Israel halts all aid into Gaza and demands Hamas accepts new ceasefire plan

"Israel has stopped the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip and warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas does not accept a new proposal for an extension of the first phase of the fragile ceasefire." IrishTimes

Zelensky thanks U.S., wants minerals agreement

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the United States for supporting Ukraine

in its defense against Russia and called for a minerals deal after verbally sparring with President Donald Trump on Friday.
"We are very grateful to the United States for all the support," Zelensky said Saturday morning in a post on X.
Zelensky also expressed his desire to complete a rare earth minerals with the United States while continuing to work toward a peace agreement with Russia, the BBC reported." MS

Ukrainian forces down 63 Russian drones, 16 vanish from radar

"Ukraine's air defense forces shot down 63 Russian attack drones, including Shahed strike drones and other UAVs, while 16 drones disappeared from radar and failed to reach their targets." Ukrin

97 combat engagements on frontline, most intense on Pokrovsk axis

"97 combat engagements were recorded between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and the Russian invaders on the frontline.
Russian forces carried out airstrikes, particularly in the areas of the settlements of Okhrimivka, Makarove, Hraniv, Bohuslavka, Buhaiivka, Borova, Kostiantynivka, Toretsk, Novopavlivka, Pokrovsk, Novoukrainka, Udachne, Hrodivka, Rodinske, Bahatyr, Komar, Shevchenko, Ternove, Huliaipole, Stepnohirsk, Zaliznychnе, Piatykhatky, Antonivka, and Mykolaivka.

In the Kupiansk sector, the Russian forces launched three offensive actions near Novoosynove and Zahryzove, but were repelled.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy launched 11 attacks. They attempted to break through the Ukrainian defenses near the settlements of Nove, Novomykhailivka, Yampolivka, Makiivka, and in the direction of Katerynivka.
In the Toretsk sector, the Russians carried out 15 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Krymske, Dachne, Toretsk, and Dyliivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Ukrainian defenders repelled 27 assault actions by the Russian invaders toward Nova Poltavka, Tarasivka, Yelyzavetivka, Promin, Kotliarivka, Nadiivka, Pokrovsk, Pishchane, Udachne, Preobrazhenka, Bohdanivka, Andriivka, and Ulakly.
In the Novopavlivka sector, the enemy carried out 11 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Kostiantynopil, Burlatske, and Skudne.
In the Huliaipole sector, the Russian troops attacked the positions of the Ukrainian defenders three times in the areas of Pryvilne and Charivne." Ukrin

NATO’s Rutte Tells Zelenskiy to Restore Relationship With Trump

"NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to repair his relationship with US counterpart Donald Trump after a public spat at the White House. Qualifying the incident as “very unfortunate,” Mark Rutte said in an interview with the BBC that he’s spoken to Zelenskiy twice since and told him that “we really have to respect what President Trump has done so far for Ukraine.” MS

As Zelensky Fallout Continues, U.S. Pulls Plug on Ukraine Power Grid Funding

"NBC News reported Friday afternoon, in the wake of the Oval Office
blowup, that the U.S. just a few days ago halted the Ukraine Energy Security Project. The State Department this week terminated a U.S. Agency for International Development initiative that has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to help restore Ukraine's energy grid from attacks by the Russian military, according to two USAID officials working on the agency’s Ukraine mission."
RedState

Zelensky Refuses To Apologize, Angles For Closed-Door Meeting

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Fox News that he does not believe he owes President Trump an apology after a contentious Oval Office meeting, which devolved into a shouting match after the president thought Zelensky was being disrespectful and ungrateful.
Zelensky sat down with Fox News host Bret Baier for a 40-minute, live interview within

hours of the meeting. When asked whether he believed he owed President Trump an apology, the Ukrainian president refused to give a solid answer before eventually saying no.
The Trump Administration, along with congressional leaders, were under the impression that Zelensky was in D.C. to sign a minerals deal and work towards security guarantees. After the meeting got off to a cordial start, tensions boiled over when Zelensky continued to ask for increased military aid despite a hard red line from President Trump.
About halfway through the meeting, Vice President Vance took issue with Zelensky’s tone and asked whether he had ever said “thank you” to the American people. The Ukrainian president then said that the U.S. will “feel pressure” in the near future if they pull funding from the war, at which point President Trump became furious with what he perceived as veiled threats and an ungrateful attitude." TP

Serbian President Mistakenly Voted Against Russia on Ukraine Resolution Because He Was ‘Tired’

"Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Monday he “mistakenly” backed a United Nations (U.N.) resolution that condemned Russia for launching the war against Ukraine. Vucic said he actually wanted Serbia’s U.N. delegation to abstain from the vote.

The highly contentious U.N. resolution led to a showdown between the Trump administration and Europe, as the latter insisted on formally condemning Russia for starting the war, while the U.S. introduced a competing resolution calling for immediate peace in Ukraine without assigning blame for the conflict.
The resolution in the U.N. General Assembly to condemn Russia for starting the war passed on Monday by a vote of 93-18. The U.S. was one of the 18 nations to vote against the resolution. Serbia, which has friendly relations with Moscow and opposes sanctions on Russia, surprised U.N.-watchers by voting in favor." Breitbart

Zelensky Jets Off to Britain Early After Oval Office Smackdown From Trump and Vance

"Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky departed from the

United States for Britain on
Saturday, landing in London ahead of talks with European leaders earlier than expected after a dressing down in the Oval Office by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance." Breitbart

Vance Family Moved to ‘Undisclosed Location’ After Pro-Ukrainian Protesters Disrupt Ski Trip

"Vice President JD Vance and his family were moved to an “undisclosed location” after they were met with pro-Ukrainian protesters outside of a ski resort in Vermont.
Protesters could be seen holding signs at Sugarbush Ski Resort that read “Vance is a traitor. Go ski in Russia,” and “JD Vance is Nazi scum,” according to a post on X.
One skier told the outlet that the protesters were “f***ing morons.” Breitbart

Absolute Idiocy’ — Zelensky Blasted by Ukrainian Lawmaker for ‘Arguing’ With President Trump in Front of the World

"A prominent Ukrainian lawmaker declared it was “absolute idiocy” for President Volodymyr Zelensky to openly argue with U.S. President Donald Trump in front of the world during

their Oval Office meeting on Friday.
Oleksiy Goncharenko, a member of the Verkhovna Rada parliament in Kyiv, lamented that Ukraine’s relationship with President Trump came to an “end” on Friday after a heated White House meeting in which President Zelensky was accused of being “disrespectful” to the U.S. leader and the American people.
Goncharenko wrote on Facebook that it was “absolute idiocy to start ARGUING with the President of the United States in front of the cameras,” adding that “it can be done and probably should be done, but not in front of cameras.” Breitbart

Slovakia will not provide financial or military support to Ukraine

"The Slovak government will not support Ukraine financially or militarily to continue its war against Russia, according to Prime Minister Robert Fico." Ukrin

Russian forces strike Sloviansk with cluster munitions, hitting gas station, vehicles

"Russian forces have shelled Sloviansk, Donetsk region, using cluster munitions, striking a gas station and parked vehicles. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported." Ukrin

Casualties, damage reported as Russians strike Odesa with ballistic missile

"The Russian forces launched a ballistic missile strike on Odesa’s port infrastructure, injuring two people and damaging a civilian vessel, according to preliminary reports.
Emergency services are currently working to eliminate the consequences of the strike, while medical personnel are providing necessary assistance to the injured." Ukrin

Trump-Zelensky meeting devolves into shouting match after Vance accuses Ukraine leader of being ‘disrespectful’

"What was supposed to be a triumphant White House visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to mark the signing of a mineral rights deal between the United States and Ukraine devolved into an Oval Office shouting match between Zelensky, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Friday after the
American vice president began lecturing Zelensky for what he called a lack of open gratitude towards the United States for the aid his country has received to combat Russia’s invading forces.
As reporters watched, the two men spoke about the mineral deal that Zelensky’s government has been discussing with Trump administration officials for several weeks, with Trump saying it was “an honor” to have Zelensky at the White House — his first visit to Washington since the change of administration — and describing the work to reach a deal as “very hard” while saying it was going “very well.”
But the conversation took a turn after roughly 30 minutes of questions from reporters as the subject turned to whether the agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine would include any security guarantees from the American side.
When Trump was asked by a reporter from Polish radio about concerns that he is “aligned” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump replied that he was “not aligned with anybody” save for “the United States of America, and for the good of the world.”
He also accused Zelensky of harboring “tremendous hatred” for Putin and said that made it harder to “make a deal” to end the war.
Vance asserting a forceful stance on diplomacy. “I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country,” he declared, cutting off Zelensky’s attempt to interject. When Zelensky tried to respond, Vance admonished him sharply: “Mr. President, Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
“Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems,” he said. “You should be thanking the president for trying to bring it into this conference.” Zelensky fired back, questioning Vance’s firsthand knowledge: “Have you ever been to Ukraine that you say what problems we have?”
The vice president, undeterred, pressed his point. “I have been to Ukraine once. I have actually,” he replied. “I’ve actually watched and seen the stories. And I know what happens — you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour.”
He then challenged Zelensky directly: “Mr. President, do you disagree that you’ve had problems bringing people into your military? And do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?”
Zelensky, visibly exasperated, responded, “A lot of questions. Let’s start from the beginning.”
As the exchange unfolded, Trump joined the fray, which amplified the tension. When Zelensky suggested that the U.S. might not yet feel the war’s impact, saying, “First of all, during the war, everybody has problems, even you. But you have nice ocean and don’t feel now, but you will feel it in the future. God bless,” Trump snapped, “You don’t know that.”
Zelensky’s repeated “God bless” did little to calm the president, who shot back, “Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.”
Zelensky warned, “You will feel influence,” which prompted Trump to double down.
Trump’s intensity grew as he accused Zelensky of reckless leadership. “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people,” he charged. “You’re gambling with World War III.” Moments later, he reiterated, “You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country, far more than a lot of people said they should have.”
Vance circled back to a theme of ingratitude, pointedly asking, “Have you said thank you once?” Zelensky insisted he had, replying, “A lot of times. Even today. Even today.”
Vance wasn’t satisfied.
“You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October," Vance pointed out. "Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country.”
In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump said: “I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.” MS