Day: December 10, 2025

The role of Jared Kushner in the NS Strategy change
Jared Kushner played a crucial, influential role in recent National Security Strategy shifts, particularly in Middle East peace efforts (, Gaza deal) and Ukraine negotiations, leveraging deep regional ties and direct access to Donald Trump, often acting as a trusted, informal advisor who bypassed traditional channels by focusing on “getting to yes” and understanding key players, despite ethical questions surrounding his post-White House Mideast business dealings. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Aspects of His Role:

Middle East Negotiations: He was central to brokering the  and recently, a Gaza ceasefire/hostage deal, utilizing personal relationships with Arab leaders and Israeli figures like Netanyahu.
Trusted Intermediary: Foreign leaders viewed dealing with Kushner as dealing directly with Trump, making him effective in complex situations, including Ukraine talks.
Focus on “Getting to Yes”: His strategy involves understanding leaders’ bottom lines and pushing for deals, focusing on outcomes rather than lengthy diplomatic processes.
Informal Advisor: He serves as an informal, unpaid advisor, providing input and expertise, often alongside other envoys like Steve Witkoff.
Business & Politics Intertwined: His private equity firm, Affinity Partners, has received significant funding from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, creating potential conflicts but which he frames as valuable experience and relationships.
Broad Influence: Beyond the Middle East, he’s advised on trade with China and criminal justice reform, showing a wide-ranging impact on national security and policy. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

In essence, Kushner’s influence stems from his unique proximity to Trump, deep regional relationships, and a pragmatic, deal-focused approach that has significantly shaped recent US foreign policy initiatives, especially in volatile regions. [3, 4, 5, 6]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1]  nytimes.com/2025/10/09/us/po…
[2]  wsj.com/world/middle-east/ja…
[3]  youtube.com/shorts/dLAgUf0aA…
[4]  npr.org/2025/10/23/nx-s1-558…
[5]  washingtonpost.com/national-…
[6]  cnn.com/2025/10/10/politics/…
[7]  thehill.com/policy/internati…
[8]  theguardian.com/commentisfre…

– Google Search  google.com/search?q=The+role…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Dec 10, 2025

#News #Articles #Tweets
Current News: Articles and Tweets currentnewschannels.blogspot…
Trump made NS Strategy more favorable to Russia: background, assessments, predictions
#National #Security #Strategy
The Trump administration’s National Security Strategy (NSS) moved towards a stance more favorable to Russia by shifting from naming Russia as an explicit “threat” to a potential partner for “strategic stability,” while simultaneously criticizing traditional European allies.

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Dec 10, 2025

Lavrov news today
#Lavrov #news #today
Today, December 10, 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is making headlines for criticizing the EU’s plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine loans, calling it “robbery,” and warning Europe that Russia is ready for any hostile moves, while also commenting on US-Russia relations, noting Trump’s slow approach to lifting sanctions. He’s also been vocal about NATO and European policy, linking it to the Ukraine conflict and suggesting Western efforts are failing, as seen in recent video clips. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Themes in Today’s News:

EU Sanctions/Assets: Lavrov strongly opposes the EU using Russian assets for Ukraine, calling it illegal and Europe’s desperate “last option” to sustain the war effort.
US-Russia Dynamics: He’s suggested President Trump isn’t in a hurry to lift sanctions and that US pressure on NATO is deepening East-West tensions.
Ukraine Conflict: Lavrov frames Russia’s actions as defensive and critical of Western support, while also reportedly praising Trump’s potential role in ending the war.
Europe’s Role: He accuses Europe of ideological obsession and having no viable financial alternatives, forcing them to consider seizing Russian funds. [1, 2, 3, 4, 6]

Where to Find More:

: For general updates and international perspectives.
: For U.S. and international agency reports.
YouTube: For video clips of his statements.
: For official Russian government statements. [2, 4, 7, 8]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] piped.video/watch?v=K-yQQrtk…
[2] piped.video/watch?v=Tv4F6CeA…
[3] tasnimnews.com/en/news/2025/…
[4] timesofindia.indiatimes.com/…
[5] piped.video/watch?v=azTIHcZG…
[6] piped.video/watch?v=jPggR7sH…
[7] mid.ru/en/press_service/mini…
[8] duma.gov.ru/en/news/58801/

– Google Search google.com/search?q=lavrov+n…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Dec 10, 2025

Trump made NS Strategy more favorable to Russia: background, assessments, predictions
#National  #Security  #Strategy
The Trump administration’s National Security Strategy (NSS) moved towards a stance more favorable to Russia by shifting from naming Russia as an explicit “threat” to a potential partner for “strategic stability,” while simultaneously criticizing traditional European allies.
Background
Previous U.S. administrations (both the first Trump and Biden administrations) had consistently framed Russia’s actions as a primary foreign policy concern and an “acute threat” actively engaged in “subversion and aggression”. By contrast, the new “America First” strategy, released in December 2025, de-emphasized major power competition and adopted a more conciliatory tone toward Russia, focusing on non-interventionism and American “preeminence” in the Western Hemisphere. The document also notably criticized European nations, accusing them of having “unrealistic expectations for the war” in Ukraine and subverting democratic processes, an alignment of rhetoric that Moscow welcomed.
Assessments
Foreign policy experts and European officials largely agree that the changes represent a significant departure from past U.S. foreign policy and are beneficial to Russia’s strategic goals.
Kremlin Reception: Russian officials, including Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, explicitly praised the NSS, stating that its “adjustments… are largely consistent with our vision”. This marks the first time Moscow has so enthusiastically welcomed a U.S. security document.
Softened Language: The strategy avoids condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and instead positions the U.S. as a potential neutral arbiter between Russia and Europe to “reestablish strategic stability”.
European Concerns: European allies reacted with alarm, viewing the strategy as an attempt to divide the continent and weaken the transatlantic alliance. Critics argue the document ignores the real threat Russia poses not just to Europe but to U.S. global interests.
Contradiction in Policy: Some experts noted a disconnect between the NSS’s “America First” rhetoric and actual policy actions, such as the Trump administration’s separate efforts to increase funding for the European Deterrence Initiative and provide arms to Ukraine. However, the overall message of the NSS was seen as a win for Russia’s narrative.
Predictions
Weakened Alliances: Analysts predict that the strategy could lead to a fractured NATO and a weakened EU, as the U.S. shifts focus away from collective security in Europe.
Policy Incoherence: The approach is seen as potentially creating strategic “holes” in U.S. foreign policy, making it harder to address adversarial influence in critical regions like Africa and the Middle East where Russia and China remain active.
Increased Instability: By not explicitly designating Russia as a primary threat, the strategy may embolden Russian aggression and create more opportunities for Moscow to “probe NATO’s weakest seams,” particularly along the borders with Ukraine and Poland.
Focus on Bilateralism: The long-term effect is likely a U.S. foreign policy that prioritizes bilateral relations and transactional outcomes over multilateral institutions and shared democratic values, which aligns with Russia’s goal of challenging the post-Cold War liberal order.

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Dec 10, 2025