Ukraine’s frontline troops sent a stark warning as debates over a peace deal intensified. Speaking to AP near the eastern front, soldiers said they feared any ceasefire would simply allow Russia to regroup and strike harder in the future. Fighters from the Da Vinci Wolves Battalion insisted Moscow only respects force, not negotiation, warning that a premature truce could pave the way for a far deadlier conflict. Their concerns emerged just as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a major shift in Washington’s Ukraine strategy, and President Zelensky criticised Europe’s exclusion from peace talks. Tensions now rise on both the battlefield and the diplomatic front.
