"No choice but to go in and kill"

Hi Global Recap readers,

The title of today’s newsletter is a direct quote from President Trump. It embodies his “Peace Through Strength” approach—what he promised and delivered.

Or did he?

• Today, we dig into growing criticism (even from some of his own supporters) over his weaker stance on Russia compared to Hamas and Iran, alongside his moves to lower costs for Americans, including prescription drug prices.

• However, it could simply be a matter of complex geopolitics we don't have access to as ordinary citizens.

But one thing is clear: Putin is stalling and visibly nervous ahead of tomorrow’s Trump–Zelenskyy meeting. More on that later. 👇️ 

🌐 WORLD
Fast Scroll News

🇺🇸 Trump Threatens Hamas

President Donald Trump warned that if Hamas keeps killing in Gaza, the US will have "no choice but to go in and kill" the terrorist group, just three days after a ceasefire deal was signed.

• Timing: The warning came only days after Trump declared the war "over" when the ceasefire was announced.

• Shift: Trump had initially dismissed Hamas crackdowns on alleged collaborators, even after footage of a public execution surfaced, but his tone hardened within 24 hours.

• Clarification: He later said US troops would not directly fight, instead hinting that Israel or nearby allies would act "under our auspices."

• Accusation: Israel has already accused Hamas of violating the deal by delaying the return of deceased hostages.

• Conversation: Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, though details of their exchange remain undisclosed.

🇬🇧 Villa Blocks Israelis

UK Football club Aston Villa will block Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their Europa League clash in Birmingham on November 6 after police flagged the game as "high risk."

• Decision: West Midlands Police advised the city’s Safety Advisory Group to deny away tickets, citing fears of violence and protests outside Villa Park.

• Precedent: Dutch police arrested 62 people and hospitalized five after violent clashes involving Maccabi fans in Amsterdam last year, including incidents of flag burning and attacks on taxis.

• Reaction: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the move as "the wrong decision," warning against antisemitism and urging police to protect all fans.

• Politics: Local MP Ayoub Khan petitioned the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the UK government to cancel or relocate the match, pointing to Birmingham’s large Muslim population and frequent pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

• Rules: UEFA normally requires home clubs to allocate at least five percent of stadium capacity to away supporters, but it defers to local authorities on safety grounds.

🇺🇦 Ukraine Battered

Russia just battered Ukraine’s energy grid with over 300 drones and 37 missiles, leaving blackouts across eight regions, while Volodymyr Zelenskyy heads to Washington to press Donald Trump for American air defenses and long-range missiles.

• Damage: Ukraine’s national energy operator Ukrenergo confirmed outages in Kyiv and across the country (again), while DTEK halted natural gas extraction in Poltava after repeated strikes.

• Tactic: Zelenskyy accused Russia of using cluster munitions and striking the same sites twice to target emergency crews repairing the grid. Cluster munitions are banned under international law.

• Meeting: Trump said he will meet Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Friday, one day after a call with Vladimir Putin that he described as “great progress.” (See our In-Depth story below)

🇫🇷 Lecornu Dodges Collapse

France’s Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu just survived two no-confidence votes in parliament after cutting a deal to suspend Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform until after 2027.

• Numbers: The hard-left France Unbowed won 271 votes and the far-right National Rally secured 144, both short of the 289 needed to topple the government.

• Concession: Lecornu promised to shelve Macron’s plan to raise the retirement age, a move that convinced the Socialist Party to back him.

• Fragility: The National Assembly remains fractured into three ideological blocs, leaving Lecornu vulnerable to future challenges.

• Finance: Investors stayed calm, but France’s public finances remain strained as the government pushes a slimmed-down 2026 budget.

• Pressure: If Lecornu had lost, he and his ministers would have been forced to resign, likely triggering a snap election.

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Trump Plans Putin Meeting

Donald Trump says he made "great progress" in a call with Vladimir Putin and now wants to meet him in Budapest for Ukraine talks, just as Volodymyr Zelenskyy lands in Washington to push for Tomahawk missiles capable of striking deep into Russia.

• The timing isn't coincidental.

• What’s frustrating so many people is that, despite Putin’s obvious stalling tactics, Trump isn’t exercising his “Peace Through Strength” approach with Putin as he did with Hamas and Iran.

So, why?

The Call

The phone call is being framed as a breakthrough, but the timing is impossible to ignore.

• Trump just finished a two-hour call with Putin today—their first direct call since mid‑August.

• He described it as "very productive," while the Kremlin called it "extremely frank and trustful."

• Both sides agreed to begin summit preparations immediately, with Trump saying he expects to meet Putin in Budapest "within two weeks."

The Budapest Summit

So why Hungary, and why now?

• Trump said the meeting will take place in Budapest, though no date has been confirmed.

• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán praised the plan, calling it "great news for the peace‑loving people of the world."

• Orbán has repeatedly argued that Europe must stop "fanning the flames of endless war" and instead pursue negotiations with Russia.

Ukraine’s Stakes

To reiterate: The call came just hours before Zelenskyy’s arrival in Washington, and the overlap is not accidental.

• Zelenskyy is pressing the US to supply Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a range of 2,500 km (1,500 miles).

  • Although analysts believe Russia has the capability to shoot them down, the dealbreaker is the sheer number of missiles that could overwhelm its defenses.

  • Possessing such weapons alone may be enough to tip the scales in this asymmetric war.

• Trump told reporters the US "can't deplete" its own stockpile, leaving the request unresolved.

• However, on Wednesday, War Secretary Pete Hegseth promised NATO that "firepower" is coming for Ukraine.

• Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Olga Stefanishyna, said Russia launched overnight strikes on Ukraine "hours before" Putin’s call with Trump, calling it proof that Moscow’s strategy is "terror and exhaustion."

Trade and Leverage

Trump also revealed what he and Putin discussed beyond the battlefield.

• He said they "spent a great deal of time talking about Trade between Russia and the United States when the War with Ukraine is over."

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the US delegation in follow‑up talks with Russian officials next week.

• Trump promised to brief Zelenskyy personally on the Putin call during their meeting at the White House.

Shifting Positions

The bigger story is how Trump’s stance has evolved since the summer.

• In late July, Trump threatened sweeping sanctions if Putin refused a ceasefire, but he backed off once Putin agreed to meet in Alaska.

• At their August 15 summit in Alaska, Trump pushed Putin toward peace talks but left without a deal.

• In September, Trump publicly said he believed Kyiv could "win all of Ukraine back in its original form," a reversal from earlier suggestions that Ukraine might need to cede territory.

• Now, in October, it looks like yet another summit may be pushed close to November. If nothing comes of the upcoming meeting, even more Trump supporters may start questioning his selective application of “Peace Through Strength,” as some are already doing online.

Next Moves

To wrap up, here's what to be aware of as the possible Budapest summit approaches.

• Trump expects to meet with Putin within two weeks, although no date has been locked in.

• Zelenskyy’s Washington visit, his third since January, will focus on air defense, sanctions, and long‑range weapons.

• India, meanwhile, has already contradicted Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Modi agreed to stop buying Russian oil, saying that it was "not aware" of such an agreement.