Friday briefing: How will Ukraine fare this winter as Trump pushes for a controversial peace deal? ​

<p>In today’s newsletter: After nearly four years of war, Ukraine is confronting deep fatigue, dwindling strategic options and fresh US pressure to accept terms that many see as a surrender in all but name</p><p></p><p>A week ago <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/21/zelenskyy-says-ukraine-faces-most-difficult-moment-as-trump-pushes-plan-to-end-war">Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Ukrainians</a> that they faced “a very tough choice – either the loss of our dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner”. The warning came as the Trump administration increased pressure on Zelenskyy to accept a peace deal that appears to secure all of Vladimir Putin’s war aims – a proposal European leaders have described as capitulation.</p><p>With the war about to enter its fourth winter, there seems no sign that either side has the capability to make a significant military breakthrough. Neither the incessant infantry grind on the eastern front, Moscow’s aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities, nor Kyiv’s long-range strikes on infrastructure inside Russia look likely to shift the equilibrium any time soon.</p><p><em><strong>Politics </strong></em>| Keir Starmer says Labour <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/nov/27/reeves-admits-working-people-will-pay-a-bit-more-budget">“kept to our manifesto”</a> over budget tax rises. The prime minister sought to rebuff claims Labour had broken its tax promises.</p><p><em><strong>Workers’ rights </strong></em>| A flagship policy that would have given workers the right to claim unfair dismissal after their first day on the job <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov/27/government-to-ditch-day-one-unfair-dismissal-policy-from-workers-rights-bill">is to be ditched</a> by the government in favour of a six month-threshold.</p><p><