Evening Brief: Trump-Putin Summit Yields Tentative Breakthrough, US Seek Shipbuilding Partnerships in South Korea and Japan

· Guy D. McCardle

Trump shakes hands with Putin at the conclusion of the Alaska Summit. (Image grab via X)

Trump-Putin Summit Yields Tentative Breakthrough on Ukraine Security Guarantees

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached a tentative understanding during their Alaska summit that could allow the US and European allies to offer Ukraine NATO-style security guarantees as part of a potential peace deal, according to US envoy Steve Witkoff on Sunday.

Witkoff called Russia’s agreement “game-changing” and said it was the first time Moscow signaled openness to an Article 5-like arrangement, referring to NATO’s collective defense clause.

The proposed guarantees would serve as an alternative to full NATO membership, which Russia has long opposed.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the specifics, including enforcement and structure, are still under discussion with European allies.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Union leaders are meeting with Trump at the White House on Monday to address these details and broader peace terms.

Russia also agreed to pass legislation pledging not to violate European borders or seize more Ukrainian territory.

European leaders welcomed the shift and are working on plans to provide training, equipment, and possibly deploy allied forces to bolster Ukraine’s defense post-conflict.

Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism but insisted that any territorial concessions must be based on current front lines, not Russian demands for the full Donbas region.

Trump’s pivot from ceasefire talks to a full peace deal reflects confidence in diplomatic momentum, though officials, including Rubio, warned that a final agreement remains distant.

 

State Department Halts Gaza Visitor Visas After Political Pressure and Online Backlash

The US State Department has suspended all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza following political pressure and viral online criticism led by conservative activist Laura Loomer.

The move comes amid scrutiny over a small number of temporary humanitarian visas issued for injured children from Gaza to receive medical treatment in the United States.

Loomer posted videos of the children’s arrival in San Francisco and Houston, questioning how they obtained entry and labeling the situation a “national security threat.” She tagged several prominent officials, including President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling for accountability.

Rubio confirmed on Sunday that the administration was reviewing the visa process after multiple congressional offices raised concerns about alleged links between humanitarian groups aiding the evacuations and terrorist organizations like Hamas. Rubio did not provide specific evidence or name the organizations involved.

The group at the center of the controversy, HEAL Palestine, defended its role, stating that it is a US-based nonprofit focused solely on providing urgent medical care to severely injured Palestinian children. The organization emphasized that its medical visa program is not for refugee resettlement and that families return to the Middle East after treatment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations have repeatedly urged nations to support more medical evacuations from Gaza, where the health system has collapsed under the pressure of Israel’s military campaign. WHO estimates more than 14,800 patients still need urgent care unavailable in Gaza.

The State Department has not disclosed how many visas were granted or whether Loomer’s posts directly influenced the visa halt.

Secretary Rubio said the program is on hold while the administration reassesses how vetting is conducted and what role aid groups played in the process.

 

US Lawmakers Seek Shipbuilding Partnerships in South Korea and Japan to Counter China’s Naval Expansion

Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) are visiting South Korea and Japan to explore shipbuilding partnerships aimed at boosting the United States’ maritime capacity, which remains far behind China’s.

The lawmakers plan to meet with major regional shipbuilders to discuss joint ventures focused on constructing and repairing noncombatant vessels for the US Navy and investing in American shipyards.

Duckworth, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, stressed the urgency of rebuilding naval support infrastructure.

The Navy’s current auxiliary fleet is aging and too small, and delays in ship maintenance (sometimes up to two years) undermine readiness. She highlighted that US shipbuilding capacity today is lower than it was in 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The US accounted for just 0.1% of global shipbuilding in 2024, while China produced 53%, followed by South Korea and Japan. China recently formed the world’s largest shipbuilding firm, China State Shipbuilding Corporation, which builds everything from aircraft carriers to nuclear submarines and holds 21.5% of the global market.

Hanwha Ocean in South Korea recently completed maintenance on the USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE-8), marking the first US Navy vessel overhaul under a 2024 repair agreement. Hanwha’s parent company, Hanwha Group, also acquired Philly Shipyard in 2024.

South Korea has proposed a $150 billion investment in the US shipbuilding industry to support President Donald Trump’s “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again” initiative.

Duckworth noted previous talks with Hyundai Heavy Industries about acquiring US shipyard stakes.

The senators’ trip aims to accelerate foreign cooperation to enhance the Navy’s logistical capabilities and reduce maintenance bottlenecks by leveraging allied shipyards in the Indo-Pacific.

 

Mass Protests in Israel Demand Hostage Deal as Gaza Offensive Looms

Israeli police arrested 38 people Sunday during one of the largest protests since the war began nearly two years ago.

Tens of thousands rallied across the country demanding a deal to secure the release of approximately 50 hostages still held in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Organized by hostage families, demonstrators blocked highways, lit fires, and called for an end to the war to save lives.

Protesters, including former military officials, warned that a new offensive in densely populated parts of Gaza could jeopardize the remaining hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected those calls, reaffirming that the war would continue until Hamas is defeated. His far-right coalition members oppose any ceasefire or deal that leaves Hamas in power.

Israeli forces are preparing a new ground assault targeting Gaza City, Muwasi, and central areas, with plans to evacuate civilians south. But many Palestinians refuse to move, citing repeated strikes on so-called safe zones.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reported over 61,900 deaths since the war began, including rising malnutrition-related fatalities. On Sunday alone, Israeli fire killed at least 17 aid-seekers waiting near the Morag corridor.

In Yemen, Israeli airstrikes hit a power plant near the capital, Sana’a, in retaliation for recent Houthi drone and missile attacks. The Houthis claimed they targeted Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, but Israel reported successful interception.

With international criticism growing over Gaza’s humanitarian collapse, images of starving Palestinian children have begun appearing at Israeli protests, reflecting shifting public sentiment. Still, Netanyahu’s government shows no sign of halting military operations, despite escalating domestic pressure and humanitarian alarm.

 

Spain, Portugal Deploy More Forces as Wildfires Rage Across Southern Europe

Spain has deployed 500 additional troops to battle wildfires, bringing the total number of soldiers on the ground to over 1,900. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed the move on Sunday as firefighters continued to combat 12 major wildfires near Ourense in Galicia.

Regional leader Alfonso Rueda reported evacuations and lockdowns due to ongoing threats to homes.

Extreme heat continues to drive fire risk across Spain, with the national weather agency AEMET warning of temperatures reaching 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) and declaring an “extreme” wildfire threat for most of the country. Fires have already scorched 158,000 hectares nationwide, roughly the size of metropolitan London.

International support is en route. Dutch planes will join aircraft from France and Italy already assisting Spain. Additional foreign firefighters are expected in the coming days. Meanwhile, Renfe suspended high-speed rail services between Madrid and Galicia.

Galicia also advised residents to wear face masks and stay indoors due to heavy smoke.

Portugal is shifting into cooler weather but remains on alert. Over 4,000 firefighters and 1,300 vehicles were mobilized Sunday, supported by 17 aircraft.

The country has lost 139,000 hectares of forest so far this year. That’s 17 times more than in 2024.

Elsewhere, Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Albania have requested European Union firefighting aid.

Turkey evacuated parts of the Gallipoli region Sunday as fires threatened World War II memorials. Six villages were evacuated in Canakkale province, with 1,300 personnel and 30 aircraft deployed. Fires have killed 19 in Turkey since June, driven by heat, drought, and strong winds.

The European Union’s Copernicus service reports the continent has warmed at twice the global rate since the 1980s, increasing wildfire vulnerability.

 

Sources: News Agencies