SOFREP Daily: Zelensky Warns Scholz on Putin, Russian Ship Probes Irish Defenses – SOFREP News Team

Here’s what you need to know today: Key insights in defense and global affairs for Saturday, November 16.

Zelensky Urges Trump to End War, Warns Scholz on Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed optimism that Russia’s war on Ukraine will “end sooner” once Donald Trump assumes the US presidency.

In a radio interview aired on Saturday, Zelensky acknowledged the challenging situation on the battlefield but emphasized his belief that Trump’s direct involvement could accelerate peace efforts.

He also highlighted his intention to engage solely with Trump, rejecting talks with intermediaries.

“I don’t think Putin wants peace at all. But this does not mean that he does not want to sit down with one of the leaders” to negotiate, Zelensky said, cited from Kyiv Independent. “For him it destroys the political isolation that has been built since the beginning of the war. And it benefits him to sit down, talk, and not reach an agreement.”

Following Trump’s election victory, the two leaders had a “constructive” phone conversation, with Trump stating that resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict is a priority.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Vladimir Putin to initiate peace talks with Kyiv on a rare phone call on Friday.

Zelensky, then, cautioned how this conversation could open a “Pandora’s box” by reducing Putin’s isolation and prolonging the war.

During the rare one-hour conversation, Scholz urged Putin to withdraw troops and negotiate peace, while Putin insisted on recognizing “new territorial realities” and meeting Russia’s demands.

The call follows Putin’s conversation with US president-elect Trump, who has pledged to expedite an end to the conflict.

Scholz’s outreach comes as Germany grapples with internal political turmoil and debates over military aid, including the supply of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

Russian Ship Probes Irish Defenses

A Russian spy ship, Yantar, was escorted out of Irish-controlled waters by the Irish Navy’s LÉ James Joyce after patrolling near critical submarine pipelines and cables vital to energy and internet infrastructure.

The ship, part of a Russian convoy including the warship Admiral Golovko, had been closely monitored by Irish, British, and other NATO-aligned forces. Its presence raised alarms about the security of undersea cables connecting Ireland with the UK, France, and transatlantic routes, heightening fears of surveillance or potential sabotage.

The ship reportedly operated drones over Irish waters and avoided responding to Irish naval communications.

Experts see this as a warning for Ireland to bolster maritime defenses amid rising concerns over Europe’s critical infrastructure vulnerabilities.

Trilateral Talks Target North Korean Troop Deployment

President Joe Biden is set to meet South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru amid rising tensions over North Korea’s escalating military partnership with Russia.

The meeting will address North Korea’s recent deployment of up to 12,000 troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine and its stepped-up missile tests aimed at enhancing capabilities to strike the US mainland. Intelligence reports indicate North Korea has also supplied significant munitions to Russia.

The trilateral talks build on the 2023 Camp David summit, emphasizing strengthened economic and security ties between the US, South Korea, and Japan.

As the region braces for potential provocations ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Biden, Yoon, and Ishiba aim to ensure coordinated strategies against shared threats.

China Disrupts US Drone Supply Chain

Recent Chinese sanctions on American drone maker Skydio highlight the persistent vulnerabilities in US defense supply chains, particularly regarding Chinese-made components like batteries.

David Michelson, a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) official, stressed Friday the urgency for US defense firms to sever supply chain ties with China, citing national security risks.

Skydio, a supplier for both US and Ukrainian militaries, is now rationing its remaining Chinese batteries while seeking alternative sources.

The issue underscores the Pentagon’s push, through initiatives like the Blue unmanned aerial system (UAS) program, to eliminate reliance on adversarial supply lines. With new mandates in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act requiring domestic battery production by 2027, companies like Lyten are ramping up US-based manufacturing.

Michelson emphasized the critical need for large-scale drone production, citing lessons from the war in Ukraine.

Pentagon Fails Audit Again

The Pentagon’s fiscal 2024 annual audit marks the seventh consecutive year of failure, though officials highlight incremental improvements.

Under Secretary of Defense Michael McCord stressed on a Friday press briefing that despite the failing grade, the Department of Defense (DoD) is gaining momentum in addressing financial challenges.

The audit reviewed $4.1 trillion in assets and $4.3 trillion in liabilities, providing opinions on 28 entities. Nine entities received clean audit opinions, one received a qualified opinion, and 15 failed, with three audits still pending. Progress was noted in balancing fund accounts, but significant issues remain in tracking physical assets.

Achieving a clean audit by 2028, as mandated by Congress, is uncertain, with McCord urging continuity in audit strategies.

“Momentum is on our side, and throughout the Department there is strong commitment — and belief in our ability — to achieve an unmodified audit opinion,” McCord told reporters.

The DoD Inspector General also outlined broader challenges, including outdated systems and workforce shortages, in its FY25 Oversight Plan.