Russia

• A Russian Security Council official said Thursday that Ukraine joining NATO would guarantee World War III when commenting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent attempt to join the alliance. AWC
• The Kremlin said that Russia’s goals in Ukraine have not changed but that they could be achieved by negotiations, Reuters reported on Thursday. AWC
• EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell issued a threat against Russia on Thursday, warning that Western powers would “annihilate” the Russian army if Moscow uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine. AWC
• Some Democrats call on Washington to reposition Patriot missiles from Saudi Arabia to Ukraine. Guardian
• The Joe Biden administration will send $725 million in more weapons and other military equipment to Ukraine, the White House announced on Friday. The arms shipment is expected to contain munitions, including more rounds for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), and military vehicles but no new significant capabilities or counter air defenses. AWC
• French President Emmanuel Macron answered questions about Paris’s nuclear weapons policy in a Wednesday television interview. He indicated that Moscow detonating a nuclear weapon in Ukraine would not cause Paris to use its nukes. Macron is facing criticism for his remarks. AWC
• The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is set to begin its annual military drills in preparation for nuclear war. American B-52 bombers will be joined by advanced aircraft from other alliance members as they simulate a war of annihilation with Russia. AWC
• Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is in talks with the Department of Defense about providing internet for Ukraine’s military. Starlink, a Musk-owned technology, has provided internet services to Ukraine at his own expense after Russia invaded in February. The Institute 

Korea

• Amid soaring tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Pyongyang and Seoul engaged in another round of provocations on Thursday. North Korean warplanes flew near South Korean borders. Seoul conducted artillery drills and scrambled its fighter jets. The Institute 

Middle East

• In a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he did not trust Washington and the US could not play the sole mediating role in resolving the Israeli occupation. Abbas voiced support for Moscow, saying, “Russia stands for justice.” The Institute 
• On Wednesday, the State Department said that reviving the Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, is “not our focus now,” as negotiations with Tehran have been stalled since the beginning of September. AWC
• Saudi Arabia on Thursday shot back at the Biden administration for its criticism of OPEC’s decision to reduce oil production and said it “totally rejected” the US characterization of the move. AWC
• A major pre-planted IED device tore through a Syrian military bus in Damascus Thursday, killing at least 18 soldiers and wounding 27 others. The Syrian military called it a “terrorist detonation.” AWC