Internal turmoil

Police officers inspect damaged cars at a residential area following Russia’s drone attack in Odesa, Ukraine, on July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Shtekel)

Good morning from Europe, as we continue to monitor the latest developments on two major wars.

First, I just wanted to write and personally thank all of those who have taken such interest in my book “Lessons From The Front,” which will hit shelves Oct. 30. 

Because of you all, my book is considered the No. 1 new release on Amazon in the Russia/Soviet Union category and is in the Top 3 for books relating to the Middle East. Again, I’m absolutely blown away. 

You can preorder the book through Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Bloomsbury.

Now, back to the conflicts overseas.

Trouble at home

The situation in Ukraine has taken an unexpected turn. Today, negotiators are scheduled to meet in Istanbul to pick up talks again, marking the third time the two sides’ representatives have met since May. 

Both the Russians and Ukrainians have tempered expectations.

“There is no basis to expect any magical breakthroughs,” the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, told reporters on Tuesday. “This is highly unlikely in the current situation.”

Meanwhile, back in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing public backlash and the largest demonstrations since the war began in 2022. This is due to a bill passed by Ukrainian lawmakers that would limit the powers of two institutions tasked with investigating government corruption.

Zelenskyy has defended the move, saying that the anti-corruption plan will “work,” but that the agencies need to be purged of Russian influence. Today, he promised to deliver a new action plan to fight corruption within two weeks. 

“We all have a common enemy – the Russian occupiers, and the protection of the Ukrainian state requires sufficient strength of the law enforcement and anti-corruption systems, and therefore a real sense of justice,” he wrote on X, adding that “we hear society.”

Nevertheless, things to this point have not sat well with the Ukrainian public as people call for a functioning government. 

So, as the Ukrainians and Russians open up a new round of talks, it stands to reason that Ukraine will be behind the 8 ball and have its leverage undermined by the domestic turmoil. 

Demonstrations in major Ukrainian cities, despite the fact that such gatherings are strictly prohibited under the wartime laws currently in place, indicate how big of a deal this is. Of course, anything can happen in Istanbul, but the Ukrainians definitely have their hands full at the moment. 

When in Rome

We’ve been down this ceasefire road before when it comes to Gaza — plenty of negotiations marked by that famous word “progress,” only to fizzle out. 

But Rome is looking like the impending site of an important game of who’s who.

It has become rather public knowledge by now that Steve Witkoff is President Donald Trump’s lead negotiator. Since taking on his role as a special envoy, he has successfully brokered deals in the Middle East as well as with Russia to bring Americans home. When Witkoff is involved, it tends to be important.

But on the Israeli side, I have been told this by multiple sources: When Ron Dermer goes, deals are closed and things happen. 

Ron Dermer is the minister of strategic affairs for Israel. Before that, he was Israel’s ambassador to the United States. Presently, he is Israel’s lead negotiator.

So when Witkoff goes somewhere, it’s significant. When Dermer goes somewhere, it’s very significant. 

Axios has reported that both are expected to be in Rome on Thursday, along with a senior Qatari envoy, to try to iron out the last few details of a ceasefire. 

If true, this is a huge meeting, and a deal may be close. 

We’ll be watching intently.