‘Purge’ underway: Donald Trump fires top military officers, as Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly caves to his demands

Donald Trump has fired several of the US military’s most senior officers in what’s being described, by some, as a “purge”.

Donald Trump has fired several of the US military’s most senior officers in what’s being described, in some quarters, as a “purge”.

“A major and long-rumoured purge is underway at the Pentagon,” longtime White House reporter Kaitlan Collins said, describing the firings as they were being announced. Dramatic phrasing, perhaps, but probably not too hyperbolic, given the figures involved.

The chief victim is Air Force General Charles Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - America’s highest military officer. General Dan Caine, a slightly lower-ranked member of the Air Force’s leadership, will replace him.

There was no malice in the announcement; Mr Trump described General Brown as an “outstanding leader” and “fine gentleman”.

General Charles Q. Brown with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Picture: Saul Loeb/AFP

There may have been more personal animus in the near-simultaneous announcement, from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, that he was also firing the head of the US Navy, Admiral Lisa Franchetti.

Adm Franchetti was the first woman to serve as one of the joint chiefs. In his previous iteration as a conservative talking head and Fox News host, Mr Hegseth had described her as a “DEI hire”, implying she was given the job because of her gender, not merit.

He wrote this in a book called: The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.

Throughout a navy career spanning back to 1985, Adm Franchetti rose up through the ranks. Her commands included: the USS Ross, a destroyer-class ship; Destroyer Squadron 21; the US naval forces in Korea; multiple aircraft carrier strike groups; and the US Sixth Fleet.

Her honours include the Defence Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defence Superior Service Medal, and a medal called the Legion of Merit, which lies among the highest honours for members of the US military.

She served as vice chief of naval operations before her final role, until today, as the country’s highest naval officer.

In his announcement today, Mr Hegseth thanked Adm Franchetti for her “distinguished” career, and her “service and dedication” to her country. He did not repeat the allegation that she was a DEI hire.

Admiral Franchetti. Picture: Department of Defence

In addition to the two officers mentioned above, Mr Hegseth has fired the Vice-Chief of the Air Force, and has requested “nominations” for new Judge Advocates General in the Army, Navy and Air Force, suggesting senior members of that corps are being ditched as well.

The JAGs are, essentially, military lawyers. As you will know if you watched the dated but excellent TV show starring them.

Zelensky caves to Trump’s demands

Elsewhere Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have caved to Donald Trump, with reports indicating his country will soon sign over its most valuable mineral rights to the United States as a payment, of sorts, for help in the war against Russia.

Since Russia invaded its neighbour in February of 2022, the US has been the single biggest giver of aid to Ukraine, though Europe as a whole has outstripped it.

Throughout this week – while Mr Trump was calling Mr Zelensky a “dictator” and repeating other Russian talking points – the US administration had been pressuring Ukraine to relinquish key mineral rights.

A first version of the deal, presented to Mr Zelensky by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a visit to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, was rejected. Mr Zelensky wanted any such deal to contain security guarantees for his country.

He also felt it was stacked exorbitantly in America’s favour. Mr Trump had demanded a 50 per cent share in various mineral deposits, worth about $US500 billion – a sum far exceeding the aid Ukraine had received.

On Friday, however, Mr Zelensky publicly described the potential deal as one “that can strengthen our relations”. He said “the key is to work out the details” and he was “looking forward to the outcome”.

Meanwhile, speaking at the White House, Mr Trump was also optimistic.

“I think they want it. They feel good about it,” he told reporters.

US President Donald Trump. Picture: Jim Watson/AFP

Volodymyr Zelensky. Picture: Dzhafarova/AFP

Now The Wall Street Journal reports a successful conclusion to the deal is imminent, and it could be signed by both sides “as soon as Saturday”, local time.

It isn’t clear what the exact terms of the agreement will be; negotiations haven’t finished yet.

According to The Journal, the Trump administration’s envoy to Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, played an important role in cajoling the Ukrainians to co-operate.

It was after a meeting with Gen Kellogg on Thursday that Mr Zelensky said he had instructed his team to work “swiftly and very sensibly” with the Americans.

The envoy reportedly helped “build trust” with the Ukrainians, whose fears that Mr Trump will throw their country under the bus and side with the Russian invaders had been amplified, to say the least, earlier in the week.

Ukraine has large deposits of valuable, rare earths, and significant reserves of titanium and lithium, which would require huge investment to develop. The deal would involve America getting a huge chunk of the revenue from that development.

It should be noted that a high proportion of the deposits in question are located in parts of Ukraine currently occupied by Russia.

Mr Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, this week described the potential deal as “an economic partnership” which would see the US “co-invest” in Ukraine’s economy.

Trump might join Putin for extraordinary move

And finally today, French publication Le Point reports Mr Trump is planning to attend Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, alongside Vladimir Putin, on May 9.

Victory Day celebrates the Soviet Union’s victory against Germany in World War II, though Putin frequently uses it to whip up nationalism and put a positive spin on more modern conflicts, such as the invasion of Ukraine. It tends to involve a large military parade.

Mr Trump famously loves such parades - he was deeply impressed by one during a visit to France during his first term, and suggested holding one of his own back in Washington.

No American president has visited Russia since Barack Obama, when it hosted the G-20 Summit in St Petersburg back in 2013. The last bilateral meeting in Russia happened four years earlier, in 2009, when Mr Obama met Putin and his then-puppet president Dmitry Medvedev. Whem Mr Trump met Putin during his first term, it was on neutral ground.

Putin speaking at last year’s Victory Day parade. Picture: Mikhail Klimentyev/AFP

Ballistic missiles being driven through the streets of Moscow as part of last year’s parade. Picture: Alexander Nemenov/AFP

Le Point did not name its sources. And it did take a fairly cynical view on Mr Trump’s apparent plans to accompany Putin on this year’s Victory Day.

“What victory would Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump celebrate? Less that of the Allies of 1945 than their common one in the peace negotiations on Ukraine,” it suggested.

“If all goes well for them, for their common plan, May 9, 2025 will mark their triumph, the triumph above all of Putin, who will thus see his initial comparison of Ukraine with the Nazis corroborated and endorsed.

“Let us never forget this argument about ‘Nazi Ukraine’ which had justified, in Putin’s eyes, his outbreak of war. Thus, according to him, 80 years after having triumphed over the Nazis, Russia triumphs again over other Nazis.

“If nothing compromises Trump’s invitation, the chalice will be symbolically drunk to the dregs by the Europeans, who will watch on their screens the parade of Russian troops saluted by the American president.”

We’d advise approaching this with a grain of salt, as usual with anonymous sourcing.

Originally published as ‘Purge’ underway: Donald Trump fires top military officers, as Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly caves to his demands