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

lousubcap · May 26

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 298 drones and 69 missiles in its overnight assault, adding that it was able to down 266 drones and 45 missiles.

Russian air defences intercepted 110 Ukrainian drones overnight on Sunday, including 13 over the Moscow and Tver regions.

Russia and Ukraine completed a three-day exchange of 1,000 prisoners each, in the largest such swap since the war began three years ago.

President Donald Trump lashed out at his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, following the attack, calling him “crazy” and warning that any attempt at a total takeover of Ukraine would “lead to the downfall of Russia”.

Trump also raised the possibility of more punitive measures against Russia, saying he was “absolutely” considering increasing US sanctions on the country.

Trump also criticised Zelenskyy, saying in a post on social media that the Ukrainian leader “is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does. Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop.”"

lousubcap · May 27

Tuesday Middle East update:

"A Palestinian official yesterday claimed that Hamas has agreed to U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s proposal for a Gaza ceasefire. Witkoff said that the proposal being discussed was not the same as his and was “completely unacceptable.” An Israeli official likewise denied that the proposal was Washington’s and said that no Israeli government could accept it. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Jeremy Diamond, Abeer Salman, and Oren Liebermann report for CNN; Reuters reports.

The Israeli military is “systematically” using Palestinians as human shields in Gaza despite the practice being prohibited under Israeli and international law, according to several former detainees and Israeli soldiers. The Israeli military says it strictly prohibits using civilians as shields or otherwise coercing them to participate in operations. Sam Mednick and Samy Magdy report for AP News.

Israel aims to control 75% of Gaza within two months and push Palestinian civilians into just a quarter of the territory, the Israeli military said on Sunday. Dov Lieber reports for the Wall Street Journal.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem met with officials in Israel yesterday and on Sunday. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, Noem spoke in a meeting on Sunday of her “unwavering support for the prime minister and the state of Israel” and expressed “great appreciation” for Netanyahu’s conduct of the war. Separately, Trump on Sunday said he wants to end the war in Gaza “as quickly as possible.” Johnatan Reiss reports for the New York Times; Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

Lebanon will begin disarming the armed Palestinian factions in refugee camps on its territory in June, a spokesman for the prime minister said on Friday. Disarming the factions would serve as a trial run before an attempt to disarm the powerful Hezbolland, experts say. Vivian Yee, Dayana Iwaza, and Hwaida Saad report for the New York Times.

Iran is open to compromises in nuclear talks with Washington, but uranium enrichment remains non-negotiable, Tehran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said yesterday. Separately, Trump on Sunday hinted an announcement regarding the talks could come “in the next two days.” Frederik Pleitgen, Joseph Ataman, and Claudia Otto report for CNN; Seung Min Kim reports for AP News.

The Trump administration on Friday lifted several major sanctions on Syria, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, in the first step aimed at fulfilling Trump’s promise to help stabilize Damascus’ new government. Separately, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, on Friday said he had assumed the role of special envoy to Syria. Isabela Espadas Barros Leal and James C. McKinley Jr. report for the New York Times; Reuters reports."

lousubcap · May 27

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"President Trump on Sunday criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for Moscow’s intensifying attacks on Ukraine, telling reporters he is “not happy” about the recent escalation and later writing that Putin has “gone absolutely crazy” in a social media post. Trump also confirmed he may levy additional sanctions against Russia. Sources say that Trump is tiring of the peace negotiations and is considering abandoning them altogether. Trump’s Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, called Russia’s attacks a “clear violation of the 1977 Geneva Peace Protocols.” Erica L. Green reports for the New York Times; Annie Linskey, Alexander Ward, and Josh Dawsey report for the Wall Street Journal.

In response to Trump’s comments, the Kremlin yesterday said that Trump’s criticism of Putin may be due to “emotional overload” and thanked the United States and Trump for their “assistance in organising and launching this negotiation process.” Reuters reports.

The “silence” of the United States and others “only encourages Putin,” with Russia “dragging out” the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday. In a social media post, Trump said Zelenskyy was “doing his country no favors by talking the way he does” and that “he better stop.” Kosta Gak, Eve Brennan, and Simone McCarthy report for CNN.

Russia launched its biggest drone attack on Ukraine overnight into yesterday, marking the third night of significant aerial bombardments in a row, a Ukrainian military official said. According to Kyiv, an overnight Russian barrage of 367 drones and missiles on Sunday killed at least 12 people and injured dozens. Illia Novikov and Volodymyr Yurchuk report for AP News; Max Hunder and Jeff Mason report for Reuters; Constant Méheut and Daria Mitiuk report for the New York Times.

Ukraine and Russia on Sunday completed the swap of 1000 prisoners held by each side, the largest such exchange since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The exchange was the only step to emerge from the first direct talks between the sides earlier in May. Reuters reports.

Kyiv has confirmed information that China is supplying a range of important products to Russian military plants, the Ukrinform state news agency quoted the head of Ukrainian foreign intelligence as saying yesterday. Reuters reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine, according to a source from Turkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting took place during Fidan’s two-day trip to Moscow. He also met Vladimir Medinsky, Russia’s chief negotiator in past talks with Ukraine. Fidan will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned on Tuesday that the war in Ukraine could drag on, citing Moscow’s unwillingness to negotiate. Speaking alongside Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Turku, Merz said: “Wars typically end because of economic or military exhaustion … and in this war we are obviously still far from reaching that.” He added that Europe must prepare for a protracted crisis."

lousubcap · May 28

Wednesday Middle East update:

"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz yesterday described Israel’s air strikes on Gaza as “no longer comprehensible” or justified by the need to fight Hamas.Separately, the German foreign minister threatened unspecified measures against Israel and said Berlin would not export weapons used to break humanitarian law, a significant shift in tone from the leaders of a country that had long remained in support of Israel's conduct. Sarah Marsh, Matthias Williams, and Rachel More report for Reuters.

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff yesterday said that a ceasefire and hostage deal for Israel and Hamas is currently “on the table” and that “Hamas should take it.” According to Witkoff, Israel “will agree to a temporary ceasefire/hostage deal that would see half of the living and half of the deceased return” and lead to permanent truce negotiations that Witkoff agreed to preside over. Jeremy Diamond, Abeer Salman, and Oren Liebermann report for CNN.

Trump last week cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to not take any action that could jeopardize the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, according to a White House official. Netanyahu has been threatening to upend the talks by striking Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facilities, officials briefed on the situation say, leading to a flurry of high-level meetings and a Trump-Netanyahu phone call in recent days. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Julian E. Barnes, David E. Sanger, Maggie Haberman, and Ronen Bergman report for the New York Times.

Iran might allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to send U.S. inspectors to Iranian sites if the Washington-Tehran nuclear talks succeed,Iran's nuclear chief said today. Reuters reports."

lousubcap · May 28

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia has amassed more than 50,000 troops near Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region in what appears to be preparation for a major summer offensive, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday. Kyiv has taken steps to counter Russia and is ready for further peace talks in any format, Zelenskyy added. Max Hunder reports for Reuters.

Russia is building power lines in the occupied southeastern Ukraine to link its electricity grid to the captured Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, according to a review of satellite imagery Greenpeace shared with the New York Times. If successful, Moscow’s effort would be the first time a warring nation seized another country’s nuclear facility and then used it for its own energy needs. Constant Méheut reports.

Putin’s reliance on the war to fuel Russia’s economy made the military industry the driver of Russia’s economic growth and could prove difficult to unwind if a peace deal is implemented, experts say. Thomas Grove reports for the Wall Street Journal."

lousubcap · May 30

Late Thursday Middle East update:

“Hordes of hungry people broke into the [World Food Programme’s] warehouse in … Central Gaza in search of food supplies” yesterday, the WFP said, adding that initial reports indicate that two people died and several were injured in the scramble. The “tragic incident” reflects “alarming and deteriorating conditions on the ground” linked to Israel’s aid blockade, the WFP added. Mohammed Tawfeeq and Ibrahim Dahman report for CNN.

Supplies in Gaza remain limited amid aid distribution chaos, with aid provided by the U.S- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation running out, Gaza residents say. Abeer Ayyoub, Suha Ma’ayeh, and Anat Peled report for the Wall Street Journal.

Some 1,300 academics from universities and colleges across Israel on Tuesday urged the heads of the Israeli academic system to “mobilize the full weight of Israeli academia to stop the Israeli war in Gaza,” citing a “horrifying list of war crimes and crimes against humanity – our own doing.” Noa Limone reports for Haaretz.

The White House is optimistic that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s new proposal could help produce a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza soon, sources say. According to a U.S. source, “[i]f each side moves just a bit, we could have a deal within days.” Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

The Lebanese army has largely disarmed Hezbollah in its southern strongholds, in part with the help of Israeli intelligence, U.S. and Israeli officials say. Separately, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told CNN he would like to see the Trump administration put pressure on Israel to withdraw from locations in southern Lebanon. Omar Abdel-Baqui and Adam Chamseddine report for the Wall Street Journal; Mostafa Salem reports.

Israeli warplanes yesterday bombed the main international airport in Yemen in retaliation for the Houthi rebels’ recent missile attacks, destroying the Houthi government’s last remaining aircraft at the airport, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said. Natan Odenheimer reports for the New York Times."

Edit to add:

The United States is “very close to a solution” on striking a nuclear agreement with Iran, Trump said yesterday. The President also confirmed that he has personally told Prime Minister Netanyahu that it would not be “appropriate” for Israel to disrupt the talks. Kylie Atwood, Alayna Treene, and Jennifer Hansler report for CNN.

Iran may temporarily pause uranium enrichment and reach a “political understanding” with Washington if the United States releases frozen Iranian funds and recognises Tehran’s right to refine uranium for civilian use, Iranian sources told Reuters yesterday. Parisa Hafezi and John Irish report."

lousubcap · May 30

Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russian President Vladimir Putin’s conditions for ending the war in Ukraine include a demand for Western leaders to sign a “written pledge” to halt NATO’s eastward expansion and lift some sanctions on Russia, according to Russian sources. “Putin is ready to make peace, but not at any price,” a senior Russian source said. Guy Faulconbridge reports for Reuters.

Ukraine and Russia may meet in Istanbul for a second round of peace talks next Monday if the Kremlin produces a memorandum detailing Russia’s conditions for peace, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said yesterday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov proposed to hold the talks on June 2 earlier in the day and said that Moscow would present its terms in Istanbul. Siobhán O'Grady, Isobel Koshiw, and Natalia Abbakumova report for the Washington Post.

A top Putin aide has said that Moscow came to the conclusion that President Trump is “not sufficiently informed” about “ what is really happening” in Ukraine after Trump warned that Putin is “playing with fire,” according to an interview aired by the Russian state TV channel Russia-1. Anna Chernova and Ivana Kottasová report for CNN.

Trump yesterday appeared to downplay the possibility of immediately imposing new sanctions on Moscow and set a deadline for Russia, saying that he will tell reporters “in two weeks” if Putin is serious about ending the Ukraine war. Tarini Parti and Alex Leary report for the Wall Street Journal; Brandon Drenon and Tom Bateman report for BBC News.

Germany will increase funding for arms production and supply of military equipment for Ukraine by roughly 5 billion euros ($5.7 billion), Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the German Defense Ministry announced yesterday. Berlin will also help Kyiv produce long-range weapons, Merz added. Christopher F. Schuetze and Marc Santora report for the New York Times; Rachel Hagan and Jessica Parker report for BBC News."

lousubcap · May 31

Friday Middle East update:

The leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates all argued against striking Iran’s nuclear facilities and urged President Trump to continue pushing for a new nuclear deal during his recent Middle East visit, sources say. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, and Qatari Emir Tamim al-Thani told Trump they are worried their countries, which host U.S. military bases, will be targeted for retaliation if Iran's nuclear sites are attacked, a source added. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister last month told Iranian officials to take Trump’s offer to negotiate a nuclear agreement seriously or risk war with Israel, according to Gulf sources close and Iranian officials. Samia Nakhoul and Parisa Hafezi report for Reuters.

Senior Iranian officials yesterday dismissed speculation about an imminent nuclear deal with the United States. AP News reports.

The White House yesterday said Israel had agreed to a ceasefire and hostage proposal that the United States shared with Israel and Hamas. Seen by Reuters, the proposal would entail a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 28 Israeli hostages alive and dead in the first week, in exchange for the release of 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and the remains of 180 dead Palestinians. A senior Hamas official said the group would reject the proposal, stating that it did not satisfy its core demands, including an end to the war. Samia Nakhoul and Hatem Maher report; Rushdi Abualouf and David Gritten report for BBC News.

lousubcap · May 31

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine is “Russia’s best possible outcome” and President Vladimir Putin should accept it, Acting Deputy U.S. Ambassador John Kelley told the U.N. Security Council yesterday. Michelle Nichols reports for Reuters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday said that Russia was engaging “in yet another deception” by not handing over its peace settlement proposal to Ukraine ahead of a potential Moscow-Kyiv meeting. Reuters reports.

North Korea has supplied at least 100 ballistic missiles and more than 11,000 troops to Russia for its war in “flagrant violation” of U.N. sanctions, according to a new report issued yesterday by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, a group backed by the United States and key allies. Michael R. Gordon reports for the Wall Street Journal.

A partnership with Iran has substantially boosted Russia’s domestic drone industry, increased Moscow’s capability to attack Ukraine, and spawned a covert payment network involving gold transfers and intermediary countries to bypass Western sanctions, according to a report released yesterday by C4ADS, a Washington-based research group. Mary Ilyushina reports for the Washington Post.

The Kremlin said on Thursday that it was waiting for Kyiv’s response to its proposal for new talks in Istanbul next Monday.

Ukraine said it was ready to hold more talks with Russia in Istanbul but demanded that Moscow supply a document setting out its conditions for peace in the war, adding that Kyiv had already submitted its vision of a peace settlement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia was engaging in “yet another deception” by failing to hand over its peace settlement proposal in advance of the next potential meeting. “Even the so-called ‘memorandum’ they promised and seemingly prepared for more than a week has still not been seen by anyone,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Kyiv’s demand on the “memorandum” was “non-constructive”.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, said Moscow’s refusal to send the document “suggests that it is likely filled with unrealistic ultimatums”.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who will host the new talks, called on Russia and Ukraine not to “shut the door” on dialogue.

The Russian delegation to the second round of talks in Istanbul will be the same as for the first round, the Russian TASS news agency cited Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying.

United Nations Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council that the “cautious hope” she expressed a month ago for a ceasefire in Ukraine has diminished in the face of the “brutal surge in large-scale Russian attacks” against Ukraine.

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia rejected the accusations, instead accusing Kyiv of “attempting to prolong the war” and warning that Ukraine’s defeat was inevitable. “No new anti-Russian sanctions, nor deliveries of weapons to Ukraine or any other hostile steps vis-a-vis Russia will be able to prevent the inevitable military defeat of the Zelenskyy regime,” Nebenzia said.

John Kelley, the United States’s alternate representative at the UN meeting, said that if Russia “makes the wrong decision to continue this catastrophic war”, Washington will consider “stepping back from our negotiation efforts to end this conflict”, adding that additional sanctions against Moscow were “still on the table”."

lousubcap · May 31

Saturday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine has resisted US and Russian pressure to commit to attending another round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, saying it first needs to see Russian proposals for a ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia “is doing everything it can to ensure that the next potential meeting brings no results”.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the planned second round of talks between Ukraine and Russia will pave the way for peace in a phone call with Zelenskyy, according to a readout issued by the Turkish presidency. Erdogan said it is important that both parties join the talks with strong delegations.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also said Kyiv needed to see the Russian ceasefire proposals in advance for the talks to be “substantive and meaningful”, without spelling out what Kyiv would do if it did not receive the Russian document or a deadline for receiving it.

Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky will again head Russia’s delegation in Istanbul for the second round of Russia-Ukraine talks and will bring a memorandum and other ceasefire proposals to the meeting.

Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, told the UN Security Council that Moscow was ready to consider a ceasefire, provided Western states stopped arming Ukraine and Kyiv stopped mobilising troops.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on a visit to Kyiv that the Republican-led US Senate is expected to move ahead with a bill on sanctions against Russia next week. Graham, who met Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Friday, said he had talked with Donald Trump before his trip and the US president expects concrete actions now from Moscow.

Trump told reporters that both Putin and Zelenskyy were stubborn and that he had been surprised and disappointed by the Russian bombing of Ukraine while he was trying to arrange a ceasefire.

Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said Russia’s concern over the eastward enlargement of NATO was fair and Washington did not want to see Ukraine in the US-led military alliance.

Commenting on Kellogg’s statement, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was pleased, adding that a Russian delegation would be travelling to Istanbul and ready for talks with Ukraine on Monday morning.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told reporters in Kyiv that the next step after talks in Istanbul would be to try to host a meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy."

lousubcap · June 1

Sunday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia did not “look very serious” and had given “no clear information” on what it plans to achieve at peace talks in Istanbul, Turkiye, next week. He did not comment on whether Ukraine would participate in the new round of negotiations, though Russia has said it would send a delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky, a former culture minister.

China’s embassy in Singapore criticised French President Emmanuel Macron for comparing the defence of Ukraine with the need to protect Taiwan from a Chinese invasion, saying that “the two are different in nature and not comparable at all”.

Russia’s war on Ukraine will be at the top of the agenda when German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meets with United States President Donald Trump on Thursday at the White House, according to a spokesman for the German government.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said new rules set to regulate foreign ships crossing Swedish territorial waters from July 1 come amid “a growing number of concerning incidents in the Baltic Sea”, as Russia’s so-called Shadow Fleet continues to run into problems."

Botch · June 1

Ukraine's unique, and stunning, destruction of forty russian aircraft yesterday via drones launched from in-russia "empty" shipping containers is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. I'm betting vlad is not happy right now.

Gulfcoastguy · June 2

I heard 41 but it’s not like Russia is going to admit to any particular number. At least one of the planes were airborne early warning planes. Russia only had 10 of them.

lousubcap · June 2

Monday Middle East update:

"U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff on Saturday said that Hamas’ response to the U.S. ceasefire and hostage deal proposal is “totally unacceptable” and takes the negotiations “backwards.” Hamas said that it wants the proposal to include an agreement for the group to release hostages over time to keep Israel at the bargaining table. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Joe Hernandez reports for NPR.

Western countries are risking “losing all credibility with the rest of the world” if Israel is allowed “a free pass” in Gaza, French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, hours after threatening to “harden” the EU’s collective position against Israel over the Gaza humanitarian situation. Roger Cohen reports for the New York Times.

Israel has said it will “not cooperate” with the Palestinian Authority’s “provocative” plans to host a high-level Saudi-led delegation of foreign ministers in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, an Israeli official said on Friday. Kareem Khadder, Oren Liebermann, Mostafa Salem, Tamar Michaelis, and Abbas Al Lawati report for CNN.

The self-styled Islamic State group on Thursday claimed responsibility for two bomb explosions in Syria, the first time the group has directly targeted Damascus’ new government, a war monitoring group said. The Syrian government did not report any attacks by the Islamic State but said it had conducted raids against its operatives last week. Carlotta Gall reports for the New York Times.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar will jointly provide financial support to state employees in Syria, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said on Saturday. Menna Alaaeldin and Muhammad Al Gebaly report for Reuters.

The United States on Saturday presented its first formal proposal for elements of a nuclear deal to Tehran, hours after the International Atomic Energy Agency released a report setting out “serious concerns” about Iran's further intensification of its production of highly enriched uranium in recent months. David E. Sanger, Farnaz Fassihi, and Maggie Haberman report for the New York Times; Parham Ghobadi reports for BBC News."

lousubcap · June 2

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russian and Ukrainian delegations are set to meet today in Turkey for their second round of direct peace talks in just over two weeks, amid low expectations for a breakthrough or any significant progress. Ukrainian negotiators will present Kyiv’s roadmap for reaching a lasting peace settlement during the talks, according to a copy of the document seen by Reuters. Mehmet Guzel reports for AP News; Tom Balforth reports.

More on the Ukraine drone attack below:

Ukraine said it destroyed Russian bombers worth $7bn at airbases as far away as Siberia, in an attack that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Kyiv’s “longest-range operation”.

Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Moscow, said the “simultaneous large-scale attack” was “launched from inside Russia” and targeted “Russian planes that have been carrying out attacks on Ukraine”.

An official at Ukraine’s SBU intelligence service told the Reuters news agency that the operation involved hiding explosive-laden drones inside the roofs of wooden sheds and loading them onto trucks, which were driven to the perimeter of the airbases. At least 41 Russian warplanes were hit, they said.

The operation came as Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia had launched 472 drones at the country overnight, in the highest nightly total of the war. Moscow also launched seven missiles.

And the latest on the negotiations:

Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine was sending a delegation led by Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov to a second round of peace talks, which are set to begin today in Istanbul, Turkiye.

Vladimir Medinsky, a former cultural minister who will lead Russia’s delegation in Istanbul, said Moscow has received Ukraine’s “version of the memorandum on a peaceful settlement”, the TASS news agency reported.

However, Zelenskyy said that Russia has yet to share its own memorandum. “We don’t have it, the Turkish side doesn’t have it, and the American side doesn’t have the Russian document either,” the Ukrainian president said in a post on X.

TASS reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his United States counterpart, Marco Rubio, spoke by telephone about “several initiatives aimed at a political solution to the Ukraine crisis”, including Monday’s talks."

lousubcap · June 3

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Little headway was made during talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Istanbul, but the two sides did agree to swap thousands of prisoners and the remains of 6,000 deceased soldiers. The deal will also include all injured soldiers and those aged between 18 and 25.

Russia set out a memorandum at the talks to end its war on Ukraine. Terms include Ukrainian forces withdrawing from the four regions annexed by Russia in September 2022, but that Russian forces have failed to fully capture, Kyiv halting war mobilisation efforts and a freeze on Kyiv importing Western weapons.

The Russian document also proposes that Ukraine end martial law and hold elections, after which the two countries could sign a comprehensive peace treaty.

Ukraine must also abandon its bid to join NATO, set limits on the size of its armed forces and recognise Russian as the country’s official language on a par with Ukrainian, according to the memorandum.

Ukraine – which has previously rejected all such demands by Moscow – said it would spend the next week reviewing the memorandum and proposed another round of talks between June 20 and 30.

The White House said that United States President Donald Trump is “open” to a three-way summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy’s chief of staff said in a post on Telegram after the talks that he did not believe Moscow wanted a ceasefire. “The Russians are doing everything to not cease firing and continue the war. New sanctions now are very important,” he wrote."

lousubcap · June 3

Tuesday Middle East update:

"Iran is poised to dismiss the U.S. nuclear proposal, a senior Iranian diplomat told Reuters yesterday, describing it as a “non-starter” and “completely one-sided.” Separately, a senior Iranian source told CNN the U.S. proposal is “incoherent and disjointed.” Parisa Hafezi reports; Kylie Atwood, Frederik Pleitgen, and Jennifer Hansler report.

Trump yesterday appeared to undercut Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s nuclear talks proposal by insisting that Tehran fully dismantle its nuclear enrichment program. According to Axios, Witkoff’s proposal would have allowed Iran to retain low levels of enrichment for civilian uses like nuclear medicine and commercial power. Zeke Miller and Matthew Lee report for AP News; Barak Ravid reports.

The United States has reached an “understanding” with Damascus on a plan to “transparently” incorporate thousands of foreign jihadist fighters who fought alongside the Syrian rebels into Syria’s national army, according to Thomas Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria. Timour Azhari and Suleiman Al-Khalidi report for Reuters."

lousubcap · June 4

Wednesday Middle East update:

"The U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced it would not give out any aid today and close its sites for “update, organization and efficiency improvements works.” The GHF also said it has asked the Israeli military to “guide foot traffic in a way that minimizes confusion or escalation risks” and is working on clearer guidance for civilians, and training to support civilian safety. Separately, the IDF said that people would be “prohibited” from moving in areas leading to aid distribution sites, deeming them “combat zones.” Sean Seddon reports for BBC News; Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Crispian Balmer, and Michelle Nichols report for Reuters.

The U.N. Security Council will likely vote today on a draft resolution that demands “an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties,” according to diplomats and a draft resolution seen by Reuters.

The Trump administration this weekend proposed a diplomatic bridge arrangement that would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium at low levels while the United States and other countries work out a more detailed agreement, Iranian and European officials say. Tehran on Monday indicated they would respond in several days. Farnaz Fassihi, David E. Sanger, and Jonathan Swan report for the New York Times.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today criticized nuclear proposals that would entail Tehran completely giving up uranium enrichment. Notably, however, Khamenei did not reject the possibility of a U.S.-Iran deal. Jon Gambrell reports for AP News.

Israel has launched its first airstrikes in Syria in nearly a month, stating it had targeted weapons belonging to the Syrian government in retaliation for the firing of two projectiles towards Israel from Syria yesterday. The Syrian foreign ministry said the reports of shelling towards Israel have not yet been verified. Jaidaa Taha, Menna Alaaeldin, and Suleiman Al-Khalidi report for Reuters.

The U.S. army will scale down its military presence in Syria to one base from the current eight and the United States will shift its policies in the country “because none of them worked over the last century,” U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack said yesterday. Reuters reports."

lousubcap · June 4

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The Ukrainian Security Service yesterday said that it had hit the bridge connecting Russia’s mainland and the occupied Crimean peninsula with underwater explosives, in its third attack on the structure since the beginning of the war. The scale of the damage was not immediately clear, with Kyiv claiming that the explosives “severely damaged” the pillars supporting the bridge. Christian Edwards, Svitlana Vlasova, and Anna Chernova report for CNN; Laura Gozzi reports for BBC News.

At least 13 Russian military planes were damaged in Ukraine’s Sunday attack on Moscow’s military bases deep inside Russia, according to the Washington Post’s review of verified video and satellite imagery. Sarah Cahlan and Jonathan Baran report.

Russia seeks “victory” and not “compromise” in talks with Ukraine, senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev said yesterday. Reuters reports.

Ukraine has been invited to a NATO summit in The Hague this month, Mark Rutte, the military bloc’s chief, said, without specifying whether this meant Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would attend.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that United States President Donald Trump “was not” informed in advance of Ukraine’s unprecedented drone attack on Russian airbases earlier this week. Asked if Trump approved of the attack, Leavitt said that “the president does not want to see this war prolonged”.

Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg said the risk of escalation from the war in Ukraine was “going way up”, after Ukrainian forces used drones to strike nuclear-capable bombers at several airbases deep inside Russia.

NATO’s push to ramp up defences must outstrip Russia’s rearmament drive as Moscow is already gearing up for its “next move” beyond Ukraine, the US ambassador to the alliance Matthew Whitaker said."

lousubcap · June 4

This just in from Bloomberg: Europe and Ukraine:

"The US is refusing to provide air defenses to back a peacekeeping force the UK and France are planning in any postwar Ukraine. While British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has insisted a US backstop is essential to deter Russia from breaching any future ceasefire deal, European allies have come to the realization that Trump won’t provide the guarantees they have sought. Trump, who has often expressed his admiration for Putin while criticizing Ukraine and NATO, on Wednesday chose to relay a threat from the Kremlin leader that he would retaliate for Ukraine’s recent attack on Russia’s nuclear bomber fleet."

lousubcap · June 4

More from Politico regarding a call with Vlad the Impaler, also Iran:

"TRUMP’S HOTLINE BLING: Trump said he had a “good conversation” with Putin over the phone today, as Cheyanne Daniels and our own Amy Mackinnon and Felicia Schwartz report. But Trump acknowledged that peace between Ukraine and Russia is not on the horizon.

Trump claimed Putin vowed to respond to Ukraine’s drone attacks over the weekend and that the call was “not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace.”

Iran also came up, and it seems like Putin wants to play peacemaker between Washington and Tehran. Trump wrote on Truth Social that Putin “suggested that he will participate in the discussion with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion.”

IRAN NUCLEAR WOES: Speaking of Iran, Iranian Supreme Leader ALI KHAMENEI today rejected a U.S. proposal for a nuclear deal that would see Tehran gradually reduce its enrichment of uranium over time, per The Wall Street Journal’s Benoit Faucon, Laurence Norman and Alex Ward.

“To the American side and others we say: Why are you interfering and trying to say whether Iran should have uranium enrichment or not? That’s none of your business,” Khamenei said on X.

The comments from Khamenei are a major blow to U.S. negotiators hoping Iran would cede enrichment capabilities for its civilian nuclear program. The U.S. has said it will not accept any deal that allows Iran to enrich its own uranium, meaning it may need to shift its expectations in negotiations."

lousubcap · June 5

Thursday Middle East update:

"The United States yesterday vetoed the U.N. Security Council’s draft resolution calling for an “unconditional and permanent” ceasefire in Gaza. Acting U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea stated that the draft resolution would "undermine diplomatic efforts” to reach a ceasefire and did not condemn Hamas or call for the group to disarm and leave Gaza. The other 14 members voted in favour of the document. Danai Nesta Kupemba reports for BBC News.

The U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has not yet reopened its aid distribution sites by mid-morning today, local time, a day after pausing aid distributions following a series of deadly shootings close to the sites. The GHF did not say when aid distribution would resume. Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Alexander Cornwell report for Reuters.

Syria’s new government has agreed to give International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors immediate access to suspected former nuclear sites, the IAEA’s Director-General, Rafael Mariano Grossi, told AP News yesterday. Abby Sewell reports."

lousubcap · June 5

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to respond to Ukraine’s drone attack on Russian strategic bomber bases, Trump said yesterday, citing the first conversation between the leaders since the Sunday’s attack. Trump described his call with Putin as a “good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate [p]eace.” Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Jonathan Swan, Ivan Nechepurenko, and Marc Santora report for the New York Times.

The Trump administration is redirecting a key antidrone technology earmarked for Ukraine to U.S. forces, according to a notification the Pentagon submitted to Congress last week. Michael R. Gordon reports for the Wall Street Journal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he does not think Ukraine’s leaders want peace after accusing them of ordering a bomb attack in Western Russia on Saturday, which killed seven people and injured 115.

Putin described the attack, which struck a highway bridge over a railway line carrying passenger trains, as a “terrorist” action aimed at wrecking the peace talks.

Zelenskyy has proposed implementing a ceasefire until a meeting can be arranged with Putin. “My proposal, which I believe our partners can support, is that we agree a ceasefire with the Russians until the leaders meet,” he told a briefing in Kyiv.

Pope Leo urged Russia to take steps towards ending its war on Ukraine when he spoke to Putin for the first time over the phone, the Vatican has said."

Ike · June 5

Putin and cheeto sound very similar when responding to situations.

lousubcap · June 6

Friday Middle East update:

"In a bid to foster local opposition to Hamas, Israel is arming a small Palestinian militia that controls territory in southern Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed yesterday, saying the move “saves the lives of Israeli soldiers.” An Israeli official confirmed the Israeli military has armed the head of the militia, Yasser Abu Shabab. Shabab denied the claims, stating that he is backed by the Palestinian Authority (PA). The PA has not commented at the time of writing, but a spokesperson for its security forces said the group does not possess any weapons in Gaza. Abeer Ayyouub, Suha Ma’ayeh, and Dov Lieber report for the Wall Street Journal.

The head of Hamas in Gaza said in a pre-recorded speech yesterday the group did not reject the most recent U.S. ceasefire proposal, but instead “demanded some remarks [sic] and improvement to ensure an end to the war.” Reuters reports.

The Israeli military yesterday struck Hezbollah’s “drone factories” in southern Lebanon and the suburbs of Beirut. The Israeli strikes, which came on the eve of Eid Al Adha, represented its most significant escalation in Lebanon since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hezbollah agreed in November. There were no initial reports of casualties, a spokesperson for Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said today. Hezbollah has not commented at the time of writing, although a Hezbollah official denied there were drone production facilities at the targeted locations. Mohammed Tawfeeq and Maija Ehlinger report for CNN; Abby Sewell reports for AP News.

The Lebanese army today condemned Israel’s airstrikes on the outskirts of Beirut, warning that such actions undermine the military’s role and could eventually lead to a suspension of its cooperation with the U.S.-led committee overseeing the ceasefire. Bassem Mroue reports for AP News.

Israel has assured the United States that it will not strike Iran’s nuclear facilities unless Trump indicates that diplomatic efforts with Tehran have collapsed, two Israeli officials told Axios. “We calmed the Americans and told them there is no logic in launching an attack if a good diplomatic solution can be found. This is why we are going to give it a chance and wait with any military action until it is clear that negotiations were exhausted and [White House envoy] Steve Witkoff has given up,” a second Israeli official said. Barak Ravid reports.

A BBC Arabic team which left Damascus for a planned trip to the Golan Heights were reportedly detained by Israeli forces, blindfolded, strip-searched, and threatened. “The officer threatened us with worse consequences if we approached the frontier from the Syrian side again, and said that they know everything about us and would track us down if any hidden or un-deleted photo was ever published,” one reporter commented. Feras Kilani reports for BBC News.

Iran has reportedly ordered thousands of tons of ballistic-missile ingredients from China, sources say, as Tehran looks to strengthen its military capabilities amid ongoing talks with the United States over its nuclear program. The shipments are expected to arrive in Iran in the coming months, and some of the material may also be transferred to Iran-aligned regional militias, including the Houthis in Yemen, a source added. Laurence Norman reports for the Wall Street Journal. "

lousubcap · June 6

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"During a meeting with Germany’s chancellor yesterday at the Oval Office, President Trump compared Russia and Ukraine to “two young children fighting like crazy.” “Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart.” Trump said, adding that he “gave that analogy to Putin yesterday.” When asked about the possibility of sanctioning Russia, Trump said, “We’ll be very, very, very tough, and it could be on both countries to be honest.” The comments appear to be the clearest indication yet that Trump is uncertain that he would be able to broker peace in the ongoing war. Jonathan Swan reports for the New York Times; Mary Ilyushina, Robyn Dixon, and Michael Birnbaum report for the Washington Post.

Russia launched large-scale drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine early today, officials said. At least three people were killed and 49 injured, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. In a possible reference to Trump’s comments, Zelenskyy added, “If someone is not applying pressure and is giving the war more time to take lives – that is complicity and accountability.” Ian Casey and Paul Adams report for BBC News.

International monitors at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine heard repeated gunfire seemingly targeting drones that were reportedly attacking the facility’s training center, the International Atomic Energy Agency said yesterday. There was no indication of the origin of the drones and no damage was caused to the center. Reuters reports.

Russian warplanes targeted in the June 1 drone attack were damaged but not destroyed, and they will be restored, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. The US has assessed that up to 20 warplanes were hit and around half were destroyed during the attack."

lousubcap · June 7

Some insights from intel analysts on the Russia-Ukraine war:

"Military analysts predict that Russia will increase the tempo of its operations in a summer offensive to increase pressure on Ukraine, but note that Moscow could struggle to keep up the pace into 2026. Russia shows no intention of wrapping up the war any time soon.

Western officials have repeatedly stated that they have seen nothing in their intelligence to suggest that Putin has climbed down from his two main goals in the conflict: to permanently anchor Ukraine to Russia and strike a grand bargain with the West that would renegotiate the post-Cold War security architecture in Europe.

This is what Russian officials mean when they talk about solving the “root causes” of the conflict.

“The Russians want a deal. But they don’t see the deal as primarily between them and the Ukrainians,” said GEORGE BEEBE, former director of the CIA’s Russia analysis.

“They think this is a long-running geopolitical tug of war between Moscow and Washington,” he said at a briefing organized by the Center for the National Interest.

Russia laid out its lofty terms to end the war in a memo presented Monday during negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul. It included demands for the international recognition of its annexation of the Crimean peninsula as well as four Ukrainian regions partially occupied by Moscow.

It called for Ukraine to permanently abandon its ambitions of joining NATO, and for a limit on the size of the country’s armed forces — something that officials in Kyiv have indicated is a red line.

“I’m not sure Washington quite grasps the kind of deal that the Russians are looking for,” Beebe said."

Edit to add:

The Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by Trump, who likened the war in Ukraine to a bitter dispute between toddlers in a park.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it was possible Trump believed his own comments, but for Russia, the war on Ukraine was “existential”. For us, it is an existential issue, an issue on our national interest, safety, on our future and the future of our children, of our country,” Peskov told reporters.

Russia has asked the UN nuclear watchdog to mediate between Moscow and Washington to resolve the question of what to do with US nuclear fuel stored at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is under Russian control. Russian nuclear energy chief Alexei Likhachev said that Russia was willing either to use the fuel, supplied by US company Westinghouse, or to remove it entirely and return it to the United States.

Another edit:

Russia Launches Retaliatory Strike on Ukraine

Russia launched large-scale drone and missile attacks on Ukraine Friday, striking Kyiv, Lutsk, and the Ternopil region, killing at least three people and injuring 49.

The offensive lasted for several hours, involving a reported 407 Russian drones and 44 ballistic and cruise missiles. Ukrainian forces shot down 30 of the cruise missiles and up to 200 of the drones, officials confirmed.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said it used long-range precision weapons to strike Ukrainian military targets, including arms depots, drone factories, and repair facilities.

The strikes followed a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin, relayed through President Trump, that Russia would retaliate after Ukrainian drones destroyed strategic bombers deep inside Russian territory last week.

lousubcap · June 8

Sunday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The Ukrainian military said that Russia launched 206 drones, two ballistic and seven other missiles at Ukraine overnight. Kyiv said its air defence units shot down 87 drones while another 80 drones were lost.

It also said on Telegram that a Russian Su-35 fighter jet was shot down after “a successful Air Force operation in the Kursk direction”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv’s forces recently destroyed three Iskander missile systems and damaged Russian military helicopters. “This helps our defence – every complication for Russia is important for us,” he said in his evening statement.

The Russian Ministry of Defence said that air defence units had intercepted and destroyed 36 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory on Saturday, including the Moscow region."

lousubcap · June 9

Monday Middle East update:

"Israeli forces today seized a Gaza-bound aid boat and detained several activists who were on board, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. The Israeli foreign ministry said the activists “were expected to return to their home countries” and the aid would be sent to Gaza through established channels, while the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had organized the voyage, said the activists were “kidnapped by Israeli forces.” Yesica Fisch reports for AP News.

The State Department is considering allocating $500 million for funding of the U.S.- and Israel-backed GHF, according to a U.S. official and another source. If the plan is implemented, the United States will become the biggest donor to the foundation. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

Iran’s intelligence minister yesterday claimed, without offering evidence, that Tehran seized an “important treasury” of information regarding Israel’s nuclear program. The minister’s remark echoed a Saturday claim to the same effect made by Iranian state television. Jon Gambrell reports for AP News. "

lousubcap · June 9

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The United States believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin's threatened retaliation against Ukraine is likely to be a significant, multi-pronged strike that has yet to happen, according to U.S. officials. Although its timing is unclear, the attack will likely happen within days, a U.S. official added, while a second U.S. official said that the retaliation was likely to include different kinds of air capabilities. Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali report for Reuters.

The Russian defense ministry yesterday claimed that Moscow’s forces are for the first time pushing into the central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk, an area Russia has been trying to reach for months. Ukrainian officials denied Russia’s claims. Kosta Gak and Catherine Nicholls report for CNN.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday vowed Ukraine will press on with exchanges of prisoners of war and the bodies of dead soldiers with Russia, a day after Russian officials accused Ukraine of postponing the latest prisoner swap indefinitely. Ukrainian officials said that Kyiv strictly complied with the agreements reached in Istanbul last week. Christian Edwards, Kosta Gak, and Billy Stockwell report for CNN; Reuters reports."

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

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Russia Launches Retaliatory Strike on Ukraine

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