PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – SECDEF Hegseth said Wednesday that NATO membership for Ukraine was unrealistic and suggested that the country should abandon hopes of returning to its pre-2014 borders and prepare for a negotiated settlement with Russia backed up by international troops.
Ukraine’s daunting choice: Trading its land and people for future security. Restoring Ukraine’s economy is the most crucial element in ensuring the country’s very existence as a viable and secure state going forward.
‘Ceasefire’ or no, Ukraine says it still needs weapons. The U.S. and Russian leaders have agreed to “start negotiations immediately” to end the war in Ukraine, Trump said Wednesday after a phone call with Putin—adding that he would “inform” Kyiv of the conversation. But Ukrainian leaders have said that Putin’s broken promises make US military support essential for even a short-term ceasefire.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories ending the week from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:
NATIONAL SECURITY
Ex-Google boss fears AI could be used by terrorists or “rogue states” to “harm innocent people”.
HOMELAND SECURITY
A handful of employees inside the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) focused on countering disinformation and related influence operations have been put on administrative leave.
POLITICS
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not request more than $137,000 in repairs and upgrades to military housing at Fort McNair that will become his official residence. The Army undertook the repairs on its own since the more than 100-year-old home had sat vacant for a year and needed security upgrades.
Trump must decide soon if US jeans will still be made in Africa. Wrangler and Levi’s jeans rolling off East African production line are pure Americana, destined for U.S. stores like Walmart and JCPenney.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s longstanding bonhomie with Donald Trump could be tested as the Indian leader kicks off a visit to Washington on Wednesday, eager to avoid tariffs that have been slapped on others and threats of further taxes and imports.
US POWER OVERSEAS
CHINA THREAT
First US Navy crossing of Taiwan Strait of Trump administration ‘sent the wrong signal,’ China says, as a pair of U.S. warships made a rare, two-day trip through the Strait this week.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Russia’s stockpiles of Cold War-era weapons and larger population have allowed it to withstand heavy battlefield losses in Ukraine as the West fails to provide Ukraine the aid needed to mount a counteroffensive, according to a new report.
Based on one key economic metric, Russian defense spending eclipsed all other European countries combined last year and is projected to increase further in 2025, according to a leading UK defense think tank.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
SPACE THREAT
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Panamanians say the Canal is theirs and always will be.
Algeria says it’s the Russian new-generation Su-57 Felon fighter’s first export customer. This could help improve the fortunes of the Felon, which has so far suffered a failed partnership with India and limited Russian orders and deliveries.
Several injured after driver crashed vehicle into crowd in Munich.
US MILITARY
Navy jet crashes off San Diego coast; 2 crew members rescued.
Maintainers reload and refuel a ‘hot’ integrated combat turn F-35A for the first time, common for older fighters but has never been done before on the service’s fifth-generation jet.
END of PDB
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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Issue of Russian land grabbing. Have no REAL CLUE, but After some latter facts being spread ? I doubt it is too RESTORE old Mother Russia ? Based on, Ukraine’s offer ( RARE EARTH MINERALS ) for trade in further military aid . And No more ending War in a day by TRUMPY ?? And facts like GATES and other cronies wanting to destroy GREEN LAND and any other piece of GROUND to get GREEDY PAWS on ( RARE EARTH MINERALS ) It sounds like ? looks like ? just like the USA ( INDIAN Ground Land grabbing. ? Sure starting to STINK like a ? ( GREEDY DUCK ) !!!!!! After seeing the amount of land involved ? Ukraine needs to UNIFY with Poland and become the country ? PUL-U-RAIN-ASS ? Will at least have a tad more protection from RUSSIAN land grabbing, ? or maybe not if POLAND has any minerals, In that case , USA may resort back to land grabbing in PARTNERSHIP with Russia and do some kind of ( BIG GUY’s BUSSINESS SHARING ) ? As a whole, it sounds like, BUSSINESS AS USUAL ?????
So apparently the Trump administration believes that Putin and Russia should be “rewarded” for invading the Ukraine! If this is true, Putin will soon be invading more of his neighbors since it’s apparent that the USA and NATO will do nothing to STOP him!