Trump about Zelenskyy for Politico: “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it. So we’ll see what he’s got.”
Still, he believes he could have a productive meeting this weekend.
“I think it’s going to go good with him. I think it’s going to go good with Putin too.” 1/
Zelenskyy plans to bring a new 20-point peace framework to the meeting in Florida on Sunday.
The proposal includes a demilitarized zone and focuses on US security guarantees, territorial control in Donbas, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. 2/
Trump expects to speak with Putin “soon, as much as I want.”
The comments came a day after Zelenskyy spoke with Trump envoys Witkoff and Kushner. Zelenskyy called that a good conversation. 3/
Russia isn’t winning — but Putin wants you to believe it is.
After 4 years of war, Ukraine still stands. Russians failed to take Kyiv and achieve a breakthrough. Putin’s strategy now is to convince the U.S. that Ukraine cannot succeed — Shaheen & McConnell, Washington Post. 1/
In 2022, U.S. intelligence predicted Kyiv would fall within weeks. Instead, Ukraine stopped Russia, pushed it away from Kyiv, and confined Russian forces to the east. Those early predictions were wrong — then and now. 2/
After nearly four years of war, Russia has lost about one-third of its strategic bombers and more than 1 million killed or wounded. Equipment losses remain higher than Ukraine’s, despite Moscow’s full war economy. 3/
Rutte for ARTE: Russia is the next threat and EU is already in danger
Russia spends around 40% of state budget on defense and about 10% of national income on military. It has developed missiles capable of reaching the EU within 5–10 minutes
There is no “safe” Europe anymore 1/
Rutte: Peace is hard to predict because Russia is unpredictable
Security guarantees must ensure that after any peace deal or long-term ceasefire, Ukraine stays strong and Russia cannot attack again
If Russia gains control over Ukraine even 5% defense spending won’t be enough 2/
Rutte on Ukraine’s defense: First, strong Ukrainian armed forces. Second, an EU-led coalition of the willing.
NATO is already deeply involved. We coordinate weapons deliveries, training and lessons learned from the war through NATO–Ukraine structures and coordination hubs. 3/
Trump should call Putin’s bluff now. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Steven Henriques write in TIME arguing that Trump is overestimating Putin - his ability to wage war, his economic stability, and the “cards he holds.” 1/
Henry Kissinger once wrote: “A bluff taken seriously is more useful than a serious threat interpreted as a bluff.” This insight fits Russia today. Putin projects strength, but the fundamentals behind that image are eroding fast. 2/
Trump’s reaction to the Ukraine peace proposal revealed how deep the deadlock remains. Territorial concessions, control of Donbas, security guarantees, and limits on Ukraine’s army still block any realistic path to peace. 3/
“I helped. I set up the position, dug, handed ammunition. I wanted to live.
Russians wouldn’t sort out who’s theirs and who’s not. There’s an order not to take prisoners” — Danylo, Russian POW, who stayed in Ukrainian trench for almost two months. 1/
Danylo: I was captured while moving to a position. My partner was with me. He ran for cover. While he was running, two bursts of automatic fire went off. My partner was dead.
Then one of Ukrainian soldiers ran out. I raised my hands, threw away my rifle and surrendered. 2/
Danylo: I served as an anti-tank unit commander and received two awards for a deployment to Karabakh.
Then I struck an officer, and was sent to Novocherkassk — a criminal case was opened. The case was dropped, and I was sent to Donetsk. From there I was sent to the Rusyn Yar. 3/