as U.S. Pushes for Ukraine Deal - In Moscow, Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy, is expected to present President Vladimir V. Putin with a revised proposal to end the war in Ukraine.
• South Africans Were Promised Job, but Ended Up ‘Going to War’ for Russia - The South African government is investigating how more than a dozen men unwittingly ended up on the front line in Russia’s war on Ukraine.