Curated foreign policy and national security news for professionals.
Good morning,
This is your Monday morning briefing. Let’s catch up on what happened over the weekend.
Reporting Period: December 25-29, 2025
Bottom-Line Up Front:
1. On December 28, President Trump hosted President Zelenskyy at his residence in Florida. The pair discussed the revised 20-point peace proposal, as well as unaddressed issues like security guarantees and territorial concessions. Trump is expected to hold a second phone call with Putin.
2. On December 25, NATO Secretary General Rutte rejected proposals for European security independent of NATO and the United States. Rutte also rejected a European-led force being deployed to Ukraine in a post-peace scenario. Rutte believes NATO modernization, and the necessary European defense reform, should continue alongside the United States, not independent of Washington.
3. The U.S. Army is pursuing plans to procure 25 more THAAD batteries. The procurement is allotted under the 2026 NDAA. The purchases also include plans to modernize existing batteries and to extend the system’s operational viability into the 2030s.
4. On December 28, the UK announced a contract to purchase German mobile artillery. The UK will purchase RCH 155 systems, which features mobile and automated firing capabilities.
Trump Hosts Zelenskyy After Putin Call
Summary
On December 28, President Trump hosted President Zelenskyy at his residence in Florida. The pair discussed the revised 20-point peace proposal, as well as unaddressed issues like security guarantees and territorial concessions. Trump is expected to hold a second phone call with Putin.
Findings
Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting: On December 28, Trump hosted Zelenskyy at his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, to discuss the war in Ukraine and the status of the peace proposal (POLITICO, NBC News, CNBC).
Trump stated to reporters that despite Ukraine’s revised 20-point peace proposal showing signs of “the makings of a deal,” the war could “go on for a long time” because “no one knows what the security agreement will say” (POLITICO).
Zelenskyy stated the meeting was important so that Washington and Kyiv could address unresolved issues (POLITICO):Territorial concessions and the fate of the Donbas region.
Control and operations of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
American security guarantees for Ukraine.
Follow-Up Phone Call: Before and during the meeting Zelenskyy, Trump stated he would hold a follow-up phone call with Putin to discuss the meeting, peace terms, and the possibility of reaching a deal (The Washington Post).
Why This Matters
The Trump-Zelenskyy meeting is a sign that Washington will continue to support Ukraine, and that a peace deal remains a key policy objective. However, the back to back phone calls with Putin and sparse details on what has been discussed during various meetings suggest that Russia is still pursuing its “maximalist” demands.
Unless Trump and Zelenskyy came to agreement on acceptable territory concessions and security guarantees, we are unlikely to see a peace summit, ceasefire, and lasting peace deal in the near future and certainly not before the New Year.
NATO Chief Rejects U.S., European Defense Break
Summary
On December 25, NATO Secretary General Rutte rejected proposals for European security independent of NATO and the United States. Rutte also rejected a European-led force being deployed to Ukraine in a post-peace scenario. Rutte believes NATO modernization, and the necessary European defense reform, should continue alongside the United States, not independent of Washington.
Findings
Interview: On December 25, an interview with NATO Secretary General Rutte by the German Press Agency was published (Berliner Morgenpost, Euro News). In the interview, Rutte rejected the notion that Europe should create security structures and institutions independent of NATO and the United States (Berliner Morgenpost, Euro News).
Rutte highlighted that the Trump administration simply expects European NATO members to “assume more responsibility and spend more money on defense” alongside the United States (Berliner Morgenpost, POLITICO).
“I am absolutely convinced that the United States stands fully behind NATO. There is no doubt about that.”
Disagreement: Following Rutte’s remarks, Manfred Weber, leader of the German CSU party and current chairman of the European People’s Party (EPP) in the EU Parliament, urged the EU to expand a “European NATO” due to concerns of American reliability (Berliner Morgenpost, POLITICO). Rutte also pointed out that Europe should not hastily break from Washington due to the 23 EU members within NATO only producing 25% of the bloc’s GDP, and that in addition to the U.S. leading role, the UK, Norway, and Canada are important non-EU partners (Berliner Morgenpost).
Why This Matters
Rutte’s remarks are welcomed and necessary, especially as the Trump administration now seems to be toning down some of its harsh rhetoric regarding our European allies and America’s role (and future) in NATO.
The other reason Rutte’s remarks are welcomed and necessary is because Europe’s departure from unshakable faith in the U.S. to broad skepticism has been somewhat unjustified. Trump’s demands of European security, reflected in the priorities of the recent NSS, have been interpreted by Europeans and establishment media as tyrannical revisionism and an abandonment of the West, its principles, and its institutions. These changes were always in motion, and the Trump administration is simply the first to make any changes, decisions, or vocalized acknowledgments of it (more on this here).
Where Rutte shines is that he knows there is no reason European security reform and improved NATO strength and unity should be separated from one another. It is simply that the “Trump-induced American skepticism” in Europe is now tied to mainstream political parties in Europe, and is being used as the agenda-setting ideology in the European Union.
U.S. Army Procuring More THAAD Systems Through 2026 NDAA
Summary
The U.S. Army is pursuing plans to procure 25 more THAAD batteries. The procurement is allotted under the 2026 NDAA. The purchases also include plans to modernize existing batteries and to extend the system’s operational viability into the 2030s.
Findings
Background: On December 10, the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was approved in the House (GovCon Wire). On December 18, President Trump signed the NDAA into law, allotting budgets to the Department of Defense (DoD) and military branches (GovCon Wire). With budgets established, the DoD put together the FY 2026 acquisition plan. Billions are allotted to shipbuilding, aircraft, munitions, and ground vehicles, but funding to advance THAAD acquisitions has been approved for a discretionary budget.
THAAD: THAAD (Terminal High-Altitude Air Defense) is an advanced ICBM interceptor system and is central to American strategic missile defense networks (Army Recognition).
“A standard THAAD battery consists of up to six truck-mounted launchers, each carrying eight interceptors, a Fire Control and Communications (TFCC) center, and the AN/TPY-2 X-band radar. The radar can detect and track ballistic missile threats at ranges beyond 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), providing high-resolution target discrimination and precise fire-control data. THAAD’s engagement envelope reaches altitudes of up to 150 kilometers (93 miles) and ranges of approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles), positioning it as the upper-tier layer between Patriot systems and Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense interceptors.”
Procurement: In 2025, the U.S. Army received its 8th THAAD battery from Lockheed Martin (SOURCE). Army Recognition reports that under FY2026 funding, the U.S. Army plans to procure 25 new THAAD interceptors, marking a significant investment into American strategic air defense capabilities (Army Recognition). The 2026 NDAA also includes funds to modernize existing THAAD systems, making them operationally viable into the 2030s (Army Recognition).
Why This Matters
The expanded procurement and modernization of THAAD suggest that the United States is continuing to rapidly expand its missile defense posture in response to an increasingly complex ballistic missile threat environment, particularly from China.
Investing in new launchers and obsolescence upgrades greatly improves American strategic missile defense, and will ultimately reduce issues related to capacity, target engagement, and targeting capability.
UK, Germany Sign Contract For Mobile Artillery
Summary
On December 28, the UK announced a contract to purchase German mobile artillery. The UK will purchase RCH 155 systems, which features mobile and automated firing capabilities.
Findings
Background: In October 2024, the UK and Germany signed the Trinity House defense collaboration agreement, committing both states to deeper military cooperation and defense industrial partnership (UK Government).
Mobile Artillery Contract: On December 28, the UK government announced it had signed a $70 million deal with Germany to procure RCH 155 wheeled howitzer, a mobile self-propelled artillery gun capable of firing on the move (UK Government).
RCH 155: The RCH 155 is developed and produced by KNDS Deutschland (KNDS). According to the UK, the RCH 155 is mounted to a BOXER armored vehicle and can fire 8 rounds per minute while traveling at 60 mph, engage targets at 360 degrees, travel 700 km without refueling, and operate with 2-man crews (UK Government).
The RCH 155 will replace the Archer artillery system and, under the Trinity House agreement, satisfies the UK’s Mobile Fires Platform requirement (UK Government).
Why This Matters
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that towed-tube artillery (medium ranged and slow to employ and dispalce) has become irrelevant on a conventional battlefield. Drones and missiles have rendered traditional artillery vulnerable and inefficient.
The RCH 155, and platforms like it, employ modern technologies to make field artillery viable again. This is a solid decision by the UK and demonstrates where Germany and other European defense partners may soon invest when it comes to rearmament.
End Brief
That concludes this brief.
Thank you for reading!
— Nick
This publication is an Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) product and does not contain Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Classified Information.