OT subject but worth a main-stream read- OT News Feeds...

Botch

lousubcap said:

"The Trump administration has asked Congress to approve new transfers of roughly $1 billion worth of bombs and other military hardware to Israel, according to U.S. officials. Jared Malsin and Nancy A. Youssef report for the Wall Street Journal.

The United States continues to buy boxes of bread, blankets and Bandaids for Gaza, while simultaneously bankrolling buttloads of bombs and bullets for israel.  Too bad our government didn't have an independent department of financial watchdogs to put an end to this self-sustaining waste of money.   

lousubcap

Wednesday Middle East update:

"President Trump yesterday declared that the United States should “take over” Gaza and turn it into “the Riviera of the Middle East.” Speaking at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump also reiterated his call for “all of” Palestinians from Gaza to be displaced to countries like Egypt and Jordan. Michael D. Shear, Peter Baker, and Isabel Kershner report for the New York Times; Kevin Liptak reports for CNN.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday appeared to endorse Trump’s plan for the United States’ takeover of Gaza, stating that “the United States stands ready to lead and Make Gaza Beautiful Again” in a post on X. Kanishka Singh reports for Reuters.

Several Democratic lawmakers expressed shock over Trump’s Gaza remarks.Sen. Chris Van Hollen (MD) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI) both described the idea as “ethnic cleansing.” Frances Vinall reports for the Washington Post.

Some Republican lawmakers appeared skeptical of Trump’s plan, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC) saying it “might be problematic” and Sen. Josh Hoeven (ND) doubting whether “it's the best use” of U.S. resources. Aamer Madhani, Tia Goldenberg, and Zeke Miller report for AP News; Jordain Carney and Mia McCarthy report for POLITICO.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and senior Hamas officials issued statements rebuking the suggestion that Palestinians should be expelled from Gaza. Reuters reports.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry reaffirmed its support for an independent Palestinian state in a statement issued today, adding that the normalization of its ties with Israel would depend on the creation of such a state. Qasim Nauman reports for the New York Times.

China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Spain, Turkey, and Australia all expressed disapproval of Trump’s Gaza proposals. Reutersreports."

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Kyiv’s military said it shot down 37 of 65 Russian drones launched at Ukraine overnight. The attack resulted in damage to businesses, a railway depot and houses.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters that his team was in contact with Washington’s top Ukraine official Keith Kellogg and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz to work on dates for a US delegation to visit Kyiv. He also said Ukraine was open to investments by US companies to supply rare earths to the US in exchange for aid.

Zelenskyy also demanded nuclear weapons as an alternative to Ukraine’s admission as a member nation of NATO.

Zelenskyy said he would be willing to sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin if it was the only way to “bring peace to Ukraine and not lose people”. However, he said Europe would need to be present at the table."

lousubcap

Thursday Middle East update:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday endorsed Trump’s proposal for the United States to “take over” Gaza, describing it as “the first good idea that [he’s] heard.” Lucas Lilieholm, Michael Schwartz, and Helen Regan report for CNN.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz today ordered the Israeli army to prepare “voluntary departure” plans for Gaza residents. Separately, Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said that implementing Trump’s plans “should require the consent” of Gazans. James Mackenzie and Jana Choukeir report for Reuters; Amanda Friedman reports for POLITICO.

The White House yesterday floated a more limited version of U.S. engagement in Gaza, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt telling reporters that Palestinians’ displacement would be temporary, that Trump made no commitments to place U.S. troops in the region, and that no U.S. tax dollars would be spent in the reconstruction effort. Michael Birnbaum and Matt Viser report for the Washington Post.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday said that “it is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing” in Gaza, a remark his spokesperson said can be “fairly assumed” to be a response to Trump’s comments. Michelle Nichols reports for Reuters.

The Defense Department is developing a plan to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria, according to U.S. defense officials. Courtney Kube reports for NBC News."

lousubcap

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"North Korean ballistic missiles used by Russian forces have become more precise in the last month, suggesting that North Korea is successfully using the battlefield to test its technology, senior Ukrainian sources said. Tom Balmforth reports for Reuters.

The Kremlin yesterday confirmed it had established contact with the Trump administration regarding potential peace talks to end the war in Ukraine. Paul Sonne reports for the New York Times.

Kyiv’s military said it shot down 57 of 104 drones launched by Russia overnight, while 42 did not reach their targets. The military said Moscow also shot two Iskander-M ballistic missiles at Ukraine."

lousubcap

Friday Middle East update:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday told U.S. lawmakers he wants to extend the first phase of the ceasefire deal and does not see a path to a post-war plan for Gaza as long as Hamas is in control, according to U.S. and Israeli sources. Barak Ravid and Stephen Neukam report for Axios.

Trump yesterday defended his proposal to “take over” Gaza, saying the territory would be “turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting.” He also claimed that “no soldiers by the U.S. would be needed.” Aaron Boxerman reports for the New York Times.

Cairo has told the Trump administration that the Egypt-Israel peace deal is at risk if efforts to displace Palestinians from Gaza continue, Egyptian officials said. The Egyptian government described the proposal as entailing a “blatant violation” of international law. Samy Magdy reports for AP News.

Syria could allow Russia to retain its air and naval bases as long as any agreement with the Kremlin serves Damascus’ interests, Syrian interim Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said this week. Loveday Morris and Zakaria Zakaria report for the Washington Post.

The future of Syria’s Al Hol camp holding thousands of Islamic State members is in doubt amid the Trump administration’s U-turns on funding and uncertain aid freeze waiver expiration dates, the camp’s director said. Erika Solomon, Ben Hubbard, and Lara Jakes report for the Washington Post."

lousubcap

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine’s military said Kyiv’s forces struck an airfield overnight in Russia’s Krasnodar region, which sits on the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, resulting in explosions and a fire. According to the military, Moscow’s forces use the airfield to store and launch drones to attack Ukraine and maintain aircraft that carry out missions in southern Ukraine.

The military also said its army shot down 56 of 77 Russian drones launched at Ukraine overnight while 18 did not reach their targets.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said Moscow’s air defence systems destroyed 28 Ukrainian drones overnight.

France delivered its first shipment of Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine to help Kyiv defend itself from Russia in the ongoing war, Ukrainian Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said the Netherlands delivered United States-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. These, along with the French Mirage jets, will soon begin carrying out combat missions, he said.

The Russian state news agency RIA quoted senior lawmaker Leonid Slutsky as saying preparations for a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump were at an “advanced stage”. Slutsky reportedly said the meeting could take place in February or March."

lousubcap

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lousubcap

Saturday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said North Korean troops have returned to the front line in Russia’s Kursk region after reports emerged that Moscow had withdrawn them due to heavy losses. “There have been new assaults in the Kursk operation areas … the Russian army and North Korean soldiers have been brought in again,” Zelenskyy said in his evening address on Friday. He added that a “significant number” of opposing troops had been “destroyed”, saying: “We are talking about hundreds of Russian and North Korean soldiers.”

The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Friday that attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant have increased. Russian state news agency Tass quoted Grossi – speaking after meeting with Alexei Likhachev, head of the Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom – as saying it was not possible to determine which side was carrying out the attacks. Russian forces took control of the plant in eastern Ukraine soon after the war broke out in 2022.

President Donald Trump on Friday said he would “probably” meet Zelenskyy next week. The Ukrainian president, in turn, said he appreciated working with Trump. Asked where the meeting would take place, Trump replied that it “could be Washington – well, I’m not going there,” referring to Kyiv. Zelenskyy said “talks” were planned but did not confirm a meeting. He wrote on X: “We’re also planning meetings and talks at the teams’ level. Right now Ukrainian and American teams are working out the details.”

European foreign ministers will discuss the war at a meeting in Paris next week, France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said on Friday. Ministers from France, Germany, Poland, Britain, Spain and Italy would take part in the talks on Wednesday, just ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, the ministry stated, amid reports that US envoys could also attend. The meeting aims to “show continued support to Ukraine”.

The Kremlin said on Friday there had been a lot of inaccurate reports on US plans for ending the Ukraine war and called for patience."

lousubcap

Sunday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russian air defence units intercepted and destroyed 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, the Russian Ministry of Defence said on Sunday. About half of the drones were destroyed over the Kursk region that borders Ukraine, the ministry added.

Ukraine’s air force on Saturday said they shot down 67 of 139 Russian drones launched, while another 71 disappeared from radar without reaching their targets.

President Donald Trump said he spoke to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, over the telephone to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine, The New York Post reported late on Saturday. “He [Putin] wants to see people stop dying,” Trump added.

Russia is yet to see any positive steps from the new US administration on disarmament, Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, said. However, he added that Russia is “ready to maintain smooth relations of cooperation with any American administration”.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in line with the treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang, its army and people will “invariably support and encourage the just cause of the Russian army and people to defend their sovereignty, security and territorial integrity”."

lousubcap

Monday Middle East update:

"Israel yesterday completed its withdrawal from the militarized zone bisecting Gaza in accordance with the ceasefire agreement, according to a statement by Hamas and reporters on the ground. Mohammad al-Sawalhi, Ibrahim Dahman, and Sophie Tanno report for CNN.

An Israeli delegation arrived in Qatar yesterday for the planned talks on the second stage of the Gaza ceasefire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesperson said. Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Alexander Cornwell report for Reuters.

Hamas on Saturday released three Israeli hostages, with Israel freeing 183 Palestinian detainees in exchange. Netanyahu said the hostages’ gaunt appearance was “shocking.” Hussam Al-Masri, Nidal Al-Mughrabi, and Emily Rose report for Reuters.

The Trump administration’s efforts to sideline USAID have endangered the Gaza aid supply chain and risk destabilizing the ceasefire, U.S. officials and humanitarian group workers say. Patrick Kingsley and Adam Rasgon report for the New York Times.

The State Department on Friday notified Congress it intends to move forward with a $8 billion weapons sale to Israel, bypassing an informal review that was underway in a House committee. Edward Wong and Robert Jimison report for the New York Times.

Trump yesterday said he is committed to “buying and owning Gaza,” which he described as a “big real estate site.” Jeff Mason reports for Reuters; Betsy Klein and Irene Nasser report for CNN.

Egypt will host an emergency Arab summit on 27 February to discuss “serious” developments for Palestinians, the Egyptian foreign ministry said yesterday. Reuters reports."

lousubcap

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia’s Ministry of Defence said that Kremlin forces destroyed 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, with more than half of them downed over Russia’s Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.

Ukraine’s military said it shot down 70 of 151 Russian drones launched overnight. According to the military, 74 did not reach their targets.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz slammed United States President Donald Trump’s demand for Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for US aid as “selfish and self-serving”. He said countries that help should do so without asking to be paid in return.

Zelenskyy said he wants allies to invest in Kyiv’s mineral resources and that the country will not give away rare earths for free. “It’s about partnership. Put your money in. Invest,” he said.

Zelenskyy also accused his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, of wanting to prolong the war instead of engaging in ceasefire negotiations. Citing intelligence reports, Zelenskyy said in a video message addressing his country that Russia’s cooperation with North Korea is expanding."

lousubcap

Tuesday Middle East update:

"Hamas has postponed this weekend’s planned release of Israeli hostages “until further notice,” the group’s spokesperson said yesterday, citing alleged Israeli violations of the ceasefire deal. Charlie Summers and Emanuel Fabian report for Haaretz; Jeremy Diamond, Abeer Salman, Kareem Khadder, Lauren Izso, and Mostafa Salem report for CNN.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has moved up today’s cabinet meeting in response to Hamas’s delay announcement, according to Israeli sources. Separately, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz described the move as a “complete violation of the ceasefire.” Jeremy Diamond, Abeer Salman, Kareem Khadder, Lauren Izso, and Mostafa Salem report for CNN.

President Trump “must remember” that “the only way” to bring back Israeli prisoners is by respecting the ceasefire agreement, a senior Hamas official said today. Reuters reports.

The Israeli police said it arrested two people over “selling books containing incitement and support for terrorism” during a Sunday raid on Palestinian bookstores in the occupied east Jerusalem. Kareem Khadder, Abeer Salman, and Irene Nasser report for CNN.

Some hostages freed by Hamas have been tortured while in captivity, family members said, citing intelligence from the Israeli military. Ephrat Livni reports for the New York Times.

Trump yesterday said that the ceasefire deal should be “canceled” and “all hell is going to break out” if hostages are not released from Gaza by noon on Saturday. Lara Jakes, Ronen Bergman, Adam Rasgon, and Johnatan Reiss report for the New York Times.

Trump yesterday said he would consider withholding aid to Jordan and Egypt if they do not agree to the United States “taking over” Gaza. Trump also indicated that Palestinians would not be allowed to return to the territory under his plan. Brett Samuels reports for the Hill; Claire Moses and Shawn McCreesh report for the New York Times.

Mediators are concerned the Gaza ceasefire agreement may break down, two Egyptian security sources said yesterday. Reuters reports."

lousubcap

Wednesday Middle east update:

"Israel will end the Gaza ceasefire and commence “intense fighting” if hostages held by Hamas are not returned as scheduled this weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address yesterday. Netanyahu also said he has ordered the IDF to amass inside and around Gaza. David Gritten and Yolande Knell report for BBC News.

Israeli forces killed at least 92 Palestinians and wounded more than 800 since the Gaza ceasefire took hold, the Hamas-run health ministry’s director said yesterday. AP News reports.

Trump yesterday indicated he wants the United States to “take and hold” Gaza when meeting Jordan’s King Abdullah II. Following the meeting, Abdullah said he “reiterated Jordan’s steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians.” Michael Birnbaum and Dan Diamond report for the Washington Post.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis are ready to attack Israel if fighting in Gaza resumes, the group's leader said yesterday. Reuters reports. 

Egypt plans to offer “comprehensive proposals” to rebuild Gaza while Palestinians remain on their land, Cairo’s foreign ministry said yesterday. Reuters reports."

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Trump suggested that Ukraine “may be Russian someday” in an interview yesterday. A Kremlin spokesperson said that “a significant part of Ukraine wants to become Russia” when asked about the remark. Christian Edwards, Anna Chernova, and Edward Szekeres report for CNN.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday said he may offer Russia a straight territory exchange during any future peace negotiations, giving up land Kyiv is holding in Russia’s Kursk region. Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, described the proposal as “nonsense.” Shaun Walker reports for the Guardian; Reuters reports.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said air defence units intercepted and destroyed 40 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory, out of which 18 were destroyed in the Saratov region.

Kyiv said Russia launched 124 drones and 19 missiles at Ukraine in an overnight attack. According to the Ukrainian military, 57 drones were shot down while 66 failed to reach their targets.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia will never discuss trading the Ukrainian territory it holds for areas in Russia’s western Kursk region held by Kyiv, as suggested by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Earlier, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s powerful Security Council, also dismissed the idea as “nonsense”.

Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov has announced that he had held his first meeting with new US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, amid US President Donald Trump’s effort to end the war between Ukraine and Russia."

lousubcap

The latest on Russia-Ukraine:

"The really big news: Trump said on Truth Social that he and Putin had agreed to immediately begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, national security adviser Mike Waltz and Witkoff leading the team. Witkoff met with Putin yesterday, per CNN’s Alayna Treene. Trump also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shortly thereafter, per the FT.

The announcement — a significant shift from the U.S. — came on the heels of a striking speech from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Europe, where he threw a bucket of cold water on many of Ukraine’s goals: Getting NATO membership or returning to pre-2014 borders are “unrealistic” to achieve in these negotiations, Hegseth said, per CNN. He also said explicitly that the U.S. would not focus on European security, and any security guarantees for Ukraine would have to come from Europe.

Hegseth’s comments were not wholly unexpected given Trump’s signals that he’d pull back from supporting Ukraine, but some critics questioned the NATO news: “They just surrendered one of the main points of leverage before negotiations even begin,” said former Biden official Matthew Miller. And Zelenskyy is already worried that the Trump administration hasn’t consulted with him much on plans, he tells The Economist. Zelenskyy is due to meet with VP JD Vance tomorrow."

lousubcap

Russia-Ukraine Thursday update:

"Trump yesterday said he had a “lengthy and productive” call with President Putin, characterizing it as the beginning of a negotiation to end the war in Ukraine. Separately, Trump also said it’s “unlikely” Ukraine would return to its pre-2014 borders. Maggie Haberman, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, and Anton Troianovski report for the New York Times.

U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth yesterday called Ukraine’s desire to recover all territory lost to Russia and ambition to join NATO “unrealistic,” and stated that Trump’s push to hold talks with Putin was “not a betrayal” of Kyiv. Several NATO defense ministers today stressed that Ukraine and Europe should not be cut out from peace negotiations. Natasha Bertrand, Clare Sebastian, and Haley Britzky report for CNN; Tamsin Paternoster reports for Euronews; Lorne Cook reports for AP News.

Chinese officials have recently floated a proposal for Beijing to hold a summit between Trump and Putin and facilitate peacekeeping efforts after an eventual truce in Ukraine, according to U.S. and Beijing sources. A White House official described the proposal as “not viable.” Lingling Wei, Alexander Ward, and Laurence Norman report for the Wall Street Journal.

Ukraine’s military said it shot down six out of seven ballistic missiles launched by Russia in an overnight attack. The Kremlin also launched a barrage of 123 attack drones at Kyiv, out of which 71 were shot down and 40 were likely deterred by “electronic countermeasures”, the military said.

lousubcap

Thursday Middle East update:

"Israel is seeking another extension of its next-week deadline for withdrawal from southern Lebanon, according to a Western diplomatic source. Hugo Bachega reports for BBC News.

A Hamas spokesperson today said the group does not want the Gaza ceasefire deal to collapse. Meanwhile, mediators Egypt and Qatar are trying to find solutions to prevent a resumption of fighting, according to a Palestinian official. Reuters reports.

The leaders of Jordan and Egypt yesterday stressed their countries’ “shared position” on reconstructing Gaza without displacing Palestinians, Jordan’s monarchy said in a statement. Seb Starcevic reports for POLITICO.

Trump has asked Arab countries to propose a regional peace plan, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said yesterday. Dan Diamond reports for the Washington Post."

lousubcap

Friday Middle East update:

"Hamas yesterday “reaffirmed its commitment” to implementing the Gaza ceasefire, “including the exchange of prisoners according to the specified timeline,” a move that could defuse the standoff over the fragile agreement. Israeli government spokesperson said that three hostages must be released alive by Hamas on Saturday for the ceasefire to continue. Nidal Al-Mughrabi and James Mackenzie report for Reuters.

Hamas yesterday fired a rocket from Gaza that landed inside the territory, with Israel responding by striking the launcher, the Israeli military said. Summer Said and Anat Peled report for the Wall Street Journal.

Northeast Syria’s Kurdish-led administration and loyalists of the Assad regime will not be invited to the national dialogue conference intended to shape Syria’s new constitution, organizers said yesterday. Sally About Aljoud and Abdelrahman Shaheen report for AP News."

lousubcap

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Trump yesterday offered reassurances that “of course” Ukraine would be involved in negotiations to end the war with Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier said that Ukraine will not accept a peace deal negotiated by Moscow and Washington without Kyiv's involvement. Jeanna Smialek, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Matthew Mpoke Bigg, and Thomas Fuller report for the New York Times; Reuters reports.

The United States may impose sanctions and potentially take military action against Russia if it does not agree to a peace deal that guarantees Ukraine’s independence, Vice President JD Vance said yesterday. The option of sending U.S. troops to Ukraine “remains on the table,” Vance added. Bojan Pancevski and Alexander Ward report for the Wall Street Journal.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth yesterday moderated his remarks on Ukraine’s NATO accession prospects, saying that “everything is on the table” in Trump’s conversations with Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Shortly afterwards, Trump said that he does not think “a country in Russia’s position” would allow Ukraine to join the alliance. Dan Lamothe and Karen DeYoung report for the Washington Post.

Zelenskyy said today that a Russian drone strike hit the shell of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, adding that radiation levels at the plant have not increased. A Kremlin spokesperson denied Russia was responsible. Ian Aikman reports for BBC News.

Ukraine launched a huge wave of drones as well as missiles, Russia said, with 202 unmanned aerial vehicles shot down, along with three French-made Hammer guided bombs and United States-made HIMARS rockets.

Ukraine’s Security Service said the attack targeted Russia’s Andreapol oil pumping station, causing an oil leak and subsequent fire, the Reuters news agency reports.

Russia launched 140 drones in an overnight attack, the DPA news agency reports, with Ukrainian forces reportedly destroying 85 and more than 50 being lost before reaching a target. Damage and injuries were reported in Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Odesa regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was ready for direct talks with Russia once Kyiv reached a common position with the US and Europe on how to end the war. “We are ready for any conversations with America and our allies. If they provide us with specific answers to specific requests from us and a common understanding of the dangerous Putin, then, with our unified understanding, we will be ready to talk with the Russians,” he said in Munich where he will hold talks with US Vice President JD Vance on Friday.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Zelenskyy that there could be no peace talks in the Ukraine-Russia conflict without Ukraine’s involvement. He said Kyiv needs “strong security guarantees” if a deal is struck.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin needed to be organised “promptly”.  Peskov said Moscow wants to discuss European security with the US president."

JohnInCarolina

lousubcap

Saturday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 133 drones in attacks across Ukraine overnight.

In an interview with a United States broadcaster, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has a “low chance” of surviving Russia’s ongoing invasion without military support from the US.

Vice President JD Vance said the Trump administration wants a “durable, lasting peace” for Ukraine and Eastern Europe in his first meeting with Zelenskyy in Munich. The US did not want a resolution that sees “Eastern Europe in conflict just a couple years down the road”, Vance said.

Zelenskyy has asked for “security guarantees” for Ukraine as part of any future peace deal during his talks with Vance.

French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his view that it is “Ukraine alone who can drive the discussions for a solid and lasting peace” with Russia."

lousubcap

Sunday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he wanted United States President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, to visit his country’s eastern front line to report back to Trump on the realities on the ground.  “It is very important for me that he sees this,” Zelenskyy said at the Munich Security Conference. “I really want him to bring all this to President Trump… To show him, tell him”.

Senior officials from Trump’s administration will start talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, the Politico news outlet reports, citing sources familiar with the plan.

But Europe will not have a seat at the table for Ukraine peace talks, the US’s Kellogg said.

European leaders scrambled to force their way to the table for any talk as Washington announced that a team of senior US officials is planning to meet in Saudi Arabia with counterparts from Moscow and Kyiv.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will head to Saudi Arabia for the talks, US officials said, without giving details on when the meeting would happen.

NATO chief Mark Rutte said Europe had to come up with “good proposals” for securing peace in Ukraine if it wanted to be involved in the US-led talks."

lousubcap

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Moscow’s Ministry of Defence said nine Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Sea of Azov and Russia’s southern region of Krasnodar.

The Ukrainian military said Russia launched 143 drones in an overnight attack, out of which 95 were shot down. A further 46 failed to reach their targets, the air force said.

Zelenskyy said he had instructed his ministers not to sign an agreement with the United States to supply rare earth minerals in exchange for previous and future US aid. He told The Associated Press news agency that the agreement did not protect Ukraine’s interests.

National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes, without confirming the offer made to Kyiv, said Zelenskyy was being “short-sighted” about the matter and that a minerals deal would allow US taxpayers to “recoup” previous aid while also growing Ukraine’s economy.

Zelenskyy warned that Russia would “wage war” on NATO should US President Donald Trump scale back support for the military alliance. He also said Trump had the leverage to push Russian President Vladimir Putin into ceasefire talks, but said Putin should never be trusted.

Reuters reported that the US asked European allies what they required from Washington to participate in Ukraine’s security arrangements. According to the news agency, the demarche had six points and questions asking which countries would contribute to the guarantees and which allies would be willing to deploy troops to Kyiv.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the upcoming days would determine Putin’s seriousness about peace in Ukraine, adding that he spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov regarding what he described as the difficult operating conditions of the US Embassy in Moscow."

lousubcap

Tuesday Middle East update:

"Israeli troops will stay in five southern Lebanon locations after today’s deadline for Israel’s full withdrawal elapses, the Israeli military said yesterday. Patrick Kingsley and Euan Ward report for the New York Times.

Hamas will not disarm and will regroup in Gaza, a Hamas spokesperson and political bureau member said on Saturday, seemingly contradicting an earlier statement by another Hamas spokesperson that the group is not “clinging to power.” Nadeen Ebrahim reports for CNN.

Israel is preparing to receive the bodies of four hostages from Gaza on Thursday and is working on securing the release of six living captives on Saturday, an Israeli security official said yesterday. Reuters reports.

Russia will likely maintain a reduced military presence in Syria, with Moscow close to striking a deal with the interim Syrian government, sources say. Alberto Nardelli and Donato Paolo Mancini report for Bloomberg."

lousubcap

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Senior Russian and U.S. officials will meet in Saudi Arabia today to hold bilateral talks on improving ties and ending the war in Ukraine, paving the way for a meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to a senior Ukrainian government source, Kyiv was not invited to the talks. Matthew Lee, Justin Spike, and Barry Hatton report for AP News; James Waterhouse and Maia Davies report for BBC News; Alex Marquardt, Kevin Liptak, Alayna Treene, and Michael Rios report for CNN.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday reiterated he would not accept a peace deal negotiated without Ukraine’s input. Separately, Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, said that no one would impose a peace deal on Kyiv. James Marson and Ian Lovett report for the Wall Street Journal; Reuters reports.

Zelenskyy has told his aides to reject the Trump administration’s proposal of granting the United States access to rare earth minerals over the offer’s insufficient security guarantees for Ukraine, an aide confirmed. Kristen Welker, Courtney Kube, Carol E. Lee, and Nnamdi Egwuonwu report for NBC News.

The United Kingdom is “ready and willing” to send UK troops to Ukraine to help guarantee its security under a peace deal, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said yesterday. David Mercer reports for BBC News.

The European Union is preparing new sanctions targeting the “shadow fleet” used by Russia to transport illicit oil, sources say. It is unclear whether the Trump administration will join the effort, the sources added. Alan Cullinson, Benoit Faucon, and Georgi Kantchev report for the Wall Street Journal.

The Kremlin said any plans to deploy European peacekeeping troops after Kyiv and Moscow strike a peace deal would make the matter “complex”.

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted an emergency meeting with leaders from key European Union nations at the Elysee Palace in Paris to discuss the EU’s reaction to Washington’s peace talks with Moscow.

Russia’s Lavrov asked why Europe should be invited to join talks on a peace settlement in Ukraine if European politicians want the war to carry on. He also said Russia would not even consider territorial concessions to Ukraine in future peace talks."

Edit to add the below reporting from today's meeting in Saudi Arabia:

A senior Russian official said after the meeting, which lasted roughly four hours, that no date had been set for President Vladimir Putin and US counterpart Donald Trump to meet. He added that such a summit was unlikely to be next week, which Bloomberg reported was a possibility.

“It’s hard to say yet that we’re getting closer, but there was a conversation,” Kremlin foreign-policy aide Yuri Ushakov said about the two sides’ positions, according to the state-run Tass news agency.

The talks in Riyadh followed Trump’s landmark phone call with Putin last week in which he reversed key US positions on the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned his country won’t recognize “any agreements about us without us.”

White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat opposite Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ushakov. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan was also there.

The meeting was a way to “determine if the Russians, perhaps, are serious and if they’re on the same page” with the US when it comes to ending the war in Ukraine, according to State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, who briefed reporters traveling with Rubio."

JohnInCarolina

If you ever want a good couple of laughs, go back and read the first few pages of this thread.

lousubcap

The collective we were dang smart a few years ago in this thread.  

lousubcap

Wednesday Middle East update:

"Israel and Hamas will open negotiations on a second stage of the Gaza ceasefire deal “this week,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced yesterday. Israeli sources say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Ron Dermer, a close confidant with strong ties to the Trump White House, to lead the negotiations. The Guardian reports; AP News reports.

Israel will start allowing the entry of mobile homes for displaced Palestinians into Gaza, an Israeli official said. Hamas has previously accused Israel of delaying the deliveries. James Mackenzie and Nayera Abdallah report for Reuters.

Aid workers and medics say they fear Palestinians leaving Gaza for medical treatment may not be able to return in light of Trump’s proposals to displace all of the territory’s inhabitants. Susannah George reports for the Washington Post.

The Lebanese government yesterday said it considers any Israeli presence on its soil an occupation and reserves the right to use “all means” to ensure Israel’s withdrawal. Lebanon’s leaders also called on the U.N. Security Council to take action. Abbie Cheeseman reports for the Washington Post. "

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia and the United States yesterday agreed to start working toward ending the war in Ukraine and re-establishing diplomatic communication, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, adding that the countries will seek to appoint a team to facilitate Ukraine peace talks. Dasha Litvinova reports for AP News; Ivana Kottasová and Jennifer Hansler report for CNN.

President Trump yesterday falsely suggested that Ukraine started the war with Russia, stating that Kyiv “should have never started” the war and “could have made a deal.” [See CNN for the analysis of the falsity of Trump’s claim.] Zoë Richards reports for NBC News.

France plans to host a second, wider European summit on Ukraine today, diplomatic sources said. Reuters reports.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday canceled a planned trip to Saudi Arabia in protest over Kyiv’s exclusion from the Russia-U.S. talks, saying that the lack of invitation was a “surprise.” Andrew E. Kramer reports for the New York Times.

The United States has “zero intelligence Putin is interested in a real peace deal right now,” a U.S. congressional official said yesterday. Courtney Kube and Carol E. Lee report for NBC News.

The Ukrainian military said Russia launched 167 drones and two missiles during overnight attacks. The air force shot down 106 drones and 56 more did not reach their targets.

Russia said its air defences downed 21 Ukrainian drones in the space of an hour overnight, most over Russia’s western Bryansk region. One drone was also downed over Russian-annexed Crimea."