Europe is pushing deeper into the Ukraine war even as US-brokered talks edge forward, and that split could be bad news for anyone hoping for peace soon.

• The former NATO chief is pressing the UK to send troops into Ukraine, and the EU just extended its military training mission on Ukrainian soil — moves Russia has long said would cross a red line.
• Russia and the US made some progress on a prisoner swap in Abu Dhabi talks, but the big fights over territory and security remain unresolved, and Russia pointedly excluded European officials, accusing them of arming Ukraine while blocking any real peace.
• A Norway-based political scientist argues Europe's leaders are economically and politically weakening at home (collapsing approval ratings, rising energy costs, deindustrialization) yet are doubling down on war rhetoric because they have no other political card left to play.
• Russia has reportedly cut Ukrainian oil refining capacity by up to 30% with NATO-assisted strikes, while separate reports allege Ukraine is running detention sites where military-age men are held and abused — a story getting more attention.
• Ordinary Europeans are described as increasingly worn out by the war and resistant to any future conscription, even as their governments keep escalating.

Outlook: Expect continued incremental escalation from NATO-aligned Europe alongside slow, limited US-Russia-Ukraine diplomacy, with no real breakthrough toward peace expected soon.