War nears new phase, Sunak under pressure and a divisive drug

In the trenches of eastern Ukraine, much of the conflict with Russia has been frozen for several months now. But, as the northern winter moves on, that could be about to change. Military activity is increasing steadily and it is assumed that, sooner or later, one side will try to break the deadlock. The question, as Julian Borger writes for this week’s big story, is who will strike first and where?

Germany’s decision to send its Leopard tanks to Ukraine last week may prove decisive in the battle to push Russian forces back, but as German journalist Jan-Philipp Hein points out, Berlin’s military support for Kyiv remains far from wholehearted.