On a Russian state television program, presenters “congratulated” President-elect Trump on his victory by displaying nude photographs of First Lady Melania Trump from her modeling days. The presenters, appearing on the Kremlin-sanctioned show 60 Minutes, highlighted her past modeling career, specifically a 2000 GQ photoshoot, and suggested that she was prepared to return to the White House. This blatant display of Melania’s past, likely approved by Putin, served as a pointed reminder to Trump of Russia’s power and influence, potentially setting the stage for a relationship based on Russian terms. The Kremlin has historically used misogynistic attacks to assert dominance and may be attempting to influence Trump’s behavior through his wife, despite his silence on the matter.
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Driven by concerns about the potential impact of Donald Trump’s presidency on the war in Ukraine, Poland is seeking to build an alliance with Britain. Prime Minister Donald Tusk is set to meet with key figures including Sir Keir Starmer and President Macron to discuss the matter. These concerns stem from recent actions by Trump, including his son’s taunting of President Zelensky on social media and reports of a phone call with President Putin urging him to de-escalate the conflict. Despite the Kremlin’s denial, these actions have fueled apprehension in Poland about a potential Western sell-out of Ukraine under Trump’s leadership.
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Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX and Tesla, has been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the past two years, raising national security concerns due to SpaceX’s government contracts. These conversations, reported by The Wall Street Journal, have included discussions about personal matters, business, and geopolitics, including a request from Putin to Musk to deactivate Starlink satellite service over Taiwan. Musk’s relationship with Putin, coupled with his support for Donald Trump and his recent public statements about Ukraine, raise questions about his allegiances and potential influence on U.S. foreign policy. The Kremlin has denied the conversations took place, while the White House, Pentagon, and State Department have declined to comment.
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Ksenia Karelina, a US-Russian citizen, has been sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony for “high treason” after donating $51.80 to a pro-Ukraine charity. Her appeal against the sentence, issued in August and condemned by the US as “vindictive cruelty,” was rejected by a Russian court on Monday. The 32-year-old ballet dancer and spa worker was arrested in January 2024 during a visit to her family in Russia. Karelina is one of several US citizens and dual citizens imprisoned in Russia, prompting accusations from Washington that Moscow is holding them for potential exchange with Russians convicted abroad.
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Reports emerged that President Trump spoke with President Putin on Thursday, requesting he de-escalate in Ukraine and reminding him of U.S. troop presence in the region. While Ukrainian officials were allegedly aware of the call, Zelenskyy’s office was not informed and expressed doubt about its occurrence. The Kremlin has vehemently denied the call ever took place, labeling the reports “completely false.” Ukraine has repeatedly stated its opposition to any negotiations without their involvement and has proactively engaged with the U.S. on strategic matters, offering resources and troops to secure Europe post-conflict.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russia has deployed nearly 50,000 troops to Kursk, the region where Ukraine launched a successful counteroffensive in the summer. Despite this, Ukrainian troops continue to hold back the Russian advance. This comes as reports surface of North Korean troops joining the conflict, with Ukrainian sources claiming North Korean soldiers are already engaging in combat operations. This development follows Russia’s signing of a mutual defense treaty with North Korea, further solidifying the alliance between the two nations. Meanwhile, Ukraine faces the added challenge of a potential second Trump presidency, which could drastically alter the course of the war.
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With Donald Trump’s inauguration looming, French and British leaders are set to meet in Paris on November 11th to urge the Biden administration to allow Ukraine to launch deep strikes inside Russia using Western weapons. This push, driven by the desire to solidify Biden’s foreign policy legacy before the change in administration, comes amid concerns about Trump’s less resolute stance on Ukraine, which has been marked by calls for a quick end to the conflict, potentially involving Ukrainian concessions. Despite Ukraine’s repeated requests for permission to utilize weapons such as ATACMs and Storm Shadows, the Biden administration has yet to approve such actions. This summit represents a last-ditch effort to secure approval before Trump assumes office.
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President-elect Trump has reportedly spoken with world leaders, including Vladimir Putin, directly without the typical involvement of the State Department or government interpreters. This decision stems from Trump’s distrust of federal officials following leaked transcripts from his previous calls with foreign leaders. While Trump’s team is expected to eventually sign an agreement with the General Services Administration, which would establish a more formal protocol for these calls, the president-elect has opted for direct communication with world leaders in the interim. Trump has emphasized the importance of developing stronger relationships with these leaders, and his conversations with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have focused on de-escalating the conflict in Ukraine, despite ongoing military activity in the region.
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Ukraine is collaborating with the United States on new defense packages, primarily focusing on strengthening our air defense capabilities, crucial as we face continuous Russian strikes during the approaching winter. We are also actively seeking progress on obtaining long-range weaponry, and appreciate the recent decisions made by our partners, including France’s missile package, Canada’s support for NASAMS systems, and the UK’s sanctions against Russia. Furthermore, we are working with Lithuania on a new military package and with Sweden for maritime security support. To truly weaken Russia’s war machine, we need global isolation of all entities supporting its defense industry, ultimately undermining Putin’s confidence and paving the way for genuine diplomacy, which, combined with strength, is the only path to lasting peace.
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John Q. Hosedrinker