The Weekly FRAGO | Concerned Veterans for America

14 August 2025

POLITICO | Trump tells European leaders US could provide security guarantees for Ukraine
President Donald Trump has told European and Ukrainian leaders that the U.S. is willing to contribute security guarantees for Ukraine — with some conditions, according to three people familiar with the conversation.

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Newsweek | Russia Reveals Plan for Trump-Putin Alaska Summit
The Kremlin has confirmed the names of those who will attend the summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska this Friday, August 15, among other details about the schedule.

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The high-stakes meeting is a pivotal moment in Russia's three-and-a-half-year-long war in Ukraine. Trump has warned Russia that it faces serious consequences—including severe secondary tariffs—if it does not end the fighting and make peace.

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The Independent | Trump-Putin summit live: Putin praises US president for his ‘sincere effort’ to end war in Ukraine
Vladimir Putin has praised Donald Trump’s “sincere efforts” towards ending the war in Ukraine, speaking one day before Friday’s crunch meeting between the two presidents in Alaska.

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Military Times | VA hospitals are finding it harder to fill jobs, watchdog says
Government-run medical centers serving the nation’s veterans have reported an increase in severe staffing shortages, with many hospitals having trouble filling jobs for doctors, nurses and psychologists, according to an independent watchdog for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Stars & Stripes | Medical records for 1 million dialysis patients breached in data hack of VA vendor
A national dialysis center that contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs was the target of a ransomware attack breaching veterans medical records containing Social Security numbers, test results and health insurance information.

USA Today | The key to success at Trump-Putin Alaska summit on Ukraine? Low expectations | Justin Logan
The war in Ukraine is stuck, and has been stuck for years. Despite the media frenzy over the upcoming U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska, there is little reason to expect a breakthrough, barring a dramatic change in the U.S., Russian or Ukrainian positions.

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The Hill | Veterans in crisis deserve care quickly: Pass the ACCESS Act now | Darin Selnick & Amber Smith
During the past administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs failed to meet the basic health care needs of the men and women who served this country. Too often, veterans are met with canceled appointments, unexplained delays and systemic barriers that keep them from life-saving care, especially for mental health and substance use treatment.

The American Conservative | Preparing for the Peace With Russia | Brandon J. Weichert
As the Trump administration engages in much-needed talks with the Russian Federation over the fate of Ukraine, it’s important to take stock of just what is at stake in these negotiations. This isn’t just about ending the most unnecessary war the United States has been involved in since the Iraq War. It’s about reestablishing great power relations with nuclear-armed, resource-rich Russia.

CVA has been out in the media discussing the current foreign policy landscape and VA health care reform. Watch some of our recent media hits and read some of our staff’s letters to the editors advocating for veterans’ access to timely and quality care:

In the wake of developments, President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet tomorrow in Alaska to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. John Byrnes joined Fox 5 DC last week to give his insights on how Russia and Ukraine could achieve peace. Watch the full interview here.

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And John Vick, CVA’s executive director, made an appearance on OANN's The Real Story discussing the veteran mental health crisis and policy solutions we're advocating for in Congress. Watch the interview here.

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CVA’s Dawn Longie wrote a Letter to the Editor for The Washington Post: I’m the wife of a combat veteran. They need prompt access to care.

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And CVA’s Brittany Corfman Parks authored a letter for The Orlando Sentinel: Veterans’ health care is in limbo.