In recent days, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have created controversy across Europe, from Munich to Kyiv. But this disruption flows from logical and strategic imperatives.
America has provided a blanket of protection over Europe for over 80 years, at enormous expense to hard-working U.S. taxpayers. Now, the United States faces two concurrent and related challenges. First, we struggle to manage a mountain of debt, with Bidenomics having exploded the federal government's total liabilities to over $36 trillion, making interest expenses the single largest line item of the entire federal budget. Second, unlike the Cold War, the most existential threat to America lies not across the Atlantic, but across the Pacific, in Beijing.
Accordingly, President Trump wisely insists on an America-first foreign policy of realism and restraint, demanding that wealthy Western European nations shoulder their own security burdens. He also rightly demands that those nations provide for the defense of Ukraine, and that the senseless war there come to a quick conclusion.
JD Vance, for his part, minced no words in relaying a serious admonition to the bureaucrats of Europe in his Munich Security Conference address earlier this month. Vice President Vance informed the assembled politicians and diplomats that if Europe insists on its current path of repressing free speech and inviting mass immigration, an alliance with America based on "shared values" cannot persevere. This divergence might shock European elites, but is hardly surprising given the rise of populist nationalism across the world, including in many European countries.
Turning back to Ukraine, Trump was elected on the promise to undo nearly every mistake of the Biden years, including blank-check support for Volodymyr Zelensky's war effort. In a series of statements and social media posts, Trump and his team have bluntly criticized Zelensky for his maximalist approach to the war and repressive tactics inside Ukraine.
These valid criticisms spur important conversations within America. After all, at a time of economic stress, with Americans struggling just to afford groceries after four years of Biden's inflationary crisis, should this country really borrow hundreds of billions of dollars to fund a stalemate war 6,000 miles away, encouraged by a corrupt regime in Kyiv using that very war to cling to power?
For example, Zelensky just unilaterally sanctioned former Ukrainian president and opposition politician Petro Poroshenko, freezing his financial assets. Zelensky ordered this punishing act of political repression without due process or court proceedings. Such extrajudicial restrictions are indeed the tactics of a dictator, the term President Trump used to describe the Ukrainian president.
Even worse, in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Zelensky brazenly told Ukrainians who are skeptical of him to simply leave the country. He stated: "If someone doesn't like [the way things are], they can choose another citizenship."
Not exactly Thomas Jefferson.
No wonder President Trump and others have grown tired of Zelensky. They demand that he get serious, help achieve a ceasefire, and hold long-overdue elections.
Consider the observations of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. As a senator, Rubio had been quite supportive of U.S. aid to Zelensky. But during these current talks to end the war, Rubio issued a harsh rebuke: "When you see [Zelensky] accusing [President Trump] of disinformation, that's highly counterproductive. President Trump isn't going to take that. He's not going to get gamed. He hopes Zelensky isn't trying to hustle the United States."
Warning a foreign president not to "hustle" America is not exactly standard diplomatic procedure from a secretary of state. But Rubio's remark reflects a growing impatience with Zelensky, and the urgency of a clean election in Ukraine. Regarding that plebiscite, the newest polling out of Ukraine, conducted by Socis and Gradus Research, shows that Zelensky would only earn 16 percent of the vote nationwide, and lose handily to General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the current Ukrainian ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Whatever the outcome of that election would be, the point is that the decision must be made by the citizens of Ukraine, not Western "experts" or defense contractors. After years of brutal fighting and a regime in Kyiv that for many years has been widely regarded as systemically corrupt, a better future lies ahead for Ukraine and for America.
After a negotiated settlement, Ukraine can begin to rebuild, with the preponderance of the outside assistance emanating from Europe, not the United States. Then, America can direct its focus and resources to more pressing threats in the Pacific and domestic challenges at home.
Steve Cortes was former senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance, former commentator for Fox News and CNN, and president of the League of American Workers, a populist right pro-laborer advocacy group.
Original article links: Newsweek, Patria with Steve Cortes
TIPP Takes
Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More
1. Donald Trump Scores Panama Canal Win - Newsweek World
Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison announced Tuesday that it is selling its controlling stake in a unit managing Panama's ports to a consortium that includes BlackRock, the world's largest asset management firm.
The move comes as President Donald Trump's administration intensifies efforts to limit Chinese influence in the region. CK Hutchison has managed the ports at the Panama Canal's Pacific and Atlantic entrances for over 20 years. While not directly financially linked to the Chinese government, Hong Kong-based companies remain subject to state oversight.
2. Zelenskyy Calls Oval Office Blow-Up ‘Regrettable,’ Says He’s Ready For Peace Talks, Mineral Deal - Washington Times
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed regret over the heated Oval Office meeting with President Trump last week and said he’s ready to strike a peace deal with Russia and a mineral deal with the U.S.
The contentious meeting on Friday erupted over U.S. wartime support for Ukraine. Mr. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance accused Mr. Zelenskyy of not showing enough gratitude for the billions of dollars in U.S. aid, while the Ukrainian leader argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted to honor a negotiated deal to end the fighting.
Link to Zelensky's Statement on X
3. U.S. Pauses All Ukraine Military Aid Amid Trump-Zelenskyy Rift - Kyodo News
"We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution," a White House official said on condition of anonymity, adding Trump is focused on peace and hopes other countries will also work toward that end.
"America will not put up with it for much longer," Trump said in a social media post, referring to the Ukrainian leader's stance on ending the three-year-old war. Zelenskyy's reported comments late Sunday that any agreement on ending Russia's war in Ukraine was still "very, very far away" were slammed by Trump as "the worst statement that could have been made."
4. Ukraine Turns To Younger Recruits As Manpower Shortage Hampers Defense Against Russia - RFE/RL
In its latest bid to replenish the ranks of its army – depleted by three years of full-scale war – Ukraine has introduced a new plan that paves the way for adults below the conscription age of 25 to join the military on a voluntary basis.
The initiative – called The Generation That Decides Now – offers incentives that include a 1 million hryvnya ($24,000) bonus, subsidized mortgages, free university education, and the right to travel abroad after completing service. Under martial law, most men aged 18-60 are not allowed to leave the country.
5. ‘Possibility’ Donald Trump Is a ‘Russian Asset’ Floated By UK Lawmaker - Newsweek World
U.K. Member of Parliament Graham Stuart has posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it is a "possibility" that President Donald Trump "is a Russian asset. "
Stuart, a member of the Conservative Party representing the constituency of Beverley and Holderness, northern England, wrote on X: "We have to consider the possibility that President Trump is a Russian asset. If so, Trump's acquisition is the crowning achievement of Putin's FSB career [the principal security agency of Russia]—and Europe is on its own."
6. Russian Missile Experts Traveled To Iran Amid Clashes With Israel - Reuters
A Reuters review of travel records and employment data indicates that several senior Russian missile specialists have visited Iran over the past year as the Islamic Republic has deepened its defense cooperation with Moscow.
A senior Iranian defense ministry official said Russian missile experts had made multiple visits to Iranian missile production sites last year, including two underground facilities, with some of the visits taking place in September. The official, who requested anonymity to discuss security matters, didn’t identify the sites.
7. Taiwan Says 'Impossible' For U.S. To Abandon Indo-Pacific - D.W.
The televised row between President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, last week has prompted fears in Taiwan about the U.S.'s security commitment to its allies.
"So we must ask: keeping the peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region including the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, is that a core U.S. national interest?" " Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo told reporters at a briefing. "I think it is impossible for the United States to retreat from the Indo-Pacific because it is its core national interest," he said, answering his own question.
8. China Hunts For Opportunities In Europe And Taiwan After Ukraine Diplomacy Goes Awry - RFE/RL
For Beijing, the diplomatic fissures between the United States and its European allies present new opportunities to repair its own battered relations with Europe.
China had already been reaching out to Brussels and European capitals before the dustup in Washington that saw Zelenskyy leave the White House early without signing an important minerals deal. Andrew Small, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, says that this Chinese effort is still in an early “fact-finding phase” to “discover what kind of openings are available in this new context.”
9. Vietnam To Buy Israeli Satellites To Spy On China: Media - RFA
One of Israel’s largest aerospace companies, Israel Aerospace Industries, has secured a contract to supply Vietnam’s military with two surveillance satellites worth $680 million, the newspaper Haaretz reported.
The observation satellites would help Vietnam “address China’s provocations against its neighbors in the South China Sea,” the Israeli paper quoted unidentified defense industry sources as saying.
10. British Watchdog Probing TikTok, Reddit Over Children's Privacy - UPI
The Information Commissioner's Office said the probe is looking into how TikTok uses the personal information of users aged 13-17 to make recommendations and place suggested content into their feeds.
The watchdog said it is also looking into how Reddit and image-sharing site Imgur use the personal information of children and how they verify the ages of users.
11. Canada Retaliates, Puts Tariffs On $107 Billion Of U.S. Products - Bloomberg
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the first stage is 25% tariffs on about C$30 billion ($20.6 billion) worth of goods from U.S. exporters. Unless the U.S. drops its tariffs, the tariffs will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. New York time.
A second round of tariffs at the same rate will be placed on C$125 billion of products in three weeks — a list that will include big-ticket items like cars, trucks, steel and aluminum.
12. EU Chief Unveils 800-Billion-Euro European Defense Plan - AFP
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen presented a five-part plan to mobilize some 800 billion euros for Europe’s defense - and help provide “immediate” military support for Ukraine after Washington suspended aid.
“This is a moment for Europe, and we are ready to step up,” von der Leyen announced in Brussels. “‘ReArm Europe’ could mobilize close to 800 billion euros of defense expenditures for a safe and resilient Europe.”
13. Swedish Police Probe Water Sabotage Attempt On Gotland - D.W.
The water supply on the Baltic Sea island of Gotland came close to being shut off by unknown saboteurs, reports say. Damage to pumps in a lake was "not accidental."
According to the sources, the entire island might have been left without water if the sabotage had not been discovered. The report comes amid a number of recent incidents of damage to infrastructure in the region that have been blamed on Russian hybrid warfare.
14. UN Rights Chief Voices Concern At New U.S. Political Direction - D.W.
Basic human rights in the U.S. are under threat as the country's new administration rolls back previous policies to combat discrimination, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said.
Türk's remarks to the United Nations Human Rights Council come as President Donald Trump has signed scores of executive orders touching on issues such as transgender and civil rights, as well as foreign policy. Trump disengaged from the Human Rights Council in February as he moves to reduce the U.S.' involvement in bodies seeking to promote international cooperation.
15. Colombian President Urges Marijuana Legalization To End Cartel Violence - UPI
"I ask the Colombian Congress to legalize marijuana and remove violence from this crop. The prohibition of marijuana in Colombia only brings violence," Colombia President Gustavo Petro wrote in a post on X, according to a translation.
Petro also called on other nations to legalize coca leaves "for purposes other than cocaine," following the recent arrest of Namoussir Mounir, a Belgian citizen accused of drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe.
16. North Korea Vows To ‘Step-Up’ Action Against U.S. As Aircraft Carrier Arrives In South - RFA
The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned of a “stepped-up action” against the U.S. as one of its aircraft carriers arrived in South Korea, saying the “hostile” U.S. policy justified the bolstering of the North’s nuclear forces.
The North Korean leader’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, said the arrival of the U.S. aircraft was an expression of Washington’s “most hostile and confrontational will.”
17. How Much Is The Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) If You Have $1 Million In Your Retirement Account? - The Motley Fool
If you are going to be 73 years old or older at some point this year, and you have money sitting in an individual retirement account, the IRS is going to make you take at least some of this money out of the account soon. It's called a required minimum distribution (or RMD).
Here's a rundown of the required minimum distributions for a $1 million retirement account at a range of ages. Notice that the growth of the RMD accelerates as you move toward and past the average life expectancy.
Age 73: $37,735.85 (or 3.77% of account IRA's year-end value)
Age 75: $40.650.41 (4.065%)
Age 80: $49,504.95 (4.95%)
Age 85: $62,500.00 (6.25%)
Age 90: $81,967.21 (8.197%)
Age 95: $112,359.55 (11.236%)
Age 100: $156,250.00 (15.625%)
Age 110: $285,714.29 (28.57%)
Age 120: $500,000.00 (50%)
Note that above age 120, the RMD remains at half of the previous year's ending account value.
18. Trump Wants A Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve. Crypto Experts Aren't A Fan. Here's Why - Quartz
While the latest proposal to create a strategic crypto reserve lacks key details — such as the size, timing, and whether the Federal Reserve or another entity will manage it —Trump’s move has sparked debate within the crypto industry.
Some argue that diversifying the national reserve with various cryptocurrencies could be beneficial, while others caution that it could be a risky proposition. And beyond Bitcoin, which serves as a hedge against inflation, other cryptocurrencies have distinct use cases, and adding them to the reserve may not be necessary or prudent.
19. Death Risk Doubles For Emergency Room Patients On Psychedelics, Study Says - HealthDay News
Psychedelics users treated at a hospital are 2.6 times more likely than average folks to die from any cause within five years, researchers reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
They specifically were more likely to die by suicide, cancer, lung disease and overdose compared to the general public, researchers found. The use of hallucinogens like ketamine, psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca and ecstasy has rapidly increased since the mid-2010s, driven by clinical trials supporting their potential use in treating mental health and substance use disorders, researchers said in background notes.
