RH 12.17.25 | Russia: Peacekeepers, Power Cuts & Putin's Pushback

Strap in — today's episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast is a wild one. We're diving headfirst into the latest from Moscow, Berlin, Brussels, and the battlefields of Ukraine as the geopolitical chessboard lights up again. The U.S. and Europe are inching closer to a historic security deal that could reshape Eastern Europe for decades — a "NATO-like" pact that would make Ukraine the most heavily protected non-member nation in modern history. We break down what this new coalition could look like, who's bringing boots to the table, and how far the West is willing to go to stop another Russian invasion.  We've got exclusive updates on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's revelation that Western peacekeepers could repel Russian forces under a post-ceasefire plan — an eye-opening shift that's sending chills through the Kremlin. Meanwhile, Russia's doubling down on its "no compromise, no NATO" stance, reaffirming its claim to all five annexed regions and rejecting even the hint of foreign troops in Ukraine. But behind the bluster, there's a crack: Moscow now says it's "open to discussion." Translation — the pressure's working.  Over in Brussels, the EU is preparing to weaponize Putin's own money. Thursday's vote could unleash a €90 billion loan for Ukraine backed by €210 billion in frozen Russian assets. We unpack how Belgium became the unlikely gatekeeper of Moscow's cash, why London's being accused of sabotaging peace talks, and how the Kremlin's suing Euroclear for $230 billion in damages — because, of course, it is.  On the battlefield, Ukraine's drone army is rewriting warfare. The "Scythian Griffins" unit alone is flying up to 10,000 sorties a day, pounding Russian targets across Donbas and Zaporizhzhia. We've got updates on Ukraine's new long-range strikes inside Russia — from refinery fires to air defense hits — and how Kyiv's high-tech approach is colliding with Moscow's old-school brutality. Add in Russia's relentless winter drone blitz that's left over 700,000 Ukrainians in the dark, and the front lines are as electric as they are deadly.  Plus, Amazon drops a cyber bombshell — exposing a massive Russian hacking campaign targeting Western infrastructure — and South Africa gets dragged into the chaos after citizens are allegedly tricked into joining Russia's war.  It's diplomacy, deception, and digital warfare all in one jam-packed episode. From battlefield drones to frozen billions, today's pod delivers the sharpest take on what's driving the war — and what could finally stop it.  Listen now and stay ahead of the game — because when it comes to Russia, the plot never stops twisting.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit restrictedhandling.substack.com/subscribe