US President-elect Donald Trump’s potential cabinet, the development strategy for the Russian Navy, and Vladimir Putin’s Direct Line with the country. These stories topped the headlines in Thursday’s newspapers across Russia.

Izvestia: Donald Trump assembles new leadership team

US President-elect Donald Trump has decided to establish a new department focused on government efficiency in order to overhaul the bureaucratic apparatus, experts polled by Izvestia believe. The agency will be led by celebrity billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, both of whom are staunch Trump supporters. Additionally, the president-elect has nominated TV host and former military officer Pete Hegseth for the position of Pentagon chief. This decision has raised numerous questions, even among Republicans. Expert opinions on this issue are split - some believe that Hegseth might bring added credibility to the agency, while others dismiss such a move as "mockery." Meanwhile, Trump met with incumbent President Joe Biden in the Oval Office to signal the beginning of a peaceful transfer of power.

It is important to note that there are still more than two months before Trump's return to the White House, so his nominations should not be viewed as definitive, said Konstantin Blokhin, a leading researcher at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Center for Security Studies.

"Trump will change his mind multiple times. It is quite possible that nominating a TV host as the Pentagon chief is a way of gauging public reaction. Frankly, this sounds like mockery. The US media is reporting that everyone is shocked by this announcement, including some Republicans. This office requires an understanding of strategic planning, military organization, the art of war, and the skill of interacting with the military-industrial complex. The candidate must be well-versed in these areas. All of this is, most likely, just an initial plan," the expert told Izvestia.

"In the new administration, he has either those who owe their careers to him, such as J.D. Vance, or those who have demonstrated their loyalty and willingness to remain in his sphere. He is not selecting based on the ‘hawk/no hawk' principle; there are neo-conservatives, like John Bolton in his previous administration. Yet, Bolton was an independent figure who considered himself more knowledgeable in foreign affairs than Trump and therefore capable of overseeing US foreign policy. Even if their views aligned on many issues, it didn’t mean Trump felt comfortable with him in a governing role. These new individuals will be more aligned with him. The administration will be more unified and manageable," Head of the Laboratory for Political Geography and Contemporary Geopolitics at the Higher School of Economics Dmitry Novikov told Izvestia.

Izvestia: New Russian navy development strategy to be finalized by 2025

The draft development strategy for the Russian Navy will be finalized by 2025, Izvestia has learned. The Russian Maritime Board is currently completing it, according to the board’s Chairman, Russian Presidential Aide Nikolay Patrushev. A separate document will be prepared for the FSB’s naval personnel. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the preparation of these documents in the summer of 2024. Experts believe the strategy should focus on shortened timelines and increased production of various types of warships and submarines.

The Navy’s development strategy is the document that defines the potential threats to Russia from the sea and develops a clear framework for responding to these threats and determining which resources to employ, military expert Dmitry Boltenkov explained to Izvestia.

According to the expert, the main objectives of the strategy must include the accelerated construction of assault carriers, ocean-going vessels, frigates, and the modernization of existing ships.

Military expert Viktor Litovkin believes the document should also cover the continued development of Russia’s strategic nuclear naval fleet, equipped with both ballistic and multipurpose missiles.

"We must build war cruisers with missiles, nuclear propulsion systems, destroyers, and corvettes. A complete range of such ships. And we must also advance the shipbuilding industry, which is currently facing challenges in production," he noted.

Military expert Vasily Dandykin agreed that it is crucial to reduce shipbuilding timescales and boost construction volumes.

"Naturally, it is necessary to explore artificial intelligence and various surface drones. This should be considered as a distinct area of focus. They must be part of a warship’s inventory," he argued.

Another key priority is the development of naval aviation as a separate branch of the armed forces, as well as reconnaissance aviation within the Navy.

"Undoubtedly, it is vital to develop naval aviation," said Litovkin. "Although there are debates over whether we need aircraft carriers. In my view, Russia must have carrier strike groups," he concluded.

Vedomosti: Putin expected to hold Direct Line on December 19

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to hold his 2024 Direct Line on December 19, two sources familiar with preparations for the event told Vedomosti. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to answer the newspaper’s question regarding whether such an event will take place on December 19. However, he confirmed that it will combine two formats and noted that foreign media, including those from hostile countries, will be invited to take part in a press conference. Over the past year, foreign reporters have been invited to events with Putin’s participation, such as the BRICS Summit in Kazan, the president’s press conference following the election, a meeting with his trusted representatives, or gatherings within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Political scientist Alexander Nemtsev anticipates the event will feature "three main tracks." "The first one is the message to the country on domestic challenges, announcing and presenting the key national projects to be implemented starting in 2025. The second is a strategic move with the West on the eve of Trump’s inauguration. This is the message to Western society and elites, because during the Direct Line, it is possible to throw the ball into the new US administration’s court. The third is the vision of Russia and Ukraine’s future coexistence. The proposal and exploration of options, illustrating how the country’s leadership envisions this coexistence. This message is global, directed both at Russian citizens, Ukrainians, and the wider international community," he noted.

People "expect key takeaways" from Putin’s Direct Line, especially "given the geopolitical situation," said political scientist Nikolay Mironov. "In fact, people, of course, expect him to address many questions: how the agenda will shift, what to expect from the US. This is an important message for both Russia and the global community." The event will be of a "global nature," he believes, adding that the domestic agenda also remains of significant interest.

Vedomosti: US to maintain military aid to Israel despite humanitarian demands

The US will continue to provide military aid to Israel despite the 30-day deadline given by the US for the Jewish state to significantly increase humanitarian shipments to the Gaza Strip, which expired on November 13, US State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel told journalists. According to him, Israel has fulfilled only some of the requirements outlined in the October 13 letter from US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. That said, humanitarian organizations are reporting the lowest level of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave since last December.

In the coming months, the Biden administration will continue to pursue its foreign policy with momentum, even though the agenda, including the humanitarian crisis in the embattled enclave, remains highly urgent and needs to be "addressed," said Lev Sokolshchik, leading researcher at the HSE Center for Comprehensive Economic and Social Studies. The situation in Gaza is sensitive for the US in terms of its reputation on the global stage and its self-positioning as a human rights advocate. Therefore, Washington seeks to alleviate the critical stance of many in the international community, the expert said.

From Israel’s point of view, the objectives of the military operation in Gaza have been achieved only partially, while one of the primary tasks, the return of hostages, has not been fulfilled to this day, said Lyudmila Samarskaya, researcher at the Center for Middle East Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of World Economy and International Relations. According to her, relations between the Biden administration and the Netanyahu government have been highly complex: even though support from the US remained stable, Israel was extremely sensitive to any criticism or attempts to restrict its actions in Gaza.

"The concessions that Israel made in the humanitarian sphere are perceived by it as reluctant. Israel is very optimistic about Trump’s future administration and its potential makeup, hoping for an improvement in bilateral ties. Under these conditions, one can hardly expect any attempts to pressure Israel over the next couple of months to be effective," Samarskaya concluded.

Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Kiev regime faces challenge to retain US aid

In a phone conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Vladimir Zelensky emphasized Kiev’s intention to promote its own plan for achieving a fair and lasting peace at the upcoming G20 summit, thus entering a direct conflict with alternative proposals for settling the military conflict with Russia, particularly those tied to US President-elect Donald Trump coming to power. So far, Kiev does not fully believe that US aid will be cut, even though some analysts have already warned about the risks of "colossal budget shortfalls," while others noted that the new US administration is planning to focus on China and end the Ukrainian issue as soon as possible.

Ukrainian economist Oleg Ustenko told reporters that this year, Kiev has received the necessary funds from the US, including for financing the budget deficit to the tune of $7.8 billion. However, next year, this amount may be substantially lower, not to mention that funding in this area may be completely discontinued.

Former Ukrainian MP Spiridon Kilinkarov told the newspaper that, starting in 2027, the US plans to concentrate on its standoff with China. As for any aid to Kiev, Washington is expected to reduce it. However, if Ukraine holds elections next year, the US will find funds for it, while attempting to shift the burden of military financing to Germany and other European countries.

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