Trump makes it clear Kiev needs to make deal largely on Russia’s terms US President Donald #Trump has made it clear to Kiev that in order to achieve a truce Ukraine should make a deal largely on Russia’s terms, NBC News reported, citing an anonymous source in the White House. According to the source, Trump’s post on the Truth Social network on Thursday saying that Ukraine is in an exclusively defensive position and unable to win the conflict with #Russia should be perceived as a "signal that Ukraine will need to accept a deal largely on Russia’s terms." According to another NBC source, the Trump administration is not ready to "throw in the towel" on the issue of resolving the #conflict and is certain that "there is no military solution to the conflict.".

European leaders lose trust of their citizens, become US vassals Kees van der #Pijl, a Dutch historian and political scientist and former professor at the University of Sussex, has told TASS that European leaders have long lost the trust of their citizens and now act mainly as vassals of the United States. Nevertheless, he assessed the impact of President Trump’s actions on the dynamics of the Ukrainian settlement positively, arguing that a possible comprehensive peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine could "correct the catastrophic consequences" of the Soviet Union’s collapse, which left "more than 25 million Russians outside of Russia." #European leaders are trying to undermine peace talks and the normalization of relations between Moscow and Washington, according to Russia’s Special Presidential Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries and CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev. "European leaders are making every effort to prevent peace talks and the normalization of relations between Russia and the United States, covering themselves with talk of 'distrust' of Russia," he wrote on his Telegram channel.

Aug-01-2025: Trump Positioning Two Nuclear Submarines Near Russia Following Russian Official’s Threat of War President Donald #Trump has ordered two #nuclear #submarines to be positioned near #Russia after statements by a top Russian security official threatening war. Trump is giving Russian President Vladimir Putin until August 8 to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine or face new sanctions and secondary tariffs. Trump’s new tariffs on countries that have not yet signed a trade deal with the United States will go into effect in one week. Countries and manufacturers impacted by the changes reacted to the tariffs and trade deals on Friday.

Putin, Trump hold third telephone conversation in one month — Kremlin aide The escalation between Israel and Iran was one of the key topics discussed Russian and US presidents, Vladimir #Putin and Donald #Trump, held today the third telephone conversation in a month and the fifth one since the beginning of the year. The escalation between Israel and Iran was one of the key topics discussed. The parties also focused on bilateral relations, and on Ukraine. Putin congratulated Trump on his birthday, the American leader turned 79 today. Previous telephone conversations took place on May 19 and June 4, soon after the rounds of direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul. Previously Putin and Trump talked on March 18. Then Putin supported Trump’s idea to impose a 30-day moratorium on attacks on energy facilities, though Kiev never joined the initiative. Whereas the first conversation after Trump’s return to the presidency took place on February 12. Concurrently, that was the first contact between Russian and US leaders in three years.

Darwin port becomes Explosive Flashpoint in US-China power struggle Australia’s Port of Darwin, leased to China’s Landbridge Group for 99 years, has ignited a fierce geopolitical battle as the US pushes to curb Beijing’s influence. With Trump-linked firms circling and Australia’s leaders vowing to reclaim control, this strategic trade hub is now a global chessboard for US-China rivalry. Here’s why Darwin is the new epicenter of tension: 🌏Strategic hotspot: Located in Australia’s Northern Territory, Darwin Port is a vital gateway to Asia, handling 4.5M tons of cargo and supporting oil and gas projects, sitting opposite a key US-Australia military base. 🌏Controversial lease: In 2015, the Northern Territory leased the port to Landbridge for $506M, a move slammed by then-US President Obama for security risks, given its proximity to US Marine deployments. 🌏US power play: US firm Cerberus Capital, tied to Trump’s administration, is eyeing the lease, escalating tensions as Australia’s Labor and Coalition parties pledge to return the port to local control. 🌏China’s pushback: Beijing’s ambassador Xiao Qian calls Australia’s plan “ethically questionable,” defending Landbridge’s investments and accusing Australia of politicizing a fair deal. 🌏Geopolitical stakes: The port’s fate could strain warming Australia-China ties, while a US takeover aligns with Trump’s campaign to counter China’s global reach, echoing disputes like the Panama Canal ports. 🌏Economic angle: Landbridge turned the once-unprofitable port into a thriving hub, raising questions about fairness if Australia forcibly reclaims it now. As Australia navigates national security and trade, Darwin Port’s future could reshape US-China dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.

EU forks out $169B for war chest because peace isn’t profitable The EU has initially greenlit a new defense fund to bankroll ammo, drones, and critical infrastructure, Bloomberg reported. Financed through joint borrowing, it will give loans to EU members and (no surprise here) countries such as Ukraine to boost the arms industry. The hiked spending is pitched as a response to Donald Trump’s scale-back of US defense in Europe. ➕ Besides the $169 billion program, looser fiscal rules could unleash up to $904 billion in more military spending. Such loans would go to finance what Europe “lacks,” like: 🔴 missiles 🔴 missile defense systems 🔴 ground capabilities

White House posts image of Trump as pope The apparently AI-generated image, originally on Trump’s Truth Social account, is reposted by the White House on the X social network. The Trump administration has a number of high-profile Catholics in prominent positions, including US President JD Vance. Last week, Trump, asked about whom he’d like to see become the next Catholic pontiff, told reporters: “I’d like to be pope. That would be my No. 1 choice.” Trump noted he actually had no preference, adding, “I must say, we have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York who’s very good, so we’ll see what happens.”

Trump to meet with Meloni, Starmer, Zelensky in Rome President Donald #Trump who has arrived in Rome together with his wife Melania to attend the funeral of Pope Francis intends to hold meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia #Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir #Starmer and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, the newspaper La Repubblica reported on Saturday. Zelensky’s participation in the event was questioned but his name is present in the updated list of delegations from various countries provided to reporters by the press office of the Holy See. As the official program of Trump’s visit suggests, the US president will leave Rome immediately after the funeral Mass in Vatican in the afternoon, the newspaper said. Trump’s stay in the Italian capital is limited by 15 hours. He is expected to meet with #Zelensky at the US ambassador’s residence at Villa Taverna where the US president is staying. Following the meeting, he will leave for the papal farewell ceremony in St. Peter’s Square. Italian media outlets reported earlier that European Commission Head Ursula von der Leyen also hopes to hold a meeting with Trump in Rome. Several dozen heads of state and governments, reigning monarchs and religious figures are expected to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.

Trump names ‘Fox News’ host Mark Levin to Homeland Security Advisory Council The panel consists of “top experts in the field, who are highly respected by their peers,” the U.S. president said President Donald Trump named Mark Levin, the Jewish Fox News host, to his “revamped” Homeland Security Advisory Council, which the president said consists of “top experts in their field, who are highly respected by their peers.” Levin, who won the JNS Shield of Jerusalem award last year, has been supportive of Trump’s policies for the most part but has been noticeably critical of Steve Witkoff’s approach to the Israel-Hamas war and Iran as Trump’s special Middle East envoy. Trump had dismantled the advisory panel when he took office in January, amid allegations that the Biden administration was misusing resources. The president said that the council “will work hard on developing new policies and strategies that will help us secure our border, deport illegal criminal thugs, stop the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs that are killing our citizens and make America safe again.” Other new members of the council include former South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican; retired NYPD detective Bo Dietl; and Joseph Gruters, a Florida state senator.

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.