Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has unveiled a bold five-part victory plan to end the war with Russia in 2024, focusing on fast-tracking NATO membership, increasing military aid, and leveraging Ukraine's economic resources. He views NATO membership as vital for Ukraine’s security and a symbolic defeat of Putin’s ambitions. While the plan has garnered some support, it faces sharp opposition from Russia, which warns of escalating conflict, and Hungary's Prime Minister Orbán, who calls for peace talks over more aid. Zelenskyy’s refusal to give away territory underscores his commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, but his success depends on continued international support amid shifting global priorities.

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France Claims World’s First Ground to Space High-Speed Optical-Laser Link

In late 2023, the French Defence Innovation Agency (AID), through the French Armament Directorate, launched a new satellite named Keraunos with the aid of two novel French Space companies, Cailabs and Unseenlabs (AID, 2O24). The project, along with others like Toutatis and Yoda (Bosquillon, 2024), contribute to the French 2024-2030 Military Programming Law (AID, 2024). The mission is meant to test the potential of space Optical-Laser Infrared (OLI) communications between space and ground segments of communications networks. During the summer of 2024, these three entities performed a successful test (Ruitenberg, 2024). The test was followed by a joint announcement on September 10th, 2024, claiming the world’s first stable OLI high-speed communications “end-to-end” downlink between a low orbit nanosatellite and an optical ground station, which lasted for several minutes (AID, 2024). Despite the possibility of classified initiatives and recent breakthroughs by NASA (Powers, 2024), China (Xinhua, 2024), and others (Depond, 2024), this was the first commercial test of its sort (Bosquillon, 2024), marking a new age for space to ground optical-laser infrared (OLI) communications.

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Prisoner Swap Between Russia and Ukraine 

On August 24th, 2024, Ukraine and Russia exchanged 115 prisoners of war (POW) on each side. This deal was the first exchange since Ukraine launched a surprise invasion of the Kursk region on August 6th (Al Jazeera 2024). The United Arab Emirates (UAE) facilitated the deal between the two countries (Al Jazeera 2024). This exchange is a crucial reminder of the human cost of war and the ongoing need for diplomatic intervention. It underscores the ongoing humanitarian efforts amidst the brutal conflict and highlights the importance of diplomatic channels, such as the UAE’s mediation, in easing tensions.

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Ukraine Aid and European Defence Procurement: Insights from the Prague 2024 GLOBSEC Conference

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is nearing its third year, yet how to support the war-torn country remains one of the most discussed issues in security and defence circles. At the 2024 GLOBSEC Conference in Prague, discussions centred on what Ukraine’s current battlefield needs are, what the role of the EU in meeting them is, and what lessons the Union can learn from Ukraine’s experience. This paper will dedicate a section to all 3 of these aspects, providing detailed information about European actions in support of Ukraine and the future of European procurement.

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Thermite-Equipped ‘Dragon’ Drones: Ukrainian Special Forces’ New Battlefield Arsenal

Ukrainian Special Forces have recently made use of a new generation of sophisticated drones, increasing their capacity to launch accurate strikes against Russian soldiers. These drones, referred to as ‘dragon drones,’ employ thermite, a highly incendiary chemical that burns at around 2,448 degrees Celsius (4,440 degrees Fahrenheit) (Lendon, 2024). This new strategy represents Ukraine’s shifting tactics in reaction to the ongoing conflict. It demonstrates Ukraine’s adjustement to the changing reality of the war, using cutting-edge drone technology and accurate attacks to outmanoeuvre its enemies.

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