Ukraine

During the call, which Trump took from his resort in Florida, he advised the Russian president not to escalate the war in Ukraine and reminded him of Washington’s sizable military presence in Europe, said a person familiar with the call, who, like others interviewed for this story, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter.

Peskov did not immediately respond to a request for comment. After this report was published, the Kremlin on Monday denied the call took place, with Peskov saying it was “completely untrue.”

YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8lmiXCsAlw

Day 990.

Today, we consider the Trump peace plan reportedly being mooted by his staffers, hear live from another vital summit of European leaders, and discuss a ‘shopping list’ of weapons and permissions Western leaders could action over the next two months to support Ukraine. Later, following the missile damage to Kharkiv’s iconic Derzhprom building, we do a deeper dive into the impact of this war on Ukrainian heritage and architecture.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.

James Crisp (Europe Editor). @JamesCrisp6 on X.

Michael Bohnert (Engineer & Researcher, RAND Corporation. @mbohnert on X.

With thanks to Ievgeniia Gubkina, Ukrainian architect, architectural and urban historian, and curator. @BartlettArchUCL on X.

Articles Referenced:

Trump mulls Ukraine peace plan: British troops patrolling an 800-mile buffer zone (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/07/donald-trump-ukraine-peace-plan-british-troops-buffer-zone/

Trump Promised to End the War in Ukraine. Now He Must Decide How (Wall Street Journal):

https://www.wsj.com/world/trump-presidency-ukraine-russia-war-plans-008655c0

YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEz0xFDe9CY

Day 989.

Today, as the White House seeks to send Ukraine as much as it can before Trump’s inauguration, we discuss the potential appointments the president-elect might make, and – later – hear about the mood near the frontlines to the political earthquake.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Jonah Goldberg (Editor-in-Chief, The Dispatch). @JonahDispatch on X.

Adrian Simpson (of Mission Ukraine). AdrianSimp85802 on X.

Dr Claudia Major (German Institute of International and Security Affairs). @SWPBerlin on X.

Mission Ukraine

You can learn more about the volunteer organisation here:

https://www.missionukraine.uk/

Content Referenced:

Trump’s victory means Europe has no choice but to arm – and fast (Francis in The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/07/donald-trump-victory-europe-now-has-two-months-save-ukraine/

Biden team prepares to rush last-minute aid to Ukraine (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/06/biden-trump-ukraine-assistance-00187897

Trump win casts fresh doubts over Wall Street's China strategy (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/markets/trump-win-casts-fresh-doubts-over-wall-streets-china-strategy-2024-11-07/

YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TmR3VHX27A

Day 988.

Today, as Ukraine hits a Russian naval base on the Caspian Sea and North Korean troops enter combat for the first time, we examine the fallout from the US presidential election and ask: is Donald Trump the best thing that’s ever happened to NATO?

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Adam Kinzinger (Former Republican Congressman, now senior political commentator at CNN) @AdamKinzinger on X.

Dr Dalibor Rohac (American Enterprise Institute Fellow & Eastern Europe expert) @DaliborRohac on X.

YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO4wGK4DzRM

Day 987.

Today, as Ukraine, and the world, waits with bated breath for the results of the US presidential election, we look at the situation on the battlefield as Moscow seeks to strengthen its foothold, and hear more about how ordinary Russians view the war.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

James Kilner (Moscow Desk). @jkjourno on X.

Content referenced:

'To Avoid Another Munich, Europe Must Act to Secure Ukraine' (100+ Experts' Letter):

https://www.democratic-strategy.net/_files/ugd/dcfff6_bc38b0fbac1b473bb5b0989446c08f67.pdf

China’s Xi Jinping poses as hunky Putin sidekick in FSB calendar (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/01/chinas-xi-jinping-poses-hunky-putins-sidekick-calendar/

Instruction manual for digging mass graves given to Russian troops (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/03/instruction-manual-digging-mass-graves-russian-troops/

Google Maps ‘reveals location’ of secret Ukrainian military positions (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/03/instruction-manual-digging-mass-graves-russian-troops/

Russia Suspected of Plotting to Send Incendiary Devices on U.S.-Bound Planes (Wall Street Journal)

https://www.wsj.com/world/russia-plot-us-planes-incendiary-devices-de3b8c0a

Stolen Cheese! (BBC)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ygw9ye90po

YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVHHeEzpgPY

Day 986.

Today, as Moldova resists alleged Russian meddling in Sunday's presidential vote, we report on how Russia is arming drones with thermobaric 'lung-busting' warheads, according to a leading Forensic Research Institute.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.

Content Referenced:

Russia Deploys Deadly New Weapon in Drone Race With Ukraine (Newsweek)

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-drones-shahed-race-deadly-new-weapon-1979040

Notable targets include the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, segments of the Crimean Tatar Muslim community, and various Protestant denominations, all branded as "undesirable" by the authorities.

A Ukrainian official told Reuters in July that most first person view units' target strike rate had fallen to 30%-50%, while for new pilots that can be as low as 10%, and that signal jamming was the main problem.

The official predicted that AI-operated first person view drones could achieve hit rates of around 80%.

YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAL-_4JS2dU

Day 983.

Today, we discuss the North Korean general sent to lead troops in Ukraine, hear the latest from Georgia, and consider the impact of the First World War on Putin’s worldview, and how the treaty that ended the battles of the Eastern Front serves as a warning for today.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.

Marika Mikiashvili (Analyst and Lecturer). @Mikiashvili_M on X.

Dr Thomas Clausen (Historian and Analyst). @DrThomasClausen on X.

Content Referenced:

Our sister podcast Battle Lines, which Venetia co-hosts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/battle-lines/id1712903296

Ukraine’s frontline is ‘crumbling’ against Russian advances, says general (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/30/ukraine-crumbling-russia-zelensky-victory-plan-kyiv/

North Korea’s new ICBM missile records longest flight time yet (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/31/north-korea-new-icbm-missile-longest-flight-time/

Close ally of Kim Jong-un is leader of North Korean troops in Russia, says Ukraine (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/31/kim-jong-un-vladimir-putin-ukraine-pyongyang-troops-gen-kim/

South Korea weighs arming Ukraine after North Korean deployment (FT)

https://www.ft.com/content/e7ca9021-1321-46c8-9b0c-2009a4c0dd50

Mirror: https://archive.ph/5ewph