Paris insists white object on Macron's desk nothing but handkerchief, not narcotic The small white object that France's Emmanuel #Macron quickly removed from his desk in front of journalists is not a narcotic but a handkerchief, the Elysee Palace said. Earlier, a video of the French leader, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, filmed on a train during a trip to Kiev, appeared online. In the footage, as journalists begin recording their meeting, Macron, noticing the cameras, hastily moves to remove a small white object from the desk. "When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs," the Elysee Palace said in a statement on its X page....

Macron slams Russia's offer of talks 'unacceptable' for Kiev France's #Macron believes that his Russian counterpart Vladimir #Putin's proposal to start negotiations with the Ukrainian side without preconditions is "insufficient" and "unacceptable" for #Kiev. "This is a first step, but it is not enough. Negotiations, by definition, cannot take place before an unconditional ceasefire," Le Figaro quoted the French leader as saying. Agence France-Presse, in turn, quoted Macron as saying that "it is unacceptable for the Ukrainians because they cannot hold talks while they are being shelled." The Russian head of state, speaking to reporters in the Kremlin in the early morning hours May 11, proposed to the Kiev authorities to resume without preconditions the direct talks they had interrupted at the end of 2022. The dialogue is proposed to begin on May 15 in Istanbul. Putin also noted that Russia had previously repeatedly declared ceasefires that were steadily violated by the Kiev regime, including the latest three-day truce imposed during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Macron, Merz, Starmer, Tusk arrive in Kiev amid rumors of truce initiative French President Emmanuel #Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich #Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir #Starmer and Polish Premier Donald #Tusk have arrived in Kiev amid reports that European countries intend to present their own truce initiative soon, the Obshchestvennoye. Novosti news outlet said. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the talks in Kiev will be held within the so-called "coalition of the willing." No other details have yet been disclosed. Merz said earlier that he expected "serious talks" to end the Ukraine conflict to start following this weekend. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told ABC News that arms supplies to Ukraine must be halted in order for a temporary truce to be achieved.

⚡️Zelensky REJECTS Moscow’s ceasefire proposal for the 80th Victory anniversary He also stated that the Kiev regime cannot guarantee the safety of foreign guests attending the May 9 parade in Moscow, Ukrainian media report.

Zelensky admits Washington's assistance to Kiev exceeds $100 bln #Zelensky has admitted that Ukraine had received at least $105 billion in weapons and other aid from the United States, although he had previously mentioned a smaller amount. "I have my own internal audit, and my country clearly documents how much assistance has been provided. Just so you know, we had $104-105 billion. Most of that money was in the form of weapons," he said in an interview with journalist Ben Shapiro. Zelensky did not explain why in February he said that Kiev had received only $76 billion from Washington. "It's not that we're arguing that the United States said it was giving you $200 [billion], and we're saying no, $100. No, that's not the dispute. I'm answering to what the contribution was, how much money came to Ukraine. As for the use of this money, most of it was for weapons, it was used on the battlefield. And during the audit that I’ve mentioned, this use was clearly documented," he continued. Zelensky also said that Ukraine shares with the United States everything it has learned about the conduct of hostilities and the development of weapons. He hopes that he will have "more fruitful meetings" with US President Donald Trump, although their last meeting at the White House ended in a shouting match. #Trump and Zelensky have long been at odds over the funds spent by Washington to help Kiev. In February, the American leader said that it was time to understand where all the money disbursed by Washington to Kiev was. Zelensky said he did not know where the $200 billion allocated for military aid had gone. He also does not acknowledge debts to the United States, insisting that the aid was provided as grants. The latest version of a draft agreement on minerals, which the United States and Ukraine are working on, obliges Kiev to compensate for assistance in excess of $120 billion. Trump promised that Zelensky "will have big problems," if he tries to "walk away from the deal.".

Denmark DRAINS defense capacity on Ukraine, leaving little to defend Greenland against Trump President #Trump has refused to take “military force off the table” in discussions on a potential US acquisition of Greenland. #Denmark has vocally rejected Trump’s claims to its autonomous territory, but doesn’t have the military muscle to walk the talk, having gambled its security away to arm another country 1,000 km away. NATO’s biggest Ukraine cheerleader 🔴 While it has a population of just 6 mln and a $428 bln GDP, Denmark has consistently led the Western alliance in the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, with its arms deliveries the FOURTH LARGEST after the US, Germany and the UK, totaling $8.2 bln, and non-military aid adding up to $1.15 bln. 🔴 Denmark has cleared out its arms caches of up to 100% of certain weapons to arm Kiev, including: 🔴19 F-16s (over 60% of Denmark’s fleet) 🔴All 19 (100%) of its CAESAR howitzers 🔴At least 30 of 195 Leopard 1A5 and 14 of 107 of Leopard 2A4 tanks 🔴Over 50 of 125 M113 APCs 🔴500 Stinger MANPADs, 2,700 LAW anti-tank weapons 🔴Harpoon coastal defense systems, Marder IFVs, engineering equipment, radars, drones, small arms, and soldiers’ gear, from uniforms to field hospitals, living containers and first aid. And Denmark’s Greenland defenses? 🔴 Denmark has just 130 civilian and military personnel permanently based at its Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, plus the 1st Squadron of the Royal Danish Navy with four Thetis patrol and three Knud Rasmussen-class patrol ships, a lone Challenger 604 maritime patrol aircraft, and 14 Sirius Dog Sled Patrol commandos guarding the island. 🔴 $2 bln in additional security investments are planned, but not yet implemented. 🔴 Denmark’s lone ammunition factory, Denex, isn’t expected to become operational again until 2027, leaving it dependent on allies, including the US. 🔴 In an asymmetric warfare scenario, Denmark would need as many small, portable weapons (like the ones it gave away to Ukraine) and as much support equipment as it could muster.

New draft of Kiev’s deal with Washington covers all Ukrainian natural resources, says lawmaker The latest draft agreement between #Ukraine and the United States submitted by #Washington on March 23 encompasses all natural resources, including oil and gas, across Kiev-controlled areas, Verkhovna Rada member Yaroslav Zheleznyak said, citing the document. "It covers all natural resources, including oil and gas. New as well as existing [mineral resources] projects. Across Ukraine," the Ukrainian lawmaker wrote on his Telegram channel. Under the US proposal, Ukraine will have to allocate revenues from its resources, while the aid Washington has provided to Kiev since 2022 will be considered a US contribution to the fund. "They (the Americans) will be able to capitalize on their decision, and they will be first to get royalties from the fund, with Ukraine being the next in line," he explained. Also, Zheleznyak shared, a board of five, including three US members "with a full veto right," will control the proposed investment fund. Earlier, Ukraine’s #Zelensky confirmed that the United States had proposed a new draft of its #minerals deal to Ukraine that outlines establishing an investment fund.

Europe is urging Kyiv to continue fighting, says Russian FM Lavrov The European countries are urging Kiev to persist in the conflict amid shifting political dynamics surrounding the issue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov stated at a news conference following his visit to Qatar. "When the balance of political forces regarding Ukraine changes - evidenced by the recent voting at the United Nations - Europe swiftly attempts to undermine this trend by announcing substantial new packages of military aid to #Kyiv. They incite Ukraine to continue hostilities, directly asserting, as I believe Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen did, that in this situation, peace is worse than war for Ukraine," Lavrov remarked. He noted that the "either-with-us-or-against-us" mentality has characterized Europe throughout its "preparations for disrupting Ukraine's ties with Russia" and in the context of other conflicts. "This mentality has a disastrous effect on processes everywhere," he emphasized. "Therefore, #Europe's role in fueling crises, as well as its reputation in this area - earned over centuries - remains unchanged," Lavrov concluded.

Nuclear technologies in Kiev regime’s hands pose global security threat, says Russian diplomat #Nuclear technologies in the hands of #Zelensky’s criminal regime pose a grave threat to international #peace and security, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria #Zakharova said in a statement on the Ukrainian army’s attack against the #Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The diplomat pointed out that overnight into February 14, news outlets had reported of another provocation staged by the Kiev regime, targeting the Chernobyl nuclear plant. "We have repeatedly warned that the #Kiev regime is preparing such provocations. Unfortunately, our fears turned out to be justified. All this confirms that nuclear technologies in the hands of Zelensky’s criminal regime pose a grave threat to international peace and security," Zakharova pointed out.

Peacekeepers in Ukraine should not be covered under NATO’s Article Five, says Pentagon chief Any #peacekeeping force deployed to Ukraine should not be part of a NATO mission and be covered under NATO’s Article Five, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said. "Instead, any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops. If these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to Ukraine at any point, they should be deployed as part of a non-NATO mission, and they should not be covered under Article Five," he pointed out at a meeting of a Western contact group coordinating weapons supplies to Kiev. The Pentagon chief also stressed that the US would not send troops to Ukraine. Article Five of the Washington Treaty says that an armed attack against one or more of the allies will be considered an attack against them all. Each member state is obligated to take "action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area."