The President's Daily Brief - PDB Evening Bulletin | May 5th, 2025: Re-Invasion: Ukrainian Forces Storm Into Russian Territory Again  & Israel Approves Plan To Seize The Entire Gaza Strip

Episode Date: May 6, 2025

In this episode of The PDB Evening Bulletin:   First, Ukraine storms back into Russia’s Kursk region—missiles, minefields, and armored units smash through the border just days before Putin���s planned Victory Day ceasefire.   Later in the show—a major update on the Israel-Palestine conflict, as Israel's security cabinet approves a plan to expand its military offensive against Hamas to seize and hold the entirety of the Gaza Strip.   To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com.   Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.   YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief   Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold   TriTails Premium Beef: Visit https://TryBeef.com/PDB for 2 free Flat Iron steaks with your first box over $250 True Classic: Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at trueclassic.com/PDB ! #trueclassicpod. Please review the “AD” disclosure requirements based on FTC legal regulations here: http://ftc.gov/influencer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Start selling on Deepop, where Taste recognizes taste. It's Monday, the 5th of May. Welcome to the PDB afternoon bulletin. It's a little bit late. I'm back on the road. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right. Let's get briefed. First, with peace talks to end Moscow's war on Ukraine stalled, leaders in Kiev are upping the pressure on the battlefield, reportedly launching a fresh cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk region, taking out a critical Russian drone command unit in the process. Later in the show, a major update on the Israel-Khamas conflict, as Israel's security cabinet approves a plan to expand its military offensive against Hamas to seize and hold the entirety

of the Gaza Strip. But first, today's afternoon spotlight. We'll begin today with an update from the battlefields of Eastern Europe. As peace efforts falter due to Vladimir Putin's lack of interest in peace, Ukrainian forces are bringing the fight back into Russian territory with renewed vigor. According to Russian war bloggers, cited in a Reuters report, Keeb's forces mounted a fresh cross-border offensive into Russia's Kursk region on Monday, surprising Moscow's troops with a blitz of military actions.

Ukrainian forces reportedly smashed through Russian border defenses and then crossed a minefield with specially devised vehicles as they bolstered the ground offensive with a missile barrage on critical targets, including a Russian drone command unit. The activity comes less than a month after Russia claimed to have regained control of Kursk and expelled all Ukrainian forces from the region following a bloody counteroffensive. Ukrainian officials have not commented on any of the reported advances, but simply said Monday that operations in the Kersk region, which began last August, continued. One prominent Russian warblogger told Reuters, quote,

The enemy blew up bridges with rockets at night and launched an attack with armored groups in the morning. The mine clearance vehicles began to make passages in the minefields, followed by armored vehicles with troops. There's a heavy battle going on at the border, end quote. The reports of the renewed attacks came just days after Russian officials said they were attempting to establish a, quote, security strip on the border to prevent a renewed Ukrainian assault. The action also comes ahead of Moscow's Victory Day ceasefire. That's a Putin-planned three-day cessation of hostilities, as supposedly to begin on May 8th, marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Putin will be hosting a number of world leaders in Moscow,

most notably China's Xi Jinping for the Victory Day festivities, and clearly he was hoping that a three-day pause in fighting would prevent a possibly embarrassing potential Ukrainian attack during the parades. We should note, however, that the ceasefire has been met with skepticism from Ukraine, and Western allies, and if Monday's military actions are anything to go by, leaders in Kiev plan to keep the pressure on the Putin regime, as his victory day celebrations get underway. As a reminder, Ukraine launched a military operation last August inside Russia's Kursk territory, catching the Putin regime by surprise. At the time, they managed to seize roughly 530 square miles of territory, which Keev intended to use as leverage in potential future negotiations

with Moscow. But beginning in the fall, Russia mounted several counter-offensives, using some 50,000 troops, supplemented by, of course, 12,000 North Korean soldiers, and slowly began clawing back a significant chunk of the area captured by Keeves' military. By mid-March, Russia declared victory over Ukrainian forces in the region, all but dislodging them from the territory. Though reports suggested, Ukraine did manage to hold on to a narrow strip of land roughly 40 square miles. As I said, Ukraine is staying relatively quiet about their renewed activity in Kursk. It follows reports in early April that Ukrainian forces had mounted a limited offensive into Russia's nearby Belgarold region, which also borders Ukraine, in order to protect

Ukrainian towns and settlements in the regions of Sumi and Kharkiv. We should note that Sumi has been the recent target of intense aerial bombardment, from Russian forces stationed near the border, with officials in Kiev warning that the attacks are part of Russia's spring offensive to capture additional Ukrainian territory. On April 13th, Russia launched a deadly strike on Summi as civilians were attending morning church services to celebrate Palm Sunday. The attack killed 35 people and wounded more than 100, prompting widespread condemnations. Those attacks continued over the weekend, with Ukraine prosecutor's office. saying Monday the two settlements in Sumi had been struck by mass artillery fire and guided bombs,

leaving three residents dead and injuring four others. Local authorities have urged residents to evacuate the area as fighting in the northeastern border region continues. Meanwhile, diplomacy continues to falter. Putin remains as intransigent as ever, having rejected multiple favorable ceasefire offers from the Trump administration, instead opting to stick to his long list of Moscow's centric demands. Trump in turn has since bolstered his support for Keev. Last week, he approved the sale of $50 million or more worth of weapons and other defense-related products to Ukraine, the first direct military aid granted by Trump to Keev since his return to office. That came the same day that Keeve and Washington finally inked a long-anticipated minerals deal

in exchange for U.S. investment to help rebuild the war-torn country. The White House has since also approved a $310 million package, give or take some change, to provide support and training for Ukraine's Air Force, specifically their F-16s. Trump, who has vowed to end the war, appears to have lost all patience with the diplomatic process. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters last Thursday that the U.S. will be stepping back from its role as a mediator in peace talks, citing frustration over Putin's stalling tactics. Trump reiterated that position in an interview on Sunday, although he said that he's still hopeful a peace deal can be secured. Coming up next, the Israel's security cabinet approves a plan to expand its military offensive

against Hamas to include the full capture and occupation of Gaza. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Well, as you know by now, I'm sure, the tariffs and the trade wars have thrown the global economy into something I guess we could call chaos, potential widespread inflation tied to massive supply chain disruptions, while it's weighing heavily on all of us. But there is a silver and also a gold lining that I think some people may have missed. And what I mean by that is that President Trump specifically exempted gold and silver bullion from the sweeping tariffs. Now, while the new policies have triggered significant financial chaos,

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to expand its military campaign to seize and hold the entirety of the Gaza Strip. The plan, reported by Israel's public broadcaster Khan and confirmed by Israeli officials today, was presented by IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ayal Zamir. His plan outlines a gradual expansion of operations, beginning in select areas, before extending across the enclave. Tens of thousands of reservists have already been called up as part of the military's preparations to intensify the campaign. According to Security Cabinet Minister Zev Elkin, the aim is to, dismantle Hamas militarily, hold newly annexed territory, and apply enough sustained pressure to force the terror group into agreeing to a ceasefire and hostage release. That timeline, he added,

could align with President Trump's expected visit to the region in mid-May, giving Israel a potential edge at the negotiating table. As of now, Israeli forces control roughly one-third of the battered enclave. As we've covered here on the PDB, IDF operations resumed in full four-four in March after the collapse of a U.S. brokered ceasefire. As part of the updated battle plan, Israeli forces intend to clear targeted population centers, particularly in northern Gaza, by pushing civilians further south before advancing ground units. Meanwhile, despite mounting pressure, the Israeli government has refused to lift its full aid blockade, which has remained in place since early March. Instead, the cabinet has authorized a workaround that would allow humanitarian

deliveries via private contractors, sidestepping or bypassing the UN and other international aid agencies entirely. The MOF has, as you might imagine, drawn swift condemnation from those aid organizations. Earlier today, Jan Eglund, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, accused Israel of demanding that humanitarian organizations dismantle their aid networks. The UN officials say the bypass plan violates humanitarian principles and have signaled that they will not coer. operate. Jerusalem insists the restrictions are necessary to prevent aid from being hijacked by Hamas. Officials maintain that the policy is legal under international law. But the UN has pushed back, stating Israel as the occupying power is still responsible for the welfare of Gaza's civilians,

most of whom are now displaced. The Iran-backed terror group, which of course started this current conflict with their slaughter and hostage-taking back on the 7th of October in 2023, didn't Now the proposal is, quote, political blackmail. You know, I'm getting the impression that Hamas might not be very self-aware. Israel's stated war aims remain unchanged, destroy Hamas, and bring home the remaining 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be still alive. That's according to Israeli intelligence. Inside Israel, public support for the war, though, is starting to crack. Recent polls show a growing number of Israelis now favor a negotiated deal over a prolonged occupation. But Hamas isn't budging either. It continues to demand a total Israeli withdrawal as a

precondition for any ceasefire or hostage agreement, a stance that Netanyahu's cabinet has repeatedly rejected. And that, my friends, is the PDB afternoon or, let's call it evening bulletin for Monday the 5th of May. If you have any questions or comments, please just reach out to me at pdb at thefirsttv.com. Now, don't forget to listen to the show at first. simply become a premium member of the President's Daily Brief by visiting PDB Premium.com. I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, stay informed. Stay safe. Stay cool. Hey, Mike Baker here. Former CIA dude, businessman, podcast host, and of course fashion icon. Now, when it comes to fashion, well, let's be honest. Most guys don't want to spend hours figuring out what to wear.

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