August 18, 2025, 3:06 am
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Even no deal scenarios can have winners and losers.
The war in Ukraine arguably spans many fronts – from the brutal combat of the front lines to the diplomatic arena.
In this episode, I explore two aspects of the war that are playing out in parallel – the kinetic fight with a look at recent developments including around Pokrovsk, and also the the diplomatic battle with Putin’s trip to Alaska and the upcoming Trump-Zelensky meeting in Washington.
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/c/PerunAU
Reading and Sourcing:
B.H. Liddell Hart – The Ratio of Troops to Space (1960)
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/English-Edition-Archives/January-February-2022/Liddell-Hart-Space-1960/
Interceptor drones episode
Czech ammo initiative aiming to deliver 1.8 million shells in 2025
https://united24media.com/latest-news/czech-initiative-to-deliver-18-million-shells-to-ukraine-by-year-end-10679
Reporting on Ballistic missile interception challenges in Ukraine
https://www.twz.com/land/ukraines-patriots-now-struggling-with-enhanced-russian-ballistic-missiles
Included or relevant reporting:
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250423-zelensky-calls-for-unconditional-ceasefire-after-russian-attack-kills-nine
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5455600-trump-zelensky-russia-peace-deal/
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c707zrrd7xqo
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-tells-zelenskiy-that-putin-wants-more-ukraine-urges-kyiv-make-deal-2025-08-16/
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/energy/oil/russias-gasoline-export-ban-aims-to-stabilize-domestic-market-amid-supply-strain/50968
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-war-trump-zelenskyy-nato-nations-virtual-meeting-trump-putin-summit/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/16/russia-jubilant-putin-alaska-summit-trump-ukraine
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-war-trump-zelenskyy-nato-nations-virtual-meeting-trump-putin-summit/
https://www.politico.eu/article/friedrich-merz-donald-trump-largely-share-europe-position-ukraine-russia-war/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/08/16/ukraine-washington-zelensky-russia-trump/
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/world/europe/russia-ukraine-donbas-land-swap.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-tells-zelenskiy-that-putin-wants-more-ukraine-urges-kyiv-make-deal-2025-08-16/
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/6942
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/us/politics/trump-european-leaders-zelensky-meeting.html
WH fact sheet on US-EU trade deal
https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/07/fact-sheet-the-united-states-and-european-union-reach-massive-trade-deal/
Fox interview preceding summit
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-wont-happy-putin-does-not-agree-ceasefire-ukraine-during-alaska-summit
NATO on 5% spending commitment
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49198.htm
Glide bomb impact images as included
https://x.com/clement_molin/status/1955602501002215650
ISW illustration of pre-war Donetsk population density
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/critical-importance-ukraine%E2%80%99s-fortress-belt-donetsk-oblast
Reporting on Russian glide bomb production
https://defence-ua.com/army_and_war/rusi_pishe_scho_na_2025_rik_rf_planuje_vigotoviti_75_tisjach_kabiv_i_scho_tse_ne_vsi_vikliki_dlja_zsu_po_frontu-18016.html
Reporting on those government papers allegedly found in a printer
https://www.npr.org/2025/08/16/nx-s1-5504196/trump-putin-summit-documents-left-behind
Caveats & Comments:
All normal caveats and comments apply. In particular – I note that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete examination of the topic and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other any other views and/or decisions.
Any content relating to the conduct, views, activities or any aspect of any person or character in this video is included for entertainment purposes and does not represent an assertion of fact on those matters or any matters in relation to that person or character.
Care has been taken in compiling data, quotes, and other inputs from various sources but errors can occur. Quotes and included data should be considered illustrative, not definitive and their veracity should not be relied on.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 — Opening Words
00:00:27 — What Am I Talking About?
00:02:50 — Towards Anchorage
00:07:58 — Alaska
00:16:14 — Winners and Losers (So Far)?
00:25:20 — Long Range Strike
00:34:46 — Pressure Point – Battlefield
00:50:42 — Pokrovsk Case Study
00:57:10 — What Comes Next?
00:59:30 — Channel Update
Content Creator – Perun
