What was behind this exemption, if nothing more than a personal relationship. Well, good evening to you and to Tyler. Thank you for having me back.Oh, it's just it's more of the same with this administration and with this president. Sanctions are on. You are exempted. Tariffs are on will reduce it for you. Tariffs are off.It is this erratic behavior by the president, by the administration. And we're talking about Russia here. We're talking about a country at war three and a half years now at war with Ukrain ...

It was an important development last week when our Department of Defense approves Tomahawk missiles for use in Ukraine. We understand President Trump will make the final decision on that. Have you heard anything from the administration or are you in conversations with the president about these cruise missiles.>> Uh well, it's it's not like it has been approved and it's a final uh decision. >> He still has to sign off on that. >> Yeah.So there's the the discussion is still ongoing but uh we have uh a lot of ...

Ukraine Ambassador Olha Stefanishyna said her country is engaged in “positive” talks about buying Tomahawk missiles and other long-range weaponry, even after President Trump signaled he didn’t want to send them to the country https://t.co/7Y1s91OdkD ...

Core Insights - Lockheed Martin is investing $50 million in Saildrone, a sea drone manufacturer, to enhance its surveillance drones with missile capabilities [1] Company Summary - The investment marks the first instance where long-distance autonomous ships will be equipped to carry missiles [1]

Company Developments - Target (TGT) is eliminating 1,800 positions, approximately 8% of its corporate workforce, in response to a 36% decline in shares over the past year, aiming to enhance agility [3] - Rivian (RIVN) plans to lay off 600 employees and has settled a $250 million lawsuit [8] - Mondelez (MDLZ) intends to reduce marketing costs through the use of generative AI [8] - Intel (INTC) shows signs of turnaround progress in its latest earnings report [7] Industry Insights - Crude oil prices have stabilized above $60 per barrel after a significant increase, driven by new U.S. sanctions on Russian energy giants Rosneft and Lukoil, which have been largely unaffected since the onset of the Ukraine war [4] - The Trump administration's sanctions may complicate transactions for buyers of Russian crude, particularly for Indian and Chinese refiners, who may face additional risks and potential discounts [6] - Gas prices in the U.S. have fallen below $3 per gallon on average following OPEC+ production increases [5] Market Overview - In Asia, Japan increased by 1.4%, Hong Kong by 0.7%, and China by 0.7%, while India decreased by 0.4% [8] - In Europe, midday trading showed London down by 0.1%, Paris down by 0.5%, and Frankfurt down by 0.1% [8] - Futures indicate a slight increase with Dow up by 0.1%, S&P by 0.3%, and Nasdaq by 0.5% [8]

Geopolitical Strategy - Western resolve, coupled with sanctions and the potential supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, are crucial to deterring Putin [1]

International Relations & Defense - Senator Kaine supports providing Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, emphasizing their potential utility in the conflict [3] - The discussion highlights the balance between supporting Ukraine and maintaining US military readiness, considering the limited and expensive nature of Tomahawk missiles [3][4] - Senator Kaine and Senator Paul are collaborating on legislation requiring congressional approval for military strikes, reflecting concerns about presidential war powers [13][14] - The debate underscores the constitutional principle that Congress, not the President, should declare war [17] US Domestic Politics & Government Shutdown - The government shutdown is impacting constituents, with disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over Obamacare subsidies and budget negotiations [4][5][6] - Democrats seek a commitment that healthcare costs will not spike due to reconciliation bill cuts and want assurance that deals with the President will be honored [6][7] - Senator Kaine argues the current situation differs from a 2019 shutdown because Republicans excluded Democrats from the budget process [9][10] - Senator Kaine emphasizes the need for bipartisan engagement and presidential involvement to resolve the shutdown [12] Virginia Elections & Political Conduct - Democratic Attorney General candidate Jay Jones faces backlash for past text messages, but Senator Kaine supports him, citing his apology and the timing of the revelation [19][20][21] - Senator Kaine equates the situation to public statements made by the Republican gubernatorial candidate and emphasizes that voters should consider these issues [23] - Senator Kaine believes the controversy surrounding Jay Jones has significantly affected his race, but not the other major races in Virginia [26]

Geopolitical & Security Concerns - Ukraine seeks long-range Tomahawk missiles and similar systems from the United States to counter Russia's missile capabilities, including those from North Korea and Iran [3] - Ukraine emphasizes the need for air defense systems and long-range capabilities to counter daily attacks involving approximately 500 Iranian drones and 20 missiles [17] - There are concerns about Russia's increasing missile and drone production, potentially due to support from North Korea, China (machine tools), and Iran (drone licenses) [19] - Ukraine seeks bilateral security guarantees from the United States, similar to NATO's Article 5 or the guarantees provided to Qatar [34] - Russia is testing NATO countries' responses and capabilities after they provide aid to Ukraine, indicating pressure on Europe [32][33] Negotiation & Diplomacy - Ukraine aims to stop the war and seeks diplomatic solutions, counting on pressure from the United States, President Trump, and European allies on Putin [2] - Ukraine is ready for peace negotiations in any format (bilateral, trilateral), emphasizing the need for a ceasefire and a quiet environment [14] - Ukraine suggests that negotiations should start from the current contact line, without ceding additional territory to Russia [13] - Ukraine expresses readiness to participate in negotiations in Budapest if President Trump and Putin are willing to engage, emphasizing that deals about Ukraine cannot be made without Ukraine [25][26] Military Situation & Support - Ukraine claims it is not losing the war, and Putin is not winning, despite Russia occupying some Ukrainian land at a high cost of 1300000 people [16] - Delays in the delivery of sophisticated weapon systems from the Biden administration have been an obstacle [7] - Ukraine pushed back Russian forces from 50% of occupied territory in the initial months of the war, requiring significant support [9] - Sanctions and tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy are requested from the US Congress, along with support for the return of abducted Ukrainian children [28]

International Relations & Diplomacy - A potential double meeting involving President Trump, President Putin, and Ukrainian President Zalinski to discuss ending the war in Ukraine is being considered [1][2] - The US is considering Ukraine's request for long-range missiles, but Trump's stance seems to shift after speaking with Putin [2][3] - The Council on Foreign Relations suggests that providing Ukraine with the necessary support is crucial for achieving a ceasefire and peace, arguing that Trump's behavior may be undermining this goal [6][7] - The US approach to diplomacy with Ukraine and Russia is described as unconventional, with concerns raised about consulting Russia before providing support to Ukraine [5] Military & Security - The provision of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine is under discussion, but the focus should be on providing sufficient intelligence and military support to deter Putin [3][9][10] - The ongoing phase of the war in Ukraine is noted to be in its third and a half year, with concerns that without decisive support for Ukraine, the war will continue due to Russia's larger economy and population [8][9] Geopolitics & US Foreign Policy - The choice of Budapest, Hungary, as the location for a potential summit raises questions, especially given Hungary's sympathetic stance towards Russia [11][15] - The US involvement in Venezuela, including potential military actions, is viewed by some as a possible regime change attempt, raising concerns about the long-term consequences and the need for multilateral cooperation [18][19][20][21]

Geopolitical Analysis - The analysis indicates that Vladimir Putin has deeper reasons to worry about the war in Ukraine, irrespective of Donald Trump's potential decision regarding Tomahawk missiles supply to Volodymyr Zelensky [1]