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  • Ukraine and Russia Can’t Even Agree on Who Will Meet Where—If at All—for Peace Talks

    05/14/2025 11:51:24 AM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 69 replies
    Wall Street Journal ^ | 5/14/2025 | James Marson, Yaroslav Trofimov, Alexander Ward
    ISTANBUL—Diplomatic brinkmanship over U.S.-brokered efforts to efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine reached dizzying levels on Wednesday, with each side seeking to call the other’s bluff by demonstrating a desire for peace and casting the other as the obstacle to it. Ukraine’s president said he would be waiting in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Thursday for Vladimir Putin, but the Russian president is sending a team of negotiators to Istanbul, and the Kremlin won’t say if he will be there. President Trump hasn’t ruled out the possibility of joining any talks in Turkey, and senior U.S. officials are headed...
  • Trump: Pretty good news expected on Russia, Ukraine

    05/14/2025 5:20:02 AM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 6 replies
    Baha Breaking News ^ | 5/14/2025 | Christian Baha
    United States President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he expects some "pretty good news" on the war in Ukraine soon. During a meeting with Qatar's Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Trump thanked the Arab country for its peace efforts, noting Doha was "very much involved in helping us in other regions," like Ukraine. "I think we're having some pretty good news coming out of there today, and maybe tomorrow, and maybe Friday, frankly," the US president stated. The comments come ahead of expected talks in Istanbul on Thursday between Moscow and Kiev. It is still unclear if the...
  • Trump: Putin would like me at Istanbul talks

    05/14/2025 5:16:04 AM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 15 replies
    Baha Breaking News ^ | 5/14/2025 | Christian Baha
    United States President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he is unsure whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate in the proposed Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, suggesting the leader may decline if Trump himself does not attend. When asked about Putin's possible participation, Trump admitted to reporters on Air Force One that he does not know if the Russian head of state will travel to Istanbul. "I don't know if he's showing up [at peace negotiations]. I know he would like me to be there ... and that's a possibility," Trump replied. "I don't know that he would be there...
  • Trump sends Marco Rubio to Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Turkey — after floating going himself

    05/13/2025 2:33:00 PM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 28 replies
    NY Post ^ | 5/13/2025 | Steven Nelson and Diana Glebova
    President Trump said Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will represent him at Russia-Ukraine peace talks expected to take place Thursday in Istanbul — after suggesting he might go himself to try to end Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II. -snip- “Talks are being held in Turkey later this week — probably on Thursday, and they could produce some pretty good results. Our people are going to be going there, Marco is going to be going there, others are going to be going, and we’ll see if we can get it done,” Trump said.
  • Could Trump and Putin meet face to face at the Istanbul talks? Hopes for a historic meeting from the US

    05/13/2025 10:23:38 AM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 9 replies
    Zamin Uzbekistan ^ | 5/13/2025 | Staff
    Important events are developing on the international political scene - according to Keith Kellogg, the US special representative for Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin may personally participate in the Russia-Ukraine talks scheduled for May 15 in Istanbul. If this happens, it is possible that US President Donald Trump will also attend the meeting. Kellogg explained this proposal as follows: "We hope that President Putin will also go to the talks. If so, then President Trump may also come to Istanbul. This will be a completely unexpected, historic meeting," he told reporters. Hope and pressure from Trump's visit According to a...
  • Trump envoys Witkoff and Kellogg to go to Turkey for Russia-Ukraine talks, sources say

    05/13/2025 7:29:17 AM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 7 replies
    Reuters Yahoo News ^ | 5/13/2025 | Erin Banco, Gram Slattery and Humeyra Pamuk
    U.S. President Donald Trump's senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg will travel to Istanbul for potential talks on Thursday on how to end Russia's war in Ukraine, three sources familiar with the plans said on Tuesday. However, a senior U.S. official said it was unclear whether anyone from the Russian government would show up. The White House, State Department, National Security Council and a spokesperson for Witkoff did not immediately respond to a request for comment. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will only attend the talks this week if Russia's Vladimir Putin is also there, an aide to the Ukrainian leader...
  • Exclusive-Iran to send Russia launchers for short-range missiles, sources say

    05/09/2025 2:02:01 PM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 7 replies
    Reuters AOL News ^ | 5/9/2025 | JONATHAN LANDAY AND JONATHAN SAUL
    Iran is preparing to deliver in the near future launchers for short-range ballistic missiles that the U.S. said Tehran sent to Russia last year for use against Ukraine, according to two Western security officials and a regional official. The delivery of the Fath-360 launchers - if it occurs - would help support Russia's grinding assault on its neighbor and reaffirm the deepening security ties between Moscow and Tehran. With a 75-mile (120-km) range, the Fath-360 would give Moscow's forces a new weapon to fire at Ukrainian frontline troops, nearby military targets, and population centers close to the border with Russia,...
  • Trump says no planned meeting with Putin in Saudi Arabia

    05/09/2025 12:23:12 PM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 19 replies
    News Azerbaijan ^ | 5/9/2025 | Staff
    A possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in mid-May in Saudi Arabia is not on the schedule, US President Donald Trump told journalists. Asked at a news conference in the White House whether a meeting with Putin was possible later in the month in Saudi Arabia, Trump replied: "I don't think so, but we're having very good conversations. Very, very good," News.Az reports, citing TASS.
  • US Embassy in Kyiv warns of imminent air attack over next several days

    05/09/2025 12:17:02 PM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 13 replies
    Al Arabiya ^ | 5/9/2025 | Staff
    The Embassy in Kyiv says it has received information concerning a potentially significant air attack that may occur at any time over the next several days. Developing.
  • US, Europeans finalising 30-day Ukraine-Russia ceasefire proposal, says diplomatic source

    05/09/2025 12:05:35 PM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 11 replies
    Reuters Yahoo News ^ | 5/9/2025 | John Irish
    The United States and its European allies are finalising a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine that if refused would see them jointly impose new sanctions on Russia, a French diplomatic source said on Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump called on Thursday for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, warning that Washington and its partners would impose further sanctions if the ceasefire was not respected. Ukraine has expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal.
  • Russia's oil price in roubles at two-year low, 40% below budgeted level, data shows

    05/06/2025 4:42:03 AM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 28 replies
    Yahoo Finance ^ | 5/6/2025 | Reuters
    Russia's oil price in roubles has fallen to a two-year low below the 4,000 rouble per barrel mark and some 40% lower than planned in the federal budget, data showed, piling pressure on the Kremlin, already saddled with a burgeoning budget deficit. -snip- According to Reuters calculations, the average price of Russia's mix of Urals and ESPO blends dipped on May 2 to $48.92 per barrel, or 3,987 roubles, which is more than 40% below the 6,726 roubles the government had originally planned for this year. That's the lowest since May 2023, according to Reuters data. It is also still...
  • Trump says he had ‘productive’ call with Turkey’s Erdogan about Russia-Ukraine war, Gaza

    05/05/2025 11:36:28 AM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 5 replies
    Fox News ^ | 5/5/2025 | Stephen Sorace
    President Donald Trump on Monday said he held a "productive" call with Turkish President Recep Erdogan on a range of topics, including the war between Russia and Ukraine. Trump shared details of the call in a post on his TRUTH Social platform. "I just had a very good and productive telephone conversation with the President of Turkey, Recep Erdoğan, concerning many subjects, including the War with Russia/Ukraine, all things Syria, Gaza, and more," Trump wrote. The president added that he is looking forward to working with Erdogan to end the "ridiculous, but deadly" Russia-Ukraine war.
  • Ukraine claims strike in Russia's Kursk amid reports of fresh incursion

    05/05/2025 12:06:28 PM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 18 replies
    BBC News ^ | 5/5/2025 | Hafsa Khalil
    Ukraine said it hit a drone command unit in the Kursk region, amid reports of fresh attempts to cross into Russia. Sunday's attack on the unit was located near the Russian village of Tyotkino, according to the Ukrainian general staff. Multiple Russian military bloggers also reported that Ukrainian forces had attempted to cross into the village, posting images - as yet unverified by the BBC - of vehicles breaking through tank traps on the border. The reports come after Moscow claimed in April to have regained control of the entire region, nine months after a Ukrainian forces launched a surprise...
  • Russia reports Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow ahead of May 9 events

    05/05/2025 4:06:06 AM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 10 replies
    Al Jazeera ^ | 5/5/2025 | Staff
    Russia has reported that it repelled a drone attack on Moscow as the capital city prepares to host a major military parade with foreign leaders in attendance. Russia’s air defence systems intercepted “four drones flying towards Moscow”, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Monday. The attack appears intended to unsettle Moscow’s preparations for events marking the end of the Great Patriotic War, commonly known as World War II elsewhere, on May 9. -snip- The Kremlin has branded Putin’s declaration of a three-day unilateral ceasefire a humanitarian gesture. Military operations will be paused during the truce, according to Russian authorities, as world...
  • Victory Day parade in Sevastopol canceled over security concerns

    05/05/2025 3:28:18 AM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 16 replies
    APA ^ | 5/5/2025 | Farid Akbarov
    "The Victory Day parade will not be held in Sevastopol," said Governor of the city of federal importance Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhayev, APA’s Russia bureau reports. According to him, the decision was made due to security concerns.
  • Patriot air-defense system based in Israel to be refurbished, sent to Ukraine – NYT

    05/04/2025 4:03:51 PM PDT · by dennisw · 9 replies
    Times of Israel ^ | 5- 4 | By ToI Staff
    US made deal with Israel under Biden, report says, as Russia fires missiles, drones at Ukrainian cities several times a week; Israeli Air Force decommissioned Patriots last year A Patriot air-defense system that was based in Israel will be refurbished and sent to Ukraine, The New York Times reported Sunday, citing four current and former US officials. The Biden administration secured the agreement with Israel to move the system, a former White House official told the Times, though the delivery has not previously been reported. The Patriot is an older model, two US officials told the Times. It is expected...
  • Putin shows off home chapel and favourite drink in bizarre Kremlin tour… and admits he ‘fights urge to punch people’

    05/04/2025 1:45:08 PM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 29 replies
    Sun UK ^ | 5/4/2025 | Will Stewart Lydia Doye
    DICTATOR Vladimir Putin has showed off his private chapel and his favourite drink in a bizarre tour of his Kremlin apartment. The Russian tyrant gave the public a glimpse into his home in an interview marking the 25th anniversary of his first inauguration as president. The bizarre footage shows Putin giving his favourite interviewer, Pavel Zarubin, a tour of the apartment while answering his questions. When asked about his grandchildren from daughters Maria, 39, and Katerina, 37, Putin says they occasionally visit him unexpectedly in his austere apartment. He said: “They can, they can. “But still everyone understands that I...
  • More American Air Defense Is on the Way to Help Ukraine

    05/04/2025 9:59:34 AM PDT · by Cronos · 34 replies
    New York times ^ | May the 4th, 2025 | Kim BarkerHelene CooperLara Jakes and Eric Schmitt
    Ukraine is getting more help in its war with Russia. A Patriot air-defense system that was based in Israel will be sent to Ukraine after it is refurbished, four current and former U.S. officials said in recent days, and Western allies are discussing the logistics of Germany or Greece giving another one. ...The White House’s National Security Council does not provide details on the strength and placement of defense systems, said James Hewitt, a spokesman for the council The delivery, which has not been previously reported, comes as Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukraine, including an April 24...
  • Putin says he hopes there will be no need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine

    05/04/2025 5:49:37 AM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 56 replies
    Jerusalem Post ^ | 5/4/2025 | Reuters
    Russian President Vladimir Putin said in comments broadcast on Sunday said that the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine had not arisen, and that he hoped it would not arise. In a fragment of an upcoming interview with Russian state television published on Telegram, Putin said that Russia has the strength and the means to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a "logical conclusion."
  • Russia says China’s Xi to arrive in Moscow on May 7 ahead of Victory Day events

    05/04/2025 6:41:10 AM PDT · by marcusmaximus · 26 replies
    Anadolu ^ | 5/4/2025 | Burc Eruygur
    Russia said on Sunday that Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive in the country’s capital Moscow on an official visit, as it is set to host ceremonial events marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in World War II next week. A statement by the Kremlin said that Xi will pay an official visit to Moscow between May 7-10, at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, where he will take part in Victory Day events in the country’s capital.