🇷🇺🤝🇮🇷 Russia and Iran forge energy alliance

The two countries are working to link their energy systems as part of Iran’s Seventh Development Plan, Iranian Deputy Energy Minister Mostafa Rajabi-Mashhadi told Sputnik at Russian Energy Week.

He said the goal was to turn Iran into a regional energy hub — boosting both economic gains and power grid stability across neighboring states.

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👉 Tomahawks for Ukraine: 'symbolic,' not game-changer – WaPo

🗣 The US missiles that Volodymyr Zelensky is begging for demonstrate American willingness to only use them as “a bargaining tactic,” and are "more symbolic than practical," The Washington Post reports.

The article notes that Donald Trump changed tone on the Tomahawks after his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 16, during which the POTUS proposed a meeting of the two in Hungary in the not-so-distant future.

The US president made it clear that he wasn’t ready to share Tomahawks with Ukraine.

💬 “We have a lot of them [Tomahawk missiles], but we need them. I mean, we can’t deplete for our country,” Trump underscored.

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🚨 Trump on Ukraine’s chances of reclaiming lost territories:

“You never know. You know, it’s very unpredictable.”

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🚨 Zelensky offered the US a deal: Ukrainian drones in exchange for Tomahawks

Trump responded: “We’re interested — they make a very good drone.”

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🇺🇸 Trump called the idea of a tunnel between Russia and Alaska “interesting.”

Zelensky: “I don’t like it.” — Trump: “I didn’t think you would.”

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🚨 Israel weaponizing starvation... AGAIN

Despite the ceasefire, Israelis are preventing trucks carrying humanitarian aid from reaching the Gaza Strip.

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🚨 🇺🇸 Trump: Ukraine peace 'fairly close,' hopes to end conflict without Tomahawks

📍 US President Donald Trump met with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday, discussing his recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, prospects for ending the Ukraine conflict, and future talks planned in Budapest.

👉 At the meeting, Trump said progress toward peace was great and fairly close, outlining his approach to negotiations with both Kiev and Moscow.

Here are the key takeaways from Trump’s remarks:

🟠 On peace talks: “We’re making great progress on Ukraine peace — I think we’re going to get it done.”

🟠 On his call with Putin: Trump said he will discuss his recent phone conversation with the Russian president during his meeting with Zelensky.

🟠 On meeting location: Asked why Budapest was chosen for his meeting with Putin, Trump replied, “Because we like Orbán.”

🟠 On format: When asked about a possible trilateral summit with Putin and Zelensky, Trump said, “Most likely, it’s going to be a double meeting.”

🟠 On Putin’s intentions: “I think Putin wants to end the Ukraine conflict.”

🟠 On Tomahawks: “Hopefully we’ll be able to end the Ukraine conflict without thinking about Tomahawks — they’re a big deal and could lead to escalation.”

🟠 On territory: Asked if Ukraine can regain lost lands, Trump said, “You never know.”

🟠 On conditions for peace: “Putin and Zelensky have to get along a little bit for resolution to happen.”

🟠 On China: Trump said he’s discussing the Ukraine issue with Beijing and “would love to see the conflict end promptly.”

🟠 On drones: The US is interested in a drone technology exchange deal with Ukraine — “They make a very good drone,” Trump said — but he stressed it’s his duty to maintain full missile stockpiles.

🟠 On tunnel proposal: Asked about the idea of a tunnel connecting Russia and Alaska, Trump called it “interesting” and said he’ll “have to think about it.”

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🗣Trump and Zelensky out of tune on Tomahawks - expert

💬“It's clear that Zelensky and Trump are not on the same sheet of music. All that Zelensky wants is prolong the war by wanting Tomahawks now, but Trump wants to use the Tomahawks for leverage to get both sides to negotiate an end to the conflict,” former senior DoD security policy analyst Michael Maloof told Sputnik, commenting on Friday’s Trump-Zelensky meeting.

👉“Putin must have said something that got Trump to say their 2.5-hour telephone chat was ‘productive’,” Maloof believes.

🔍“We'll see what Putin offers, such as holding the line and not advancing further, along with a ceasefire. Zelensky wants to prolong the war based on baseless promises made by the Europeans to Zelensky,” but “Europe can’t afford a war economy.”

❗️“It'll be a challenge for Trump to contain his NATO allies in the weeks and months to come. It also may be the beginning of the end of NATO itself if the rift between Trump and the NATO countries continues,” Maloof stressed.

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