A copy of the peace proposal given to the U.S. by Ukrainian and European officials earlier this week includes “robust security guarantees” including from Washington, and no talks on territorial concessions until a “full and unconditional ceasefire in the sky, on land and at sea” has been implemented, Reuters reported on April 25.

The document, reprinted in full by the news outlet, contains numerous points that show the diverging viewpoints of the U.S. on one side, and Ukraine and its European allies on the other as they seek to end Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The Trump administration has so far refused to offer Kyiv any security guarantees, but the Ukrainian proposal calls for an “Article 5-like agreement” backed by the U.S. while NATO membership for Kyiv remains off the table.

Earlier this week it was reported the U.S. could give de jure recognition to Russia’s control over occupied Crimea, but the Ukrainian and European proposal insists that “territorial issues will be discussed and resolved after a full and unconditional ceasefire.”

Reuters published details of the U.S. plan, confirming earlier reports and revealing key disagreements with Ukrainian and European positions.

The proposal also demands that sanctions on Russia only be eased after a “sustainable peace” has been achieved, a move the White House is reportedly considering implementing even before a peace deal has been agreed on.

Other points call for the “return (of) all deported and illegally displaced Ukrainian children,” the implementation of the minerals deal, and that Ukraine “will be fully reconstructed and compensated financially,” including through the use of Russia’s frozen assets.

Washington’s allies have been voicing growing alarm over the Trump administration’s proposed framework to end the war in Ukraine, which would allow Russia to retain seized Ukrainian territory.

Multiple diplomatic sources told CNN that officials in Europe and Asia are bracing for the outcome of renewed U.S.-Russia talks and fear the plan sends a dangerous message.

“If one country in Europe is forced to give up parts of its legal territory… no country in Europe or elsewhere can feel safe, NATO or no NATO,” one diplomat told CNN.

In high-level meetings held in London on April 23, U.S., European, and Ukrainian officials reportedly made progress in narrowing differences.

U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg called the talks “candid, positive and productive.” At the same time, a European official said negotiators had “managed to convince the Ukrainians to convince themselves to get in a more U.S. administration-friendly position.”

Still, the core issue — territorial concessions — remains fraught. A German official acknowledged that “the Ukrainians are coming around,” but emphasized they “have red lines they cannot cross.”

Germany is weighing a massive defense procurement plan worth up to 25 billion euros ($29.4 billion) to supply thousands of combat vehicles for NATO’s expanding force structure, Bloomberg reported on July 4, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

The proposed purchases are part of a broader pan-European effort to boost deterrence against Russia, as Western leaders warn of the growing risk of a large-scale war within five years.

Berlin is reportedly considering purchasing up to 2,500 GTK Boxer armored vehicles and up to 1,000 Leopard 2 battle tanks. The purchase would equip up to seven new brigades that Germany has pledged to form under NATO’s force generation plans for the next decade.

The Leopard 2 tanks are produced by KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall, while the Boxer is made by ARTEC, a joint venture of the same companies. Leopard 2 tanks have been supplied to Ukraine and tested in combat.

Final pricing and quantities are still under negotiation, and the projected cost could fall below 25 billion euros ($29.4 billion) depending on procurement timelines and contract terms.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and top Bundeswehr officials are reviewing the plans, with legislative approval expected by the end of the year, Bloomberg reported.

Germany has faced pressure from NATO and Washington to meet its alliance commitments, including the newly adopted pledge to spend at least 5% of GDP on defense by 2035.

The initiative, endorsed on June 25 at the NATO summit, reflects concern over Russia’s wartime economy, military buildup, and destabilization efforts across Europe.

Ukraine plans to import about 3.5 billion cubic meters of gas for the upcoming heating season due to ongoing Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, Bloomberg reported on March 4.

Recent Russian missile and drone strikes have significantly reduced Ukraine’s gas production capacity, forcing the country to rely more heavily on imports to meet domestic demand. Damage to infrastructure has caused production drops of up to 40% at times.

“We are waiting for a final approval of the balance, which will define the projected volume of consumption, extraction, and imports of gas,” Roman Chumak, acting CEO of Ukraine’s state-owned oil and gas company Naftogaz, told Bloomberg.

The country’s gas buying plans come amid a volatile market marked by high competition and elevated prices due to Europe’s need to replenish low gas inventories.

In February, Ukraine imported 560 million cubic meters of gas from Europe, compared to just 700 million cubic meters for the entire previous heating season, Bloomberg reported, citing estimates from Kyiv-based Dragon Capital.

Due to Russian strikes and extreme cold in February, Ukraine’s gas production sharply declined, leading Naftogaz to urgently purchase significant amounts of natural gas from the European Union to meet critical heating demands.

Tensions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump could potentially weaken Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian attacks, raising concerns about energy security, according to Bloomberg.

Naftogaz and Ukrainian energy company DTEK confirmed to Reuters that Russian forces attacked and damaged their facilities twice in February.

At the start of 2025, Ukraine halted its agreement with Russia to transport Russian gas to European customers through its pipelines, as the deal expired at the end of 2024 and was not renewed.

01 August 2025 12:10

At least four oil tankers carrying Russian crude are currently idling off India’s western coast, drawing renewed attention to the country’s energy trade with Moscow as Washington and Brussels increase pressure over the purchases.

According to ship-tracking data, cited by Bloomberg, the Achilles and Elyte are anchored near the port of Jamnagar and were scheduled to offload their cargoes at nearby Sikka on August 2 and 3.

Both vessels, which loaded Urals crude from the Russian ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga in late June, have been sanctioned by both the European Union and the United Kingdom.

India, which now sources over a third of its crude oil from Russia, has faced growing scrutiny in recent weeks, particularly following a new wave of EU sanctions imposed in mid-July. Earlier this week, the Trump administration cited these imports as a key reason for slapping high tariffs on Indian goods and warned of further penalties if purchases of Russian oil continued. In response, the Indian government has instructed domestic refiners to prepare alternative crude sourcing plans and report back.

The Achilles and Elyte are both Aframax-class tankers, capable of carrying about 700,000 barrels of oil each. Sikka port is used by India’s major refiners, including Reliance Industries Ltd. and Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd., though neither company responded to requests for comment.

Two other Aframax tankers, the Destan and Horae, are also loitering further off the Indian coast. Both picked up cargoes of Urals crude between June 24 and July 1.

The Destan, also sanctioned by the EU and UK, is reportedly en route to Sikka in the coming days, while the final destination of the Horae — which is not sanctioned by the EU, UK, or US — remains unknown. Shipping routes for both vessels could still change.

By Tamilla Hasanova

Germany is financing Ukraine’s access to a satellite internet network operated by French company Eutelsat, Reuters reported on April 4, citing Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke.

The service serves as an alternative to tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink, which has played a key role in Ukraine’s battlefield communications.

Eutelsat has been providing high-speed satellite internet services in Ukraine through a German distributor for about a year, with funding from the German government.

Ukraine currently has fewer than 1,000 terminals connecting to Eutelsat’s network, but Berneke said the company aims to increase this to between 5,000 and 10,000 “relatively fast.”

A Eutelsat spokesperson, Joanna Darlington, said discussions are ongoing regarding further funding from Germany and the EU.

Starlink, which provides service to over 50,000 Ukrainian military, medical, and civilian users, has faced uncertainty over continued access.

Concerns have grown after Reuters reported in February that the U.S. threatened to cut the service unless Kyiv agreed to a critical minerals deal.

Tech billionaire and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk denied these claims, and on March 9, claimed that cutting Ukraine off from Starlink would cause the country’s entire front line to collapse.

The dispute escalated after a tense meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb. 28, which led to a temporary halt in U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing as Washington sought to push Kyiv toward peace talks with Moscow.

Eutelsat’s OneWeb network operates using a dual-constellation approach, combining low Earth orbit and geostationary satellites.

The system could provide essential connectivity for Ukraine’s military, including for drone operations. Bloomberg reported on March 6 that Eutelsat is in advanced talks with the EU to potentially replace Starlink in Ukraine.