Description: As Russian strikes knock out power and winter temperatures bite, Kyiv’s civilians are enduring blackouts, freezing apartments, and nightly air raids. Candles replace lights. Phones replace heat. And yet, daily life continues. In this daily brief, I walk through what the blackout actually looks like on the ground, how civilians are adapting to survive the cold, and why Russia’s attempt to weaponize winter is backfiring—strategically, politically, and morally. We’ll also cover key battlefield updates and recent Russian losses shaping the wider war. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: The Humanitarian Toll in Ukraine 00:46 Russian Strategic Miscalculation and the Blitz Spirit 01:14 Ukrainian Military Successes: Luhansk and Beyond 01:46 Civilian Impacts: The Worst Blackout in Ukraine 02:29 Widespread Blackouts Across Ukraine and Moldova 02:59 Life Under Fire: A Kyiv Resident’s Perspective 04:19 Surviving the Cold: Ingenious Methods for Warmth 05:01 Personal Account: The Struggle for Survival in Kyiv 06:06 Russia’s Strategy: Using Cold as a Weapon 06:50 Resilience and Solidarity: The Spirit of Ukraine 07:27 Battlefront Updates: Recent Russian Losses 08:18 Combat Operations: Kupyansk and Hulyaipole Directions 08:52 Brutality and Morale: Incidents Within the Russian Ranks 09:16 The Rise of All-Women Drone Brigades 09:44 Urban Warfare: The Situation in Kostiantynivka 10:07 Drone Warfare: High-Precision Strikes 10:53 Modern Warfare: Ground Robotic Systems on the Battlefield Facts over noise. Context over headlines. Truth over talking points. #Ukraine #Kyiv #Blackout #RussiaUkraineWar #WarNews #UkraineWar #gerdes ***** To support me as as I provide Ukraine war context: ***** Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ProfessorGerdesExplains Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/professorgerdes Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/professorgerdes YouTube Channel Membership: https://www.youtube.com/@Professor-Gerdes/membership 🇺🇸 Contact the White House to express your support for Ukraine https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ *****IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE DIRECT AID TO UKRAINE: ***** 🇺🇦 I have partnered with Greg Terry for all donations to Ukraine. He has raised and delivered more than a quarter of a million dollars of aid to date. To directly support this effort of delivering necessary provisions to the front lines, click on these links (and then watch him give your donations to soldiers on the front lines on his channel): https://www.youtube.com/@GregTerryExperience Amazon Shopping List USA/North America (Shop and send to UKRAINE AID c/o Bethel Life's Gift Registry Address) https://a.co/iodWsUK Amazon Shopping List for EU/UK https://www.amazon.de/hz/wishlist/ls/... Direct Link for Financial Giving via our 501(c)(3) Tax-Deductible in the USA https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html Link for Greg's 501(c)(3) EIN Information https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html 🇺🇸 Alternatively, you may choose to donate to Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/ukraine-response/?utm_source=FY22UkraineResponseVanityURL&utm_medium=direct&utm_campaign=m_YUKR-22L3&utm_content=Ukraine-Response-Redirect%20%20 🇺🇦 If you wish to support the Ukrainian Army, give directly to United 24. Follow this link: https://u24.gov.ua/ ***BUY SOMETHING TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE *** 🇺🇦 If you purchase from Saint Javelin with my link below, a cut of the proceeds will go directly to humanitarian aid for soldiers (bandages, tourniquets, etc.). I don't get the revenue. It goes to buy medical supplies from UnitewithUkraine.com. Use this link: https://www.saintjavelin.com/en-us?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Gerdes 🇺🇸 This is the absolute CHEAPEST THING YOU CAN DO to support Ukraine (This is NOT MY SITE) https://amzn.to/4aPtwQr - Just support the war effort somehow. 🇺🇦 I wrote a book about Ukraine's president Zelenskyy which I have updated for the first 4-5 months of the war in Ukraine: It is free if you have Amazon Kindle Unlimited or $9.99 otherwise: https://amzn.to/3Q2wnyE 🇺🇦 If you cannot give or buy, you can like, share, and pray for the people of Ukraine. 🇺🇸 Please leave comments and tell me how I can help you gain more perspective. You can contact me @Dr_Gerdes on Twitter or email professorgerdesyt@gmail.com #UKRAINE #UKRAINERUSSIAWAR #UKRAINEWAR

An energy ceasefire is being discussed at the highest levels—but the details matter more than the headlines. In this video, I break down when the truce was supposed to begin, what U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian officials are actually saying, and why enforcement—not announcements—is the real test. We’ll examine incentives on both sides, reactions inside Russia, and warning signs that suggest preparations may already be underway for renewed strikes. This isn’t about optimism or pessimism—it’s about reading the signals correctly. Chapters 0:00 – Is the energy ceasefire real or made up? 0:30 – Energy truce was supposed to begin on Jan 26 1:10 – Trump: “Local energy truce is in place” 2:10 – What Russia and Ukraine get out of an energy truce 2:50 – Trump personally asked Putin not to fire on Kyiv 3:30 – Zelenskyy: “The real test is in the coming days” 4:00 – Peskov: Putin agreed to a one-week ceasefire 5:10 – Ceasefire only until February 1st 6:10 – Russian mil-bloggers react to the ceasefire 7:30 – Five Russian generals met with Witkoff in Abu Dhabi 8:30 – Russia is preparing a new massive strike 9:30 – The streets of Kyiv #Ukraine #Russia #EnergyCeasefire #UkraineWar #BreakingNews #OSINT #Geopolitics Facts over noise. Context over headlines. Truth over talking points. ***** To support me as as I provide Ukraine war context: ***** Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ProfessorGerdesExplains Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/professorgerdes Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/professorgerdes YouTube Channel Membership: https://www.youtube.com/@Professor-Gerdes/membership 🇺🇸 Contact the White House to express your support for Ukraine https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ *****IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE DIRECT AID TO UKRAINE: ***** 🇺🇦 I have partnered with Greg Terry for all donations to Ukraine. He has raised and delivered more than a quarter of a million dollars of aid to date. To directly support this effort of delivering necessary provisions to the front lines, click on these links (and then watch him give your donations to soldiers on the front lines on his channel): https://www.youtube.com/@GregTerryExperience Amazon Shopping List USA/North America (Shop and send to UKRAINE AID c/o Bethel Life's Gift Registry Address) https://a.co/iodWsUK Amazon Shopping List for EU/UK https://www.amazon.de/hz/wishlist/ls/... Direct Link for Financial Giving via our 501(c)(3) Tax-Deductible in the USA https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html Link for Greg's 501(c)(3) EIN Information https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html 🇺🇸 Alternatively, you may choose to donate to Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/ukraine-response/?utm_source=FY22UkraineResponseVanityURL&utm_medium=direct&utm_campaign=m_YUKR-22L3&utm_content=Ukraine-Response-Redirect%20%20 🇺🇦 If you wish to support the Ukrainian Army, give directly to United 24. Follow this link: https://u24.gov.ua/ ***BUY SOMETHING TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE *** 🇺🇦 If you purchase from Saint Javelin with my link below, a cut of the proceeds will go directly to humanitarian aid for soldiers (bandages, tourniquets, etc.). I don't get the revenue. It goes to buy medical supplies from UnitewithUkraine.com. Use this link: https://www.saintjavelin.com/en-us?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Gerdes 🇺🇸 This is the absolute CHEAPEST THING YOU CAN DO to support Ukraine (This is NOT MY SITE) https://amzn.to/4aPtwQr - Just support the war effort somehow. 🇺🇦 I wrote a book about Ukraine's president Zelenskyy which I have updated for the first 4-5 months of the war in Ukraine: It is free if you have Amazon Kindle Unlimited or $9.99 otherwise: https://amzn.to/3Q2wnyE 🇺🇦 If you cannot give or buy, you can like, share, and pray for the people of Ukraine. 🇺🇸 Please leave comments and tell me how I can help you gain more perspective. You can contact me @Dr_Gerdes on Twitter or email professorgerdesyt@gmail.com #UKRAINE #UKRAINERUSSIAWAR #UKRAINEWAR

Today’s Russian casualty figures rank third-highest so far this year, making this an outlier day that demands explanation. In this video, I walk through the key events driving such a sharp spike: overnight drone and missile activity, strikes on civilian infrastructure, unusually heavy battlefield losses, and growing signs of strain inside Russia’s force structure. We’ll also examine emerging Ukrainian capabilities—especially in drones and air defense—and why days like this tend to compound Russia’s problems rather than remain isolated incidents. Chapters 0:00 – High Russian Casualties and January Statistics 0:39 – Overnight Drone Strikes and Iskander Missile Strike 1:19 – Attacks on Civilian Infrastructure 2:20 – Introduction of the Fury Interceptor Drone 3:12 – Civilians Seeking Shelter in the Metro 3:42 – Detailed Battlefield Losses 4:33 – Intensified Efforts in Pokrovsk and Huliapole 5:52 – Status of Kupiansk and Recent Engagements 6:35 – Drone Strikes and Air Attacks 7:19 – Russia Reassigning Personnel to Infantry 7:56 – Russian Charges Against Truck Drivers 8:25 – Closing Thoughts and Future Innovations #Ukraine #Russia #UkraineWar #WarUpdate #OSINT #MilitaryAnalysis #BreakingNews Facts over noise. Context over headlines. Truth over talking points. ***** To support me as as I provide Ukraine war context: ***** Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ProfessorGerdesExplains Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/professorgerdes Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/professorgerdes YouTube Channel Membership: https://www.youtube.com/@Professor-Gerdes/membership 🇺🇸 Contact the White House to express your support for Ukraine https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ *****IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE DIRECT AID TO UKRAINE: ***** 🇺🇦 I have partnered with Greg Terry for all donations to Ukraine. He has raised and delivered more than a quarter of a million dollars of aid to date. To directly support this effort of delivering necessary provisions to the front lines, click on these links (and then watch him give your donations to soldiers on the front lines on his channel): https://www.youtube.com/@GregTerryExperience Amazon Shopping List USA/North America (Shop and send to UKRAINE AID c/o Bethel Life's Gift Registry Address) https://a.co/iodWsUK Amazon Shopping List for EU/UK https://www.amazon.de/hz/wishlist/ls/... Direct Link for Financial Giving via our 501(c)(3) Tax-Deductible in the USA https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html Link for Greg's 501(c)(3) EIN Information https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html 🇺🇸 Alternatively, you may choose to donate to Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/ukraine-response/?utm_source=FY22UkraineResponseVanityURL&utm_medium=direct&utm_campaign=m_YUKR-22L3&utm_content=Ukraine-Response-Redirect%20%20 🇺🇦 If you wish to support the Ukrainian Army, give directly to United 24. Follow this link: https://u24.gov.ua/ ***BUY SOMETHING TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE *** 🇺🇦 If you purchase from Saint Javelin with my link below, a cut of the proceeds will go directly to humanitarian aid for soldiers (bandages, tourniquets, etc.). I don't get the revenue. It goes to buy medical supplies from UnitewithUkraine.com. Use this link: https://www.saintjavelin.com/en-us?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Gerdes 🇺🇸 This is the absolute CHEAPEST THING YOU CAN DO to support Ukraine (This is NOT MY SITE) https://amzn.to/4aPtwQr - Just support the war effort somehow. 🇺🇦 I wrote a book about Ukraine's president Zelenskyy which I have updated for the first 4-5 months of the war in Ukraine: It is free if you have Amazon Kindle Unlimited or $9.99 otherwise: https://amzn.to/3Q2wnyE 🇺🇦 If you cannot give or buy, you can like, share, and pray for the people of Ukraine. 🇺🇸 Please leave comments and tell me how I can help you gain more perspective. You can contact me @Dr_Gerdes on Twitter or email professorgerdesyt@gmail.com #UKRAINE #UKRAINERUSSIAWAR #UKRAINEWAR

The Strategic Failure Behind ICE's Minneapolis Escalation

For weeks, headlines hinted at negotiations, pauses, and possible breakthroughs. But Moscow has now made something unmistakably clear: a deal isn’t close — not even remotely. In this video, I walk through what Russian officials actually said, why this admission matters, and how it reshapes expectations about the war, diplomacy, and the months ahead. Strip away the spin, and the reality is far darker — and far more revealing — than many wanted to believe. Facts over noise. Context over headlines. Truth over talking points. #Ukraine #Russia #UkraineWar #Geopolitics #Putin #Zelensky #PeaceTalks #WarAnalysis ***** To support me as as I provide Ukraine war context: ***** Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ProfessorGerdesExplains Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/professorgerdes Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/professorgerdes YouTube Channel Membership: https://www.youtube.com/@Professor-Gerdes/membership 🇺🇸 Contact the White House to express your support for Ukraine https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ *****IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE DIRECT AID TO UKRAINE: ***** 🇺🇦 I have partnered with Greg Terry for all donations to Ukraine. He has raised and delivered more than a quarter of a million dollars of aid to date. To directly support this effort of delivering necessary provisions to the front lines, click on these links (and then watch him give your donations to soldiers on the front lines on his channel): https://www.youtube.com/@GregTerryExperience Amazon Shopping List USA/North America (Shop and send to UKRAINE AID c/o Bethel Life's Gift Registry Address) https://a.co/iodWsUK Amazon Shopping List for EU/UK https://www.amazon.de/hz/wishlist/ls/... Direct Link for Financial Giving via our 501(c)(3) Tax-Deductible in the USA https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html Link for Greg's 501(c)(3) EIN Information https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html 🇺🇸 Alternatively, you may choose to donate to Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/ukraine-response/?utm_source=FY22UkraineResponseVanityURL&utm_medium=direct&utm_campaign=m_YUKR-22L3&utm_content=Ukraine-Response-Redirect%20%20 🇺🇦 If you wish to support the Ukrainian Army, give directly to United 24. Follow this link: https://u24.gov.ua/ ***BUY SOMETHING TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE *** 🇺🇦 If you purchase from Saint Javelin with my link below, a cut of the proceeds will go directly to humanitarian aid for soldiers (bandages, tourniquets, etc.). I don't get the revenue. It goes to buy medical supplies from UnitewithUkraine.com. Use this link: https://www.saintjavelin.com/en-us?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Gerdes 🇺🇸 This is the absolute CHEAPEST THING YOU CAN DO to support Ukraine (This is NOT MY SITE) https://amzn.to/4aPtwQr - Just support the war effort somehow. 🇺🇦 I wrote a book about Ukraine's president Zelenskyy which I have updated for the first 4-5 months of the war in Ukraine: It is free if you have Amazon Kindle Unlimited or $9.99 otherwise: https://amzn.to/3Q2wnyE 🇺🇦 If you cannot give or buy, you can like, share, and pray for the people of Ukraine. 🇺🇸 Please leave comments and tell me how I can help you gain more perspective. You can contact me @Dr_Gerdes on Twitter or email professorgerdesyt@gmail.com #UKRAINE #UKRAINERUSSIAWAR #UKRAINEWAR

Ukraine had a very good night. Confirmed reports indicate the loss of two frontline Russian combat aircraft—an Su-34 strike fighter and an Su-30 multirole fighter—plus a high-end radar system valued at roughly $100 million. This isn’t just about numbers. The Su-34 is a key platform for glide-bomb attacks. The Su-30 plays a major role in air superiority and escort missions. And the radar? That’s eyes and ears—without it, everything else becomes more vulnerable. Taken together, this is a direct hit to Russia’s ability to see, strike, and protect its own aircraft. One night. Three critical losses. And a reminder that the battlefield is shifting in ways Moscow doesn’t control. Chapters: 00:00 - Ukraine's Successful Night and SU-34 Takedown 00:54 - Conflicting Reports on Second Jet and Patriot Involvement 01:52 - Summary of Key Russian Losses and Costs 02:41 - Radar Station and Drone Control Point Strikes 03:17 - Analysis of Trump's Reported Call with Putin 04:36 - Comparing Civilian Impacts and Personal Tragedies 05:32 - Air Defense Success Rates and New Drone Tactics 06:54 - Innovations: Starlink-Equipped Drones 07:35 - Human Cost: The Story of a Holocaust Survivor in Kyiv 08:23 - Battlefield Metrics and Frontline Stagnation 09:37 - "The Penguin Suit": FPV Drone Footage and Russian KIA Trends 11:06 - Gamified Warfare: The "Amazon for War" Marketplace 12:12 - Anti-Drone Measures and Diplomatic Deadlocks Facts over noise. Context over headlines. Truth over talking points. ***** To support me as as I provide Ukraine war context: ***** Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ProfessorGerdesExplains Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/professorgerdes Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/professorgerdes YouTube Channel Membership: https://www.youtube.com/@Professor-Gerdes/membership 🇺🇸 Contact the White House to express your support for Ukraine https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ *****IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE DIRECT AID TO UKRAINE: ***** 🇺🇦 I have partnered with Greg Terry for all donations to Ukraine. He has raised and delivered more than a quarter of a million dollars of aid to date. To directly support this effort of delivering necessary provisions to the front lines, click on these links (and then watch him give your donations to soldiers on the front lines on his channel): https://www.youtube.com/@GregTerryExperience Amazon Shopping List USA/North America (Shop and send to UKRAINE AID c/o Bethel Life's Gift Registry Address) https://a.co/iodWsUK Amazon Shopping List for EU/UK https://www.amazon.de/hz/wishlist/ls/... Direct Link for Financial Giving via our 501(c)(3) Tax-Deductible in the USA https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html Link for Greg's 501(c)(3) EIN Information https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html 🇺🇸 Alternatively, you may choose to donate to Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/ukraine-response/?utm_source=FY22UkraineResponseVanityURL&utm_medium=direct&utm_campaign=m_YUKR-22L3&utm_content=Ukraine-Response-Redirect%20%20 🇺🇦 If you wish to support the Ukrainian Army, give directly to United 24. Follow this link: https://u24.gov.ua/ ***BUY SOMETHING TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE *** 🇺🇦 If you purchase from Saint Javelin with my link below, a cut of the proceeds will go directly to humanitarian aid for soldiers (bandages, tourniquets, etc.). I don't get the revenue. It goes to buy medical supplies from UnitewithUkraine.com. Use this link: https://www.saintjavelin.com/en-us?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Gerdes 🇺🇸 This is the absolute CHEAPEST THING YOU CAN DO to support Ukraine (This is NOT MY SITE) https://amzn.to/4aPtwQr - Just support the war effort somehow. 🇺🇦 I wrote a book about Ukraine's president Zelenskyy which I have updated for the first 4-5 months of the war in Ukraine: It is free if you have Amazon Kindle Unlimited or $9.99 otherwise: https://amzn.to/3Q2wnyE 🇺🇦 If you cannot give or buy, you can like, share, and pray for the people of Ukraine. 🇺🇸 Please leave comments and tell me how I can help you gain more perspective. You can contact me @Dr_Gerdes on Twitter or email professorgerdesyt@gmail.com #UKRAINE #UKRAINERUSSIAWAR #UKRAINEWAR

Russian state TV has officially abandoned all logic, pivoting from mere propaganda to a startling display of desperation and disinformation. In this episode, we break down a recent Solovyov broadcast that borders on the delusional—from demanding total Ukrainian surrender to fabricating narratives about "attacks" on presidential residences. We examine the stark contrast between the Kremlin's "mirror tactics" and the reality of their strikes on civilian infrastructure, including the truth behind the Ukrainian passenger train strike and the growing threats against nuclear power plants. By applying logic to this geopolitical noise, we reveal the strategic underpinnings of Russia's attempt to "freeze out" Ukraine and how these tactics align with historical Soviet brinkmanship. We also look at the role of international support, such as Japanese energy assistance, and the shifting political pressures that are forcing the Kremlin to ramp up its rhetoric to unprecedented levels. This isn't just news; it's a breakdown of the information warfare being waged right now. Chapters 0:00 Solovyov’s Audience: The Soviet Nostalgia 0:30 Russian State Media Demands Ukrainian Surrender 1:10 Debunking "Attacks" on the President’s Residence 1:45 The Truth Behind the Ukrainian Train Strike 2:45 Lavrov’s History of Denying Civilian Targets 3:50 Strategy Behind Targeting the Energy Sector 4:30 Threats Against Nuclear Power Plants 5:15 Analyzing the 750 Kilowatt Station Strike 6:05 Global Response: Japanese Power Generators in Ukraine 6:40 The Pressure on Putin: Trump and Future Negotiations 7:20 Historical Context: Khrushchev's "We Will Bury You" 7:50 Closing Thoughts: Why Truth Matters for Ukraine #RussianPropaganda #UkraineWar #Geopolitics #InformationWarfare #ProfessorGerdes Facts over noise. Context over headlines. Truth over talking points. ***** To support me as as I provide Ukraine war context: ***** Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ProfessorGerdesExplains Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/professorgerdes Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/professorgerdes YouTube Channel Membership: https://www.youtube.com/@Professor-Gerdes/membership 🇺🇸 Contact the White House to express your support for Ukraine https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ *****IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE DIRECT AID TO UKRAINE: ***** 🇺🇦 I have partnered with Greg Terry for all donations to Ukraine. He has raised and delivered more than a quarter of a million dollars of aid to date. To directly support this effort of delivering necessary provisions to the front lines, click on these links (and then watch him give your donations to soldiers on the front lines on his channel): https://www.youtube.com/@GregTerryExperience Amazon Shopping List USA/North America (Shop and send to UKRAINE AID c/o Bethel Life's Gift Registry Address) https://a.co/iodWsUK Amazon Shopping List for EU/UK https://www.amazon.de/hz/wishlist/ls/... Direct Link for Financial Giving via our 501(c)(3) Tax-Deductible in the USA https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html Link for Greg's 501(c)(3) EIN Information https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html 🇺🇸 Alternatively, you may choose to donate to Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/ukraine-response/?utm_source=FY22UkraineResponseVanityURL&utm_medium=direct&utm_campaign=m_YUKR-22L3&utm_content=Ukraine-Response-Redirect%20%20 🇺🇦 If you wish to support the Ukrainian Army, give directly to United 24. Follow this link: https://u24.gov.ua/ ***BUY SOMETHING TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE *** 🇺🇦 If you purchase from Saint Javelin with my link below, a cut of the proceeds will go directly to humanitarian aid for soldiers (bandages, tourniquets, etc.). I don't get the revenue. It goes to buy medical supplies from UnitewithUkraine.com. Use this link: https://www.saintjavelin.com/en-us?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Gerdes 🇺🇸 This is the absolute CHEAPEST THING YOU CAN DO to support Ukraine (This is NOT MY SITE) https://amzn.to/4aPtwQr - Just support the war effort somehow. 🇺🇦 I wrote a book about Ukraine's president Zelenskyy which I have updated for the first 4-5 months of the war in Ukraine: It is free if you have Amazon Kindle Unlimited or $9.99 otherwise: https://amzn.to/3Q2wnyE 🇺🇦 If you cannot give or buy, you can like, share, and pray for the people of Ukraine. 🇺🇸 Please leave comments and tell me how I can help you gain more perspective. You can contact me @Dr_Gerdes on Twitter or email professorgerdesyt@gmail.com #UKRAINE #UKRAINERUSSIAWAR #UKRAINEWAR

Ukraine’s foreign minister says President Zelenskyy is prepared to meet Putin directly to resolve the “most sensitive issues” of a potential deal—especially territory and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. That’s not a throwaway line. A nuclear facility is a strategic hostage, a security guarantee problem, and a credibility test all at once. In this video, I’ll unpack what’s reportedly being negotiated, why the nuclear plant is at the center of it, how the Abu Dhabi format is evolving, and what “security guarantees” might realistically mean—especially the talk of European contingents with an American backstop, without US troops stationed in Ukraine. I’ll also explain what a “20-point” framework could imply, and why the next round of talks matters more than the headlines suggest. Chapters: 0:00 – Putin's Aide Invitations to Moscow 0:45 – Zelenskyy’s Strategic Response: Meeting at Zaporizhzhia 1:18 – Shift in Negotiations: Abu Dhabi and the 20-Point Plan 2:22 – Security Guarantees and the Role of the U.S. Congress 3:03 – Post-War Recovery and U.S.-Ukraine Cooperation 3:38 – The Donbas Dispute: Can a Deal be Struck? 4:14 – Kaja Kallas: Europe’s Third Bell and the Need for Urgency 5:10 – The Baltic Sea Blockade: Seizing Russia’s Shadow Fleet 6:26 – Policy Reversal in Czechia: Russian Diplomatic Travel 6:52 – Chinese Espionage: Hacking the Heart of Downing Street 7:36 – Trump’s Peace Council and the Democracy Index 8:18 – Russia’s Influence in Syria and Iran’s Economic Strain 9:15 – Trump’s "Operation Midnight Hammer" and Naval Pressure 10:15 – Analyzing Trump’s Polling and State-by-State Shifts 11:15 – Political Civility: The Attack on Ilhan Omar 11:45 – The Role of the Russian Orthodox Church in Diplomacy Facts over noise. Context over headlines. Truth over talking points. ***** To support me as as I provide Ukraine war context: ***** Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ProfessorGerdesExplains Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/professorgerdes Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/professorgerdes YouTube Channel Membership: https://www.youtube.com/@Professor-Gerdes/membership 🇺🇸 Contact the White House to express your support for Ukraine https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ *****IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE DIRECT AID TO UKRAINE: ***** 🇺🇦 I have partnered with Greg Terry for all donations to Ukraine. He has raised and delivered more than a quarter of a million dollars of aid to date. To directly support this effort of delivering necessary provisions to the front lines, click on these links (and then watch him give your donations to soldiers on the front lines on his channel): https://www.youtube.com/@GregTerryExperience Amazon Shopping List USA/North America (Shop and send to UKRAINE AID c/o Bethel Life's Gift Registry Address) https://a.co/iodWsUK Amazon Shopping List for EU/UK https://www.amazon.de/hz/wishlist/ls/... Direct Link for Financial Giving via our 501(c)(3) Tax-Deductible in the USA https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html Link for Greg's 501(c)(3) EIN Information https://www.gregterry.org/donate.html 🇺🇸 Alternatively, you may choose to donate to Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/ukraine-response/?utm_source=FY22UkraineResponseVanityURL&utm_medium=direct&utm_campaign=m_YUKR-22L3&utm_content=Ukraine-Response-Redirect%20%20 🇺🇦 If you wish to support the Ukrainian Army, give directly to United 24. Follow this link: https://u24.gov.ua/ ***BUY SOMETHING TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE *** 🇺🇦 If you purchase from Saint Javelin with my link below, a cut of the proceeds will go directly to humanitarian aid for soldiers (bandages, tourniquets, etc.). I don't get the revenue. It goes to buy medical supplies from UnitewithUkraine.com. Use this link: https://www.saintjavelin.com/en-us?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Gerdes 🇺🇸 This is the absolute CHEAPEST THING YOU CAN DO to support Ukraine (This is NOT MY SITE) https://amzn.to/4aPtwQr - Just support the war effort somehow. 🇺🇦 I wrote a book about Ukraine's president Zelenskyy which I have updated for the first 4-5 months of the war in Ukraine: It is free if you have Amazon Kindle Unlimited or $9.99 otherwise: https://amzn.to/3Q2wnyE 🇺🇦 If you cannot give or buy, you can like, share, and pray for the people of Ukraine. 🇺🇸 Please leave comments and tell me how I can help you gain more perspective. You can contact me @Dr_Gerdes on Twitter or email professorgerdesyt@gmail.com #UKRAINE #UKRAINERUSSIAWAR #UKRAINEWAR