The focus of former President Trump’s plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war appears to be driven by profit rather than peace, with envoys like Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner negotiating with Russian officials to position U.S. businesses, including those connected to Trump, to benefit from the war’s conclusion. Central to these discussions is the potential utilization of $300 billion in frozen Russian assets for joint ventures, such as exploiting Arctic resources and potentially acquiring the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. These ventures aim to revitalize Russia’s economy, potentially at the expense of Ukraine’s sovereignty, as evidenced by a controversial peace plan drafted by Witkoff and based on a Russian proposal. Although the specifics of how Ukraine would benefit are unclear, the plans have generated criticism from Europe and within the U.S., leading to amended peace proposals.
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Historian Jean-Pierre Filiu, who spent time in Gaza, reported witnessing evidence of Israeli support for looters who attacked aid convoys. According to Filiu’s account, Israeli military attacks on security personnel protecting aid allowed looters to seize vital supplies, exacerbating famine threats. In one instance, he observed Israeli quadcopters supporting looters’ attacks on local security forces, while also targeting those protecting the aid. Filiu argues that Israel’s actions aimed to discredit Hamas and the UN, while facilitating the redistribution or resale of aid by pro-Israeli groups. Although Israeli officials deny these charges, Filiu’s allegations echo concerns raised by some aid officials and highlight the complex challenges surrounding humanitarian aid during the conflict.
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European officials are concerned about the US’s shifting stance on Russia, especially regarding potential peace plans. Kaja Kallas highlighted Russia’s history of invasions, emphasizing its consistent aggressive behavior, which contrasts with the views of some US figures, particularly those aligned with Donald Trump. A US-Russian plan, revealed by the article, favors Russia in negotiations, prompting European leaders to recognize the potential betrayal of Ukraine’s sovereignty and the weakening of the transatlantic alliance. Europe is now working to counter these plans and ensure Russia’s future military aggression.
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Ukrainian security sources have confirmed that underwater drones were used in attacks on two tankers, part of Russia’s shadow fleet, in the Black Sea. The strikes, which occurred on the Gambian-flagged Virat and Kairos, resulted in critical damage, effectively taking them out of service and disrupting the transportation of Russian oil. The Virat, sanctioned by multiple countries, sustained damage over two days while the Kairos saw all crew members evacuated following an explosion and fire. Additionally, a mooring point at the Russian port of Novorossiysk was hit by a marine drone.
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On November 28th, Ukrainian Sea Baby naval drones successfully targeted two sanctioned Russian oil tankers, Kairos and Virat, off the coast of Turkey in the Black Sea. The strikes disabled vessels linked to the Kremlin’s shadow fleet, which is known for evading international sanctions by transporting Russian oil. Both tankers, en route to a Russian port, were empty at the time of the attack. The operation, a joint effort with the Ukrainian Navy, delivered a significant blow to Russia’s oil transportation capabilities.
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Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, verified Russian military deaths have reached at least 152,142, according to BBC Russian and Mediazona. This count is based on open-source reports and only includes Russian citizens, excluding fighters from the Donetsk and Luhansk republics. Regions like Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, and the Sverdlovsk region have recorded the highest numbers of confirmed fatalities. Furthermore, losses disproportionately affect residents of small towns and rural areas, and casualty levels appear to correlate with local budget reliance on federal subsidies.
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Reports indicate that the U.S. military may have committed war crimes in the Caribbean, targeting survivors of an initial strike on a vessel suspected of drug smuggling. Allegedly, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the killing of all individuals on the vessel, leading to a second strike that eliminated two survivors. Legal experts condemn the actions as violations of international law, and potential war crimes, regardless of the mission’s classification. The administration has denied any wrongdoing, however, and criticized Democratic lawmakers who have called for investigations.
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A recent study by Corisk and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs has revealed that a Russian military victory in Ukraine would be significantly more costly for Europe compared to a Ukrainian victory. The researchers outlined two scenarios: a Russian partial victory, which could lead to long-term political instability and a surge of refugees, resulting in costs ranging from €1.2 to €1.6 trillion due to defense spending and refugee-related expenses. Conversely, a Ukrainian victory, facilitated by substantial military aid, would cost Europe approximately €522–838 billion. The study highlights the urgency for Europe to support Ukraine as the United States’ support may wane, and the European Commission is exploring a reparations loan scheme to finance Ukraine’s needs.
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Jordan has urged Russia to cease recruiting its citizens into the Russian military following the deaths of two Jordanian nationals fighting for Russia. The Foreign Ministry communicated this message to Moscow and other entities involved in recruiting Jordanians. The ministry has warned of legal consequences for those who attempt to join the Russian army, as well as those recruiting and endangering Jordanians, while also working to stop the recruitment of Jordanians and seeking the termination of contracts for currently enlisted Jordanians.
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Following the launch of the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, an accident caused significant damage to the launch pad, including the collapse of the mobile service cabin. Footage suggests a service module remained in the rocket’s exhaust duct, contributing to the incident. The affected launch pad is the only operational platform for crewed missions to the ISS, potentially delaying all future Soyuz and Progress flights. Russia’s State Space Corporation ROSCOSMOS has acknowledged the damage and stated repairs will be conducted, however, no timeline has been announced.
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John Q. Hosedrinker