Morning Brief: Pentagon Orders Nationwide Quick Reaction Forces, Xi Pledges Support for Global Free Trade

The directive follows an August executive order by President Donald Trump that authorized rapid military deployment across the country, reinforcing his push to use the armed forces in domestic law enforcement. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged multiple layers of National Guard readiness but declined to discuss specifics. Some of Trump’s past troop deployments have faced legal challenges, including ongoing cases in Chicago and Portland. The new units are expected to provide monthly updates on their progress to military leaders.   US Cancels Planned Trump-Putin Summit After Russia Demands Ukrainian Concessions The United States cancelled a planned summit in Budapest between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin after Moscow insisted on hardline conditions for a Ukraine ceasefire, according to the Financial Times. The decision followed a tense call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, during which Washington concluded that Moscow was unwilling to negotiate. Russia’s demands reportedly included Ukraine ceding additional territory, sharply reducing its military forces, and guaranteeing it would not join NATO. Trump supports a ceasefire based on current front lines, aligning with Kyiv’s position. The US cancelled the planned meeting in Budapest after a memo from Russia’s foreign ministry was swiftly followed by a tense call between the two countries’ top diplomats https://t.co/PXd7vIwrQw pic.twitter.com/GqA77qFZqG — Financial Times (@FT) October 31, 2025 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reiterated that Ukraine is open to peace talks but will not withdraw troops from any territory before negotiations. The White House and Russian officials have not commented on the report.   Ukrainian Drone Strike Forces Heat, Water Cuts in Russian City of Oryol Authorities in the Russian city of Oryol restricted heat and hot water supplies on Friday after Ukrainian drones struck a pipeline at a local power plant, according to regional governor Andrey Klychkov. The outage affects several districts, including Sovetsky, Zheleznodorozhny, and Severny. The attack is part of an escalation in cross-border strikes on energy infrastructure as peace talks between Russia and Ukraine remain stalled. Early this morning, Ukrainian drones hit the Orlovskaya Thermal Power Plant in Oryol, damaging its substation systems and igniting the fuel oil storage. The 330 MW gas-fired plant supplies much of Oryol’s electricity and heating. pic.twitter.com/jKh9bUFqGc — Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) October 31, 2025 Russia’s Defense Ministry said it shot down 130 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions, including Moscow, Yaroslavl, and western areas. Local officials reported infrastructure damage near the city of Vladimir, and a kindergarten in Yaroslavl closed following a drone strike.   Ukraine Says Russia Using INF-Banned Missile Behind US Treaty Withdrawal in Recent Strikes Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed that Russia has used the ground-launched 9M729 cruise missile, whose development led the US to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019, in recent attacks on Ukrainian targets. A senior Ukrainian official told reporters that Russia fired the missile 23 times since August, with one traveling more than 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) to its target. The missile, capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads, has a range of up to 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles). Sybiha said Russia’s use of the INF-banned weapon shows President Vladimir Putin’s disregard for US diplomatic efforts and called for stronger international pressure on Moscow. Western analysts said the deployment broadens Russia’s long-range strike options and signals a threat to European security, especially as Moscow lifts limits on where it can place INF-range missiles. Exclusive: Russia has in recent months attacked Ukraine with a cruise missile whose secret development prompted Trump to abandon a nuclear arms control pact with Moscow in his first term as US president, Ukraine’s foreign minister said https://t.co/iWdbKCap2H — Reuters (@Reuters) October 31, 2025 The missile fragments recovered from an October 5 strike in Ukraine matched 9M729 markings, according to independent weapons analysts. Experts noted that Russia may be using the missile to attack from deeper inside its territory while testing it under combat conditions. The White House has not commented, though President Trump recently ordered US nuclear weapons testing to resume in response to other nations’ programs.   Xi Pledges Support for Global Free Trade at APEC as Trump Skips Summit After Trade Deal Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed his commitment to global free trade at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, where he took a leading role following US President Donald Trump’s decision to skip the event. The two-day summit opened a day after Trump and Xi held a separate meeting that eased trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. Trump announced plans to cut tariffs on China, while Beijing agreed to resume purchases of US soybeans and allow rare earth exports. In his address, Xi called for cooperation amid global instability, emphasizing the importance of stable supply chains and collaboration in green industries. His remarks countered US efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese manufacturing. President Xi Jinping on Friday delivered a speech at the first session of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting under the title “Building an Inclusive Open Asia-Pacific Economy for All.” #XiJinping #习近平 #APEC @XisMoments https://t.co/ABiseFpnFl pic.twitter.com/aB0SlQVcCh — China Daily (@ChinaDaily) October 31, 2025 Xi’s visit to South Korea, his first in 11 years, includes meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, with North Korea expected to be a key topic. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent represented the US, promoting “fair and reciprocal” trade terms. Analysts said the Xi-Trump meeting prevented escalation in the trade war but noted that deeper cooperation through APEC remains essential to address regional economic challenges, including protectionism and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI). South Korea, as summit host, is pushing for a joint declaration emphasizing peace, prosperity, and sustainable growth under the theme “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.”   Malaysia Urges ASEAN to Expand Security Cooperation Into Cyberspace Malaysia called on ASEAN members to strengthen security cooperation beyond maritime issues to include cyberspace during the bloc’s annual defense ministers’ meeting. Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin warned that regional peace is under threat from both traditional and emerging dangers, including rising tensions in the South China Sea and escalating cyberattacks targeting infrastructure and governments. Khaled and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed their nations’ commitment to maritime security in the South China Sea, criticizing “grey-zone tactics” such as Chinese hydrographic research under coast guard protection. The remarks underscored Malaysia’s growing frustration with Chinese incursions into its waters, though it still favors diplomatic handling over confrontation. Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today joined the Defence Ministers of ASEAN Member States, at the 19th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, chaired by Malaysia under the theme “ASEAN Unity for Security and Prosperity.” The 19th ADMM… pic.twitter.com/lm9ib7abBm — ASEAN (@ASEAN) October 31, 2025 Khaled also urged ASEAN to accelerate the formation of an observer team to help Thailand and Cambodia manage their border crisis and reiterated support for a peaceful resolution to Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict. Myanmar’s junta leaders remain barred from ASEAN meetings after failing to implement the bloc’s 2021 peace plan.   Japan Scrambles Jets After Repeated Russian Surveillance Flights Near Its Coast Japan’s military reported two Russian IL-20 electronic intelligence aircraft conducting surveillance flights around the country within a week, prompting the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to scramble fighter jets both times. The Joint Staff Office said the most recent flight on Wednesday traveled from Russia over the Sea of Okhotsk and into the Pacific Ocean, approaching the coast of Iwate Prefecture before turning back. A similar flight occurred Saturday over the Sea of Japan near Kyoto Prefecture. The routes included airspace near the disputed southern Kuril Islands, which are controlled by Russia but claimed by Japan. While the aircraft remained in international airspace, the flights occurred inside Japan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), leading to defensive responses from Japanese forces. 令和7年10月29日 ロシアの情報収集機（IL‐20）が、オホーツク海を経由し太平洋に進出したことを確認し、これに対して航空自衛隊の北部航空方面隊等の戦闘機を緊急発進させ対応しました。 https://t.co/LHGOe5vsUK pic.twitter.com/HJuSt5Tuvx — 防衛省・自衛隊 (@ModJapan_jp) October 30, 2025 Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Russian military flights near Japan are now a daily occurrence and highlighted concurrent Chinese naval movements. Japan also tracked two Chinese frigates transiting between Okinawa and Miyako Island into the Philippine Sea this week. Koizumi pledged to maintain 24-hour vigilance amid growing Russian and Chinese military activity in the region.   Sources: News Agencies