09 January 2025

Associated Press | In their final meeting, Zelenskyy and Austin say military aid to Ukraine must continue under Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin used their final meeting Thursday to press the incoming Trump administration to not give up on Kyiv’s fight, warning that to cease military support now “will only invite more aggression, chaos and war.”

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Military Times | 40% rise in mental health diagnoses among troops, report finds
Diagnoses of mental health disorders among active-duty service members increased by nearly 40% over the last five years, according to a new Defense Health Agency report.

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Fox News | Biden approves $500M Ukraine security package 11 days before Trump takes office
The Biden administration on Thursday announced an additional $500 million of military aid to Ukraine in a security package rushed out the door before President-elect Trump takes office.

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Newsweek | Ukraine Offers To Replace Hungary in NATO
Ukraine has offered to replace Hungary in NATO and the EU in a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 7 as tensions between the two countries increase due to Budapest's support of Russia in the war.

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Responsible Statecraft | DoD denies US military building a new 'base' in Syria
The Pentagon addressed questions regarding reports this week about the U.S. military moving construction materials into Kobani, a city in northeastern Syria close to Turkey's border, ostensibly to help its long time partners, the Kurdish-led Syrian Defense Forces, stave off attacks by the Turks.

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Reuters | Exclusive: Hundreds of veterans, others urge Trump to continue resettling at-risk Afghans
Hundreds of veterans and current and former U.S. officials want President-elect Donald Trump to preserve U.S. special visa and resettlement programs for Afghans at risk of retribution for working for the United States during the 20-year war against the Taliban, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters.

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NBC News | Pentagon reaches historic settlement with LGBTQ veterans over discharge status
The Defense Department agreed to a class-action settlement that may affect more than 35,000 LGBTQ veterans who were discharged because of their sexual orientation under “don’t ask, don’t tell” and similar earlier policies.

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Military.com | Missouri Lawmakers Look to 'Magic Mushrooms' to Address High Veteran Suicide Rate
As Missouri grapples with a high rate of suicide among military veterans, state legislators this year will again consider whether members of that vulnerable population should have access to alternative medical treatments.

Foreign Affairs | The Real Risks of Escalation in Ukraine | Bill Wohlforth & Mike Poznansky
As U.S. President Joe Biden’s national security team prepares to depart, one of its chief foreign policy strategies is facing withering assault. A growing chorus of critics argues that Ukraine’s current dire situation is partly the result of Biden’s timid approach to helping Kyiv defend itself against Russia’s invasion.

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Foreign Policy | Why Biden’s Foreign Policy Fell Short | Kori Schake
At its inception, the Biden administration proudly declared that “America is back.” The 2022 National Security Strategy announced that by “leveraging our national strengths and rallying a broad coalition of allies and partners, we will advance our vision of a free, open, prosperous, and secure world, outmaneuvering our competitors, and making meaningful progress on issues like climate change, global health, and food security to improve the lives not just of Americans but of people around the world.”

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Council on Foreign Relations | Neutrality: An Alternative to Ukraine’s Membership in NATO | Eugene Rumer
This Ukraine Policy Brief is part of the Council Special Initiative on Securing Ukraine's Future and the Wachenheim Program on Peace and Security. It has become widely accepted that Ukraine is losing the war with Russia. In less than six months, the prevailing narrative has shifted from achieving victory to avoiding defeat. The early successes of the Ukrainian army in 2022 inspired war aims that included the total liberation of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory and holding Russia accountable for its war crimes. Those aims no longer appear realistic.

A message from CVA’s Strategic Director, John Byrnes:

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Welcome to 2025. Our team at Concerned Veterans for America hopes that you had a joyous holiday season. We are ready to get back to work advocating for America’s future. With a new incoming administration, and a new Congress, at CVA, we believe together we can achieve great outcomes this year.

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We will of course be carrying on the fight to ensure that our veterans have access to timely, quality health care, and the right to choose where they receive care – whether that is at VA facilities or through community care.

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We will be advocating on your behalf, and with your support, to Congress, for fiscal policies that work to keep America prosperous.

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In 2025, CVA will be working to advance energy policies that will help renew the American economy this year and in years ahead.

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Another core focus of CVA is working to make sure we have a foreign policy strategy that improves our national security, ends endless wars, ensures our prosperity at home and makes every American safer – a foreign policy rooted in realism and restraint.

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We can continue to believe that in 2025 America’s best days are still ahead…

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But we need your participation to realize this vision. Please join us in welcoming 2025 with both hope and a commitment to America’s future.

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