Europe breathed a deep collective sigh of relief on Monday, as the crisis triggered by Washington’s presentation of a new 28-point plan for ending the war appeared – briefly – to have been stabilised. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, spoke of “substantial progress” after Ukraine-US talks in Geneva. On Monday night, Vladimir Putin made his countermove: another massive barrage of missile and drone strikes on Kyiv.

The sequence of contrasting events captured the grim essence of the outgoing year. By day, diplomatic battles are fought: hopeful statements are issued from Washington, London, Brussels and Kyiv. Immense energy is expended on containing Donald Trump’s initiatives. By night, Putin brutally reminds the world that, for him, war remains the primary tool for achieving “peace”.

As Russia’s attack unfolded into the early hours of Tuesday, the immediate reality of Ukraine’s vulnerability was laid bare. Ukraine is able to track missile launches from Russian territory, a capability afforded by timely US intelligence. Outside my window, two Ukrainian air force fighter jets, which had been scrambled to intercept incoming cruise missiles, roared overhead – American F-16s, supplied to Ukraine by one of its European allies.

Moments later, Kyiv’s air-defence systems thundered: two sharp launches fired to intercept a Russian ballistic missile. This was a Patriot system at work, most likely delivered by the US or Germany. Every launch jolts you unexpectedly, shaking........

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