Danny Eberhard

You'll hear European leaders welcome that while expressing their own fears and stressing that this is not just about Ukraine's own security situation, but Europe's security as well. Yeah, briefly, how united are they? On the issue of defence, there's a broad consensus that Europe needs to change and change fast. But there is a big division on the provision of military aid to Ukraine.

You'll hear European leaders welcome that while expressing their own fears and stressing that this is not just about Ukraine's own security situation, but Europe's security as well. Yeah, briefly, how united are they? On the issue of defence, there's a broad consensus that Europe needs to change and change fast. But there is a big division on the provision of military aid to Ukraine.

The main dissenter there is Hungary. It has never provided military aid for Ukraine and it stays away from declarations. It pulls out of them. So the declaration gets signed by 26 EU nations on these sort of things rather than 27.

The main dissenter there is Hungary. It has never provided military aid for Ukraine and it stays away from declarations. It pulls out of them. So the declaration gets signed by 26 EU nations on these sort of things rather than 27.

Ukraine has held territory in Kursk since August when it launched that surprise incursion. It made rapid advances. Russia was unprepared. But then since then, Russia has been fighting back. It even drafted in thousands of North Korean troops. And now it controls about nine tenths of what Ukraine originally seized.

Ukraine has held territory in Kursk since August when it launched that surprise incursion. It made rapid advances. Russia was unprepared. But then since then, Russia has been fighting back. It even drafted in thousands of North Korean troops. And now it controls about nine tenths of what Ukraine originally seized.

Today, this Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Defense has said that a key town, Suja, has been recaptured. That's the main town that Ukraine has still held. And a respected U.S.-based think tank has also come to the same conclusion there.

Today, this Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Defense has said that a key town, Suja, has been recaptured. That's the main town that Ukraine has still held. And a respected U.S.-based think tank has also come to the same conclusion there.

Suja was a place where last week, I don't know if some listeners remember, there was an attempt by Russian forces to use an underground gas pipeline to get behind Ukraine. Ukrainian lines.

Suja was a place where last week, I don't know if some listeners remember, there was an attempt by Russian forces to use an underground gas pipeline to get behind Ukraine. Ukrainian lines.

So a key thing, Ukraine has basically, from its position, says that its main military commander has said that in the most difficult situation, some Ukrainian troops have been withdrawing in order to save lives, but that it would maintain defences in Kursk as long as expedient and necessary. How long that is, is anyone's guess. But obviously, Ukraine is facing an extremely difficult situation there.

So a key thing, Ukraine has basically, from its position, says that its main military commander has said that in the most difficult situation, some Ukrainian troops have been withdrawing in order to save lives, but that it would maintain defences in Kursk as long as expedient and necessary. How long that is, is anyone's guess. But obviously, Ukraine is facing an extremely difficult situation there.

Well, let's think back to when it went into Kursk in the first place. What were Ukraine's thinking? It was basically to damage Russian morale, which was quite successful, bringing the war to Russia. That all worked. It aimed to relieve the pressure that Russia was putting on key places on the eastern front in Ukraine. That didn't really work.

Well, let's think back to when it went into Kursk in the first place. What were Ukraine's thinking? It was basically to damage Russian morale, which was quite successful, bringing the war to Russia. That all worked. It aimed to relieve the pressure that Russia was putting on key places on the eastern front in Ukraine. That didn't really work.

Russia brought in other forces and also to relieve pressure on the Ukrainian air of Sumy, which borders Kursk. And another key thing was that he wanted it to have it as a bargaining counter in the event of any peace settlements. Now, the problem here is that if it has to pull out before any peace negotiations take place, it loses any bargaining counter.

Russia brought in other forces and also to relieve pressure on the Ukrainian air of Sumy, which borders Kursk. And another key thing was that he wanted it to have it as a bargaining counter in the event of any peace settlements. Now, the problem here is that if it has to pull out before any peace negotiations take place, it loses any bargaining counter.

And that really starts raising questions about what the Kursk Offensive was all about, the wisdom of that whole operation. So for now, it still holds parts of Kursk. but its hold is getting increasingly tenuous. Whereas for Russia, if it expels Ukrainian troops, that will be hailed by the Kremlin as a great victory.

And that really starts raising questions about what the Kursk Offensive was all about, the wisdom of that whole operation. So for now, it still holds parts of Kursk. but its hold is getting increasingly tenuous. Whereas for Russia, if it expels Ukrainian troops, that will be hailed by the Kremlin as a great victory.

Example of President Putin defending the motherland, that's classic Kremlin ideology. And it may further complicate the situation for Ukraine in that if Russia was able to free up troops, it could redeploy them to other parts of So, for example, a place like Kharkiv or down to the eastern front.

Example of President Putin defending the motherland, that's classic Kremlin ideology. And it may further complicate the situation for Ukraine in that if Russia was able to free up troops, it could redeploy them to other parts of So, for example, a place like Kharkiv or down to the eastern front.