Wednesday Briefing: Ukraine fires new missiles into Russia

Plus, Donald Trump's New York criminal case.

View in browser|nytimes.com November 20, 2024 By Natasha Frost Good morning. We're covering the 1,000th day of war in Ukraine and the end of the Group of 20 summit in Brazil. Plus: Ready yourself for "Glicked." A test of the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS. John Hamilton/White Sands Missile Range, via Associated Press Ukraine fired U.S.-made missiles into Russia Early yesterday morning, Ukraine's military launched a volley of American-made ballistic missiles into Russia for the first time. The attack came on the 1,000th day of the war and less than a week after President Biden gave the Ukrainians permission to do so in a major shift of American policy. The strike targeted an ammunition depot in the Bryansk region of southwestern Russia, causing explosions, Ukrainian officials said. Russian officials claimed to have shot down five of the six missiles. The use of long-range American weapons was a show of force that demonstrated how continued Western support could help Ukraine more easily degrade Russian forces. The attack came on the same day President Vladimir Putin lowered Russia's threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. He declared that Russia could use nuclear weapons if its sovereignty is threatened, even against a nonnuclear state so long as that state is backed by a nuclear power. The timing of the long-planned move was clearly meant to send a message to Europe and the U.S. The White House said it had observed "no changes to Russia's nuclear posture" and played down Putin's new doctrine. The reaction was telling, my colleague David Sanger wrote. Over nearly three years, the war in Ukraine has inured Washington and the world to the renewed use of nuclear weapons as the ultimate bargaining chip. Related news: Germany's defense minister claimed that the severing of fiber-optic cables this week in the Baltic Sea was an act of sabotage aimed at Ukraine's European allies. Sweden, Finland and Norway have recently updated their advice for citizens on crisis preparedness. British and Ukrainian military officials, as well as BBC researchers, claim that Russia suffered its highest rate of dead and wounded soldiers in October. The true tally is a state secret. Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney. Todd Heisler/The New York Times New York prosecutors suggested freezing Trump's case Prosecutors in Manhattan sent a letter yesterday to the judge who oversaw Donald Trump's New York criminal case, seeking to oppose the president-elect's push to dismiss his conviction. They said they were willing to freeze the case for four years, while Trump is president. In the letter, the prosecutors said they were "mindful of the demands and obligations of the presidency," but they emphasized that a jury convicted Trump of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal. What's next: Trump is now expected to move for a dismissal, a legal battle that could reach the Supreme Court. His sentencing, which was scheduled for next week, will almost certainly be delayed. Related: Several state cases against Trump's allies are in fragile shape after the election. In other politics news: Trump chose Mehmet Oz, the celebrity surgeon who unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2022, to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He also tapped Howard Lutnick, a billionaire Wall Street executive, to serve as commerce secretary. The role holds vast influence over U.S. manufacturing, trade and technology regulation. A hacker gained access to damaging information about Matt Gaetz, Trump's attorney general pick, including testimony from a woman who said she had sex with Gaetz when she was 17. Gaetz is one of four men Trump has named to his administration who have been accused of sexual misconduct. All four deny the allegations. Here's the latest on the next U.S. administration. President Biden and Xi Jinping at a meeting in Peru last weekend. Eric Lee/The New York Times At the G20, world leaders sought stability with China As the U.S. prepares to transition from President Biden to President-elect Donald Trump, leaders at the Group of 20 summit, which ended yesterday in Rio de Janeiro, were searching for stability, particularly when it comes to China. Xi Jinping, China's top leader, told Biden that he wanted to maintain a "stable, healthy and sustainable" relationship with the U.S. But potential clashes loom on human rights, the fate of Taiwan, the production of military technology, cyberattacks, aid to Russia and tariffs. There is deep uncertainty about the role the U.S. might play in heading off those conflicts under a second Trump administration. Analysis: "European leaders are going to be looking to Xi with this kind of, 'Now you have got to step up,'" John Delury, a historian of modern China, said. "Like, 'This is not just talk anymore. We really want to elevate this relationship so that we can count on you.'" MORE TOP NEWS Pool photo by Brandon Bell SpaceX: In the latest test flight of its Starship vehicle, the company was unable to recover the enormous booster stage of the rocket. Elon Musk: The billionaire decided to move from California to Texas four years ago. Since then, he and his companies have spread across the state with accelerating speed. France: As the rape trial of her ex-husband and dozens of other men neared its end, Gisèle Pelicot made her final address to the court. Truce talks: A top U.S. envoy signaled progress in negotiations between Israel and Hezbollah on a cease-fire proposal. Gaza: Journalists for The Times interviewed and photographed badly wounded Gazans who made it out of the enclave for treatment. Hostages: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would give $5 million and safe passage out of Gaza to anyone who returns a captive. Norway: Officials arrested the son of the country's crown princess on suspicion of rape. He has no title or official duties in the royal family. Brazil: The authorities accused members of an elite army unit of planning to assassinate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva shortly before he was to become president. India: Air quality in Delhi this week was so poor that the city's chief minister declared it a "medical emergency." New Zealand: Tens of thousands of people, many of them Māori, converged on Parliament to protest a new bill about Indigenous relations with the government. Climate: China overtook Europe in all-time greenhouse gas emissions. Education: Texas will allow Bible-infused lessons in public schools. Legal studies: A 17-year-old is believed to be the youngest person to pass California's state bar exam, beating the previous record-holder: her older brother. SPORTS NEWS Tennis: In what could be the final match of his career, Rafael Nadal lost to Botic van de Zandschulp in the Davis Cup. Premier League: Tottenham said it had "remastered" the club's brand identity. Here's what that means. Formula 1: Tommy Hilfiger has brought a modern touch to motorsports, blending functionality and style. MORNING READ Neil Munns/PA Images, via Getty Images An all-male British society of magicians expelled a woman for tricking her way into the club in 1991. Now it wants to invite her back — but she seems to have pulled a disappearing act. "I would love to look her in the eyes," said Marvin Berglas, the president of the society, "and say, on behalf of the other magicians that we have, 'You're absolutely welcome.'" Lives lived: Arthur Frommer, who helped popularize low-budget travel with his guidebook "Europe on 5 Dollars a Day" died at 95. CONVERSATION STARTERS I ❤️ NY: "I liked New York as a tourist. I fell in love with it as a tour guide." Beautiful robot music: Two artists taught an A.I. model to sing, using diverse choirs from across Britain. "Les Misérables": The French musical has been performed in Paris only twice. A new production hopes to make it a star at home. Hold the fries: Will Ozempic crush the junk food business? ARTS AND IDEAS Universal Pictures Can 'Glicked' recapture the magic of 'Barbenheimer'? When "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" opened on the same day in the summer of 2023, crowds swarmed to movie theaters to be part of "Barbenheimer." Now there's a buzzy new movie face-off with its own catchy name: "Glicked." (It rhymes with "wicked," not "picked.") "Wicked," the first installment of the adaptation of the Broadway musical, and "Gladiator II," a swords-and-sandals epic directed by Ridley Scott, will both be widely available to international audiences by the end of this week. Will Elphaba green replace Barbie pink? Our culture reporter brings you up to speed. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Linda Xiao for The New York Times Cook: Red cabbage with walnuts and feta can be served as a side or a main, at the temperature of your choosing. Travel: Wirecutter has tips for finding fast Wi-Fi while on the road. Snuggle: Make your sofa look more inviting. Read: These two novels are filled with Christmas miracles. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha P.S. Have you ever ghosted someone? The Times wants to hear from you about why. Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. 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