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The European Union and the US administration are nearing a 15% tariff deal, according to a report on Wednesday by the Financial Times, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Three individuals familiar with the developments reported to the newspaper that Brussels is advocating for the deal to prevent a tariff increase to 30%, as previously suggested by President Donald Trump. The measure is expected to take effect from August 1. However, the European Commission reportedly briefed envoys on Wednesday after discussions with the American representatives. It is also indicated that both sides might eliminate tariffs on certain goods, such...

The latest round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine has started at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, RT reported on Wednesday. According to the report, heads of the two countries' delegations are currently holding bilateral talks at the venue. The Russian delegation is headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, while National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov is leading the Ukrainian delegation.

The goal of the upcoming Istanbul talks between Russia and Ukraine is to work through the draft memoranda exchanged during earlier stages, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, after confirming Moscow's delegation, again led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, had departed for Istanbul. The talks will "mainly focus on the draft memoranda exchanged during the second round," Peskov noted, calling them central to the peace proposal process. He added that reconciling these texts is essential groundwork before any high-level summit can be scheduled so that the leaders would not have to do the technically complex work themselves. Peskov also...

The next round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine could take place between July 24 and 25, Tass reported on Monday. The Russian state news agency previously reported that the two delegations were planning to meet for a third round of peace talks in Turkey later this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during the weekend that his country proposed continuing talks next week, emphasizing the need to "increase the pace of negotiations." The two countries had their last direct meeting in Istanbul at the beginning of June, which the Turkish Foreign Ministry claimed "did not end negatively," but failed...

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov revealed on Wednesday that there are currently no plans to organize a phone call between Russian and United States presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. At the same time, he noted that the call could be organized "very quickly." Trump and Putin last spoke on July 3, with the latter leader telling the US president that Moscow will not abandon its goals in Ukraine. The relationship took a turn for the worse in the aftermath of the conversation, with Trump expressing disappointment with his Russian colleague. The US leader subsequently decided to resume weapons supplies to...

United States President Donald Trump voiced his displeasure with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that he is "very disappointed" with him. "I thought he was somebody who meant what he said, he'll talk so beautifully and then bomb people at night. We don't like that," Trump told reporters on his way back from the FIFA Club World Cup final. When asked by a reporter whether he would be announcing sanctions on Russia tomorrow, Trump gave no direct answer. He announced last week that he would be making a "major statement on Russia" on Monday, without elaborating.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned the United States on Thursday against interfering in the military actions between Israel and Iran. "We would like to especially warn Washington against military intervention in the situation, which would be an extremely dangerous step, with truly unpredictable negative consequences," Zakharova said during a press briefing. The spokeswoman claimed that the attempts to justify Israel's "unprovoked aggression" against Iran are "cynical," and noted that it the most important thing to do is to "prevent the further spiral of violence, to achieve a ceasefire, to restore peace, which in turn will create the preconditions...

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that the recent rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul were "important and useful," signaling tangible progress in direct dialogue. Lavrov made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. He emphasized that the talks, agreed upon following a phone conversation with former US President Donald Trump, yielded "concrete results" and demonstrated that the diplomatic process is "working." Lavrov noted that the ongoing communication channels with Kiev are crucial for addressing humanitarian concerns, stating, "It is always better to have channels of communication—this allows you to...

Russian authorities formally classified recent bombings targeting railway infrastructure in the Bryansk and Kursk regions as acts of terrorism on Tuesday, following deadly explosions between May 31 and June 1. "The Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia has classified the bombings of sections of the railway and bridge structure in the Bryansk and Kursk regions... as terrorist acts," Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko told reporters. "It is obvious that the terrorists, acting on the instructions of the Kiev regime, planned everything with maximum precision so that hundreds of civilians would be hit," Petrenko emphasized. According to investigators,...

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov called for a high-level summit by the end of June following direct talks with Russian officials in Istanbul. Speaking after the meeting, Umerov confirmed that Russia handed over a peace memorandum and emphasized that "all key issues at talks can only be resolved at the leader-level." The Ukrainian delegation expressed cautious optimism, highlighting potential humanitarian progress if both sides follow through on agreed-upon measures. At the same press conference, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya noted the importance of sustained diplomacy, stating, "We managed to construct our conversation in a way we can have tangible...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday hailed the Security Service of Ukraine's operation, in which Ukrainian drones targeted over 40 Russian warplanes at several airbases in Russia, stressing that it achieved an "absolutely brilliant result." "One year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective execution," Zelensky said in a post on X, emphasizing that it was Kiev's longest-range operation. He went on to say that such Ukrainian actions "will undoubtedly be in history books." "We are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war. Russia started this war, Russia must end...

Former United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned US President Donald Trump on Saturday against recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, claiming that would be "a mistake of epic proportions." "I get the frustration … I'm not naive about what’s physically possible in this moment, but that doesn’t mean one should go and say, ‘and we are giving up for all time," Pompeo, who served as the top US diplomat during Trump's first term, stated at the Black Sea Security Forum in Odessa. "This is one of the things I hope to communicate," he added.

United States President Donald Trump commented on Friday that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, are both "stubborn." "I have known [Putin] very well. I have gone through a lot of things with him ... [But] I have gotten to see things that I was very surprised at: rockets being shot into cities like Kiev, during a negotiation that I felt was maybe very close to ending. We were gonna solve a problem, and then, all of a sudden, rockets got shot into a couple of cities," the US head of state said during a...

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov revealed on Monday that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his United States colleague Donald Trump is not being "in preparation" at this time, according to RIA Novosti. Meanwhile, Trump and Putin are expected to speak on the phone at 10 am ET. The White House further explained Trump also plans to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after speaking with Putin. The US president is expected to issue a statement after his conversation with Putin.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Russia and the United States "cannot agree on everything" after US President Donald Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin "absolutely crazy" and criticized strikes on Ukrainian cities. "But the political will to implement the agreements that are reached is there, and the work continues," Peskov added.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev warned on Tuesday United States President Donald Trump to the possibility of World War III. "Regarding Trump's words about Putin 'playing with fire' and 'really bad things' happening to Russia. I only know of one REALLY BAD thing - WWIII," Medvedev posted on his X account, regarding Trump's earlier remarks, and added "I hope Trump understands this!"

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a statement on Wednesday that the Russian delegation led by President Vladimir Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky is ready to present a memorandum to Ukraine on June 2 in Istanbul. "The Russian side, as agreed, promptly developed a corresponding memorandum, which sets out our position on all aspects of reliably overcoming the root causes of the crisis. Our delegation is ready to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary explanations during the second round of resumed direct negotiations in Istanbul next Monday, June 2," the Russian diplomat stated.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that United States President Donald Trump wants a "speedy" settlement to the conflict in Ukraine after being asked about Trump's comments that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "playing with fire." "It is clear that the American side, which is making considerable efforts for peaceful regulation, and President Trump personally, want a speedy settlement. And we repeat once again and are grateful for the mediation efforts of President Trump personally," Peskov said. "There is definitely a huge number of nuances in the context of what is to be discussed, which cannot be sacrificed. And...

United States President Donald Trump admitted on Wednesday that he "can't tell" if his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin truly wants to end his country's ongoing military campaign in Ukraine. Speaking at the White House amid the Swearing-In for the US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Trump said that "I'll let you know in two weeks" after more negotiations have taken place. He also complimented US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff for "doing a phenomenal job" mediating the talks between Russia and Ukraine and for "dealing with him [Putin] very strongly." Asked about his...

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov claimed on Wednesday that United States President Donald Trump is "not being informed enough" about the war in Ukraine. He said Trump is unaware of Ukraine's "massive terrorist attacks against peaceful cities" in Russia and that he "does not fully understand that the Russian Federation is striking exclusively at military infrastructure facilities or the military-industrial complex" in Ukraine. Trump has been critical of Russia's strikes on Ukraine, stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "needlessly killing a lot of people" and attacking Ukrainian cities "for no reason whatsoever." Ushakov added that the Kremlin monitors all...