While today may mark one of the most — if not the most — significant elections in recent U.S. history, life continues on its merry way in the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, however, life has ended prematurely for far too many in Ukraine. For example:

> On November 1st, a Russian drone strike hit a playground directly in front of a high school dormitory being used to house refugees. One of the victims was 13-year-old student Arina Pidruchna, a winner of academic olympiads in the sciences and described by her teachers and fellow students as the “soul of her class.”

> In Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhya region, more than 30 were killed on November 2nd when a bomb struck a school where aid was being distributed, and nine more bombs then targeted the shelter to which the people had fled. As many as 50 others were trapped beneath the rubble, and the total casualty count is not yet known.

> And today the target was a hospice in Dnipro, where dozens of terminally ill patients — the oldest being 90 years of age — were injured and had to be evacuated when a missile destroyed one of the few such facilities in the region. An additional 20 civilian buildings were also damaged or partially destroyed.

Meanwhile, arrangements are proceeding to convene talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11. The discussions will, of course, include U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and, according to a social media post by Witkoff, will cover “post-war security agreements, de-escalation, humanitarian measures, and ending the war.” [Steve Holland, Reuters, November 2, 2026.]

Prior to that meeting, other American negotiators will meet “at the working level” in Brussels with representatives from France, Germany, the UK, the EU and NATO to discuss “Ukraine’s security guarantees, Europe’s future security framework, and economic support for Ukraine’s reconstruction.” [Id.]

So is this just another exercise in futility?

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor expressed skepticism as to the possibility of success, saying:

“The hard part and the breakthrough would be for Putin to say yes, he’s agreed to a cease-fire.” [Alex Raufoglu, RFE/RL, November 3, 2026.]

But, Taylor added somewhat more optimistically, if that were to happen, then military and technical experts could work out the details of monitoring and enforcing a cease-fire, as well as procedures for responding to violations. [Id.]

The conservative American Enterprise Institute is more realistic, however. Senior fellow Heather Conley told RFE/RL:

“I don’t believe we can expect much from these technical meetings other than the fact they are restarting. There will not be a breakthrough but possibly a follow-on meeting will be scheduled.” [Id.]

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Let me put it another way: These meetings are nothing more than a poorly-disguised effort by Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump to trick the world into believing they are making a sincere effort to end the war.

But as long as Putin continues to attack Ukraine’s civilians . . . as long as he refuses to agree to even the slightest compromise . . . and as long as he and Trump persist in making their back-room deals . . . there will be no end to the mayhem in Ukraine.

Because Putin wants nothing less than total success — and that means, not only control of Ukraine, but expansion into the rest of Europe as well. And he is using Trump to help him on his way.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
11/3/26