Europe to Trump: Your Ukraine peace plan is no plan at all
Politico Europe, 20. November
“European and Ukrainian officials have rejected Donald Trump’s latest proposal for a lopsided peace deal that favors Moscow, warning that caving in to Russia will only encourage Vladimir Putin to attack NATO next.”
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“Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, told the U.S. president’s team that their 28-point blueprint for a ceasefire will fail without support from both Kyiv and European governments, which are now the biggest donors to Ukraine’s war effort.”
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“The U.S. proposal has triggered alarm in European capitals, in part because they were completely cut out of the process of drafting it, and mostly because, in the view of one official, it amounts to nothing more than Putin’s wishlist.”
Trump's full 28-point Ukraine-Russia peace plan
Axios
The first three points:
1. Ukraine's sovereignty will be confirmed.
2. A comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. All ambiguities of the last 30 years will be considered settled.
3. It is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries and NATO will not expand further. [LOL - Ed.]
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/20/trump-ukraine-peace-plan-28-points-russia
Trump piles pressure on Ukraine to accept Russia ‘peace’ deal
Politico Europe, 21. November
“The disputed 28-point proposal has put Kyiv on the verge of a “very difficult choice” as a brutal winter looms, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-volodymyr-zelenskyy-ukraine-russia-peace-plan/
By Paul Goble
The Atlantic
“USA ‘rahuleping’ – demokraatia müümine vallutushullu diktaatori rahulolu nimel.”
Jüri Toomepuu, Postimees Arvamus
“Kristi Raik: rahuplaan pole midagi, mida Ukraina võiks heaks kiita.”
Postimees
Helsinki Times
“World reacts to Russia–Ukraine ‘peace plan’.”
Meduza
“Swedish PM critical of US and Russia peace plan.”
Radio Sweden
“Ukraine must be party to any peace talks, Polish PM insists.”
Radio Poland
“Putin threatened to seize more territory if Kyiv rejects the proposal.”
The Moscow Times
“Russia paying lip service to Trump with new peace plan, warns Kaja Kallas.”
Euronews
EU News
The Guardian
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Eestlased ei jaksa süüa osta
Ãœlle Harju
Postimees
“Eurostati avaldatud toidu, jookide ja tubaka jaemüügiandmete järgi kukkus Eesti Euroopa Liidu riikide seas tänavuse ja mulluse septembrikuu võrdluses viimaseks, vähem ja odavama toidukraami ostmist kinnitavad ka toidupoeketid.”
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“Maksu- ja hinnatõusude tõttu ei jaksa meie inimesed enam senises koguses toitu osta, oleme taas ühe musta edetabeli tipus,’ kommenteeris Eurostati tabelit Eesti konjunktuuriinstituudi direktor Peeter Raudsepp.”
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‘Toidu ostmisel allahindluste jahtimine ja toodete asendamine odavamate alternatiividega on juba aastaid kestev igapäevane võte kulude kokkuhoiuks.”
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“Norstati poolt oktoobri lõpus läbi viidud uuringu kohaselt oli 64 % inimestest täiesti nõus või pigem nõus, et kui toidukaupade käibemaksu langetataks, jõuaks see hinnalangetusena tarbijateni.”
Israeli Embassy Inaugurated in Tallinn
FJC
“… on the very street where Tallinn’s former synagogue and Jewish community center once stood—both destroyed in the past.”
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“In a symbolic and heartfelt ceremony, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar inaugurated the new Israeli Embassy in Tallinn, Estonia, alongside his Estonian counterpart, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. The event marked a deepening of ties between the two countries and included the affixing of a mezuzah at the embassy’s main entrance.”
https://fjc-fsu.org/israeli-embassy-inaugurated-in-estonia-with-mezuzah-ceremony/
Drooni Õppeprogramm
‘Kuri Kotkas’
Eveliis Vaaks
Trialoog
“… tahab tõsta tuhanded eestlased sõna otseses mõttes õhku. Huvilised saavad kursuselt kaasa militaarkallakuga droonilendamise algoskused. Nende hulgast võiksid kasvada välja päris droonipiloodid, kes suudaksid hakata riigikaitset otseselt toetama.”
https://trialoog.taltech.ee/taavi-kotka-kui-tahad-muutust-tuleb-kaed-kulge-panna/#
“Inside Estonia’s plan to train a new drone army.”
Estonian World
The Baltic Sentinel
Estonia’s Warning: Russia Will Return With More Troops in ‘Two Years or Less’
Kyiv Post
“Estonia’s top diplomat, Margus Tsahkna, hit the U.S. capital early this week with a message tailor-made to cut through the DC political fog: the Russian threat isn’t just real – it’s on a clock, and that clock is ticking down to a major military buildup on NATO’s eastern flank.”
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“In a dual-track warning delivered to both the bipartisan Helsinki Commission and the Atlantic Council, Tsahkna laid out a stark deadline: Russia’s military machine, though bloodied in Ukraine, will “return to our Baltic borders with even more troops and military equipment than they had before the full-scale invasion” within “two to three years, or less.”
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/64408
“It's not only about Ukraine': Estonian foreign minister warns of Russia's aggression.”
NBC News video
“Välisminister Tsahkna New Yorgis: ÃœRO reform nõuab julgust ja ambitsioonikust.”
Välisministeerium
New York City Honors Estonian Diplomat Ernst Jaakson
By Paul Goble
“… who embodied the principle that force alone cannot destroy a state, if its people and the leaders of the international community refuse to accept such actions.”
https://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2025/11/ernst-jaakson-way-new-york-city-honors.html
“Välisminister avas New Yorgis Ernst Jaaksoni nime kandva tänavaosa.”
ERR
“Ernst Jaakson Way opened on 34th St. New York.”
Estonian World Review
Estonian World
“A career spanning 79 years - regarded as the world's longest-serving diplomat.”
ERR
When Estonia Stood Firm
Remembering The 1924 Communist Coup
Deep Baltic, October 2025
“In 1924, Estonia was not only a young nation — having declared independence just six years earlier — but it was also emerging from two years of economic hardship. Believing they could take advantage of a period of weakness, the Soviet Union orchestrated a coup attempt that aimed to topple the Estonian government and establish a communist regime. Nearly 300 Soviet-backed Comintern operatives, trained and armed in Moscow, were sent to Estonia to lead the coup. The plan was nothing short of audacious, and envisaged coordinated attacks in Tallinn, with additional riots planned in Tartu, Narva, and other major cities. …”
https://deepbaltic.com/2025/10/20/when-estonia-stood-firm-remembering-the-1924-communist-coup/
The first 20 years of Estonia’s independent economy
1920–1940
Eesti Pank
“This was the time between the two world wars, and the surviving statistics do not cover the whole of it, so it is really only possible to analyse the period starting in 1920, after the War of Independence, until 1939, which was the last year before the Soviet occupation in 1940.”
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“Russia stands accused of attaching underwater sensors on the sunken wreck of the ferry Estonia.”
Deeper Blue
“Estonians buying less and cheaper food.”
ERR
“Estonia joins group developing next-gen infantry fighting vehicles.”
ERR
“Interview: China’s Ambassador to Estonia Guo Xiaomei.”
The Baltic Times
“Estonia strengthens air-defence readiness.”
Estonian World
“Italian Air Force Unit to Rotate at Ämari.”
Postimees
“Cloud services provider's outages disrupted organizations' work in Estonia.”
ERR
“Suvepealinna esimene jõulupuu jõudis Lottemaa lähistelt pärale.”
Postimees
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Around the Baltic Sea
Lithuania: ’We are reaching the hot phases of escalation in Russia’s hybrid war’
Politico Europe
“The comment came after Poland concluded that a Sunday explosion that damaged railway tracks in the east of the country had been an act of sabotage backed by the Kremlin. … Despite the Polish incident, the scope of the Kremlin’s actions is far wider.”
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“Everyone thinks that on the eastern front line it is always more intense — it is not — when you count the real cases of sabotage elsewhere in continental Europe, there were more than there were in the Baltics and in Poland.”
“The Baltic states are focusing on long-term border defence plans.”
Novaya Gazeta
“Poland to deploy up to 10,000 troops to counter sabotage.”
Radio Poland
NATO Packs the Baltic Sea With Submarines
The Baltic Sentinel
“On November 10, NATO began Exercise Merlin, a large-scale anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drill involving submarines, surface ships, and maritime patrol aircraft from across the alliance. Sweden’s recent accession to Alliance plays a major role. … Sweden’s submarine fleet — known for its low detectability and air-independent propulsion systems — has a notable history. For example, during a 2005 U.S. Navy exercise, a Swedish Gotland-class submarine easily carried out a simulated “sinking” of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, showcasing its stealth and tactical value.”
“NATO allies are strengthening their anti-submarine capabilities this week in the Baltic Sea.”
Stars and Stripes
“With Sweden, Baltic Sea now a lake full of NATO submarines.”
Breaking Defense
“US P-8 aircraft ‘hunts’ German, Swedish subs in Baltic Sea.”
Defense News
A Military Schengen by 2027
EU News
“The European Commission presents a military mobility package: harmonised and simplified procedures for moving assets and troops between member states and an EU-wide contingency framework. Four military corridors and around 500 focal points identified.”
“Commission moves towards ‘Military Schengen' and transformation of defence industry.”
European Commission press release
Euronews
“Plan to speed tanks and armies across Europe in case of war.”
RFERL
“EU executive has pledged to ease red tape.”
The Guardian
“The European Military Mobility Enhanced Response System gives military priority access.”
Politico
Soome metsaomanikud muretsevad kliimamuutuste mõju pärast metsadele
ERR
“Eestis on üle 100,000 erametsaomanikku, kellele kuulub umbes pool siinsetest metsadest. Soomes aga on erametsaomanikke ligikaudu 620,000 ja nemad omavad 60 protsenti oma riigi metsadest. Ãœhiskond ootab metsadelt samaaegselt mitme rolli täitmist, millega metsaomanikud peavad toime tulema. Metsast on vaja nii puitu, elurikkuse hoidmist kui ka näiteks süsiniku sidumist. Samal ajal seavad kliimamuutused ohtu metsade elujõulisuse. Seni on vähe teada, kuidas sellised koormavad ootused mõjutavad metsaomanike vaimset heaolu.”
Nordic and Baltic countries contribute the most in GDP terms to Kyiv
Politico Europe
“… but it is not sustainable. The EU must seize Russia’s frozen assets, Maria Malmer Stenergard believes, because any other solution would be unfair to Ukraine’s biggest backers. … Belgium has so far refused to allow the EU to tap Russia's frozen assets, which are kept at the Brussels-based Euroclear depository.”
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“Lätis uhtus meri kaldale drooni.”
Postimees | BNS
“Another drone washes up on Latvia's shore.”
LSM
“From Florist to Drone Maker.”
BBC
“Another busy week for the Baltic air police.”
LSM
“Moscow Plans to Build Infrastructure on Norway’s Svalbard.”
Window on Eurasia
“Finland secures €1b EU loan for defence spending.”
Yle
“Europe's standoff with Russia's shadow fleet.”
BBC
“Poola sulgeb raudteesabotaaži järel viimase allesjäänud Vene konsulaadi.”
ERR
“GPS jamming in Baltic Sea leads to revival of traditional navigation methods.”
Radio Sweden
“Stubb kutsus Trumpi suurendama survet Putinile.”
ERR
“Chinese car brands are steadily gaining ground in Finland.”
Daily Finland
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Zelenskyy faces the biggest corruption scandal of his presidency
Carnegie Endowment | Atlantic Council
“About six months ago, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted a large-scale operation against investigators from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), an independent bureau established in 2015 on Western recommendations to combat corruption in the upper echelons of power without having to defer to traditional law enforcement agencies, often implicated in high-profile investigations.”
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“The justification given for the SBU operation was that NABU investigators were collaborating with fugitive pro-Russian politicians and the Kremlin.”
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“On 10. November, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) exposed an alleged $110 million corruption scheme at state-owned nuclear company Energoatom. The charges are supported by a fifteen-month wiretap and over seventy searches carried out as part of a major investigation called Operation Midas.”
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https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/politika/2025/11/ukraine-corruption-scandal?lang=en
“Ukraine’s Biggest Anti-Corruption Cases Expose a System That Works.”
United24
Putin’s Forever War
The Future of Russia:
Relationship Between External and Internal Change
By James Sherr
ICDS commentary
“In a recent statement, the Russian oppositionist, Vladimir Kara-Murza, said that ‘the only thing that will bring peace and security to Ukraine is political change in Russia.’ My view is the opposite. The greatest influence on Russia’s future will be the outcome of the war in Ukraine.”
https://icds.ee/en/the-future-of-russia-the-relationship-between-external-and-internal-change/
How Britain replaced the U.S. as Russia’s villain of choice
The Guardian
“Russia regards itself as on a par with the United States,” said Capt John Foreman, the UK’s former defence attaché to Moscow. “Now they can’t criticise Trump directly, so who do you blame for your woes, for the losses in Ukraine, for a million casualties? You blame the closest thing, the British. It’s easy to portray us as the root of all Russia’s problems.”
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“This year, Russia’s foreign intelligence service (SVR) said: “London today, like on the eve of both world wars, is acting as the main global warmonger”.
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“It is a mantle Britain has worn on and off for more than two centuries, in Russia’s view. …”
‘The Wizard of the Kremlin’
Meduza
“The French film studio Gaumont has released the first trailer for The Wizard of the Kremlin, a movie about Vladimir Putin’s early political career and rise to the presidency. Directed by Olivier Assayas, the film features Jude Law as Putin.”
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“A young Russian filmmaker becomes an unlikely advisor to Vladimir Putin as he rises to power in post-Soviet Russia, navigating the new era's complexities and chaos.”
Russian Firms Rapidly Falling Behind in Paying Workers
By Paul Goble
Jamestown Org.
“… with wage arrears increasing by at least four times over the last year - sparking strikes in industries including those related to defense. … the increase since Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine is attracting attention.”
https://jamestown.org/russian-firms-rapidly-falling-behind-in-paying-workers/
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Business Basics - video
“To force deserters back to war, Russia’s military tortures their families.”
Meduza
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