The situation 1698 – November 14, 2026

1. US proposals for Ukraine’s possible NATO membership are implicit rejections of Russian demands to stop NATO expansion and reform the European security architecture.
2. Moscow not only remains committed to its original 2021 ultimatums to the United States and NATO but is also reportedly expanding its demands in order to completely dismantle the post-Cold War security architecture in Europe.
3. Russian President Vladimir Putin is committed to his original war aim of destroying NATO in order to reassert Russia’s control over its perceived sphere of influence in Europe and beyond.
4. The United States continues to call for the inclusion of European delegations in upcoming multilateral negotiations on the war in Ukraine.
5. The temporary localized ceasefire in Kostyantynivka that the Kremlin is requesting would likely facilitate Russia’s reinforcement of the southern flank of the Fortress Belt — allowing Russian forces to set conditions for renewed efforts to seize Kostyantynivka and Dobropillya.
6. Recent Russian mechanized assaults and the relatively high tempo of Russian attacks in the Kostyantynivka and Dobropillya directions on the southern flank of Ukraine’s Fortress Belt demonstrate the Russian military command’s prioritization of this sector of the frontline.
7. Ukrainian officials reported the sixth day of speed restrictions on SpaceX’s Starshield satellite network over parts of Ukraine, inhibiting Ukraine’s ability to effectively defend against the jet-powered drones that Russian forces launch from occupied Ukraine.
8. Russian forces recently advanced northeast of Lyman, and east of Slovyansk. Ukrainian forces recently advanced south of Novopavlivka and east of Oleksandrivka.
9. Russia launched 96 drones at Ukraine overnight.

The full update of the Russian offensive 1698 is available on UNDERSTANDING WAR