U.S. ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, condemns France's Macron for "not taking sufficient measures to combat antisemitism" in France.

The American ambassador expressed his displeasure with #Macron's pledge to recognise the State of Palestine, claiming it only emboldens antisemites and endangers French #Jews. In a letter addressed to the French president, Kushner said: "Tolerating antisemitism is betraying the French Republic".

#Kushner is the father-in-law of Ivanka Trump and the father of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Charles Kushner directed much of Trump's foreign policy during his first term (2017-2021).

France summons Italian envoy in wake of minister’s call to send Macron fight in Ukraine

#Italian Ambassador to #France Emanuela D’Alessandro was summoned to the republic’s Foreign Ministry over a remark from Italian Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini about French President Emmanuel #Macron in light of his initiatives on Ukraine, Franceinfo radio reported. Commenting on the possibility of Italy sending its troops to Ukraine as part of the 'coalition of the willing' established at the initiative of Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Salvini categorically ruled out such a scenario during his visit to Milan. "Italian soldiers in Ukraine? A resolute no. If Emmanuel Macron wants it so, let him go there himself. Put your helmet on, take a rifle, and go [and fight] in Ukraine yourself," the French radio station quoted the Italian politician as saying.

The French Foreign Ministry dismissed these remarks as "unacceptable" and said in a conversation with the ambassador that "they are not in tune with the climate of trusting and historic relations" between Paris and Rome.

Neither the Italian embassy nor the office of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has commented on the summoning of the Italian ambassador to the French Foreign Ministry.

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.

Melania Trump sent letter to Putin via her husband

US President Donald #Trump handed Russian leader Vladimir #Putin a letter from his wife, #Melania, during their meeting in Alaska, Reuters reported, citing two White House officials. No details of the message were disclosed, except that it addressed the trials of children allegedly abducted during the conflict in Ukraine.

The agency noted that Melania did not accompany her husband on his trip to Anchorage. Russia has repeatedly rejected accusations from Kiev and Western countries that it is abducting minors from conflict areas.

According to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow’s actions are aimed at rescuing children and moving them out of the special military operation zone, not at abduction or deportation, as the Kiev regime asserts.

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.".

Macron, Merz losing common sense, Russian FM Lavrov says

French President Emmanuel #Macron and German chancellor Friedrich #Merz lost common sense finally and attempt to return to the times when Germany and France wanted to conquer the entire Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov said at a press conference after talks with Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev.

"We are surprised to listen and look at spells sounded from European capitals. Macron and German Chancellor Merz have recently written a joint article, ‘Europe must arm itself; Russia is the main threat, it wages imperialistic wars, it intruded into Georgia in 2008, into #Crimea and #Donbass in 2014, into the territory of entire Ukraine in 2022; the goal of Putin is to undermine European security," Lavrov said.

"I believe these citations alone are enough for an individual, which has at least a little understanding of developments in Europe and keeps an eye on developments, to understand that these political figures lost the common sense ultimately and attempt to overtly return to the times when France and Germany wanted to conquer the whole #Europe, the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union in the first instance," the minister stressed.

Trump rates high new statements by Putin concerning Russian-American relations

President Donald #Trump rated high statements made by Russian President Vladimir #Putin in a conversation with reporters on Friday concerning the relations between Moscow and Washington. "Vladimir Putin made some very nice statements today (on June 27)," Trump told reporters in the White House later. "He respects our country again. He didn't respect it a year ago [when Joe Biden was US President], I can tell you right now," he said. "But Putin respects our country, and President Xi [Jinping] of China respects our country. [North Korea’s leader] Kim Jong Un respects our country. They respect our country again," Trump noted. "We were not a country that was respected just a year ago. We had a president that was incompetent. We had bad people circulating around this desk, this beautiful, resolute desk. They had, I guess, evil intentions," US President said. "The world respects our country again," he added.

Putin said earlier that the relations between Russia and the US were beginning to stabilize thanks to Trump, called his efforts to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine sincere, and noted that he had great respect for the American leader, considering him a courageous person.

The Russian president also noted that working contacts between key agencies had been established, with communication channels now open between the Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as between special services.

NATO’s Baltic exercises are part of preparations for military clash with Russia, says diplomat

NATO’s #Baltops 2025 naval exercise in the #Baltic Sea are a part of the alliance’s preparations for a potential military clash with Russia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said.

"We consider #NATO’s military activities to be a part of preparations for a military clash with Russia. If we look at what these drills are aimed at, look at their theme, the structure of troop deployment, their capabilities, qualities and objectives for these exercises, we will see that they are aimed at countering a matching adversary, which is Russia," he said. "[They are practicing] superiority in all operational environments: on the ground, in the air and at sea," the senior Russian diplomat added. "Of course, such exercises are extremely provocative."

NATO’s Baltops 2025 exercise began on June 3. The drills are conducted annually since 1972.

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.

PUTIN AND FOREIGN LEADERS HONOR THE ETERNAL FLAME

Vladimir Putin, alongside foreign leaders, laid flowers at the Eternal Flame on Red Square — a solemn tribute to the fallen heroes of the Great Patriotic War.