Evening Brief: Trump-Putin Budapest Meeting Put on Hold, Chinese Fighter Jet Releases Flares Near Australian Patrol Aircraft

The Kremlin said any future summit would require “serious preparation.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia resumes diplomacy only under pressure and urged continued Western support as Kyiv seeks long-range missiles from the US.   Trump Nominates Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve as Next Army Vice Chief of Staff President Donald Trump has nominated Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve to serve as the Army’s next vice chief of staff, replacing General James Mingus, who has held the role since January 2024. The nomination, posted Monday in Congress, would also promote LaNeve to a four-star general pending Senate confirmation. LaNeve currently serves as senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and previously commanded the Eighth Army in South Korea and the 82nd Airborne Division. Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve has been nominated by President Donald Trump to be the Army’s next vice chief of staff and replace Gen. James Mingus, who has been in the position for less than two years.https://t.co/F4kjWle4uF — Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) October 21, 2025 The Army said Mingus will continue fulfilling his duties until a successor is confirmed.   DHS Says It Has Issued $9.6 Billion in Fines to More Than 31,600 Undocumented Immigrants The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that it has issued over 31,600 fine notices to individuals in the United States illegally, totaling more than $9.6 billion, in an effort to enforce immigration laws more strictly. A DHS official told Breitbart News that the message is clear: “If you’re in the country illegally, leave now or face the consequences.” DHS is also encouraging self-deportation by offering illegals the ability to use the CBP Home app to arrange a free flight home and receive a $1,000 stipend—while preserving the option to return legally later. The program is positioned as an alternate choice to remaining in the US and accruing daily civil fines, possible arrest, and deportation without future eligibility to return. It’s an easy choice: Leave voluntarily and receive $1,000 check or stay and wait till you are fined $1,000 a day, arrested, and deported without a possibility to return legally.https://t.co/PhlJRsQzr8 — Homeland Security (@DHSgov) October 21, 2025 According to disclosed DHS figures, approximately 1.6 million undocumented individuals have reportedly left the US—1.6 million via self-deportation and over 400,000 through formal removal—though these totals are described as “no longer in the United States” rather than statutory removals. The agency also noted it has recruited about 5,000 new agents to bolster its enforcement efforts.   California Man to Plead Guilty to Acting as Illegal Agent for China While Advising Local Campaign Yaoning “Mike” Sun, a Chinese citizen living legally in the US, has agreed to plead guilty to acting as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government while working as a campaign advisor in Southern California. Under the plea deal filed in Los Angeles, Sun admitted to operating on behalf of Beijing from 2022 to 2024 without notifying the US attorney general, a federal requirement. Prosecutors say Sun promoted pro-China content online at the direction of Chinese officials and sought funding for further influence activities. Court documents indicate Sun served as campaign treasurer for Arcadia City Council candidate Eileen Wang, though she has not been charged and has said she will cooperate with investigators. Sun faces up to 10 years in prison if the plea is accepted.   US Navy Sailor Killed in Suspected Murder-Suicide at Naval Station Great Lakes A Navy sailor, identified as 36-year-old Olivia Lacey, was killed in an apparent murder-suicide on October 10 in North Chicago, Illinois, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office. Investigators believe John Taylor, 39, fatally shot Lacey before taking his own life. Both lived together in Navy housing near Naval Station Great Lakes, where Lacey was stationed. The Navy extended condolences to Lacey’s family and colleagues, calling it an isolated incident under continued investigation. Sailor Found Dead in Great Lakes Navy Housing, Local Coroner Says — USNI Newshttps://t.co/5EMTyHnuOB pic.twitter.com/uGXPT4w3At — U.S. Naval Institute (@NavalInstitute) October 21, 2025 The deaths follow a troubling string of suicides at the Great Lakes base, including four since spring, prompting the Navy to pause and review its live-fire training operations for recruits.   US Air Force Cancels Plan for New Command, Folds Modernization Efforts Into Restructured Air Force Futures The US Air Force has canceled its plan to establish an independent Integrated Capabilities Command (ICC) and will instead merge its functions into a revamped Air Force Futures organization by April. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the restructuring aims to speed up decision-making, improve efficiency, and deliver combat capabilities faster. The service will also create a new chief modernization officer role to oversee force design, capability development, and modernization priorities. The U.S. Air Force has scrapped its plan to create an independent command expected to drive modernization developments. The functions of the provisional ICC will be folded into a restructured version of Air Force Futures by April.https://t.co/jUJ5IAtyHl — Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) October 21, 2025 The ICC was originally announced in early 2024 as part of a broader modernization initiative led by then-Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and General David Allvin. While the Space Force’s planned counterpart, the Space Force Futures Command, remains under review, no final decision has been made on its future.   Russian Strikes Kill Four, Knock Out Power in Ukraine’s Chernihiv Region Russian drone and missile attacks on Tuesday killed four civilians and left hundreds of thousands without power and water in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region, marking another escalation in Moscow’s winter campaign against the country’s energy infrastructure. The strikes caused a total blackout in the regional capital and surrounding areas before partial power was restored later in the day. A subsequent daytime drone assault on Novhorod-Siverskyi, near the Russian border, killed four people and injured at least seven. Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said repair crews were initially unable to work due to lingering drone threats, accusing Russia of deliberately prolonging civilian hardship. At this hour, rescue operations continue in Novhorod-Siverskyi following a massive Russian drone attack on the city. Around twenty Shaheds were used, causing extensive destruction. Four civilians have been confirmed killed — two men and two women. At least seven people have… pic.twitter.com/C20yxeOVlI — Yulia Svyrydenko (@Svyrydenko_Y) October 21, 2025 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks as “terror with cold,” while local officials described widespread damage and renewed resolve to endure. The Chernihiv and Sumy regions have faced repeated strikes in recent weeks as Russia intensifies efforts to cripple Ukraine’s power grid ahead of winter.   Drones Hit Power Facilities in Russia’s Bryansk and Smolensk Regions, Causing Outages Drones struck a power substation in Trubchevsk, Bryansk region, and a thermal power plant in Smolensk, Russia, causing partial blackouts, according to local Telegram reports cited by Ukrainian media outlet UNN. The attacks disrupted electricity in parts of Smolensk. A major blaze has erupted at the Smolensk Thermal Power Plant in western Russia after reported Ukrainian missile strikes late tonight. pic.twitter.com/q5H5ma4qVz — Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) October 21, 2025 The incidents follow reports that Ukraine’s Security Service special forces recently carried out successful operations against Russian targets in occupied territories. Russian officials have not confirmed the strikes or attributed responsibility.   UK Sends Military Officers to Join US-Led Task Force Supporting Gaza Stabilization Britain has deployed a small group of military planning officers, including a two-star deputy commander, to join the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) tasked with supporting stabilization efforts in Gaza, the UK defence ministry said Monday. The move aligns with US efforts to implement President Donald Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan and maintain the fragile truce between Israel and Hamas. The CMCC, backed by up to 200 US troops who will operate outside Gaza, is still finalizing its structure and legal framework. The U.S. Central Command opened a Civil-Military Coordination Center in Israel, Oct. 17, marking the formal establishment of a main coordination hub for Gaza assistance five days after world leaders signed a U.S.-brokered plan to permanently end the war between Israel and Hamas.… pic.twitter.com/NyTn0ctHvA — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 21, 2025 Defence Minister John Healey said the UK is contributing its expertise at Washington’s request while working with international partners to strengthen the peace process.   Israeli Strikes in Lebanon Test Fragile Ceasefire, Raising Fears of ‘Lessfire’ Scenario Israel carried out airstrikes in southern Lebanon this month, killing a Syrian man and wounding seven others, in one of several attacks that have continued nearly a year after a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The October 11 strike destroyed a construction equipment business and highlighted what analysts call a “lessfire” — a nominal truce marked by frequent Israeli attacks and limited Hezbollah response. Lebanon’s government condemned the strikes as “blatant aggression,” saying they harmed civilians and infrastructure unrelated to Hezbollah. Since the November 2024 ceasefire, Israel has launched nearly 1,000 strikes into Lebanon, while Hezbollah has fired about 21 projectiles toward Israel. 💢 The Israeli army launched 12 airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon ➡️ The attacks mark a new violation of a ceasefire deal in place since November 2024 https://t.co/kSA6bb40J2 pic.twitter.com/bBRSQSguWT — Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) October 16, 2025 Analysts say Israel’s ongoing operations have shattered the long-standing balance of deterrence that kept cross-border hostilities in check since 2006, and warn the situation could mirror Gaza’s fragile ceasefire, with no clear enforcement or end in sight.   Netanyahu to Replace National Security Adviser with Deputy Gil Reich Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will appoint Gil Reich, deputy head of the National Security Council, as acting national security adviser, replacing Tzachi Hanegbi. Netanyahu’s office thanked Hanegbi for his three years of service and wished him success in future endeavors. The Prime Minister intends to immediately appoint NSC Deputy Director Gil Reich as Acting Director of the NSC. — Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 21, 2025 The leadership transition marks another change within Israel’s top security ranks amid ongoing regional challenges.   South Korea Suspends DMZ Tours Ahead of Trump Visit Amid Speculation of Possible Kim Meeting South Korea has temporarily suspended official tours of the Joint Security Area (JSA) in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) ahead of President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the Korean Peninsula, the Unification Ministry announced Monday. The pause, effective from late October through early November, may be linked to preparations for a potential meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, according to South Korean media reports. The United Nations Command, which oversees JSA access, declined to explain the decision. Trump has previously expressed interest in another meeting with Kim, whom he met three times between 2018 and 2019. North Korea has indicated openness to renewed dialogue if the US drops its demand for denuclearization. The JSA, also known as Panmunjom, remains heavily restricted after previous border incidents and heightened tensions.   Chinese Fighter Jet Releases Flares Near Australian Patrol Aircraft in ‘Unsafe’ South China Sea Encounter Australia accused China of unsafe military conduct after a Chinese Su-35 fighter jet released flares twice near a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A patrol aircraft over the South China Sea on Sunday. The incident occurred near the Paracel Islands, an area claimed by China but not recognized internationally. Canberra said the maneuver endangered the Australian crew and violated norms of safe military behavior, though no injuries or damage occurred. Beijing has fired back at Canberra after revelations a Chinese jet deployed flares dangerously close to an Australian aircraft. China has declared it acted to expel the plane with the aerial encounter leaving tensions over the South China Sea simmering. pic.twitter.com/l5a1EVTLqB — 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) October 21, 2025 Beijing countered that the P-8A had “illegally intruded” into Chinese airspace and said its forces acted lawfully to expel it. The event marks the second such flare incident between Chinese and Australian aircraft this year, part of a growing pattern of tense encounters in the contested region.   Sources: News Agencies