Free Republic

By nature’s curious design, I was born an optimist — though in some obscure recess of my soul a cynic curls and whispers his dry, inconvenient truths. I believe neither in immaculate conceptions nor second comings, and certainly not in the benevolence of Russian rulers. The fragile hope entertained by some, that they might one day act with reason, springs from a naïve faith in miracles, and miracles stand at odds with both nature and common sense. At all times, under all tsars, commissars, and the latest Kremlin grotesques, Russian rulers, with rare exceptions, have acted not for the benefit...

Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a masterful charm offensive to win over President Donald Trump and set up a potential meeting with Vladimir Putin to end the years long war in Ukraine. Trump hyped a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky after he called the Russian leader following a dramatic summit in the White House with European leaders. The potential peace deal immediately drew skeptics, as French President Emmanuel Macron said he did not ‘see President Putin very willing to get peace now.’ Zelensky laid the groundwork by offering a $100 billion weapons deal as an olive branch to Trump. The Ukrainian...

Pope Leo XIV acknowledges that the faith of Ukrainian Greek Catholics is being put to a severe test, "amid this senseless war," but stresses that the Lord will have the final word and life will triumph over death. The Holy Father also greeted and blessed some mothers of soldiers who had fallen at the front who were participating in the pilgrimage.

A documentary about the suffering of evangelical Christians in Ukraine shows how one objective of the Russian invasion is to degrade Christianity, including allowing Chechen Muslims to partially Islamize occupied areas. Steven Moore, founder of Ukraine Freedom Project and co-producer of A Faith Under Siege, said from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv that the country was surprisingly “highly functioning” despite the challenges of consistent attacks against the population – a drone-and-missile attack reported on Thursday night (July 30) resulted in 16 people dead, including a 6-year-old boy and another child. “It’s understandable if people outside Ukraine think that Kyiv could...

-snip- During an opening exchange, Trump and Zelensky struck a warmer tone than their last Oval Office encounter in February, which devolved into a televised showdown that alarmed European allies. Zelensky, who was chided last time for not sufficiently thanking American officials for their support, expressed his gratitude repeatedly at the start of the meeting. He also received compliments on the outfit he wore—after being criticized last time for not wearing a suit to the White House. Trump sounded optimistic notes at the start of Monday’s meeting and said he would work with both sides on a permanent resolution to...

An Offer He Can't Refuse “This is not our war. The US is not in a war. Ukraine is in a war. . .” — Sec’y of State Marco Rubio Volodymyr Zelenskyy is dropping in at the White House today so that Mr. Trump can read him the riot act. It’s that simple. Somewhere to or from Alaska, Mr. Trump concluded that a ceasefire would not work, for the excellent reason that seven previous ceasefires in Ukraine failed, and only reinforced distrust and disappointment between the warring parties. Instead, the goal is a peace settlement, an end to the war....

President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky put on friendly faces in front of the world’s media in the Oval Office Monday — avoiding a replay of their ugly spat from February — as the American leader attempts to hammer out a peace deal in eastern Europe. Trump, 79, reflected approvingly on the fact that Zelensky, 47, chose to wear a military-style suit in a sign of respect — ditching his usual camoflauge wardrobe, and both leaders handled occasionally hostile press questions without clashing. Zelensky said there were “two parts” that Kyiv needs as part of any peace deal, including...

US President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House on Monday, calling it "an honor to have Zelensky with us" ahead of joint talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Trump also noted there was a "reasonable chance" for progress following his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. At the same time, Zelensky thanked Trump for his help regarding the meeting and for the letter First Lady Melania Trump sent to Putin about abducted children.

-snip- 12 p.m. European leaders are expected to be at the White House by noon EDT at the South Portico, with television crew and photographers allowed to document the arrival. 1 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Zelensky and Trump are set to greet each other an hour after the European leaders arrive, and will shortly after go into a meeting with each other in the Oval Office. Vice President Vance is also expected to attend this meeting. The last time the three met in February, there were fireworks. 2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Trump will greet other European leaders in the...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have already rejected President Donald Trump's terms for a peace plan with Russia as the two leaders prepare for an Oval Office showdown. Trump laid out his demands on Sunday night by telling Zelensky to sacrifice Crimea and give up his desire to join NATO in advance of Monday's blockbuster meeting in the White House. In response, Zelensky took to X to insist 'Russia must end this war, Zelensky also indicated he would not acquiesce to Trump on Crimea, territory which Russia annexed in 2014

Special envoy Steve Witkoff says the White House extracted critical wins from its Friday summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, even as President Donald Trump failed to walk away with the ceasefire he was loudly advocated for. Security guarantees offering Ukraine “Article 5-like protections” are the real prize, Witkoff told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday. They’re “game-changing,” he said. “We didn’t think that we were anywhere close to agreeing to Article Five protection from the United States in legislative enshrinement within the Russian Federation, not to go after any other territory when the peace deal is codified,” Witkoff said on...

Kyiv will not give up land that Moscow troops aren’t occupying as part of any peace deal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demands. Speaking ahead of his meeting with President Trump on Monday, Zelensky told reporters in Brussels that while Kyiv would be open to “land swaps” in exchange for peace, Putin’s demands to cede the entirety of the Donetsk region — including parts under Ukrainian control — is off the table. “We need real negotiations, which means they can start where the front line is now,” Zelensky said. “The contact line is...

With less than 24 hours to go before he meets Donald Trump again, Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed the president's "historic decision" to offer Ukraine security guarantees if a peace deal is reached with Russia. It's unclear exactly what shape this support might take, but Trump envoy Steve Witkoff today suggested the US and its partners could offer "Article 5 like language" - reflecting Article 5 of the Nato agreement that states an armed attack on one member country would be considered an attack on all members.

Ukrainian President Zelensky said on Sunday that it would be “impossible” for Kyiv to cede territory to Russia and reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire.Speaking from the European Commission headquarters in Brussels ahead of his planned sit-down with President Donald Trump in the United States on Monday, Zelensky appeared set to maintain his maximalist position towards the war with Russia, and seemingly shoot down officially recognising Moscow’s territorial gains in exchange for a peace agreement.

Ukrainian President Zelensky said on Sunday that it would be “impossible” for Kyiv to cede territory to Russia and reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire.Speaking from the European Commission headquarters in Brussels ahead of his planned sit-down with President Donald Trump in the United States on Monday, Zelensky appeared set to maintain his maximalist position towards the war with Russia, and seemingly shoot down officially recognising Moscow’s territorial gains in exchange for a peace agreement.“Putin has many demands, but we do not know all of them. And if there are really as many as we heard, then it will...

I reported over a week ago that Zelensky and his cronies started wiring out $50 million chunks to hidden accounts in the UAE in anticipation that Trump will push through a peace deal, and that means Zelensky can no longer prevent elections. Ukraine remains the MOST corrupt country in the world. The only question has been how much was being redirected to the Democrats to defeat Trump and the Neocons. Ukraine_Crucifies_Man_Burns_Christian_Icons There is NO WAY Zelensky can stay in Ukraine. He will be dragged out in the streets and crucified, as they have been doing to some Russian soldiers, and...

President Donald Trump said he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday afternoon to discuss an agreement "which would end the war" between Russia and Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed he will President Trump in Washington, DC, on Monday “to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war.” Zelensky spoke on the phone for over an hour and a half with Trump, who was on board Air Force One en route back to the White House after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska for nearly three hours on Friday. .... Trump appeared to confirm that an in-person trilateral meeting with Zelensky and Putin was in the works.

The White House revealed on Friday the team that will accompany US President Donald Trump to the Alaska summit on Friday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Luntick, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe are among the top US officials who will join Trump for his highly anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his delegation. Additionally, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, among others, are expected to travel with the US president...

United States President Donald Trump mentioned on Thursday that he thinks Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "will make peace." "We will see if they can get along. And if they can, it will be great ... I thought the easiest [war to solve] would be this one, [but] it's actually the most difficult," he commented during a press conference. He reiterated that the potential second meeting will outweigh the importance of the one taking place tomorrow in Alaska. Trump revealed that this meeting could potentially involve both Putin and Zelensky, himself, as well as potentially some...