Emergency Talks
A crisis huddle has been called.
NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia deployed a hypersonic missile on a central Ukrainian city. The missile, named Oreshnik, traveled at 10x the speed of sound and carried six non-nuclear warheads.
In a televised address, President Putin called the strike retaliation for Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied longer-range missiles and warned that Western air defenses are powerless to stop Oreshnik. He also said Russia has “the right to use our weapons against military facilities” used by its enemies (Ukraine) and anyone helping its enemies (U.S./NATO nations).
On the U.S. front, President Biden is facing backlash from human rights groups for reversing his policy and supplying Ukraine with antipersonnel land mines––controversial for the possibility of civilian harm after the war ends––and NATO’s chief met with President-elect Trump to discuss “global security issues.”
RADIATE HOPE
Christians don’t need to gloss over evil to maintain our joy and hope. Our Savior Jesus confronted darkness directly and overcame it through his death and resurrection. Pray for peace in our world, with renewed thankfulness for the eternal hope to which we can cling.
“So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you. In that day you will not ask me anything. Truly I tell you, anything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.… I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
John 16:22–23, 33 (CSB) (read full passage)