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Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Category: News
November 21, 2025
News

Spa Will Let Naked Men Into Women’s Areas Following Trans Lawsuit.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Korean spa in New Jersey updated its policies to allow biological males claiming to be women to use a nude women-only section after facing a lawsuit from a transgender “woman.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: King Spa and Alexandra Goebert, a biologically male transwoman who filed the lawsuit.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed in 2022, with a settlement reached in August 2025. The spa is located in Palisades Park, New Jersey.

💬KEY QUOTE: “All clients will be permitted to access and use the sex-segregated facilities and areas that correspond to that client’s gender identity, regardless of whether the client is transgender or not.”

🎯IMPACT: The policy change has sparked debate over men invading sex-segregated facilities for women, and the resulting threats to women’s safety.

IN FULL

King Spa in Palisades Park, New Jersey, has updated its policies to allow guests to use facilities that align with the gender identity displayed on their government- or state-issued photo ID. This change comes after a lawsuit filed by Alexandra Goebert, a biologically male transgender “woman” who alleged he was denied access to the female-only section of the spa despite his ID identifying him as a woman.

The lawsuit stemmed from an incident in 2022 when Goebert visited the spa and was initially assigned a male wristband. He was later granted access to the women’s locker room but was questioned by staff about his male anatomy and ultimately asked to leave after confirming he had not undergone so-called bottom surgery to remove his penis and testicles. The spa offered him access to the female facilities if he wore a bathing suit, but he declined, according to court documents.

As part of a confidential settlement reached in August 2025, King Spa implemented a policy change and provided additional training for its staff. The updated policy explicitly states that clients may use sex-segregated areas corresponding to their gender identity, regardless of physical traits. It also emphasizes that clients uncomfortable with this arrangement may request private accommodations or forgo use of communal facilities.

The policy reads, “Clients who choose to access and use sex-segregated areas where partial or full nudity is either required or permitted do so with the understanding that other clients using those areas may have bodies that do not appear to align with the stereotypical body parts associated with the gender designated for that area.”

Image by Oriel Frankie Ashcroft.

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November 21, 2025
Media
News

Soros Foundation Bankrolls Efforts to Accuse Conservative Media of Hate, Disinformation.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United Kingdom-based Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) received a $250,000 grant from George Soros’s Open Society Foundations for “general support.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Center for Countering Digital Hate, George Soros’s Open Society Foundations, Elon Musk, Rep. Jim Jordan, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The grant was awarded in 2023. The CCDH is based in the United Kingdom, with activities in the U.S. and meetings with congressional offices.

🎯IMPACT: The CCDH has faced criticism for targeting conservative outlets and remains under scrutiny in a House investigation into censorship coordination.

IN FULL

The United Kingdom-based Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) received a $250,000 grant from George Soros’s Open Society Foundations (OSF) in 2023, according to newly reviewed financial records. The funding, listed as “general support,” comes as the group mounts campaigns urging advertisers and major tech companies to cut ties with outlets it accuses of spreading “hate” or “disinformation,” including conservative publications. In one such initiative, the group pressed Google to remove advertising from several right-leaning sites, complaining that their comment sections contained racist material.

The financial disclosure surfaced amid CCDH’s ongoing legal battle with former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) frontman Elon Musk. Musk sued the organization after it issued a report alleging a rise in hate speech on X following his 2022 acquisition of the platform, formerly known as Twitter. Internal documents indicated that CCDH had drafted a strategy to “kill Musk’s Twitter” by persuading advertisers to withdraw from the platform. The group also held meetings with more than a dozen congressional offices and participated in discussions with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) regarding regulations for online speech.

Founded in 2018 by former British Labour Party staffer Imran Ahmed, CCDH reports $2.1 million in revenue but does not disclose its full list of donors. Media reports in the United Kingdom have indicated that the Trump administration has considered revoking Ahmed’s U.S. visa in connection with CCDH’s activities. Ahmed co-founded the organization with Morgan McSweeney, who is now the chief of staff to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The OSF grant to CCDH comes as Soros-linked funding faces renewed scrutiny. Investigative reports have highlighted large-scale OSF contributions to far-left extremist organizations, including claims that the foundation has funneled tens of millions of dollars to groups tied to violent or radical activity.

Additional reporting on figures connected to Soros’s financial network has intensified attention on his “philanthropic” operations, including legal issues surrounding investment manager Howard Rubin, who has faced criminal charges.

Image by IMF Staff Photographer/Michael Spilotro.

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November 21, 2025
Immigration
News

Trump Admin Warns Allies: Mass Migration Poses ‘Existential Threat’ to the West.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. State Department has instructed embassies to report on the human rights and public safety impacts of mass migration in allied nations, referencing high-profile cases of migrant-related crimes.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. State Department, U.S. embassies, and allied nations, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Germany.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The directive was shared on November 21 via the State Department’s X account, addressing immigration policies and their implications globally.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Mass migration poses an existential threat to Western civilization and undermines the stability of key American allies.” – U.S. State Department

🎯IMPACT: The directive highlights concerns about migrant-related crimes and policies that prioritize migrants over citizens, sparking potential diplomatic and policy implications.

IN FULL

The U.S. State Department has directed its embassies to begin compiling reports on “the human rights implications and public safety impacts of mass migration” in allied nations, citing high-profile issues in Britain, Sweden, and Germany. Notably, the order instructs diplomats to assess not only public safety issues, but also any policies that “punish citizens who object to continued mass migration,” along with crimes or human rights abuses committed by individuals with “migration backgrounds.” In a statement shared on X, the department said, “Mass migration poses an existential threat to Western civilization and undermines the stability of key American allies.”

The directive references controversies in Britain over Muslim grooming gangs, which the authorities ignored for years because their victims were white and they feared damaging so-called community relations. In Rotherham, an independent investigation concluded that roughly 1,400 children were sexually exploited over a 16-year period, largely by men of Pakistani heritage. Similar patterns were later identified in Telford and other British towns.

Meanwhile, in Sweden, a recent case drew national attention after a court declined to deport an Eritrean immigrant convicted of rape, despite his unlawful presence in the country. “U.S. officials will now scrutinize policies in Western nations that give leniency to migrant crime and human rights abuses or that create two-tiered systems that prioritize migrants at the expense of their own citizens,” the State Department warned.

The reporting requirement comes as U.S. immigration policy has undergone a significant shift under President Donald J. Trump. Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has prioritized aggressive enforcement measures, and administration data indicates that more than half a million illegal immigrants have already been deported this year, with projections showing removals could reach record levels by year’s end.

Estimates from researchers who track demographic trends suggest the foreign-born population in the United States has declined by more than two million since January, including a substantial drop among those living in the country illegally. The administration has presented the decline as evidence that tightened enforcement is reversing what it views as long-standing, unsustainable mass migration.

Image by Alisdare Hickson.

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November 21, 2025
Religion
War

ISIS-Linked Militants Attack Christian Hospital.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Rebels linked to the Islamic State, known as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), killed 89 civilians in a series of attacks across eastern Congo, targeting health facilities and local villages.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Allied Democratic Forces, local civilians, and Congolese authorities, including Colonel Alain Kiwewa. The United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission MONUSCO also issued a statement.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attacks occurred between November 13 and November 19, 2025, across North Kivu province in eastern Congo.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Attacks on health facilities are a crime against humanity. These despicable acts must not go unpunished.” – Col. Alain Kiwewa

🎯IMPACT: The attacks have heightened insecurity in the region and drawn international condemnation, with calls for justice and investigations into the perpetrators.

IN FULL

Rebels linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group have carried out a series of deadly attacks in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, leaving at least 89 civilians dead between November 13 and November 19, 2025. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), originally a Ugandan rebel movement and now recognized by ISIS as an affiliate, struck multiple villages and health facilities across North Kivu province. One of the deadliest incidents occurred at a Catholic Church-operated health center in Byambwe, where at least 17 people, including women seeking maternity care, were killed as the fighters burned four patient wards and looted medical supplies. The group also abducted residents in nearby communities during the coordinated assaults.

Colonel Alain Kiwewa, administrator of the territory, condemned the violence and emphasized the gravity of attacking humanitarian locations, stating, “Attacks on health facilities are a crime against humanity. These despicable acts must not go unpunished.” The UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO issued a similar statement, urging authorities to open independent investigations to ensure accountability. Despite joint military operations by Congolese and Ugandan forces, the ADF has continued its campaign of violence, including an attack in September in which the group claimed responsibility for killing more than 60 civilians attending a funeral.

The violence in Congo is unfolding amid rising concern about extremist attacks on Christian populations across Africa. Rights groups and church leaders in Nigeria have reported that thousands of Christians have been killed this year by jihadist factions, including groups aligned with ISIS and al-Qaeda. Independent monitors have warned that the scale of the bloodshed, which includes mass killings and widespread abductions, reflects a worsening pattern of targeted violence.

Some Nigerian officials dispute the characterization of the crisis by President Donald J. Trump as a genocide, arguing that the violence affects citizens of multiple faiths, but Christian organizations maintain that the pattern of attacks clearly demonstrates religious targeting.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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November 21, 2025
Health
News

It’s ‘Just a Lie’ That Vaccine-Autism Link Has Been Disproven: RFK Jr.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed that he directed the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to update its website to reverse the agency’s prior position on childhood vaccines and autism.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the CDC, and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The update was implemented this week and confirmed in an interview published on Friday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The whole thing about ‘vaccines have been tested and there’s been this determination made’ is just a lie.” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

🎯IMPACT: The CDC website now acknowledges that the claim “vaccines do not cause autism” is not evidence-based and that studies investigating a link have been overlooked.

IN FULL

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has acknowledged that he directly ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to alter its long-standing language on vaccines and autism, to acknowledge that a possible link between the two has not been ruled out.

In an interview published Friday, Kennedy said, “The whole thing about ‘vaccines have been tested and there’s been this determination made’ is just a lie. The phrase ‘Vaccines do not cause autism’ is not supported by science.”

Following his directive, the CDC revised its “Vaccines and Autism” webpage. The updated text now states that “The claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.” The page also notes that “Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities” and adds that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has begun a wide-ranging review of autism’s causes, including examinations of possible biological mechanisms and potential vaccine-related links.

Although the content has changed substantially, the headline “Vaccines do not cause autism” still appears on the page, albeit with an asterisk. The language remains due to an agreement with Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana (R), who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.

Cassidy, a physician, condemned the revision, claiming that “vaccines for measles, polio, hepatitis B, and other childhood diseases are safe and effective and will not cause autism. Any statement to the contrary is wrong, irresponsible, and actively makes Americans sicker.” Kennedy confirmed he spoke with Cassidy, and “He disagreed with the decision.”

Recent months have seen increased scrutiny of autism research within the federal government. Kennedy has announced new federally backed investigations aimed at identifying environmental toxins or biological pathways that could contribute to rising autism diagnoses, and the CDC has begun preparations for broader inquiries into possible associations between vaccinations and neurodevelopmental issues.

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November 21, 2025
Immigration

It Keeps Happening: Illegal Immigrant With a CDL Causes a Fatal Crash, Killing National Guardsman.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A multicar crash caused by an illegal immigrant from Georgia resulted in the death of a National Guard member in Indiana.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Goderdzi Gujabidze, an illegal alien, and Indiana National Guardsman Terry Frye.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The crash occurred last Friday in Indiana.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The loss of any of our Guardsmen is tragic, and we offer deepest and heartfelt condolences to the soldier’s families, loved ones and friends.” – Indiana National Guard spokesman

🎯IMPACT: The crash highlights the dangers of illegal aliens obtaining commercial driver’s licenses and causing fatal accidents.

IN FULL

Another illegal immigrant, this time from the Republic of Georgia, is responsible for a deadly highway car crash that took the life of Indiana National Guardsman Terry Frye. Last Friday, 56-year-old Goderdzi Gujabidze, driving a commercial truck with a trailer, allegedly swerved, leading to a crash on Interstate 65 near Whitestown, Indiana, that resulted in the death of Frye and injured at least three others.

Gujabidze possessed a non-domiciled commercial driver’s license from New York, granted under the administration of Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY). The Georgian national and illegal immigrant was paroled into the United States under the former Biden government.

Frye and his fellow guardsmen were en route to Camp Atterbury for a drill when the incident occurred. The military Humvee they were in flipped, ejecting all four passengers, ultimately causing Frye’s death and injuring three others.

The Indiana National Guard expressed their sorrow over Frye’s death, with a spokesman stating, “The loss of any of our Guardsmen is tragic, and we offer deepest and heartfelt condolences to the soldier’s families, loved ones and friends.” Maj. Gen. Larry Muennich emphasized the profound impact of the loss within the military community.

Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized the practice of sanctuary states providing commercial licenses to illegal aliens, calling the crash “another senseless and avoidable tragedy on America’s roads.” She highlighted the dangers posed by migrants who should not be operating commercial vehicles on highways.

The outbreak of violent and deadly vehicle crashes caused by illegal immigrants has sparked national backlash. The National Pulse reported last week that even far-left California is moving to cancel the commercial driver’s licenses for 17,000 illegal immigrants that the state claims it mistakenly granted.

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November 21, 2025
War
World

Trump Announces U.S. Push for Sudan Peace Deal at Saudi Crown Prince’s Request.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced he has begun working on a peace deal for Sudan after a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) during their meeting at the White House.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Sudanese military leaders Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Secretary of State Marco Rubio. and U.S. lawmakers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made during the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re working on that. We started about 30 minutes after you explained to us the great importance of that. I view it differently now than I did just a day ago.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Trump’s involvement could bring new attention to Sudan’s civil war, but the conflict remains complex, with accusations of atrocities and international players backing opposing factions.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has revealed that during Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s (MBS) visit to the White House, he asked for Trump’s assistance in securing a peace deal in Sudan’s longstanding civil war. Speaking at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, Trump stated, “You know we’ve already started working on that, OK? We’re working on that. We started about 30 minutes after you explained to us the great importance of that.”

Trump described the Sudanese conflict as one of the most violent and devastating humanitarian crises in the world, writing on Truth Social that “tremendous atrocities” are taking place. He pledged to work with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, and other regional allies to end the violence and stabilize the country.

Sudan has been embroiled in conflict since 2023, following a breakdown in relations between Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). However, civil conflict in the country has sporadically erupted for decades, with devastating consequences. Both sides have been accused of war crimes, with former Secretary of State Antony Blinken labeling the RSF’s actions as genocide during the Biden government’s final days.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) praised Trump’s efforts, saying, “Congress stands ready to work with President Trump to reach a sustainable peace, end the suffering of the Sudanese people, and help stabilize this critical ally in the Red Sea corridor.” Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the need to cut off weapons and financial support to the warring factions, particularly the RSF.

On Wednesday, General Burhan of the SAF expressed openness to Trump and MBS’s efforts, stating, “The government thanks them for their continuing interest and efforts to end the Sudanese bloodshed and assures them of its readiness to seriously engage with them to realize the peace that Sudanese people expect.”

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November 21, 2025
Crime
Immigration

City Officials Pledge Support for Illegal Immigrants Against ICE.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The city of Hillsboro, Oregon, declared a state of emergency in response to increased immigration enforcement operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which have led to hundreds of arrests in the Portland metro area.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Hillsboro City Council, and anti-ICE activists.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Operations have been ongoing since October in the Portland metro area, with the emergency declared on Tuesday in Hillsboro, Oregon.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The unnecessary and likely unlawful tactics being used by many federal immigration enforcement authorities have generated widespread fear in the community…” – Hillsboro City Council resolution.

🎯IMPACT: Hillsboro strengthened its sanctuary measures and called for state and federal action to counter ICE operations. ICE reported over 560 arrests in October.

IN FULL

A suburb of Portland, Oregon, has declared a state of emergency in response to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. Hillsboro, a city on the western edge of Portland, is condemning ICE agents engaged in enforcement actions, calling for their immediate cessation.

Late Tuesday, the Hillsboro City Council enacted a resolution reaffirming its sanctuary status and emphasizing its commitment to shielding illegal immigrants from what it described as “unjust enforcement practices.” The resolution states, “No matter when someone has joined our community or where they have come from, every person deserves to be free of fear and intimidation and to be treated with dignity and respect.”

The city council also encouraged residents to report ICE activity and announced plans for additional “Know Your Rights” training sessions aimed at assisting illegal immigrants in evading arrest. Furthermore, the council urged the state of Oregon to ban the use of masks by federal agents and called on the Oregon congressional delegation to pass legislation opposing deportation operations. Notably, the federal government argues that states lack the authority to regulate federal law enforcement, a position supported by a number of legal scholars.

The state of emergency declaration follows a surge in ICE activity, with Border Patrol reporting over 560 arrests in October during an operation referred to as “Portland Sweep.” Anti-ICE activists have been seen in social media videos obstructing enforcement actions in Hillsboro and nearby areas over the past month.

The Trump administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed legal actions against Oregon and other sanctuary jurisdictions, arguing that such policies provide safe havens for illegal immigrants involved in criminal activities.

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November 21, 2025
Lawfare

Jim Jordan Accuses Biden DOJ of Seizing Over Two Years of His Phone Records.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Biden-era Justice Department subpoenaed two years of phone records belonging to House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan as part of the “Arctic Frost” investigation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, the Justice Department, Verizon, and federal Judge David Baker.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The subpoena covered phone records from January 2020 to April 2022 and was issued prior to special counsel Jack Smith’s involvement in the investigation.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If they can do it to us, they can do it to you.” – Jim Jordan

🎯IMPACT: The subpoena raises concerns about government overreach, transparency, and the targeting of elected officials.

IN FULL

New revelations indicate that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) was also targeted by the former Biden government’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the Arctic Frost scandal. Phone records obtained by the agency from Verizon contained the details of calls, texts, and voicemail messages from January 2020 until April 2022—though the FBI was not granted the content of the communications themselves.

Chairman Jordan revealed the previously unknown subpoena in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “They spied on President Trump. They spied on Senators. Now, we just learned, they spied on me. If they can do it to us, they can do it to you.” Images of the subpoena were shared alongside his post.

Like the other telecommunications subpoenas issued later by special counsel Jack Smith, the seizure of Representative Jordan’s phone records was also ordered to remain under a gag order by a federal judge. The National Pulse has previously reported that U.S. District Court Judges James Boasberg and Beryl Howell were the primary go-to judges for Smith to obtain the gag orders.

However, in the instance of Jordan, it was a federal magistrate judge in Florida, David Baker, who issued the gag order. “The Court finds reasonable grounds to believe that such disclosure will result in flight from prosecution, destruction of or tampering with evidence, intimidation of potential witnesses, and serious jeopardy to the investigation,” Baker wrote. He also ordered Verizon employees not to disclose the subpoena’s existence for one year, except to their attorneys for legal advice.

A Verizon spokesman, Rich Young, responded to the revelations, stating, “As part of our investigation, we uncovered new information regarding Chairman Jordan and shared it with him as soon as possible. We are committed to restoring trust through transparency and will continue to work with Congress and the administration as they examine these issues and consider reforms to expand notification protections.”

Notably, the subpoena was issued before special counsel Jack Smith took over the investigation, which later led to charges against President Donald J. Trump. Other reports revealed that the FBI analyzed phone metadata from several Republican lawmakers, including Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Josh Hawley (R-MO).

Image by Steve Fernie.

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November 21, 2025
News
War

Report: Trump Admin Wants Ukraine to Ink Peace Deal by Thanksgiving or Lose Support.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ukraine is being pressured to sign a peace deal or risk losing U.S. intelligence sharing and weapons support.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, President Donald J. Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The plan was presented recently, with a deadline set for Thanksgiving.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I have a good relationship with President Putin, but I’m a little disappointed in President Putin right now. He knows that.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Ukraine faces tough decisions regarding territorial concessions, NATO membership, and military reductions, while Russia has shown cautious interest in the proposal.

IN FULL

Ukraine is facing intense pressure from the Trump administration to accept a sweeping peace proposal by Thanksgiving, with the threat of losing U.S. intelligence sharing and weapons support if it refuses. The plan, presented by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to President Volodymyr Zelensky, would require Ukraine to cede control of the eastern Donbas region and freeze the current front lines in two southern regions, with Russia withdrawing from its more northerly footholds in Ukrainian territory.

Under the proposal, Ukraine would be barred from joining NATO, must limit its armed forces to 600,000 troops, and disband any international brigades. NATO troops would not be allowed on Ukrainian soil, and Kiev would be required to return long-range missiles capable of hitting Moscow, although it would receive some Western security guarantees. Russia would be readmitted to the G8, reversing its exclusion since the annexation of Crimea, but would be required to legislate a non-aggression policy towards Ukraine and the European Union (EU), with some of its frozen assets in the West surrendered.

While the former Biden government had suggested a possible pathway for Ukraine’s NATO membership, Russian President Vladimir Putin firmly opposes that idea. Moscow has expressed some interest in the plan, though a Kremlin spokesman said there is “nothing new in addition to what was discussed in Anchorage.”

President Trump has criticized both sides of the conflict. “I have a good relationship with President Putin, but I’m a little disappointed in President Putin right now. He knows that,” Trump remarked.

At the same time, Ukraine is grappling with a major corruption scandal. Its anti-corruption bureau launched a 15-month investigation into a $100 million kickback scheme involving Energoatom, the state nuclear company. Officials allege that contractors paid bribes of 10 to 15 percent to secure contracts, and recordings from over 1,000 hours of surveillance have implicated a network of high-level figures, including Timur Mindich, a former business partner of Zelensky. Mindich reportedly fled to Israel just before law enforcement raids, with widespread suspicion that he was tipped off. Two government ministers have resigned in connection with the scandal.

In parallel, the Trump administration has imposed new sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, citing Moscow’s “lack of serious commitment to a peace process.” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the move aims to cut off key revenue for Russia’s war machine and called for an “immediate ceasefire.” These sanctions bar the firms from U.S. banking systems, putting pressure on Moscow’s ability to finance its military operations.

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