Russia is gearing up to launch an attack on NATO countries next year, and Donald Trump has no concrete strategy to bring the war in Ukraine to an end, Volodymyr Zelensky cautioned yesterday.

The Ukrainian president, joined by Sir Keir Starmer, pushed back against the White House following concessions the U.S. president proposed in a potential Ukraine-Russia peace deal.

His remarks came in response to reports that on Wednesday, Trump had a 90-minute conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the ongoing conflict— a revelation that has caused widespread alarm.

President Zelensky warned that intelligence reports suggest Putin is preparing for war against NATO next year, with Russia planning to deploy 150,000 troops to Belarus as a possible launch pad for invading the Baltics or Poland.

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ruled out Ukraine joining NATO, calling its goal of reclaiming all occupied territories “delusional.” He also stated the US won’t fund or take part in post-conflict peacekeeping, potentially shifting the burden to allies like Britain.