In a week of intense diplomatic activity, Ukrainian officials have taken their campaign for justice and support to the heart of Washington and Vienna, presenting new evidence of Russian war crimes, warning of Moscow’s growing ambitions, and pushing back against mounting international pressure for a negotiated peace. The flurry of meetings and statements comes as Russia intensifies its military campaign and President Vladimir Putin openly signals preparations for a protracted conflict that could spill further into Europe.
Between December 8 and 12, 2025, a high-level Ukrainian National Police delegation, led by First Deputy Head Maksym Tsutskiridze, met with senior officials from the FBI, the Justice Department, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), and the Congressional Helsinki Commission in Washington. According to the National Police, the delegation presented irrefutable evidence of more than 185,000 Russian war crimes documented since the full-scale invasion began. The scope of atrocities, Ukrainian investigators said, stretches from systematic executions and torture chambers in deoccupied territories to the deliberate targeting of civilians and humanitarian convoys.
Central to their briefing was an interagency database called “War Criminal,” which contains information on nearly 900,000 individuals linked to crimes against Ukraine. This vast repository includes not only Russian military personnel and security agents, but also filtration camp staff, propagandists, and mercenaries from private military companies (PMCs) like Wagner and Redut. The database, officials say, is a crucial tool for both Ukrainian and Western authorities seeking to hold perpetrators accountable and disrupt ongoing operations.
The Ukrainian delegation did not shy away from highlighting the international dimension of Russia’s campaign. In closed-door sessions, they presented American partners with profiles of 11 U.S. citizens currently missing or detained in Russia, as well as updated case files on crimes committed against 109 Americans. The crimes mirror those inflicted on Ukrainians: extrajudicial killings, attacks on journalists, the destruction of evacuation vehicles, and strikes on humanitarian aid.
“The National Police of Ukraine works in conditions that have no analogues in the modern world: under shelling, we simultaneously document war crimes, rescue people, demine liberated territories, deter cyberattacks, and counter drones and Russian hybrid operations,” Tsutskiridze told his U.S. counterparts, as reported by the National Police. “This experience should help our partners identify mercenaries, prevent sabotage, and protect their own borders from Russian aggression. We are open to the broadest cooperation, because the Russian Federation’s hybrid war knows no borders, and only joint actions of civilized countries can stop it.”
Ukrainian police also detailed the evolving threat posed by Russian PMCs, whose activities span Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Europe. Analytical materials shared with the FBI exposed not just the operational reach of groups like Wagner and Redut, but also their funding networks and recruitment pipelines. The issue of hybrid warfare was brought into sharp relief by Ukrainian analysis of more than 100 drone incidents over European airspace in the past year—some of which forced temporary airport closures and heightened concerns about Russian tactics expanding beyond Ukraine’s borders.
At a closed briefing with the Congressional Helsinki Commission, Ukrainian officials warned that Moscow’s hybrid tactics—including arson, disinformation, cyberattacks, and PMC activity—pose a growing threat to Western nations. Commission representatives pledged to maintain congressional focus on Russian accountability, recognizing that the consequences of unchecked aggression could ripple far beyond Eastern Europe.
American support for Ukrainian law enforcement has been substantial. Since the invasion began, the U.S. has provided over $140 million in equipment—ranging from protective gear and specialized vehicles to mobile rapid DNA labs, 3D scanners, and forensic drones—as part of nearly $1 billion committed to Ukraine’s criminal justice sector. INL officials reaffirmed their commitment to continued support, training, and technological investment, emphasizing the life-saving impact of this assistance on the front lines.
Meanwhile, at the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation in Vienna on December 11, the Ukrainian delegation delivered a stark warning: Vladimir Putin is not seeking peace, but rather preparing Russia for a long and bloody war. As UATV English reported, the delegation cited recent Russian decrees introducing year-round conscription, mobilizing reservists, and ensuring a constant supply of manpower as clear evidence of the Kremlin’s intentions. “These are not the actions of a state seeking peace. These are the actions of a regime preparing for a long war,” the Ukrainian statement declared. “The question is not rhetorical: What else must Putin do for everyone to finally recognize that he has no intention of stopping?”
The scale of Russia’s recent attacks is sobering. Between December 1 and 7, Russian forces launched over 1,600 attack drones, around 1,200 guided bombs, and nearly 70 missiles at Ukrainian targets. The Ukrainian delegation stressed that daily terror against civilians, systematic war crimes, and the abduction of Ukrainian children have become core elements of Moscow’s strategy—alongside efforts to erase Ukrainian identity itself.
Despite these grim realities, Kyiv reaffirmed its commitment to a just and durable peace. “This requires reliable long-term security guarantees. Russian promises and ‘assurances’ are worthless. Russia has violated nearly every key security agreement it has signed—from the UN Charter to major arms control and confidence-building instruments,” the delegation emphasized. Ukraine called on the international community to apply real pressure—political, economic, diplomatic, and practical—on Moscow to halt its aggression.
But even as Ukrainian leaders press for justice and support, they face growing pressure from Washington and elsewhere to pursue a negotiated settlement. At a White House roundtable on December 10, U.S. President Donald Trump said, “I think he [Zelensky] has to be realistic. And I do wonder about how long is it going to be till they have an election? It’s a democracy. It’s a long time. They haven’t had an election in a long time. It’s losing a lot of people.” Trump cited a poll—without specifying its source—that he claimed shows 82% of Ukrainians favor a negotiated settlement, adding, “Ukrainian people want to see a settlement be made. I understand that they’re losing thousands and thousands of people a week. They want to see it ended.” He also referenced Ukraine’s “massive corruption situation” and argued, “it takes two to tango.”
Yet, public opinion in Ukraine paints a more nuanced picture. According to a December 8 study by Info Sapiens, 77% of Ukrainians believe the country should make certain concessions to achieve peace, but 30% are not ready to accept any concessions at all. When asked about specific options, most respondents rejected all ten potential concessions presented—especially territorial losses and limits on sovereignty. Notably, more than half said that giving up on EU membership or recognizing Russian control over Crimea was unacceptable, and an overwhelming majority opposed transferring Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, or Kherson regions to Russia.
Some NATO-related concessions, such as banning foreign bases or abandoning membership, were slightly more palatable to a minority. But, as the Kyiv Post reported, the prevailing sentiment among Ukrainians is a refusal to accept peace “on any terms.” As one respondent, Kateryna, put it: “After four years of full-scale war, there are no illusions about the Russian Federation and its plans. We need an agreement that will ensure long-term peace with European and American security guarantees.”
With Moscow escalating its war effort and Western capitals debating the path to peace, the stakes for Ukraine—and for Europe—have rarely been higher. The coming months will test not only the resolve of Ukraine’s defenders but also the unity and determination of its allies as they navigate the perilous crossroads of war, justice, and diplomacy.
