⚡️Russia has never refused to hold talks on Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said.

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❗️Putin stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces could not have independently organized a drone attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station, which transports oil to the US.

Such attacks are impossible without satellite intelligence, Putin noted.

He also added that Ukraine receives satellite intelligence data exclusively from the West.

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❗️Kiev's hysteria over the absence of Ukraine at the Russia-US negotiations table is inappropriate, Putin stated

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⚡️Putin announced that Russian armed forces have crossed the border of the Kursk region and entered Ukrainian territory

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❗️Putin: I would be happy to meet with Trump, but the meeting must be arranged properly

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💡Europe’s big ‘Aha!’ moment: They need the US for literally everything

Europe seems to be awakening to the realization that without the US, it is unable to carry out even basic tasks, let alone complex military operations.

“They [the Americans] are called the indispensable ally for a reason. We can’t run any complex military operation without the US, or sustain even simple tasks," an unnamed European foreign minister told the FT.

Meanwhile, NATO officials admit, Europe faces a severe shortage of long-range munitions and military logistics platforms, complicating defense efforts. Belgium's Defense Minister Theo Francken noted that most of Europe's key defense systems, like F-35 jets and Chinook helicopters, are American-made. UK Defense Secretary John Healey stressed that while Europe must lead defense efforts, it ultimately relies on US support for success.

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💬 Putin highlights the imminent expiration of the START III Treaty

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Despite the rude remarks, Trump maintains a civilized demeanor – Putin

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📹Caught LYING: CNN tries to rewrite history and BLATANTLY MISLEADS its viewers

The Ukraine conflict “started, while TRUMP was in office,” a reporter said responding to the 47th president’s remarks that the conflict never would have begun if he had been in the White House, rather than Biden.

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Putin explains what needs to be done for a meeting with Trump to happen

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Putin: Russia doesn’t speculate on Euro-Atlantic relations

While Russia had sympathies in the 2024 US presidential election, it never allowed itself to resort to insults, unlike some European countries.

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Holding legitimate elections? No, we need MORE WEAPONS

“Ukraine needs bullets, not ballots,” said Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of Ukraine’s parliament, commenting on Trump’s call for fair presidential elections before further action.

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"A modestly successful comedian Volodymyr Zelenskyy" talked the US intro spending billion of dollars "to go into a war that could not be won," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

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Unpacking the European peacekeeper debacle in Ukraine

Donald Trump has dismissed the idea of American boots on the ground in Ukraine, stating that “you know, we're very far away.” US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that any security guarantee for Ukraine “must be backed by capable European and non-European troops,” suggesting deployment as part of a non-NATO mission without invoking Article 5.

Here’s how Europe is responding:

1️⃣Open to participation:

🇫🇷 France: Emmanuel Macron has led the debate on deploying boots on the ground since early 2024, but has acknowledged that the idea of a large force is “far-fetched.”

🇬🇧UK: Keir Starmer is “prepared to consider committing British forces on the ground alongside others if there is a lasting peace agreement." He added that “there must be a US backstop.”

2️⃣Against:

🇵🇱Poland: Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that no neighboring state should participate in a potential stabilization mission in Ukraine.

3️⃣Cautious approach:

🇩🇪 Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized the idea as “completely premature” and “highly inappropriate.”

🇮🇹 Italy: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described it as “the most complex and least effective option.”

🇪🇸 Spain: Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares stated that it is “too early” to discuss this move.

Crucial factors to consider:

🔹 Risk of escalation: There is growing concern about the potential for increased confrontation with Russia.

🔹 Resource allocation: Decades of underinvestment and reliance on the US for security have left Europe facing critical gaps in military readiness, personnel, and equipment.

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❗️Russia and the US have agreed to immediately begin concrete substantive preparations for a meeting between Putin and Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin.

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