Witkoff has tried for two years to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. He has failed. He has not even made incremental progress. Maybe time to let someone else try? Every day of failure, after all, means that more people die. Time is of the essence.
This is my view of the situation as well. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul: "It must become clear over the next few days whether Russia is genuinely prepared to negotiate. At this point in time, we do not see that.
The author said the Kremlin had stated that Europe had no seat in Abu Dhabi, and argued that Europe had historically gained influence by holding leverage a deal depended on, rather than by demanding a place at the table. They cited sanctions, frozen assets, security guarantees and reconstruction as tools Europe had available and said it should negotiate from that position. #Diplomacy #Kremlin #Europe #RU #EU #AE
The 1st malaria vaccine is about to become 40% cheaper. Gavi & UNICEF have negotiated RTS,S down to €5.50 a dose from early 2027. The $50 million saved by 2029 could pay for the full 4-dose course for up to a million more children. buff.ly/uZvrkLJ #ShareGoodNewsToo
The author said the rest of the world faced a choice within a week: negotiate the treaty or allow AI to kill people.
The author wrote that Poland had said Eastern Europe and the Nordic countries would not be negotiated over. They described Russian gas as an incentive that would leave Europe paying for its own vulnerability, and argued that a pipeline did not amount to peace. #Polska #WschodniaEuropa #BezpieczeństwoEnergii #PL #EE #NO #RU #EU
The author argued that the European security framework rested on sovereignty, territorial integrity and the principle that no country could veto another’s security alliances. They said the framework Russia wanted to negotiate would instead give Moscow such a veto. #SeguridadEuropea #Soberanía #IntegridadTerritorial #EU #RU
The Trump regime puts the rapist Russia and the rape victim Ukraine in the same room and says that together they should "negotiate" a reduction in the level of violence. As a rapist himself, Trump has great affinity for this monstrously immoral position.
CAN DEMOCRATS RESTRICT TRUMP? So after that whole blue wave in America's elections, the most important question is – what happens next? How can Democrats actually stop Trump or limit his powers when it comes to all his ridiculous moves? A lot of people are celebrating the Democrats' victory as if these had been presidential elections, almost giving the impression that Trump is now completely screwed. Meanwhile, the other side, let's say MAGA fans, are claiming that this defeat means absolutely nothing and that Trump still has enough power as president to keep doing whatever he wants. Well, the reality is somewhere in the middle, and that's exactly what I'll try to explain. When it comes to impeachments, passing new sanctions against Russia and so on, Trump can veto pretty much anything in many cases. That means Democrats would need a two-thirds majority in Congress to override the president. And that's practically impossible, unless Trump goes so far off the rails that even Republicans decide they want to take him down. So let's put aside all the scenarios where Trump can simply oppose Congress and focus only on the areas where Democrats can ACTUALLY put pressure on him. With their majority, Democrats will have significantly more power to change things in US domestic politics, but foreign policy decisions are mainly in the hands of the president. And since what matters much more to us is America's future foreign policy, that's where we'll mainly focus. Now, for those expecting some major changes regarding the war in Ukraine or Iran... unfortunately, the situation is complicated. BUT not entirely hopeless. First, let's keep in mind that Democrats will only take control on January 3 next year. WHICH MEANS that until then, Trump still has two full months to make a whole lot of trouble. And knowing how many times Trump changes his mind and tactics in a single month, that's STILL a very long time. So we can only really look at what might change from the beginning of next year. The key points: **1)** From January 3, 2027, Trump will effectively have to operate within the limits of existing laws. Right now, while Trump and the Republicans still have an absolute majority, there are cases where Trump and his administration are effectively overstepping certain constitutional boundaries. BUT... since Republicans hold the majority in Congress, they can delay investigations into such violations, expand Trump's powers, or simply turn a blind eye to some of his scandals. From January 3, all that advantage disappears on these issues. Democrats will be able to launch investigations into various violations and even initiate presidential impeachment proceedings. I've already mentioned that actually removing him through impeachment is almost impossible, BUT... it would still be a lengthy legal process that would take Trump's attention away from other international schemes he might want to pursue. **2)** Trump won't be able to ratify certain major international agreements without Senate approval. Let's say, for example, some kind of supposed peace deal with the Russians to end the war. Democrats will have the tools to intervene and refuse to approve such agreements. Congress also has certain powers to block arms sales to other countries. So if Trump somehow got the idea to sell weapons to the wrong people, Democrats could block that too. The best example here would be when Xi visited Trump and Trump casually suggested that the US could sell weapons to China... Well, Democrats could definitely save not only America but all of us from that kind of stupidity. **3)** If Trump needs to appoint a new judge, a new Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, ambassadors or military commanders (generals), he won't be able to do so without Democratic approval. This probably matters most when it comes to military leadership, because Trump has recently been very keen on purging anyone who doesn't agree with his wishes. So the president will either have to work within the existing military leadership structure or risk being forced to accept a commander who is more acceptable to Democrats. **4)** Going back a little to impeachment and other investigations. Democrats will have the right to summon Republicans and members of Trump's team to testify before Congress. If you don't show up – you can face 1 to 4 months in prison. If you show up, lie, and get caught – up to 5 years in prison. So someone, somewhere might start sweating and end up revealing more than Trump would like. More about domestic scandals, more about behind-the-scenes deals with the Russians or Israel, and all of this would ultimately further DESTROY the Republican Party's public image. At the same time, it would also make it harder for the White House to get anything done. Congress can also demand access to documents. And here we're talking about all those Epstein files too. This won't happen with a single order, of course. There will be lengthy legal proceedings and political battles, but it is actually possible. **5)** I think this is the BIGGEST card Democrats have. The annual budget has to be approved every year. The functioning of the US government is quite often directly affected by a government shutdown when no agreement can be reached on the annual budget. Republicans themselves used this exact tactic when they had the majority, dragging out approval of military aid for Ukraine for a VERY long time. And exactly the same thing can happen to Trump. A Democratic Congress could simply refuse to allocate enough money for Trump's war in Iran. Or it could agree to provide the necessary funding for one of Trump's projects only on the condition that money is also allocated to support Ukraine, and so on. In other words, the possibilities are practically endless. A Democratic Congress could also rush to introduce and vote on new legislation they want to pass. Let's say, theoretically, Democrats decide to restore aid to Ukraine. Trump then vetoes those bills. In February, Trump submits his annual government funding plan for approval. And that's when Congress has to approve the various funding sectors. So imagine Democrats saying: "Either you approve funding for Ukraine, or we delay approval of your budget, and our soldiers don't get paid because there's no authorization to allocate the money." This is a simplified theoretical example, but essentially that's more or less how it works. A Democratic Congress will have much greater power over funding decisions, and Trump will be forced to negotiate. --------- So that's how it ultimately works out – Democrats won't exactly have a huge amount of power to influence Trump's foreign policy directly, BUT... They will have the power to influence him through domestic politics, and in that way they can still pressure Trump into changing his foreign policy, BECAUSE... Trump will simply be forced to compromise with Democrats in order to: 1) Get the funding he needs for his projects; 2) Get Democrats to approve his international agreements that require formal documentation; 3) Get Democrats to approve his new appointments to government positions. Everything will come down to internal negotiations, not one side having absolute power over every issue. This has been a fairly simplified explanation of the whole US domestic political system, BUT... The bottom line is that Trump's freedom of political action will be significantly reduced. BECAUSE he will no longer be able to act as arbitrarily as he does under Republican control. + That ridiculous MAGA wing of the Republican Party has, you could say, practically collapsed. The remaining Republicans will now think very carefully about whether to take part in the president's ridiculous schemes or whether it's better to save face and prepare for future elections. And all those investigations carried out by Democrats will play a role in this too. The more of Trump's dirty tricks come to light, the more Republicans will want to distance themselves from him. And the president's powers will shrink accordingly. --------- So that's the story behind all these changes in the US government following the elections, which, once again, will only take effect on January 3 next year. Until then, though, buckle up. We're definitely going to see more than one international outrage from Trump. Both the Russians and Israel still have plenty of time to take advantage of Trump's services without any restrictions. --------- Follow Me for more! And have a good day!
That Boris Johnson managed to persuade so many people he had negotiated a better Brexit deal than Theresa May when in reality it was a bodged capitulation, still remains astonishing. Have always thought there was a lot of misogyny influencing that perception.
The author wrote that efforts to negotiate peace with Russia over Ukraine had so far amounted to little more than a simulation of talks. They argued that a transactional approach would not bring peace and said Moscow was demanding Ukraine’s and Europe’s capitulation. #Ukraine #PeaceTalks #Russia #RU #UA #EU
Shocker. Maybe Melania didn’t actually negotiate the Oleshky ceasefire through shrewd diplomacy. Russia and Ukraine just came up with the idea to give her the credit. Apparently, they don't want it to look like they can reach such agreements without a mediator.
The author wrote that the Pope had urged governments to adopt a mandate at the CCW in November to negotiate a new legally binding agreement.
The author addressed Ilija Srdanović and students in Serbia, saying Kosovo was not theirs to give away or negotiate over and that its independence did not depend on their permission. The author also wrote that NATO intervened in 1999 and Serbian forces withdrew. https://t.co/IK5DMXEtHF #Kosovo #Serbia #Independence #XK #RS
The author wrote that 24 new Canadair aircraft from De Havilland would begin protecting Europe from wildfires from 2028, with 12 allocated to the rescEU fleet and 12 to EU countries. They said the aircraft had been negotiated in 2021 and would strengthen the response as fires became longer and more intense, describing the effort as cooperation between the EU and Canada to protect communities. https://t.co/Te6ZyAYnFE #Wildfires #EU #Safety #CA #EU
The author argued that increased pressure on Russia was necessary for it to take peace negotiations seriously. They said every contact with Russia should convey European unity, support for Ukraine and resolve to maintain pressure, while making clear that Europe would not negotiate away what the post called “the fundamental”. #Ukraine #Russia #Europe #RU #UA #EU
Diplomatic sources in the Gulf say Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman traveled to Tehran to negotiate a ceasefire with the Houthis that would see Riyadh transfer $1 billion to the group through Iran. One source claims the minister even brought the money aboard a military aircraft.
After a year in exile, Venezuela's opposition leader returns, ready to negotiate with the government. The EU welcomes her and calls for free and fair elections. #Venezuela #MaríaCorinaMachado #PoliticalDialogue
The author urged caution, saying Russia needed Europeans to return its frozen assets and lift sanctions. They wrote that Russia appeared to understand the United States could not force Europeans to do so, and said Russia also wanted to negotiate a restructuring. The post’s final reference to what would be restructured was cut off. #Russia #Sanctions #Negotiation #RU #EU #US
AFRICA DAILY REPORT — 25 OCTOBER 2026 1. Nigeria — Gunmen kill at least 40 people in Taraba state Importance: 10/10 — Critical Amnesty International reported at least 40 people killed after armed attackers raided Binnari village in northeastern Taraba state. Police initially confirmed 10 deaths; additional bodies were found on Saturday. Police said the assailants fired heavily and looted food from shops. The attackers' identity and motives had not been established. Source: Reuters, 24 October 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/gunmen-kill-least-40-people-northeastern-nigeria-amnesty-international-says-2026-10-24/ 2. Gabon — Offshore drilling rig sinks; five workers unaccounted for Importance: 10/10 — Critical Borr Drilling said its Prospector 5 rig sank off Gabon while preparing for a BW Energy drilling campaign. Five of the 115 people aboard were unaccounted for at the time of the announcement. The company said preliminary information indicated a seabed 'punch-through' during preloading that destabilised the rig. Search and rescue outcomes were not yet confirmed. Source: Reuters, 25 October 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/borr-drilling-rig-sinks-offshore-gabon-five-personnel-missing-2026-10-25/ 3. DR Congo — Clinical trial begins for vaccines targeting Bundibugyo Ebola Importance: 10/10 — Critical A new clinical trial called TUMAiNi began in Bunia, Ituri province, to evaluate candidate vaccines against the Bundibugyo Ebola virus among contacts of confirmed patients. Congo's National Institute for Biomedical Research is leading the trial with World Health Organization support. The initiative comes amid an outbreak with more than 9,000 confirmed infections in the country. Trial launch does not mean an approved vaccine is available. Source: Africanews / Associated Press, 24 October 2026 https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/24/new-tumaini-ebola-vaccine-trial-launches-in-bunia-as-drc-struggles/ 4. Kenya — Survivor rescued from Nairobi building collapse as others remain missing Importance: 9/10 — Very High A man was pulled alive from the rubble of an unfinished multi-storey building in Nairobi's Eastleigh district more than 24 hours after its collapse. The interior minister initially cited seven missing people; the Kenya Red Cross said it had received 31 missing-person reports, still subject to verification. Teams used sniffer dogs and thermal sensors as concerns grew over construction oversight. Source: Associated Press, 24 October 2026 https://apnews.com/article/kenya-building-collapse-nairobi-search-acdba9d2a215da372a28086979f6f6d5 5. Nigeria — President Tinubu launches campaign for January 2027 election Political/electoral development — Neutral coverage President Bola Tinubu formally opened his re-election campaign in Kaduna. He argued that economic reforms are beginning to yield results despite high living costs. Opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, are among his challengers; opponents dispute his account of the economy. Reuters identified the cost of living and insecurity as likely major election issues. The presidential vote is scheduled for 16 January 2027. Source: Reuters, 24 October 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigerias-tinubu-launches-re-election-campaign-economic-pain-tests-support-2026-10-24/ 6. Libya–Egypt — Tripoli offers talks over disputed Mediterranean maritime boundaries Political/diplomatic development — Neutral coverage Libya's UN-recognised prime minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah told Egypt's intelligence chief that Tripoli was ready to address Cairo's concerns about maritime boundaries and economic waters. Egypt had rejected a Libya–Turkey maritime agreement ratified by Libya's eastern-based parliament. Greece and Cyprus also oppose the accord. The dispute concerns overlapping maritime claims and potential energy exploration rights. Source: Reuters, 24 October 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/libyas-dbeibah-says-ready-address-egypts-maritime-concerns-2026-10-24/ 7. Morocco — Draft 2027 budget outlines MAD 400 billion in public investment Importance: 9/10 — Very High Morocco's draft 2027 Finance Bill envisages MAD 400 billion (about $40.7 billion) in public investment. Planned allocations cover transport, telecommunications, energy, water, housing and social infrastructure. Public enterprises and establishments account for MAD 251 billion, central budget-related channels MAD 124 billion and local authorities MAD 25 billion. These are proposals for 2027, not completed spending. Source: Morocco World News, 24 October 2026 https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/10/343652/morocco-sets-public-investment-at-mad-400-billion-for-2027/ 8. Uganda — Ebola travel precautions tightened despite no active domestic outbreak Importance: 9/10 — Very High Uganda reinstated traveller locator forms and temporarily restricted transit for people with recent travel to DR Congo while investigating the journey of a woman later diagnosed with Ebola in Nigeria. Authorities say the woman had no symptoms when leaving Uganda and that the country has no active Ebola cases. The infection's origin remains unresolved, and officials are cooperating with Nigeria on travel-history and genomic investigations. Source: Daily Monitor, 24 October 2026 https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/ebola-uganda-restricts-border-transit-reinstates-locator-forms-5643842 9. Central African Republic — Three former hostages return to Bangui after ten months Importance: 8/10 — High Three people kidnapped in Bambouti during the December election period returned to Bangui on a UN flight after about ten months in captivity. They included a local official and two National Election Authority staff members. President Faustin-Archange Touadéra welcomed them. Africanews reported that UN peacekeepers had negotiated with the Azandé armed group for their release. Source: Africanews, 24 October 2026 https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/24/car-former-hostages-greeted-by-president-touadera-on-return-to-bangui/ 10. Uganda — Shortages constrain rollout of twice-yearly HIV prevention injection Importance: 8/10 — High An Associated Press report from Mbarara described high demand for lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV-prevention injection, but limited local supply. Health workers said funding cuts have also reduced outreach and early testing. Uganda is among the countries receiving doses through international programmes, but available supplies remain insufficient for everyone who could benefit. Source: Africanews / Associated Press, 24 October 2026 https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/24/hiv-prevention-jab-offers-hope-in-uganda-but-doses-are-hard-to-find/ #AfricaNews #AfricaDailyReport #TopNewsOfAfrica #AfricaToday #Kenya #Nairobi #Eastleigh #KenyaBuildingCollapse #NairobiRescue #SurvivorRescued #SearchAndRescue #MissingPersons #ConstructionSafety #Libya #Egypt #LibyaEgyptRelations #MediterraneanSea #MaritimeBoundaries #MaritimeDispute #EnergyExploration #AfricanDiplomacy #Nigeria #TarabaState #NigeriaSecurity #ArmedAttack #CivilianCasualties #HumanRights #AfricanPolitics #AfricanSecurity #WrldOrg
