World War III was ‘not so far away’ – Trump

"Trump reiterated his desire to be remembered as “a peacemaker and a unifier” on

Wednesday in Miami Beach during an event. He said that resolving the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are his key foreign policy objectives.
“There’s no profit for anyone in having World War III, and you’re not so far away from it,” Trump told the audience. “If we would have had this administration for another year, you would have been in World War III, and now it’s not going to happen.” RT

Musk blames Zelensky for death of US journalist

"Billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, has blamed Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky for the death of an American national who criticized his government.

Chilean-American filmmaker and blogger Gonzalo Lira died in a Ukrainian jail in January 2024 while awaiting trial for “systematically justifying the Russian aggression.”
“Zelensky killed an American journalist!” Musk wrote on his social media platform X on Wednesday.
“Zelensky cannot claim to represent the will of the people of Ukraine unless he restores freedom of the press and stops canceling elections!” he added.
Lira, who moved to Ukraine in 2010, was covering the conflict with Russia on YouTube. The Security Service of Ukraine arrested him in 2023 after he jumped bail and attempted to seek asylum in Hungary. Lira claimed that he was tortured in custody. His family accused Kiev of being complicit in his death." RT

122 clashes on front lines

"Ukrainian forces engaged in 122 combat clashes with Russian occupiers, halting 32 enemy assaults in the Pokrovsk sector alone.
Russian airstrikes targeted several locations, including Basivka, Mohrytsia, Yastrubyne, Bilovody, and Uhroidy in the Sumy region, Udy, Chornohlazivka, and Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, Kostiantynivka, Myrnohrad, Chasiv Yar, Novooleksandrivka, Pokrovsk, and Novodarivka in the Donetsk region, Huliaipole and Kamianske in the Zaporizhzhia region, and the city of Kherson.

In the Kupiansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled four enemy assaults near Petropavlivka, Stepova Novoselivka, and Zahryzove.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy launched 12 attacks, attempting to breach Ukrainian defenses near Balka Zhuravka, Yampolivka, Kolodiazi, Makiivka, and toward Hryhorivka.
In the Siversk sector, one Russian assault was repelled near Verkhniokamianske.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian troops attacked Ukrainian positions four times near Chasiv Yar and Vasiukivka.
In the Toretsk sector, 13 enemy attacks were recorded near Ozarianivka, Toretsk, and Leonidivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled 32 assaults near Zelene Pole, Vodiane Druhe, Yelyzavetivka, Novotoretske, Promin, Kotlyne, Nadiivka, Andriivka, and Ulakly.
In the Novopavlivka sector, Russian forces launched 17 attacks in the direction of Kostiantynopil, Rozdolne, Novyi Komar, and Pryvilne.
In the Orikhiv sector, nine enemy assaults targeted Ukrainian positions near Novoandriivka, Mali Shcherbaky, and Stepove." Ukrin

Poland Revives 'Fort Trump' Idea In Effort To Keep US Troop Presence

"Poland is reviving the idea of creating a large military base called "Fort Trump" as European allies walk a diplomatic tightrope with the Trump administration as he pushes for Ukraine peace without their representation.
The country's President Andrzej Duda on Tuesday revealed that assurances have been communicated from the Trump White House over the future of America's troop presence in Poland. There are no plans for a US troop reduction along NATO's 'eastern flank' - he was told." ZeroHedge

Trump Blasts Critics Of His Ukraine Peace Initiative, Including Zelensky, Questions Where Hundreds Of Billions Went

"President Trump in an afternoon press Q&A from Mar-a-Lago went off on those attacking his Ukraine peace initiative, which saw Secretary of State Rubio and national security advisor Walz lead a delegation in 4+ hours of talks with FM Lavrov and the Russians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia earlier in the day.

"I want to see peace. Look, you know why I want it? Because I don't want all these people killed anymore. I'm looking at people that are being killed — and they're Russian and Ukrainian people, but they're people," Trump emphasized.
His tone on Zelensky was decidedly negative, and he defended his administration's stance on holding Kiev to new elections, saying this is necessary if the Ukrainians want a seat at the table.  

"We have a situation where we haven't had elections in Ukraine, where we have martial law ... the leader in Ukraine, I hate to say it, but he's down at 4% approval rating... the country has been blown to smithereens... the country looks like a massive demolition site."
On a similar theme, at one point he was asked what his message is to Ukrainians who feel betrayed by his administration, again as the US pursues negotiations with Russia while sidelining both Zelensky and EU officials. Trump responded bluntly:
"I hear they're upset about not having a seat. Well, they've had a seat for three years." 

Trump also asked where the billions upon billions given to Ukraine went.
“We gave them I think $350 BILLION… where is all the money that’s been given? Where is it going? I don’t see any accounting!” ZeroHedge

Russian drone attack on Odesa: blackouts, schools shut

"A children's clinic, a kindergarten, a 24-story apartment building, and numerous cars were damaged in the attack.
Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov reported that more than 500 residential buildings in Odesa were left without basic electricity, water, and heat. Classes at schools in the Kyiv district have been canceled in a massive Russian drone attack on Odesa and its suburbs overnight." NV

144 combat engagements on frontline

"There have been 144 combat engagements on the frontline.
According to the General Staff, in the Kharkiv sector, the enemy attempted to advance toward Mala Shapkivka and Topoli, but the Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully prevented this. Cherkaska Lozova was hit by an airstrike.
In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy conducted 16 offensive actions near Petropavlivka, Pisky, Zahryzovo, and Lozova. The Ukrainian units repelled 14 enemy attacks, with two ongoing battles.

In the Lyman sector, the Russian invaders stormed the positions of Ukraine’s Defense Forces 12 times near the settlements of Kopanky, Makiivka, Novoliubivka, and Yampolivka. Two battles are still ongoing.
In the Siversk sector, the enemy attacked four times in the areas of Bilohorivka, Hryhorivka, and Verkhniokamianske, with two battles ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the enemy attacked near Vasiukivka and toward Oleksandro-Shultyne, with one Russian attempt to push the Ukrainian defenders from their positions failing. Two battles continue.
In the Toretsk sector, 15 combat engagements occurred today. The enemy stormed the Ukrainian positions near Krymske, Dyliivka, Toretsk, and Shcherbynivka. Four battles are ongoing.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the enemy attacked 43 times in the areas of Tarasivka, Vodiane Druhe, Malynivka, Promin, Pishchane, Kotlyne, Nadiivka, Kotliarivka, Novooleksandrivka, Zaporizhzhia, Oleksiivka, Novotoretske, Andriivka, Dachne, Shevchenko, and Ulakly. The Ukrainian defenders repelled 32 assaults, and 11 battles are still ongoing.
Preliminary data indicate that 352 occupiers were neutralized in this sector, 191 of them irreversibly. Additionally, the Ukrainian forces destroyed three tanks, seven vehicles, one BM-21 Grad, four mortars, a buggy, two motorcycles, and a gun. They also damaged a tank, a BM-21 Grad, two armored combat vehicles, a quadbike, and two guns.
In the Novopavlivka sector, the Ukrainian defenders repelled 14 enemy attacks in the areas of Rozdolne and toward Kostiantynopil and Burlatske. Two battles continue.
In the Huliaipole sector, the enemy attempted to advance 13 times in the areas of Novosilka and Novopole. Six enemy attacks were repelled by the Ukrainian defenders, while five are still ongoing. Russian aviation launched glide bomb strikes on Huliaipole and Zaliznychne.
In the Orikhiv sector, the Ukrainian defenders repelled three attacks in the areas of Mali Shcherbaky, Stepove, and Novoandriivka. The enemy attacked Piatykhatky with unguided aerial rockets.
In the Kursk sector, Ukraine’s Defense Forces repelled seven enemy assaults, while three battles are ongoing." Ukrin

Italy’s Meloni blasts ‘anti-Trump’ tone at Paris summit

"Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the emergency summit of European leaders in Paris, calling it "anti-Trump".
She arrived at the summit when the negotiations were already underway. After the meeting, Meloni expressed her disagreement with the proposals and the list of invitees, stressing the importance of keeping Brussels as the only place for decision-making by all 27 EU member states.
She also spoke out against the anti-Trump format of the summit." NV

New earthquake swarm in Campi Flegrei, Italy

"The Campi Flegrei volcanic area, located near Naples in southern Italy, experienced a seismic swarm starting at 06:58 UTC. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported the strongest event in the sequence having a magnitude of 1.2 ± 0.3 with a total of 95 localized earthquakes recorded so far. The depths of earthquakes ranged between 0.2 km (0.1 miles) and 3.1 km (1.9 miles)." LiveScience

Russia and US hold talks in Saudi Arabia

"Top Russian and US diplomats are holding talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to find a way to

restore diplomatic relations, set the stage for a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, and pave the way for resolving the Ukraine conflict.
The Russian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and includes Yury Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, and Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). The American side is represented by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for the Middle East." RT

139 combat clashes in past day, Pokrovsk sector remains hottest

"139 combat engagements were recorded at the front.
In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy launched ten attacks. The Ukrainian forces repelled enemy assaults near Topoli, Petropavlivka, Hlushkivka, Zahryzove and in the direction of Novoosynove.
In the Lyman sector, the Russian army launched six attacks, attempting to advance near Zarichne and Yampolivka.

In the Siversk sector, the Ukrainian defenders repelled an enemy attack near Bilohorivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the enemy launched six attacks on Ukrainian positions in the Chasiv Yar area, but was unsuccessful.
In the Toretsk sector, Russians attacked Ukrainian troops five times near Toretsk.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian troops stopped 55 aggressor's attacks in the areas of Myroliubivka, Yelyzavetivka, Promin, Lysivka, Novoukrainka, Pishchane, Kotlyne, Udachne, Uspenivka, Nadiivka, Yasenove, Ulaklivka, Andriivka and Dachne.
In the Novopavlivka sector, the Ukrainian defenders repelled 23 enemy attacks in the area of Novosilka, Rivne, Novyi Komar and in the directions of Kostiantynopil and Burlatske.
In the Orikhiv sector, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled two attacks in the vicinity of Shcherbaky and Nesterianka.
In the Kursk region, Ukrainian troops effectively countered 13 Russian attacks yesterday. The enemy launched 27 air strikes, using 30 guided aerial bombs, and initiated 573 shelling attacks, including 11 MLRS attacks." Ukrin

Russian drone strike on apartment building in Kirovohrad region

"An enemy drone hit a residential building in Dolynska, Kirovohrad region, in the night." Ukrin

129 clashes on front lines, most enemy attacks repelled in Pokrovsk, Kursk sectors

"Ukrainian forces engaged in 129 combat clashes with Russian invaders, with most enemy attacks recorded in the Pokrovsk sector and Russia's Kursk region.
In the Kharkiv sector, Russian forces launched two assaults on Ukrainian positions near Vovchansk.
In the Kupiansk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled 16 enemy attacks near PetropavlivkaZahryzove, Bohuslavka, and Pishchane.

In the Lyman sector, the enemy attempted 13 assaults, trying to penetrate Ukrainian defenses near Novoserhiivka, Novoiehorivka, Novoplatonivka, Novoliubivka, Nove, Novomykhailivka, Yampolivka, Kolodiazi, and Dronivka.
In the Siversk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled one enemy assault near Hryhorivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, occupiers launched eight attacks near Chasiv Yar and Vasiukivka.
Russian forces carried out eight assaults in the Toretsk sector, targeting Krymske and Toretsk.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian forces halted 40 enemy attacks near Vodiane Druhe, Yelyzavetivka, Promin, Lysivka, Pishchane, Udachne, Uspenivka, Nadiivka, Oleksiivka, Andriivka, Dachne, and Ulakly.
In the Novopavlivka sector, Ukrainian troops repelled 18 Russian assaults near Kostiantynopil, Burlatske, Novoocheruvate, and Novosilka.
On the Orikhiv sector, Russian occupiers launched six attacks near Novoandriivka, Piatykhatky, Shcherbaky, and Mali Shcherbaky.
In the Dnipro River and Huliaipole sectors, Russian forces did not conduct active offensive operations." Ukrin

4.0 magnitude earthquake jolts Delhi-NCR out of sleep, big tremors, rumbling noise

"A 4.0 magnitude earthquake hit Delhi, India-NCR with its epicenter in the national capital. The tremors lasted for a few seconds and caused panic among residents. Panic among residents after huge tremors, no damage reported.

The rumbling sound heard during the earthquake could have been the result of the earthquake's shallow depth. It could have been due to movement in tectonic plates and several bursts of energy." IndiaToday

Zelensky tells Ukrainian critics to change citizenship

"Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has brushed aside domestic critics who want elections, telling them to “go choose another citizenship,” and reiterating that voting will remain suspended until the conflict with Russia is over." RT