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‘Vladimir, STOP!’ – Trump Blasts Putin Over Deadly Strikes On Kyiv

Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

In a dramatic public rebuke of Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday morning to condemn Russia’s latest missile and drone assault on Kyiv, which killed at least nine people and injured more than 70.

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV,” Trump wrote. “Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!”

The Hill has more:

The Trump administration has been pushing for a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, but top officials have in recent days signaled they are prepared to walk away from negotiations if the two sides don’t reach a deal soon.

Fighting has been ongoing in Ukraine since Russian forces invaded in February 2022 after amassing troops near the border.

Trump has vacillated between criticizing Russia for its continued assault on Ukraine and lashing out at Zelensky.

Trump’s comments came just hours after he slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for vowing that Ukraine would never recognize Russia’s occupation of Crimea — a strategic peninsula that was illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014 and is home to more than 2 million people.

By President Of Ukraine – https://www.flickr.com/photos/165930373@N06/54169325552/, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=156221279

“Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian territory,” Trump posted Wednesday. He added that such declarations from Kyiv “make it so difficult to settle this war.”

The White House recently announced that Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will soon visit Moscow for a fourth round of negotiations with Putin, underlining ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Kremlin.ru, via Wikimedia Commons

Meanwhile, European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have squarely blamed Putin for prolonging the war, stating that Russia alone prevents peace. Macron emphasized that only Putin’s agreement could stop the violence, underscoring the international community’s call for a resolution.

READ NEXT: Legal Firestorm Erupts: US States Sue Trump Over Emergency Powers

Trump’s Patience With Zelensky Evaporates As White House Issues Dire Warning

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President Trump’s growing frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky came to a head on Wednesday. At the center of the tension: a statement from Zelensky demanding full Russian withdrawal — including from Crimea — before even sitting down for peace talks.

While the Ukrainian leader remains steadfast in his refusal to negotiate without a complete rollback of Russian control, critics argue that this kind of rigid posture may be stalling real progress and prolonging the war’s human cost.

The Trump team has been exploring more pragmatic solutions to break the deadlock — one of which includes floating the idea of formally recognizing Crimea as Russian territory. It’s a bold play meant to strip away one of the biggest barriers to getting both sides to the table.

As the New York Post explains, Trump’s dire warning to the Ukrainian president included a particularly ominous comment: settle for a negotiated peace or risk “losing the entire country.”

Trump, 78, was responding to Zelensky telling reporters Tuesday that “Ukraine will not legally recognize the [Russian] occupation of Crimea” — a key part of a US-proposed peace plan under discussion in London Wednesday, and a condition that has long been a red line for Kyiv.

“This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion,” the president seethed on Truth Social. 

“Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?”

Trump a decade ago criticized Obama for not intervening when Russia annexed Crimea. Kyiv has been working since 2014 to get its territory back and expel Russians from eastern Ukraine.

In a bid to end the grinding, trench-style war in Ukraine, the Trump administration is preparing to upend more than eight decades of U.S. foreign policy.

“There’s a doctrine out there called the Welles Declaration, that goes back to 1940, that says the United States will not acknowledge the occupation of a foreign land by another nation,” a senior administration official told the Post. “That’s on the table.”

The Welles Doctrine, first invoked to condemn the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states, has long guided America’s refusal to recognize territorial seizures. Reversing or softening that position would mark a historic shift — one aimed at pressuring Ukraine and Russia toward a negotiated ceasefire.

The move, while politically explosive, is rooted in realpolitik. Crimea has been effectively under Russian control since 2014, and there’s an argument to be made that clinging to pre-2014 maps may be standing in the way of saving lives today.

Predictably, the proposal sparked outrage in Kyiv. For Ukrainians, Crimea isn’t just land — it’s a Maryland size chunk of heritage, identity and pride.

But an important question remains: At what point does principled resistance become strategic blindness?

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Report: Threat To Assassinate Trump Appears In Official Iran Paper

Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

National security officials are on high alert…

Threats to kill President Donald Trump have emerged in Iran’s propaganda newspaper after he threatened to bomb the regime “like never before” as Iran has also reportedly placed its military on “high alert.”

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is said to have put Iran’s military on standby to prepare for any future strikes from the US.

Tehran was slapped with a chilling deadline to either hold direct talks and sign a new nuclear agreement or potentially face military action. However, Khamenei has reportedly strongly refused to agree to Trump’s demands, saying that Iran will not engage in any direct negotiations with the US.

The snub saw a furious Trump rip into the regime and threaten to strike Iran.

The president vowed to bomb Iran “like never before” if the regime does not fall in line and strike up a new nuclear deal with the US.

The Sun reports:

Amid the potential strike threat, Kayhan – a hardline Iranian newspaper managed by Khamenei’s representative – issued a column calling to assassinate Trump.

The chilling threat was written in retaliation to the 2020 killing of IRGC’s Qassim Soleimani by US airstrikes.

President Trump has given his team strict instructions to “obliterate” Iran if the country ever assassinates him.

It was revealed in November that an Iranian agent had been charged with plotting to kill Trump in an assassination.

US prosecutors say the rogue state told ex-con Farhad Shakeri — said to be hiding in Tehran — to devise a seven-day plan to spy on and murder him.

In February, Trump responded to a question over what protocols would instantly be triggered should he be killed by an Iranian plot by saying there is already a plan set.

He said: “I’ve left instructions if they do it, they get obliterated, there won’t be anything left.”

Federal authorities have been tracking Iranian threats against Trump and other US administration officials for years.

Meanwhile, Khamenei is said to be amassing troops to brace for a potential conflict.

Trump Revokes Elise Stefanik Nomination For UN Ambassador

She’s out…

President Donald Trump announced that he asked Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to bow out of contention to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

He cited the House GOP’s slim majority, writing on Truth Social:

“I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”

“With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations,” he said.

Stefanik had been under pressure to take herself out of contention for the role despite appearing poised to sail through Senate confirmation with bipartisan support, CBS News first reported. 

This is a breaking news story. Please chec

US Lifts Military Aid Freeze On Ukraine After High-Stakes Saudi Talks

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By President Of Ukraine - https://www.flickr.com/photos/165930373@N06/54169325552/, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=156221279

The United States has lifted its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine following productive talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This decision comes after Ukraine agreed to a 30-day interim ceasefire, contingent upon Russia‘s compliance, marking a significant step toward de-escalation.

The suspension had been imposed to encourage Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to engage in peace negotiations amid ongoing hostilities. Tuesday’s discussions, involving U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian officials, focused on establishing a just and lasting peace, ensuring future security guarantees and exploring economic cooperation, including the development of Ukraine’s critical mineral resources.

The Hill reports:

“Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation,” said a joint statement after the talks.

“The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace,” it added.  

“The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine.”

The talks came less than two weeks after a contentious Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky late last month.

The resumption of U.S. support is expected to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities and strengthen its position in ongoing peace efforts.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

Special Envoy Reveals Ukraine Leader Apologized In Letter To Trump

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By President Of Ukraine - https://www.flickr.com/photos/165930373@N06/54169325552/, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=156221279

President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky apologized to Trump in a letter.

“Zelensky sent a letter to the president. He apologized for that whole incident that happened in the Oval Office,” Witkoff said Monday on Fox News. “I think that it was an important step and there’s been a lot of discussion between our teams and the Ukrainians and the Europeans who are relevant to this discussion as well.”

U.S. and Ukrainian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia this week to pick back up on peace negotiations to end the war with Russia.

Witkoff said he thought Zelensky sending Trump a letter to apologize for the fiery meeting was “progress.”

Witkoff said it’s important for the officials to discuss security protocols for Ukrainians, territorial issues and a utility plan.

“These are not complicated things, they just … need to be put on the table and everybody needs to be transparent about what their expectations are, then we can begin to have a discussion about how we compromise,” he said.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

US And Ukrainian Officials To Convene In Saudi Arabia For Peace Discussions

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By President Of Ukraine - https://www.flickr.com/photos/165930373@N06/54169325552/, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=156221279

Senior officials from the United States and Ukraine are scheduled to meet in Saudi Arabia next Wednesday to discuss efforts to end the ongoing war with Russia. This meeting marks the first significant dialogue between the two nations following a public dispute between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Oval Office last week.

The scheduling of the meeting was finalized during a phone call between White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Zelensky’s Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak. President Zelensky mentioned in Brussels that both nations have resumed talks and anticipates a productive meeting.

Ukrainian officials remain open to signing the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal that was put on hold last week.

The Hill reports:

The meeting signals a thawing of relations between the U.S. and Ukraine that ruptured abruptly following an explosive Oval Office confrontation between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“We are now in discussion to coordinate a meeting with the Ukrainians in Riyadh or even potentially Jeddah,” Witkoff told reporters outside the White House.

“So the city is moving around a little bit, but it will be Saudi Arabia. And I think the idea is to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well.”

The meeting comes on the heels of a previous similar U.S.-Russia meeting in Riyadh.

Zelensky has sought to repair relations with Trump following the Oval Office debacle, the fallout including Trump halting military assistance to Ukraine and cutting off intelligence sharing with the Ukrainians, harming Kyiv’s ability to hit high-value Russian targets.

The international community will be closely monitoring these discussions, hoping they lead to a sustainable resolution to the conflict.

Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News.

Musk Fantasizes About Jailing Zelenskyy After Trump Pauses Aid To Ukraine

By President Of Ukraine from Україна - Joint Statement of the fourth Ukraine - Nordic Summit in Reykjavik., CC0, curid=156221560

The rift between President Trump and Ukraine leader Volodormyr Zelenskyy is growing wider…

On Monday, the Trump administration paused all aid to Ukraine, including weapons in transit or in Poland, until Ukrainian leaders show more appreciation for U.S. support and a commitment to peace.

“President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace,” a White House official told Fox News. “We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution.”

A senior Trump administration official also told Fox News that military aid will remain on hold until Ukrainian leaders show a commitment to good faith peace negotiations.

“This is not permanent termination of aid, it’s a pause,” the official emphasized. “The orders are going out right now.”

Zelenskyy’s meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance last week erupted into a shouting match that was seen worldwide. The Ukrainian president traveled to the United States to meet with Trump after the commander-in-chief said a peace negotiation to end the war between Ukraine and Russia is in its final stages. 

Zelenskyy was apparently presented with a minerals for security agreement by the Trump administration prior to the press event, but the deal included no security guarantees to protect Ukraine from another Russian invasion. 

Minutes after reporters in the Oval Office asked their first questions, an aggressive spat unfolded between the heads of state.

The Biden administration gave billions in military aid to Ukraine to fend off Russian forces amid its three-year war following Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor. 

When asked Monday about the status of the rare-earth minerals deal, Trump told reporters that he would disclose where the deal stands when he addresses a joint session of Congress Tuesday in a speech akin to the annual State of the Union. He added that he would like to see the Ukrainian leader express more gratitude for U.S. support during the war in order to rekindle peace negotiations. 

“I just think he should be more appreciative because this country has stuck with him through thick and thin,” Trump said. “We’ve given them much more than Europe, and Europe should have given more than us because, as you know, that’s right there, that’s the border.” 

Later on Monday, President Trump spurred extreme reactions from senior advisers such as Elon Musk after responding to Zelenskyy’s comments signaling the end to Ukraine’s conflict with Russia is still “very, very far away.”

“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” wrote Trump on Truth Social. “It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S. – Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?”

On X, Musk shared Trump’s post and argued that “Zelensky wants a forever war, a never-ending graft meat grinder. This is evil.”

Right-wing social media personality Rogan O’Handley then shared Musk’s post along with a theory:

Zelensky knows if the war ends, his power ends

Elections will resume and he’ll lose

Then his adversary will investigate his money laundering and he’ll be sent to prison

Zelensky is sending innocent Ukrainians to die in his meat grinder so he can stay in power

Dictator

“True,” replied Musk. “As distasteful as it is, Zelensky should be offered some kind of amnesty in a neutral country in exchange for a peaceful transition back to democracy in Ukraine.”

White House Press Sec. Fiercely Defends Trump Over Zelenskyy Showdown

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By Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America - Karoline Leavitt, CC BY-SA 2.0,

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended President Trump’s recent behavior during negotiations with Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.

Friday’s joint press event quickly turned sour as Zelenskyy, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance openly argued and insulted one another over the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine — in a stunning showdown that unfolded on live TV.

During Sunday’s Media Buzz, Kurtz acknowledged Zelenskyy could be “irritating” but pointedly noted that “it also seemed like President Trump lost his temper.”

Leavitt pushed back hard, dismissing the idea outright: “I would disagree with that. I think what happened in the Oval Office, I was there, was unfortunately President Zelenskyy came in with a mindset not wanting to negotiate peace.”

She shifted blame to the Ukrainian leader: “President Zelenskyy was also antagonistic, and frankly, he was rude. He picked a fight with the Vice President of the United States. He repeatedly interrupted President Trump… After three years of funding this brutal war, [Americans] are sick and tired of footing the bill.”

Kurtz, sticking to his initial take, pushed back and even rationalized Zelenskyy’s issue with ongoing negotiations: “The president kicked him out without the expected agreement about rare minerals, and President Zelenskyy kept saying he needed security agreements, security because Vladimir Putin had a long history of breaking agreements, so wasn’t that a reasonable point for him to make?”

“Well, that’s not what this meeting was about,” Leavitt shot back. “And President Zelenskyy was told that ahead of time… This meeting was about signing an economic partnership between the United States of America and Ukraine.”

When Kurtz interjected — “His country’s at war!” — Leavitt pivoted, arguing Trump is still actively pursuing peace.

“Yeah, I would just say a ceasefire might leave all the Russian land gains intact,” Kurtz replied, before adding: “I’ve never seen anything like it, would have happened behind closed doors. So why hold the meeting in front of the cameras?”

Leavitt replied: “Because President Trump is the most transparent president in history and it was great for the cameras to be in there because the American people and the world were able to see what the president and his team has seen behind the scenes in negotiating with President Zelenskyy’s team.”

On Sunday, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer put forward a framework for a peace plan between Ukraine and Russia, though he acknowledged it relies heavily on assumed U.S. support.

Starmer said the U.K. is prepared to deploy boots on the ground in Ukraine as well as air force assets to ensure Russia does not infringe on a peace agreement. He nevertheless stated that the plan would rely heavily on U.S. backing as well.

Ukraine Reportedly Strikes Minerals Deal with US, Zelensky To Visit White House For Signing

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Ukraine has reportedly agreed to a minerals development deal with the United States, paving the way for joint resource exploration, including oil and gas. The agreement comes after Washington dropped demands for a claim to $500 billion in potential revenue from Ukraine’s natural resources.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to the White House for the official signing.

Strategic Partnership and Economic Interests

The deal follows President Donald Trump‘s remarks on Feb. 22, where he suggested the U.S. was close to finalizing a mineral revenue-sharing arrangement with Ukraine. Trump framed the agreement as a step toward resolving the ongoing conflict, a sentiment echoed by some policymakers in Washington. (The Financial Times previously reported that Ukraine had rejected an earlier version of the deal due to the lack of security guarantees.)

Geopolitical Context

The timing of Zelensky’s White House visit underscores Ukraine’s broader geopolitical challenges. The country continues to seek Western economic and military support while balancing its own national interests in the face of continued Russian aggression.

The details of the final agreement remain undisclosed, but sources suggest that Kyiv negotiated for more favorable terms after previous concerns about sovereignty and financial control.

As the situation develops, all eyes will be on the White House meeting, which could mark a decisive shift in the three-year-old Russo-Ukrainian War.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.