The Russian invasion

Details: Ukraine's allies discuss possible peace 

Discussions about what a possible peace between Russia and Ukraine could look like have begun to take place within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which brings together 50 countries that support Ukraine, including several NATO countries. Sources told NBC News.  

The discussions, which are described as "sensitive", will concern, among other things, what Ukraine might have to give up in a possible peace negotiation, and the issue has also been discussed with Ukrainian representatives. 

The information comes after Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny during the autumn described the war against Russia as in a "deadlock". Ukrainian leaders are said to be worried that support from the West will fail. However,

Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the US National Security Council, believes that there is no reason to doubt the support for Ukraine. "We are focused on continuing to stand strong in our support for Ukraine as they defend their freedom against Russian aggression," she told NBC News.  

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Cold and wet on the front: "Can't even make tea" 

Eyewitness accounts from Russian forces in Ukraine indicate that the fight against the forces of nature is still a major concern for Russia, the UK Ministry of Defense writes in an intelligence report.  

During a military conference in Moscow on November 1, returning soldiers reportedly said they were "wet from head to toe" for weeks on the muddy front line. One of them said they couldn't even make a cup of tea because of the risk of a fire alerting the Ukrainian forces.  

The British point out that it is a challenge for any army to maintain a decent level of personal comfort, but that the very low level among Russian forces is probably partly due to a lack of motivated commanders and logistical support. ​

 

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Europe bought Russian gas for 5.5 billion - not decreasing 

Between January and September, the EU countries bought in roughly the same amount of liquid Russian fossil gas, so-called LNG, as during the corresponding period last year. That's according to a new report from the think tank Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.  

The bill for Russian gas during the period lands at just over 5.5 billion euros, according to the think tank.  

- We can and must reduce Russian LNG exports in order to eventually phase them out completely, said Kadri Simson, the EU's energy commissioner in Brussels in September, according to SvD.  

EU sanctions against Russian gas do not affect the liquid fossil gas.