Notes and Essays -- John Brown

The demand from Putin would significantly disadvantage Ukraine and could be an obstacle to peace, officials said. Russian President Vladimir Putin  in a phone call  this past week with President Donald Trump demanded that Kyiv surrender full control of Donetsk, a strategically vital region in eastern Ukraine, as a condition for ending the war, said two senior officials familiar with the conversation. Putin has tried and failed to conquer the territory for 11 years, repeatedly repulsed by Ukrainian forces who are deeply entrenched in an area they believe is a major bulwark against a speedy Russian advance westward toward their capital.  focus on Donetsk suggests he is not backing away from past demands that have left the conflict in a stalemate, despite Trump’s optimism about securing a deal, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive closed-door discussions. Russia or Russian-backed separatists have claimed parts of the region since 2...

The demand from Putin would significantly disadvantage Ukraine and could be an obstacle to peace, officials said.  October 18, 2025 at 4:12 p.m  EDT Yesterday at 4:12 p.m. EDT   President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, in 2019. The leaders plan to meet in the coming weeks to discuss the war in Ukraine. (Susan Walsh/AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call this past week with President Donald Trump demanded that Kyiv surrender full control of Donetsk, a strategically vital region in eastern Ukraine, as a condition for ending the war, said two senior officials familiar with the conversation.   Putin has tried and failed to conquer the territory for 11 years, repeatedly repulsed by Ukrainian forces who are deeply entrenched in an area they believe is a major bulwark against a speedy Russian advance westward toward their capital.   Putin’s focus on Donetsk suggests he is not backing away from past de...

World News ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump bring a street party vibe to cities nationwide By The Associated Press Updated: October 18, 2025 at 7:18PM EDT Published: October 18, 2025 at 7:55AM EDT Demonstrator rally on Pennsylvania Avenue during a No Kings protest in Washington, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Jose Luis Magana/AP) WASHINGTON — Large crowds of protesters marched and rallied in cities across the U.S. Saturday for " No Kings " demonstrations decrying what participants see as the government’s swift drift into authoritarianism under U.S. President Donald Trump. People carrying signs with slogans such as “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” or “Resist Fascism” packed into New York City’s Times Square and rallied by the thousands in parks in Boston, Atlanta and Chicago. Demonstrators marched through Washington and downtown Los Angeles and picketed outside capitols in several Republican-led states, a courthouse in Billings, Montana, and at hundreds of smaller publi...

Elena Gold Follow [JB pardon the question: Who is, after all, the admirable Elena Gold? Details welcome. ] Question from the article: Why do you think Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with European leaders after his meeting with Trump? Zelenskyy talked to the European leaders after his meeting with president Trump in the White House, because it was the end of the day on Friday for Trump, who was scheduled to return to his home in Florida. “I spoke with our European partners – the leaders of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer, Germany Friedrich Merz, Italy Giorgia Meloni, Finland Alexander Stubb, Norway Jonas Gahr Store, and Poland Donald Tusk, as well as with the heads of the European Union Ursula fon der Leyen, Antonio Costa, Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte,” posted Zelenskyy. “ I shared details of my conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump. We discussed many important issues. The main priority now is to protect as many lives as possible, gua...

October 18, 2025, 2:07 p.m. Eastern time We’ve gathered the latest coverage on the places you’re following to keep you up to date.  News on the places you follow Ukraine Braces for New Talks Without the Leverage of New Missiles President Trump backed off selling Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv, opting instead for talks with Russia. Still, Ukraine’s negotiating position has strengthened since the summer. Because you follow:  Russia, Ukraine Backing Off Tomahawk Suggestion, Trump Again Defers to Putin At the White House, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine made the case for why a weapons sale would help end the war. Mr. Trump at first seemed receptive, then expressed reservations. Because you follow:  Russia, Ukraine

Truth About Russia  ·  Follow Answered by  Lynn Muskat 1y Zelenskyy is talking about retaking Crimea. President Putin warned him yesterday that if he attempts to do so, the Russian Federation will nuke Ukraine. Will Zelenskyy attempt to test the President's resolve? Yes, he will. Putin is seeking to use fear as a weapon. The truth is that Russia is losing the war in Ukraine. The evidence of this lies in the simple reality that, despite its best efforts, Russia has failed to conquer Ukraine. In a brutal and protracted war of attrition, Russia has been paying  dearly  in terms of lives and treasure, and the harsh reality is that Putin has  nothing  to show for it.  Nothing. Russia is not a better place because of Putin’s war, and the Russian people know this. When Crimea falls, it will be Putin who takes the blame. Using a nuclear weapon would be like playing Russian roulette with a loaded semi-automatic firearm. If you pull the trigger, you’re...