Russia appears to be preparing to test its new nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile. Photos show extensive activity at the Pankovo test site on the Barents Sea archipelago of Novaya Zemlya. Prep began long before Friday’s Alaska summit was announced. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-appears-ready-test-new-missile-he-prepares-trump-talks-researchers-say-2025-08-13/
As Russia struggles to get this experimental missile to work, the U.S. test-launched its 2nd unarmed Minuteman III ICBM of the year in May 2025. The missile flew 15,000 mph from Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA, and hit a designated target area in the Marshall Islands, more than 4,200 miles away. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-conducts-test-launch-of-minuteman-iii-icbm/
Russia appears to be preparing to test its new nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile. Photos show extensive activity at the Pankovo test site on the Barents Sea archipelago of Novaya Zemlya. Prep began long before Friday’s Alaska summit was announced. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-appears-ready-test-new-missile-he-prepares-trump-talks-researchers-say-2025-08-13/
Round and round, we go.
“Asked if Russia faces any consequences if Putin does not agree to stop the war after the meeting on Friday, Trump said, ‘Yes, they will. There will be consequences.’”
https://www.reuters.com/world/live-updates-zelenskiy-speaks-russia-after-call-with-european-leaders-trump-2025-08-13/?
Op-ed from the foreign ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, arguing that any territorial swaps with Russia won’t be temporary: “To entertain the idea of trading land for a fragile truce is to repeat the mistakes of the past — and to invite history’s darkest chapters to be repeated.” https://www.ft.com/content/7c571467-87b1-4771-9b49-a7f3766a6bcf
The argument here is perfectly rational, but I don’t think Putin is interested in “temporary” or “de facto” occupation, so I assume this text is intended mainly to disabuse Trump and company of delusions about “leaving hope for return [of seized lands] to Ukraine in the future.”
Oof: “Russia & the US have discussed Israel’s occupation of the West Bank as a model for ending the war in Ukraine. [..] Russia would have military & econ control of occupied Ukraine under its own governing body, imitating Israel’s de facto rule of Palestinian territory seized from Jordan in 1967.” https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/us-russia-deal-west-bank-occupation-ukraine-wfvnt6v6f
kids, send this story to your 🇺🇦
🇮🇱
-flags-in-their-account-names to see what they think
Oof: “Russia & the US have discussed Israel’s occupation of the West Bank as a model for ending the war in Ukraine. [..] Russia would have military & econ control of occupied Ukraine under its own governing body, imitating Israel’s de facto rule of Palestinian territory seized from Jordan in 1967.” https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/us-russia-deal-west-bank-occupation-ukraine-wfvnt6v6f
Surprisingly honest response from Trump here, though he immediately blames Biden and complains about the “Russia hoax.” Still, color me surprised.
Say what you will about Donald Trump, but “The Fake News is working overtime (No tax on overtime!)” is just good content.
Trump’s response to the FT report about “no Russia experts in the room in Alaska” is predictably ad hominem (though Bolton admittedly deserves such insults). Trump totally ignores the disaster he’s created at State. My takeaway is that he wavers between two extremes when it comes to Ukraine.
On the one hand, Ukraine’s defeat is assured, and the Russian war machine is unstoppable. On the other hand, the U.S. could snuff out Russia’s economy in the blink of an eye, “we’re winning everything,” and sanctions/tariffs will compel obedience from adversaries and allies alike.
Kevin Rothrock