Ukraine

Trump found time for Putin’s envoy, but not Ukraine’s delegation, while 500 approved Patriot interceptors may not arrive until the 2030s.

On November 5, Kirill Dmitriev spoke at a White House event about a humanitarian ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky. Trump then met him privately, but said he did not meet the Ukrainian officials also there.

 

Washington approved a $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot interceptors days earlier. Reuters says they are not expected until the early 2030s. Trump also waived new sanctions under the Graham Act in October.

The ceasefire helped civilians. But a White House podium cannot intercept the next Russian missile.

 

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday, Nov. 6, that Ukrainian intelligence shows Russia is preparing a new attack on the country’s civilian and energy infrastructure, and bridges across the Dnipro River. He urged Ukraine’s partners not to delay deliveries of Patriot interceptors and called on Ukrainian residents to heed air raid alerts, amid the threat of missile strikes. Ukraine, he said, would continue its strikes on Russian oil refineries in response to attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, while accusing Moscow of refusing de-escalation steps.

 

 Nate Vance, cousin of US Vice President JD Vance, could hardly differ more from his relative in his geopolitical views, although the physical resemblance is noticeable. His deep-set eyes give the family connection away. Standing over six feet tall with a strong build and modest demeanor, the 47-year-old Nate exudes the fighting stature of someone who’s served in the US Marines and fought in Ukraine for three years. The green of his eyes matches his vyshyvanka, a hand-embroidered Ukrainian shirt, which makes his dedication to Ukraine immediately apparent.

 

 Between 2022 and 2024, Nate and his unit, the Da Vinci Wolves, fought in Kupyansk, Bakhmut, Vuhledar and Avdiivka, some of the most contested areas of Ukrainian front. 

 

 Nate Vance’s selfless service reminds us of what America represents through people like him – the duty of the strong to stand by the weak, the courage to speak freely and the determination to stand on the right side of history.

Elliot Kirschner Post

As this night of elation marches on in double time, with new states and races joining the party of MAGA repudiation, we can stop, take a deep breath, and recognize that our nation will never be the same.

The unimaginable has become the believable. The voters of America have catapulted the United States into an exciting new era of tantalizing possibility. Let us rejoice as tired old assumptions melt away in the bright light of a new beginning.

Everything we thought we knew about this country yesterday- the conventional wisdom about who could win and where, about what voters would tolerate, about what was politically possible and what was simply beyond reach- is suddenly yesterday’s news. A new class of leaders will come to Washington and statehouses across the country, carried by the winds of change and determined to remake and reimagine our precious republic.

History has a way of unfolding at a pace that is impossible to predict when you are living through it. Elections are often part of the ebb and flow of a relatively narrow spectrum of expectations. Until they are not.

Part of the enduring frustration of the Trump era was that the full repudiation of his corruption, cruelty, and incompetence never seemed to arrive. In the battle for the future of America, we couldn’t abide by uneasy truces. We needed an unconditional defeat on the terms of democratic resilience.

But it wasn’t just the president who lost, or his minions, sycophants, and enablers. It was the belief that cynicism always beats hope, that money and power outweigh the will of the people, and that we will forever be imprisoned by the political rules and conventions handed down by generations past.

Tonight was a reckoning with the limits we placed on our national ambitions. A call not to tinker and dither, but to fundamentally reshape our cherished experiment.

From the Gulf Stream waters to the redwood forests, from the farms of the Great Plains to the crowded streets of our cities, from suburban neighborhoods to small towns too often forgotten, the voices of America, in all its beauty, diversity, and grandeur, have risen to deliver a verdict on the kind of country we are determined to be.

The message Americans are sending tonight draws its power from a resurgent generation of young voters, from Black Americans refusing to surrender their hard-won right to be heard, and from immigrant communities and Americans of every background staring violent hatred in the face and demanding an end to the fascist tactics and capricious cruelty.

We will not be silent. We will not be cowed. We will not cede our democracy or our nation to those who would eagerly destroy all that has made us proud. There is a lot of work we need to do. There is a long list of broken systems and wounded spirits that need mending and healing.

But tonight we can look ahead with energy and resolve, joining our fellow Americans in forging a more perfect union, a nation defined less by what it was than by what it can become.

Election Day

You know what you have to do!

Authoritarianism or Democracy? 

Election and Oliwia

Tomorrow, November 3, may be one of the biggest days in the history of the United States. It's a chance to slow down or put an end to the destruction that the Trump administration has inflicted upon the citizens of that country. It's the opportunity to vote in the midterm elections and replace senators and members of the House of Representatives in the Congress of the United States.

However, Donny Trump and his administration will do everything in their power to prevent them from being officially announced as representatives on January 3. They will do everything they can, pull out all the stops, and do every dirty trick they can come up with to stop the certification. I think the period between November 4th and January 3rd will be the hardest time in the United States.

All that being put aside, today was a really great day for Joan and me. It was an opportunity to once again meet with our dear cousin Olivia, who is now living in Edinburgh. We picked her up from the train station at 12:45 and brought her to our home. She was a little hungry, so I gave her a nice bowl of chicken noodle soup. We sat and talked about many different things except politics. She does not pay attention to politics. Our meeting only lasted about 2 hours because she had a plane to catch at 5:00, and I had to get her to the airport 2 hours before the plane departed. At 2:45, we were back in the car and to the airport by 3:00. She invited us once again to come to Edinburgh to visit her there. It's something to contemplate for a trip next year. If possible, I would like to take advantage of the invitation. 

November 1.

This is a day I will never forget. It is the day to return to the village or town of your ancestors and put flowers and candles on their graves.

Joan and I have made that trip from Poznań to Golina many times in the last 19 years.

Unfortunately, due to her health conditions, for the last five years we have not returned there. This year, I thought it would be possible, but Joan was not feeling up to the trip. It is not that far, maybe about a 1,hour, 20,minute drive.

It is also a day to see relatives that you have not seen since last year on November 1st. That was always a treat for me. Families try to gather together on this day, the official day to commemorate the departed faithful. The celebrations begin with tending to family graves and the surrounding graveyards, lighting candles and leaving flowers. November 1 is a public holiday in Poland.

It is a time when people travel from all across the country to return to their hometowns and gather at ancestral sites. Walking through the cemetery in the evening reveals a stunning sea of light as thousands of glowing lantern flames illuminate the autumn crispness. Even though missing the trip this year brings a sense of quiet sadness, the memories of gathering with loved ones, honoring past generations, and sharing those quiet, peaceful moments at the gravesite remain deeply treasured.

Poland, again.

Riot police have been deployed at Poland's Constitutional Court amid an escalating stand-off between the government and the court's top judges.

The row pits the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk against his predecessors from the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS).

The police intervention came after Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek said he had requested stripping the court's President Bogdan Święczkowski and Vice-President Bartłomiej Sochański of their immunity from prosecution to bring criminal charges against them.

Tusk has vowed to depoliticise the judiciary, and on Friday defended the move as PiS supporters gathered outside the court premises in Warsaw in protest. 

The European courts ruled Poland's Constitutional Court was no longer an "independent and impartial tribunal", and Tusk's government has used those rulings as a basis to stop publishing the tribunal's rulings.

Tusk has failed to undo the PiS-era changes, partially because Nawrocki and his PiS-backed predecessor Andrzej Duda used their presidential vetoes to block his attempts.

Nawrocki has also refused to swear in five Constitutional Court judges elected by parliament since March on the grounds of alleged flaws in their selection procedure.

In a social media post, Tusk wrote: "Restoring the rule of law is our duty. After years of Law and Justice's lawlessness, this is a difficult, sometimes painful process that requires decisive action. There is no other way." Source: BBC

Trouble in Poland

 

For those wondering about what is happening in Poland at the moment:

When PiS was in power, it sought to control Poland's top courts by packing them with PiS-friendly judges.

Now that Tusk is in power he wants to do the same by removing those PiS friendly judges, by force if necessary, so he can control the courts.

Both sides claim they were doing it to protect the "rule of law" and ensure the high court is "independent and not politically biased."

There was never a truly "independent" top court in Poland to begin with, and there probably never will be if Tusk or PiS have any say in it.

The only difference here is that PiS did their shenanigans through political and legislative dirty tricks, and were roundly criticized for it by the EU and the media.

However, when Donald Tusk and his government uses naked power to achieve the exact same aim, like sending hoards of police in the middle of the night to storm the top court on a Friday, he is cheered and supported by the EU and the media.

 

Something like this has never happened in Poland before Tusk just drove in with police units to the Constitutional Tribunal and is unlawfully taking over the institution

The police in a combat zone drove into the area of the Constitutional Tribunal in unmarked vans and blocked the entrance to the building. All just before the feast of All Saints, when Poles are visiting cemeteries and graves of their loved ones. They are not even able to respect that. Disgusting and shameful.

They also shamelessly took advantage of the moment when President Nawrocki flew to Senegal to conduct the entire operation without his presence. The President has already announced that he has canceled his flight and is returning to the country.

It is hard to allow such an attack on a fundamental institution of the judiciary in Poland in such a brazen and bandit-like manner. The Constitutional Tribunal must be the reason for this.

Massive crowds of Polish patriots are surrounding the Constitutional Court right now!

Donald Tusk tried a leftist power grab while President Nawrocki was airborne—so the President TURNED HIS PLANE AROUND to fight back.

The people will NOT back down!

 

Podiatrist?

Years ago, when we lived in America, if I had a foot problem, I used to go see a podiatrist. I've had a problem with one of my feet, so I went to see what I thought was a podiatrist here in Poznań. If you look up the word podiatrist in Polish, it's podolog. As it turned out, a podologist does not know anything about the interior of your feet. They mainly deal with skin problems, pedicures, blisters, and things of that nature on the outside of your foot. They know absolutely nothing about the interior. 

Recently, I was told there was a woman who knew about those things, so I made an appointment with her after asking her specifically if she knew about the foot problems (such as some type of disease, veins, or blood). She said yes.

 Today, when I arrived at what I thought was her clinic, it was actually called Wonderful Time. That made me a little suspicious. Even more so when I looked below the name of this clinic, and it said "cosmetician".

 I went inside and was greeted by the woman I had spoken to. She told me to have a seat, and she would get with me as soon as she finished with the woman she was with.

 10 minutes later, she came out and asked me how she could help me. I told her my problems with the interior of my foot, but she knew absolutely nothing about it. She said I needed to see something called a naczynowiec. That is a doctor who deals with vascular surgery and endoscopy.

She checked the internet and gave me two recommendations to call for an appointment. I called them both but got no answer. I sent emails to get a time scheduled.

 

Comments

When I started this blog 20 years ago, I always looked forward to comments on whatever I posted. Occasionally, I had someone write to tell me that I didn't belong in Poland, that I was American, and I should go back to my own country. It didn't bother me. I just ignored them and moved on to the next comment. 

Several months ago, all of a sudden, my comments were not coming through. I tried searching through the Blogger settings to see how I could correct it, but it never happened. Everything I tried just didn't work.

 If you do have a comment about whatever I'm writing, please look up above and send it to my email. I will answer your comment in the next blog that I write afterwards.

 Well, we have 6 days left until the big election in the United States: midterms. I'm very hopeful that we will be able to regain full control of Congress, both the House and the Senate. Something has to be done to stop Orange-head and his corruption. If the Democrats do win, then I suppose on November 4th will begin the long court battles to overturn the elections. 

Happy Birthday.

Our daughter is more than a Mascot. :-) Wishing a Happy Birthday to our environmentally aware young woman.

 

Who is that Friends of the Fox River-Water Drop mascot? Out emerges our Karen Flowers.

 

Big things can come in small packages. Happy Birthday Karen.

 

Professionally, she is the superb FOTFR Website and IT manager.

 

As a FOTFR volunteer, she is the Cleanup Coordinator, Hostess of the Tiny Trash event, this year procured a $2500 donation from Home Depot, AND arranged a $9600 donation from Windy City .

 

She also hangs with the big dogs, former Kane County Board President Chris Kious and Governor JB Pritzker.

 

Big Birthday wishes to a small but mighty Watershed Warrior.

Meanwhile in Ukraine

🇺🇸 United States

• Full Starlink and military Starshield service was restored for Ukraine at about 05:20 on October 25, with the mobility speed limit raised to roughly 420 km/h. US intelligence sharing, including ballistic-missile warnings, was also restored, while Ukraine’s shortage of air-defense systems remains unresolved. Reuters reported that more than a week of earlier restrictions disrupted some Ukrainian military operations and described a longer-running US practice of influencing Starlink coverage and operating modes as an instrument of foreign policy, exposing the extent to which government decisions can depend on privately controlled SpaceX infrastructure.

• The November 3 US congressional elections could substantially change Washington’s Ukraine policy if Democrats gain control of the House and possibly the Senate, according to Reuters. The outlet reported that renewed aid legislation would likely have the two-thirds support needed to override a Trump veto, while Democrats could also challenge decisions easing restrictions on Russian diesel and energy.

• The New York Times focused on the erosion of Ukrainian trust in the United States, describing the Trump administration’s policy as damaging a relationship built over decades. The newspaper linked what it called a “moral blow” to sharply reduced US support and Washington’s rapprochement with Moscow while Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians continue.

 

University students did it!

Yesterday, on social medias,  I wrote about the student-led protests in Serbia. An extraordinary event took place today. Today in Serbia, a protest started by university students removed the Trump-like strongman, Aleksander Vucic from power in elections.

 

Sandro Gozi, Secretary-General of the European Democratic Party (EDP), on the victory of the Student List in Serbia.

“An extraordinary victory for democracy, for freedom and for the future of Serbia!

 

This incredible result is the achievement of an entire generation of young people who had the courage, determination and strength to convince citizens of all ages that change was not only necessary, but possible.

 

We, the European Democrats, are immensely proud. We have stood alongside Serbian students throughout their struggle, because we believe in the European future of Serbia. A future that Vučić had become the greatest obstacle to achieving.

 

Now that Vučić has acknowledged the Student List’s victory, he must guarantee a peaceful, orderly and democratic transfer of power.

 

After Orbán’s defeat in Hungary, Serbia sends another extraordinary message to Europe and the world: democracy is stronger than those who try to silence it. In the end, the people always have the last word.

 

Thank you, Serbia. Thank you to the students who never gave up. We always said the students would win. Today, the students have won.

 

About Ukraine

Speaking at the Hudson Institute on Friday, Oct. 23, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Starlink and Starshield restrictions remain in place, despite US President Donald Trump’s earlier claims that service was restored. Zelensky also said that agreed deliveries of interceptor missiles, used to deter Russian ballistic missiles, remain delayed. Trilateral meetings with Russia and the US are still expected to be held in the first half of November, Zelensky said, following reports from senior US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Source-Kyiv Post

U.S.- Melania Trump has mediated a localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in and around the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast to allow the safe evacuation of civilians and delivery of humanitarian aid, Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets confirmed on Oct. 23.

The move comes amid growing attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the city, which has drawn international attention in recent weeks, including from Pope Leo XIV. Source-Kyiv Independent

Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service (DPSU), said in a televised interview on Friday that Belarus continues to host relay stations used by Russian drones. He said border guards have not recorded Russian or Belarusian units moving toward the Ukrainian border. Ukraine said in June that the relays had stopped working, but Demchenko said in September that they were active again. Source-Kyiv Post

Trump's midterm election calculations are complicating US policy on Ukraine.

The upcoming US midterm elections in November may help explain changes in US President Donald Trump's approach to Russia's war against Ukraine and his displays of support for Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Reuters said Trump has shifted his position quite openly on a major political issue over the past month. After criticizing Putin, he has begun to show support for him.

 "With US voters increasingly frustrated ​by high energy prices and the cost of living, Trump has turned renewed attention to the war in Ukraine in recent days, arguing that a negotiated settlement there could help ease economic pressures at home, ‌even though US consumers would be unlikely to feel the effects of any peace deal ahead of the 3 November vote," Reuters said. Source-Ukrainska Pravda

Women's Protest

After six years of protests, women are once again taking to the streets in nearly 30 Polish cities, including Poznan. The date is not random – it coincides with the sixth anniversary of the Constitutional Tribunal's ruling, after which abortion regulations were tightened.

 

The campaign was initiated by the Gdańsk-based Widzialne Foundation, with the involvement of other women's rights organisations, and organisers describe them as the largest protests of this kind in two years.

Demonstrations were scheduled 6 p.m. in Warsaw, Gdańsk, Poznań, Katowice, Łódź, Kraków, Wrocław and Szczecin, among other locations, with one planned for the Polish embassy in London at 7 p.m. local time.

"Your stools, our bodies" — this is just one of the slogans that could be seen today on the billboards

Those demanding liberalization of abortion law took to the streets of Poznań to express their disappointment with the government's stance.

“Our body is the home of the child that grows in it. But in your body is not our body, you have no right to decide about it. Plus, why is the role of a father excluded? The child is also his.”

IMHO

Benedict Arnold (January 14, 1741– June 14, 1801) was an American-born British military officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He fought with distinction for the American Continental Army and rose to the rank of major general before defecting to the British in 1780. General George Washington had given him his fullest trust and had placed him in command of West Point in New York. Arnold was planning to surrender the fort to British forces, but the plot was discovered in September 1780, whereupon he fled to the British lines. In the later part of the war, Arnold was commissioned as a brigadier general in the British Army and placed in command of the American Legion. He led British forces in battle against the army which he had once commanded, and his name became synonymous with treason and betrayal of the United States.^--Wiki

 

 ^{Donald J. Trump}

In political discourse, critics, political opponents, and some legal scholars use the term rhetorically to describe actions they believe subverted the Constitution, undermined national security, or placed personal interests over allegiance to the nation.

The main arguments raised by those who describe Donald Trump in these terms fall into several key areas:

1. Events Surrounding January 6 and the 2020 Election

Critics argue that efforts to overturn a certified democratic election constituted a fundamental betrayal of his oath to preserve, protect, and defend the U.S. Constitution. Specific points often cited include:

• Subverting the Peaceful Transfer of Power: Attempting to block Congress's certification of electoral votes.

• Pressuring Election Officials: Pressuring state officials and the Department of Justice to alter or delay election results.

• Incitement of the Capitol Attack: Encouraging supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol, which led to the January 6 attack, an event described by critics and political opponents as an insurrection.

2. Handling of Classified Documents

Following his first presidency, Trump was indicted under the Espionage Act for retaining sensitive government documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and allegedly obstructing efforts to retrieve them.

• National Security Risks: Opponents argue that holding highly classified national defense materials in unsecured locations exposed critical state secrets to potential foreign access.

• Alleged Disclosures: Reports of sharing sensitive intelligence with unauthorized individuals raised concerns over disregard for national security protocols.

3. Stance on Foreign Intelligence and Adversaries

Throughout his political career, critics argued that Trump sided with foreign autocrats over U.S. interests and national intelligence agencies:

The 2018 Helsinki Summit: Publicly siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin over U.S. intelligence agency conclusions regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election.

• Rhetoric on Alliances: Repeated criticism of traditional democratic alliances, such as NATO, alongside praised relationships with authoritarian leaders (e.g., in Russia, Hungary, and North Korea).

4. The 2019 Ukraine Pressures (First Impeachment)

Trump’s first impeachment stemmed from allegations that he withheld congressionally mandated military aid to Ukraine while asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate a political rival, Joe Biden. Critics argued this leveraged U.S. foreign policy and national security assets for personal political gain.

 

Voting is not just a civic duty.

Voting is no longer just a civic duty; it is an urgent imperative. 

The 60 Minutes broadcast featuring Lesley Stahl investigating FBI raids and ballot/voter record seizures aired on Sunday, October 18, 2026. The Story: Titled "Election officials describe impacts of federal actions on voting, the segment examined federal actions and probes surrounding state election infrastructure. 

The federal government threatened state election administrators with criminal prosecution or jail time if they did not turn over sensitive voter registration data or if they certified certain mail-in ballots. 

Ballot Box Seizures: The segment highlighted an FBI raid on a Fulton County, Georgia election facility (which occurred on January 28, 2026), during which armed agents executed a federal search warrant to seize over 600 boxes of 2020 election records and ballots. 

The situation regarding the ballot seizures featured in the segment has not been resolved, it remains an active and ongoing controversy. 

Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett stated during the broadcast that local officials still do not know where the seized ballots and records are located or what the Justice Department/FBI did with them. Agents executed a valid criminal search warrant, leaving local authorities with no legal recourse to block the raid. 

The primary focus of the segment was on how these federal raids, subpoenas, and pressure campaigns are impacting public trust and official operations ahead of upcoming elections. That, by itself, would be a victory for the administration. 

Lesley Stahl highlighted polling showing that only half of Americans expect the upcoming midterm elections to be "free and fair". 

Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett explained that high-profile FBI raids on election facilities create a psychological effect: when voters see federal agents, search warrants, and armed raids, they naturally assume "something must be wrong there," even if past official audits proved otherwise. 

Now, election officials in California are being threatened. 

Our country doesn't just need our votes; it is crying out for them. The stakes in this election are higher than at any point in our history. If you believe in the good America has brought to our lives and to the world, staying on the sidelines is not an option. We must show up, mobilize, and drive this Blue Wave all the way through November 3rd!

Protest & De Nata visit.

Another day for a No Kings protest. I hope they are successful in getting many people to vote early. That seems to be the main idea of the protest. 

In Albania, the protest is on its fourth day, and they are calling for the entire administration to resign. It's not a protest that will last 2 to 3 hours or even 1 day. It will continue until they get the administration out. That, to me, seems like a more logical reason for a protest. Why is it that in America, the protests last for 1 or 2 hours, maybe 1 day, and do not continue day after day after day with demands? 

There are only 16 days left until the November 3rd election. I think the real danger will occur after the voting is all accounted for. For sure, if the Democrats do succeed in taking back the House or the Senate, Trump will stop at nothing to call it a fraud or to take every election to court, delaying the installation of the individual who won. The question is: how long will the American people put up with this? Hasn't it gone on long enough 

It was a nice enough day to take Joan out and go to the Portuguese pastry shop for a first visit. Inside is a small area for sitting with tables and chairs. Outside, there is a small sitting area, also with maybe six to seven tables. The little round pastries they serve were very good, very tasty, and the coffee was also good. However, for a person using a wheelchair, it is rather difficult to get into. The outdoors have more access with a little ramp for a chair to go up, but even that presents a problem. Personally, I did not like either the chairs or the tables. The chairs are not comfortable, and the tabletop is not a solid piece of wood or marble or anything solid. It is mainly a series of strips of wood put together with spaces in between. If you drop your knife, your fork, or your spoon, it's very easy for it to fall onto the floor. 

Autumn& De Nata

Autumn isn't over yet. Another nice day to sit in the park observing people. Solacz Park is the nicest park in Poznań.  It isn't the biggest park because that honor goes to Citadella Park. Part of the reason that part is so large is because of the cemeteries that it has within it, both for English, Polish, and Russian soldiers. At the south entrance to Citadella, after climbing many stairs, there's a tall obelisk there. When we first moved here many years ago, at the top of the obelisk stood a red star. A few years later, that star was taken down because it was a symbol of communist Russia.

I've discovered a new pastry shop in our area that we're going to have to try, maybe tomorrow or Sunday. It's a Portuguese pastry shop. De Nata is a café located in Poznań's Jeżyce district, at ul. Wawrzyniaka 19. It specializes in Portuguese pastries, particularly pastel de nata, available in various flavors such as classic, chocolate, and raspberry. Freshly brewed coffee accompanies the sweets. The interior features beautiful tiles, creating a cozy atmosphere.  

It is a café inspired by traditional Portuguese pastry shops, where pastel de nata takes center stage, a crisp, creamy tart served in several unique flavor variations. They are baked fresh daily and taste best with a cup of freshly brewed coffee. The interior features Portuguese tiles and warm tones, creating a cozy, sunny atmosphere. In summer, a small outdoor garden opens up, perfect for an espresso, something sweet, and a chat with a friend.

Home & Ukraine

A day at home. Paige was here, and I asked her how Joan was doing with the steps exercise. She said she stopped them because Joan's balance was so bad that she was afraid to continue. I need to add some balance exercises.

In another 16 days, it will be time to be in Golina. I hope I can make that trip this year. I also hope the weather will be good enough to take Joan. It has been too many years since we were last there for that important day.

Meanwhile: Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky began his visit to Brussels on Thursday, Oct. 15, by meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. During the meeting, he urged continued allied deliveries of ballistic missile interceptors and F-16 ammunition, as Russia continues its strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure despite US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire push. According to Zelensky, Russia has launched nearly 1,000 drones since Wednesday, Oct. 14, amid Starlink restrictions that further strained Kyiv-Washington diplomacy.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the EU must increase funding for Ukraine as Kyiv faces a major budget shortfall in 2027. EU leaders are discussing additional support amid intensified Russian attacks, while calls grow to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. Belgium remains opposed to the proposal.

Merz pushed back against any attempt by the United States to try to get Europe to hand over some of the money as part of Washington’s peace negotiations with Moscow.

“These are assets that are frozen in Europe, and they should remain frozen in Europe. This is our business, and we will decide on it,” he said.