Today’s D Brief: EU backs Ukraine peace talks; AUKUS, back on; AI in Europe; NNSA idles most staff; And a bit more.
Lauren C. Williams and Bradley Peniston | October 21, 2025 12:20 PM ET
The D Brief Asia-Pacific China Ukraine White House Europe
A swarm of Russian drones shut down the electric grid in parts of Ukraine Tuesday, leaving hundreds of thousands without power—a sign of more blackouts to come this winter. Russia has mounted attacks on civilian infrastructure since it first invaded Ukraine in 2022, and such strikes are expected to grow more frequent as temperatures drop in coming weeks and months.
What’s new: “Analysts and officials say that this year Moscow has shifted tactics, targeting specific regions and gas infrastructure,” AP reports.
European leaders back White House stance on Ukraine. Leaders from across Europe, including the European Union, Britain, France, Germany, and Ukraine, penned a joint statement Tuesday, calling for a ceasefire and more pressure on Russia’s economy. “We are all united in our desire for a just and lasting peace, deserved by the people of Ukraine. We strongly support President Trump’s position that the fighting should stop immediately, and that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations,” leaders wrote in the statement issued by the British government. “We must ramp up the pressure on Russia’s economy and its defence industry, until Putin is ready to make peace.” Read the statement, here.
Asia-Pacific
AUKUS is back on after a monthslong review by the Pentagon sparked uncertainty. President Donald Trump, who earlier this year appeared not to know about the trilateral deal, assuaged concerns about the submarine deal’s future, saying U.S. production was “full steam ahead” during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday. “They’re building magnificent holding pads for the submarines. It’s going to be expensive. You wouldn’t believe the level of complexity and how expensive it is,” Trump said. Australia has committed billions of dollars for the deal and its alliance is considered critical for stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/10/the-d-brief-october-21-2025/408940/?oref=d1-homepage-river
