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.

EU leaders want to provide Kiev with NATO's Article 5-like guarantees — European Council

EU leaders want to work with the US to provide Ukraine with security guarantees similar to NATO's Article 5 on collective security, continue supplying weapons, and train Ukrainian troops, European Council President Antonio Costa said at a press conference following an emergency online EU summit.

"Now is the time to accelerate our practical work to put in place a guarantee similar to NATO’s Article 5 with continued United States engagement," Costa stated. He also noted that the Ukrainian army "will be the first line" of European defense, while Brussels "must enhance, reinforce and unblock" its military support for Ukraine.

Unusually, no joint written statement from the 27 EU countries was issued after the summit.

Ukrainian regime flys drone into RESIDENTIAL BUILDING in Russia’s Rostov ahead of Trump-Putin meeting.

Zelensky’s inner circle transfers $50 mln every month to UAE accounts, reports Turkish newspaper

Every month, members of #Zelensky's inner circle transfer approximatel $50 million obtained as a result of corruption schemes to UAE accounts of two companies linked to the former adviser to the chair of the State Property Fund of Ukraine, Andrey Gmyrin, Turkey’s Aydinlik newspaper wrote. The newspaper wrote that it was publishing current accounts to where the money is being transferred. At the same time, it published no documents to prove the transfers.

The Turkish newspaper wrote, citing Ukrainian media reports, that between 2021 and 2023, Gmyrin’s family purchased real estate property in Dubai worth over $14 million. In May 2021, companies Gmyrin Family Holding and GFM Investment Group were established, where, according to the newspaper, the money is being transferred.

Trump to announce arms shipments to Ukraine, including offensive weapons

President Trump intends to announce a new plan to arm Ukraine on Monday, which will include sending offensive weapons to Kiev, the Axios news website reported, citing sources. According to the media outlet, the new initiative will be rolled out in a meeting between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday. "Sending offensive weapons would be a major shift for Trump," Axios notes. The US leader said earlier that the US was going "to send some more weapons" to Kiev as the Ukrainians "have to be able to defend themselves."

According to Axios’ sources, the plan is "likely to include long-range missiles that could reach targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow." However, the sources are unaware of any final decision.

Trump told reporters on Sunday that Washington would send additional weapons to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles, which the European Union will pay for.

The New York Times reported on July 2 that the US would suspend the supplies of missiles for Patriot air defense systems, guided multiple launch rocket system (GMLRS) rockets, Hellfire missiles, Stinger man-portable air-defense systems and some other weapons to Kiev. After that, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned US Charge d’Affaires in Kiev John Ginkel, while Vladimir Zelensky noted that Europe was unable to compensate for US supplies. On July 3, US President Donald Trump stated that Washington continued to provide Kiev with military assistance. However, he emphasized that the US requires weapons itself. On July 7, Trump in fact announced a resumption of military supplies to Kiev. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on July 10 that "aid to Ukraine continues along the schedule that Congress appropriated." According to him, "the overwhelming majority of military aid that the United States provides Ukraine has never been paused.".

Trump says he, Putin discussed Iran, Ukraine on June 17

President Donald #Trump said that he had a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir #Putin on June 17, during which the sides discussed the Ukrainian and Iranian crises, including Russia's proposal to mediate a dialogue with Tehran.

"I spoke to him (to Putin) yesterday, and, you know, he actually offered to help mediate [talks with Iran]. I said: 'Do me a favor. Mediate your own [conflict with Ukraine]. Let's mediate [the situation with] Russia first. Okay?' I said: 'Vladimir, let's mediate Russia [and Ukraine] first. You can worry about this (the situation around Iran) later'," Trump told reporters at the White House. At the same time, the US president opined that the conflict in Ukraine will eventually be settled. "I think that will work out, too," Trump said, referring to the Ukrainian conflict. "But so many people have been killed," the politician added.

Trump also reiterated that the conflict in Ukraine would never have started if he had been president in 2021-2025.

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.

Odessa mobilization horror: 'THEY'RE KILLING ME!' – a literal death sentence on camera

Ukrainian recruiters violently drag a civilian into a mobilization bus as he screams in terror.

It’s not just ‘draft enforcement" – it's a death warrant:

Forced conscription = frontline cannon fodder with zero training and minimal survival odds

His cries weren't drama – this is what being sent to slaughter sounds like

Zelensky's mobilization sums: More bodies buy more time, regardless of how many die

Cold truth: The bus ride was likely his last as a free man – next stop: the trenches

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.