The Debate – Four more years? Russia-Ukraine war nears two million casualties mark

A Russian strike hitting a moving train Tuesday in the northeast Kharkiv region. Six killed. As the casualty toll on both sides approaches two million according to an independent study, we’ll weigh the grinding effect of nearly four years of all-out war. 

And what it will take to end it: ahead of more talks in Abu Dhabi, the United States adopting a neutral tone in the face of Russia’s demand that Ukraine gives up the entirety of the eastern region of Donbas. What are Kyiv’s options?

What are Europe’s options? NATO secretary general Mark Rutte telling allies to “keep on dreaming” if they think they can go it alone without a U-S-led NATO. With the French president due to speak in the coming weeks on an eventual expansion of France’s nuclear umbrella to neighbors and public opinion across the continent rallying against Donald Trump’s hostile takeover bid for Greenland, what does 2026 have in store?

Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Daniel Whittington, Piera Rocco, Charles Wente.