At a time when Russia is relentlessly pounding Kyiv, Odesa, and numerous Ukrainian cities, destroying ammunition dumps, fuel depots, and a series of critical logistics hubs, many Ukrainian lawmakers argue that during their recent visit, American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner conveyed a message of surrender to President Volodymyr Zelensky. In fact, Ukrainian MPs are speaking of "terms of capitulation," implying that the American side asked Kyiv to recognize the territories seized by Russian forces as Russian, and furthermore, to include a corresponding provision in the Constitution of Ukraine. These claims have certainly not been confirmed by either Kyiv or Moscow, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently characterized related statements as mere speculation. And while Ukrainians see the end of the war approaching through capitulation, figures in Russia emphasize that there is no reason to rush, as the Russian military continues its battlefield advances. Causing particular astonishment is a report by the British newspaper The Telegraph, which claims that British SAS special forces veterans trained Russians for the war against Ukraine.
Terms of surrender
In Ukraine, reports surfaced that special envoys of Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, may have delivered "terms of capitulation" to Kyiv. This statement was made by Verkhovna Rada MP Dmytro Mikisha. His colleague, Anna Skorokhod, had also previously claimed that the American negotiators proposed harsher terms for a peace deal compared to those previously discussed.
Capitulation
The special envoys of the US President, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, may have delivered "terms of capitulation" to Ukraine. This was stated by Verkhovna Rada MP Dmytro Mikisha during an appearance on the YouTube channel "Superposition." "All points pertaining to capitulation re-emerged. What they presented cannot be characterized otherwise. And this coincided in time, in a very distinct manner, with the arrival of Kushner and Witkoff in Ukraine. Consequently, we can assume that these specific gentlemen presented precisely these points," the Ukrainian lawmaker stated. Following these developments, the politician questioned what subjects Kyiv could possibly discuss with Washington moving forward.
Recognition of territories... as Russian
Mikisha is not the first to make such statements. Earlier, MP Anna Skorokhod stated that Trump's representatives in Kyiv had proposed more disadvantageous terms for a peace agreement compared to those previously debated. According to her, Ukraine was initially not required to recognize the lost territories as Russian. However, Moscow now allegedly considers it necessary to embed this condition into the country's constitutional framework. "There are still certain details that I do not wish to make public, as the information was acquired informally," Skorokhod added.
Tired of fighting
US President Donald Trump also spoke regarding the settlement of the conflict. He did not comment on the outcome of his representatives' visits to Moscow and Kyiv, but he revealed what he considers the primary issue at the present stage. "The delay is caused by two people who hate each other... I know about deals, and these two people are simply tired of fighting," the head of the White House stated, referring to the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump also spoke about his communication with the Russian leader and left open the possibility of holding a personal meeting with Putin in the future. The White House chief did not rule out the prospect of trilateral negotiations.
What do they say in Russia?
The deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Alexey Chepa, stated in a conversation with Gazeta.Ru that such contacts could take place in Abu Dhabi in the coming months, by the end of 2026. "I think everything here depends on the activity shown by those directing Zelensky — the European leaders, who were also present at the meeting in Kyiv. They are trying to push their own agenda. We are ready for trilateral talks," the lawmaker noted.
Positive points
In general, within Russia, the outcomes of the recent visit by American negotiators to Moscow and Kyiv are evaluated more positively than in Ukraine. The first deputy chairwoman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Svetlana Zhurova, emphasized that the Russian and American sides are currently "on the path" toward resolving the conflict. "There are, of course, positive elements. Trump is trying to exert pressure on Ukraine. There are talks taking place at such a high level. We have a complete picture of how we should act and what we need for the definitive resolution of this geopolitical conflict," Zhurova highlighted.
Relying on our own forces
For his part, the advisor to the President of Russia, Nikolai Patrushev, pointed out that Washington can indeed influence the settlement of the conflict; however, according to him, it is hindered by European leadership, which "has no interest in peace whatsoever." Furthermore, the United States is also hampered by its internal contradictions. For this reason, according to Patrushev, Russia has no choice but "to rely solely on its own forces."
Seeking a compromise
Russia's corresponding, but far stronger, response to Volodymyr Zelensky's 40-day campaign forced Kyiv to seek a compromise. However, Moscow does not need one at this time, points out Russian war correspondent Alexander Kots, who emphasizes that the situation for Ukraine is deteriorating daily, while the Ukrainian armed forces are incapable of inflicting damage of equivalent scale on Russia. "Zelensky suddenly started talking about some sort of compromise. Just in June, he was threatening Russia with a 40-day operation to force peace, and suddenly he lowered his tone. He says Ukraine is ready to seek a compromise with Russia regarding strikes on energy infrastructure and grain exports. We never proposed any compromise either on energy or on grain exports," Kots notes.
Russia cut Ukraine off from the sea
He adds that compromises should be pursued by parties when both have reached a dead end and neither can gain an advantage over the other. However, according to him, no such strategic parity exists between Russia and Ukraine. Elaborating on his thought, he notes that Russia has cut Ukraine off from the sea, depriving it of revenue from grain exports and mineral shipments. In addition, Russian troops are daily striking energy infrastructure, supply networks, and facilities of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. Meanwhile, the heating season is also approaching. "It is clear that the adversary retaliates, but they are unable to inflict equivalent damage on us. That is why Zelensky is now forced to ask for a compromise. In my view, we need absolutely no compromise right now; it does not correspond to the historical context," the war correspondent emphasizes.
The Telegraph: SAS special forces veterans train Russians for the war in Ukraine
Veterans of the British armed forces' special unit, the SAS, are training Russians in conducting military operations in Ukraine, reports British newspaper The Telegraph, citing an internal intelligence memo. The report notes that Western military veterans were recruited to train both Russian civilians and active-duty military personnel. The Telegraph obtained a copy of a memorandum prepared for the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), based on interviews with two former members of the Australian special forces and one active reservist. They claim they were offered employment as instructors at training camps in Bulgaria and Serbia, where Russian clients were allegedly present.
Training in northern Bulgaria
The memorandum states that at the camp in Medzheni, northern Bulgaria, which is operated by the military training company Alfa-Metal, instructors from diverse professional backgrounds are employed, including veterans from the SAS, the Australian Commando Regiment, US law enforcement, and the US Navy SEALs. At the same time, it is highlighted that the Alfa-Metal center offers special forces courses and advanced sniper training, costing approximately 4,000 euros per person. The programs target potential employees of private military companies, bodyguards, and corporate security personnel. However, the intelligence note mentions that since 2022, when Moscow launched its military operation in Ukraine, private training camps in Europe continue to accept Russian citizens into training modules, including advanced hand-to-hand combat. Special forces veterans interviewed during information gathering about the camp stated that current employees told them the center continued to train Russian citizens up until 2025, the newspaper claims. The Telegraph notes, however, that Alfa-Metal itself denied training Russian citizens at the training camps owned by the company.
Economist: Only 2 options remain for Ukrainians
With stockpiles of PAC-3 interceptors for Patriot air defense systems nearly depleted, Kyiv now has only two courses of action remaining, the Economist points out. The report notes that the situation for Ukraine is complicated by jet-powered Russian unmanned aerial vehicles, ballistic missiles—production of which has increased to 100 units per month—as well as the shortage of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems. Meanwhile, the Freja missile defense system is not yet ready for operational deployment and may acquire some operational capability only by 2028. "At this moment, Ukraine is left with only two options. The first is to reinforce and conceal infrastructure and industrial facilities while securing an adequate supply of spare parts. The second is the so-called 'left-of-launch' strategy, which aims to reduce the number of missiles available to Russia," stresses the Economist. The publication notes that Ukrainian forces could target missile launchers. However, this is a difficult task, and even the United States, in the war in Iran, faces difficulties destroying mobile launchers, journalists highlighted. For this reason, Matthew Bint from the International Institute for Strategic Studies called on Kyiv to turn its attention to Russian missile manufacturing factories and attempt to strike them.
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