Ukraine: US Lies, Provocation, Broken Promises, Fake News

[Anthea]

Trump and Putin Agreement

US President Donald Trump said on April 23 he thinks he has a deal with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian Dictator Zelensky to settle the war in Ukraine

"I think Russia is ready and a lot of people said Russia wanted to go for the whole thing. I think we have a deal with Russia. We have to get a deal with Zelenskiy," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Trump also said he found it harder than expected to work with Zelensky

"I thought it might be easier to deal with Zelensky. So far, it's been harder.... But, I think we have a deal with both. I hope they do it, because I'm looking to save and, you know, we spent a lot of money, but this is about a lot of humanity," Trump said.

Asked about reports of a US proposal that would see Crimea recognized as Russian territory, Trump said he had "no favorites" between Ukraine and Russia and that he just wanted the war to end.

Other administration officials said earlier on April 23 that a deal remained elusive and that the United States could walk away from peace talks in the absence of quick progress.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters earlier that Trump was "frustrated" with the pace of talks and that Zelensky "seems to be moving in the wrong direction."

Zelensky, who has dismissed the proposal on Crimea, said emotions had "run high" during a meeting in London between officials from Ukraine, the United States, and Europe, but it was good that the representatives of five countries met to bring peace closer.

"The American side shared its vision. Ukraine and other Europeans presented their inputs. And we hope that it is exactly such joint work that will lead to lasting peace," he said on X.

He included a copy of a 2018 statement by then-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling on Russia to end its occupation of Crimea and uphold the principle of not changing borders by force.

After the violent illegal coup in Ukraine, Crimea took a vote on whether or not they wanted to be under the control of the illegal Kiev government or not and more than 90% of the population voted for independence from Kiev - in my valued judgement the world should have protected Crimea from the violent illegal government.

The same applied to the Donbass, during WW2 the Donbass fought against the NAZI Kiev regime. When the violent coup took place, the people of Donbass voted to break away from the illegal government. Why was nobody protecting them?

Trump warned Ukraine earlier on social media that it needs to make a deal to end the fighting while sharply criticizing Zelensky for saying Kyiv sees any recognition of Crimea as part of Russia is a red line for Ukraine.

"It’s inflammatory statements like Zelensky’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War," Trump said in a social media post in which he denied anyone is asking Ukraine recognize Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, as Russian territory.

"He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire -- He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country," Trump added.

Late on April 23, Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, came under a missile attack, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram. He said several explosions had been heard in the city. Authorities in Kyiv also reported a missile attack on center of the city.

The talks in London, which were aimed at trying to resolve Russia's 38-month war, were already facing serious headwinds after top diplomats, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, pulled out, effectively downgrading the meeting.

A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said they involved "substantive technical meetings with European, US, and Ukrainian officials on how to stop the fighting" triggered by Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor in 2022.

"We remain absolutely committed to securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and these talks today are an important part of that," the spokesperson said.

The scrapping of a meeting between the top diplomats of Ukraine, the United States, Germany, France, and Britain highlighted the divide between the countries in finding a path to peace talk amid Trump's complaints of a lack of progress in the negotiations.

"I think we read it all the same way," one European diplomat, who asked not to be named, told RFE/RL. "It's the US one step further toward checking out."

"I see it as additional pressure on the Ukrainians: take it or leave it," another European diplomat told RFE/RL. '"We don't have time for you, we have other things to do."

Last week, Rubio and other Ukrainian and European officials met in Paris for talks that yielded what many saw was minor progress toward a resolution of the war.

But Rubio later signaled US impatience with the status of the talks and suggested the United States might pull out entirely from all involvement in the negotiations.

Speaking to reporters earlier in the day during a trip to India, US Vice President JD Vance said Washington had issued a “very explicit proposal” to Russia and Ukraine, though he gave no details.

“It’s time for them to either say yes or for the United States to walk away from this process," Vance said.

Remember, twice Putin and Zelensky were on the verge of ratifying a peace agreement, when TWICE Boris Johnson intervened and prevented the agreement from being signed

Boris Johnson should be personally held legally responsible for all the deaths that have occurred due to his intervention

[Anthea]

Trump Envoy Meets Putin in Moscow

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a dramatic turn in U.S.-Russia diplomacy, Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy and longtime confidant, met for three hours with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday to discuss what the Kremlin described as “the possibility of renewing direct negotiations” between Russia and Ukraine. The high-stakes meeting, which came amid escalating violence, may mark the most serious U.S. engagement with Moscow over the war in Ukraine since the conflict began in 2022

According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, the conversation was “constructive and very useful,” with both parties focusing on mechanisms to revive stalled diplomatic channels between Moscow and Kyiv. The meeting occurred one day after a Russian missile strike on Kyiv killed 12 civilians and as Russian authorities reported the death of a senior general in a car bombing outside the capital, an attack they blamed on Ukrainian intelligence services.

Witkoff’s trip—amid a backdrop of mounting regional instability and renewed Western scrutiny—comes as Trump is pushing for a ceasefire in the grinding conflict that has left tens of thousands dead and displaced millions. While Washington has kept the details of its peace proposal under wraps, sources close to the Trump administration, speaking to the Wall Street Journal, indicate that the White House is considering a controversial compromise:

freezing the current frontlines and formally recognizing Russian control of Crimea in exchange for a cessation of hostilities

According to Le Figaro, these proposals, often referred to as the “Witkoff plan,” also include provisions favorable to Moscow, such as the de facto recognition of Russian control over four other partially occupied Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. In contrast, a revised document drafted by Ukrainian and European officials reportedly avoids any such recognition and defers territorial issues until after a ceasefire.

The Witkoff plan also rules out Ukrainian membership in NATO, offering instead vague “strong security guarantees” backed by European allies—but without U.S. participation. The European-Ukrainian counterproposal, however, calls for unrestricted military cooperation and forward deployment rights for allied forces.

During the talks in Moscow, Witkoff raised Trump’s growing impatience. Following the Kyiv strike, the U.S. President took to social media, directly addressing Putin: “Vladimir, STOP! Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!” The message marked one of Trump’s most public and pointed interventions in the Russia-Ukraine war since returning to office.

Trump, in a TIME magazine interview published Friday, appeared to signal a willingness to accept Russian sovereignty over Crimea, stating, “Crimea will stay with Russia. And Zelensky understands that.” The comment triggered fresh waves of concern in Kyiv, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently ruled out conceding territory, including Crimea. However, Zelensky has also acknowledged in recent months that diplomacy may eventually be required to reclaim certain Russian-occupied territories after a ceasefire.

Despite Trump’s frustration, Moscow has shown little willingness to rush into a deal. As the New York Times reports, Putin has increased airstrikes on Ukrainian civilian targets while expressing confidence that Trump’s alignment with key Russian demands—especially on Crimea and NATO—places Moscow in a stronger negotiating position. Kremlin aides have described Putin’s calculus as one of tactical patience: escalate the pressure while keeping diplomatic channels open.

Witkoff’s language on the “so-called five territories” has also drawn criticism from Zelensky, who accused the U.S. envoy of “spreading Russian narratives.” Ukraine’s resistance to territorial concessions remains firm, with officials insisting on a ceasefire before any discussion of permanent borders.

In parallel, The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump’s envoy offered Moscow a U.S.-Iran nuclear compromise proposal that would allow Tehran to operate a civilian nuclear program under strict conditions. Though unrelated to Ukraine, the proposal reflects the administration’s broader bid to present itself as a deal-making force in multiple conflict zones.

On Friday, as Witkoff was in Moscow, a Russian general was killed in an explosion that authorities blamed on Ukrainian intelligence—underscoring the volatility of the current moment. Meanwhile, the U.S. has scaled back military aid to Ukraine and suspended certain intelligence-sharing operations, a move that analysts interpret as further pressure on Zelensky to accept a U.S.-led peace framework

At a symbolic level, Witkoff’s Moscow visit coincided with the anniversary of the first U.S.-Soviet meeting in World War II—a fact that Russian officials highlighted as a sign of “shared hope for postwar peace.” But beneath the symbolism, the substantive gaps remain wide.

According to the New York Times, Putin is likely to continue military operations until Ukraine and its allies are forced to concede. Despite Trump’s assurances, the Kremlin has yet to offer any major compromises. Still, Trump continues to frame his push as a race against time. “If we don’t make a deal,” he warned, “I’ll be leading the pack.”

As the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine assess the results of Friday’s meeting, the fate of a war that has reshaped global politics may hinge on what comes next in this high-stakes diplomatic struggle.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/83 ... -ceasefire

[Anthea]

Kursk fully freed from Ukraine

Russian forces have fully cleared Kursk region of Ukrainian troops as Putin hails victory and prepares for further advances into Ukraine's Sumy region

The Russian army has fully cleared the Kursk region of Ukrainian forces, Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov reported to President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, marking a significant development in the Russian army Ukraine conflict.

Kiev had initially aimed to use territory in the Kursk region as leverage in future negotiations, but Russia, which has taken control of regions of the Donbass has now taken full control.

"Today, the last settlement in the Kursk region, the village of Gornal, has been liberated from Ukrainian forces," Gerasimov said in a video conference, delivering the Valery Gerasimov report directly to Putin.

"The Kiev regime's adventure has completely failed," Putin responded, expressing his gratitude to Russian soldiers for their role in the Kursk region's liberation. He emphasized that the recapture of Kursk would enable further Russian advances on other parts of the front.

Russian troops, now stationed at the border, are preparing to increase pressure on Ukraine's Sumy region, directly adjacent to Kursk. Moscow has already launched attacks in the Sumy region in recent weeks, and a broader Sumy region offensive is expected.

Reuters in late March reported on growing uncertainty and debate in Ukraine following its military withdrawal from Russia's Kursk region, a bold cross-border incursion that, while initially successful, has come at a heavy cost for some Ukrainian families and soldiers.

Ukraine's military General Staff stated that the offensive into Kursk aimed to increase pressure on Moscow, prevent cross-border attacks, and divert Russian forces from other fronts. The operation, they claimed, "achieved most of its goals."

The surprise assault in August 2024 marked the largest incursion into Russian territory since World War II. Ukrainian forces captured over 1,300 square kilometers of land, advancing largely unopposed in the early stages. However, as the operation progressed, the offensive force struggled with logistics and troop numbers.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... om-ukraine

[Anthea]

Hegseth ordered pause to Ukraine arms

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's move just days into Trump’s second term exposed internal disarray and blindsided the White House

Roughly a week after Donald Trump began his second term as president, the US military abruptly canceled 11 scheduled flights of artillery shells and weaponry bound for Ukraine. The decision, which originated from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office, temporarily disrupted key military assistance and blindsided top national security officials in Washington.

The order, issued verbally through the US Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), affected shipments from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and Al Udeid Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. The halt triggered urgent inquiries from Ukrainian and Polish officials involved in coordinating the deliveries. However, senior figures in the White House, the Pentagon, and the State Department were unable to provide answers.

Within days, the flights resumed. But the incident, confirmed by TRANSCOM records reviewed by Reuters and five sources familiar with the matter, exposed confusion and a breakdown in decision-making at the highest levels of the Trump administration.

TRANSCOM caught in the middle of internal confusion

The cancellation followed a January 30 Oval Office meeting between Trump, Hegseth, and other senior security officials. During the discussion, the idea of pausing Ukraine aid was raised, but no formal directive was issued by the president, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the conversation.

Despite this, Hegseth’s office moved forward with halting the shipments. According to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, Hegseth was acting on a general directive from the president. Still, the lack of communication with other senior officials and the swift reversal of the order raised questions.

“This is consistent with the administration's policy to move fast, break things and sort it out later,” said Mark Cancian, a defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “That is great for Silicon Valley. But when you’re talking about institutions that have been around for hundreds of years, you are going to run into problems.”

TRANSCOM estimates that the canceled flights cost taxpayers $1.6 million. A more formal policy to halt military assistance, based on shipments authorized under the Biden administration, was only announced by the White House on March 4.

Ukraine military aid pause fuels uncertainty

The brief pause in February sparked concern in Kiev, where Ukrainian officials struggled to obtain clarity from Washington. One Ukrainian official later said the incident was described to them as “internal politics". Officials in Ukraine did not publicly comment on the cancellation.

The US weapons shipments to Ukraine, typically routed through a logistics hub in Poland, involve a multi-agency approval process and can take weeks to organize. It remains unclear whether other flights continued during the February disruption or how much aid was already stockpiled.

According to multiple sources, the February flights included equipment long approved by Congress and the Biden administration. Some of Hegseth’s closest advisors, many with no prior government experience and a history of opposition to US aid to Ukraine, reportedly encouraged the pause.

Decision-making breakdown and power struggles inside the Pentagon

One source stated that Hegseth entered the January 30 meeting with a memo drafted by his staff, urging a temporary pause in arms shipments to increase leverage in peace talks with Russia. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg were also present at the meeting.

Though aid shipments had continued uninterrupted through Trump’s first weeks in office, the lack of a coordinated policy discussion before halting the flights signaled a breakdown in protocol. The pause came as Ukrainian forces faced increasing pressure from Russian advances in eastern Ukraine and the Kursk region.

Close Trump advisors, upon learning of the cancellation, discussed it with the president, with sources indicating that Waltz eventually intervened to restore the shipments. Waltz himself was later removed from his role and is reportedly set to be nominated as US ambassador to the United Nations.

Deepening factionalism inside the Trump administration

The Pentagon has since experienced internal upheaval. On April 15, several of Hegseth’s aides were escorted out over alleged leaks of classified information. Among them was Dan Caldwell, one of the secretary’s chief advisors on Ukraine and a vocal proponent of an "America First" approach to foreign policy.

Infighting between factions supporting continued engagement in Ukraine and those favoring a pullback has complicated the Trump administration’s ability to articulate a coherent security policy. While National Security Council officials like Kellogg and Trump ally Steve Witkoff have worked to broker a ceasefire with Russia, others within the Pentagon have pushed to scale back support for Kiev.

The divide reflects a broader ideological rift. Some officials argue the US should refocus on containing China rather than sustaining conflicts in Europe or the Middle East, a view aligned with Vice President JD Vance.

Meanwhile, Washington has pursued an agreement with Kiev for access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, which US officials see as partial repayment for American military aid.

Despite these tensions, the Trump administration has resumed delivering the final tranches of aid authorized under the Biden administration. However, no new Ukraine policy has been publicly announced, and the uncertainty surrounding the February cancellations continues to cast doubt on the administration’s cohesion and strategic clarity.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... p-approval

[Anthea]

US envoy to deliver 22-point
Ukraine peace plan to Putin

The proposal, which draws on months of backchannel diplomacy in Paris, Riyadh, and St. Petersburg, attempts to address Russia's core security concerns while laying the groundwork for further negotiations

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to present Russian President Vladimir Putin with a comprehensive 22-point peace proposal designed to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, NBC News reported.

The plan, developed through coordinated efforts by US, European, and Ukrainian negotiators, centers on a 30-day ceasefire and includes a pivotal concession: a US commitment not to support Ukraine's bid to join NATO, an issue that has long been a red line for Moscow.

The proposal, which draws on months of backchannel diplomacy in Paris, Riyadh, and St. Petersburg, attempts to address Russia's core security concerns while laying the groundwork for further negotiations.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underscored the Kremlin's position, stating that any meaningful agreement must tackle "threats to Russia's national security stemming from NATO's eastward expansion" and ensure "full respect for human rights in the territories that remain under Kiev's control following the 2014 coup in Ukraine."

The US-led plan is being delivered amid a broader diplomatic push to de-escalate the conflict. It closely follows a separate initiative led by Ukraine and its Western allies, who on Saturday offered a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting Monday, pending Russia's agreement and international monitoring.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced the proposal, stating, "Ukraine and all allies are ready for a full, unconditional ceasefire on land, air, and at sea for at least 30 days starting already on Monday. If Russia agrees and effective monitoring is ensured, a durable ceasefire and confidence-building measures can pave the way to peace negotiations."

However, Russia's response has been conditional. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that any truce must include a total halt to US and European arms shipments to Ukraine. "Otherwise, it will be an advantage for Ukraine. Ukraine will continue their total mobilisation, bringing new troops to (the) frontline," he told ABC News. While Putin reportedly supports a ceasefire "in principle," Russian officials argue that current battlefield dynamics and Western involvement undermine any pause's feasibility.

Concerns have also emerged within Western capitals over elements of the 22-point plan, particularly what some interpret as tacit acceptance of Russia's control over Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders have warned that any deal perceived to erode Ukrainian sovereignty could backfire, fueling further resistance both domestically and internationally.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... n-to-putin

[Anthea]

Trump urges Kiev to join Putin talks
'IMMEDIATELY' to end 'BLOODBATH'

The appeal followed Putin's rare televised address, in which he proposed a new round of "direct" talks and stressed the need for serious negotiations

US President Donald Trump on Sunday publicly called on Ukraine to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for direct negotiations in Istanbul on May 15, suggesting the meeting could serve as a vital step toward ending the war. The talks, however, are set to take place without any pre-agreed ceasefire, a condition that has already triggered contrasting responses from global leaders.

"President Putin of Russia doesn't want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY," Trump wrote on Truth Social

The appeal followed Putin's rare televised address, in which he proposed a new round of "direct" talks and stressed the need for serious negotiations, warning that any ceasefire used to rearm Ukrainian forces would only prolong the conflict. "This would be the first step towards a long-term, lasting peace, rather than a prologue to more armed hostilities after the Ukrainian armed forces get new armaments and personnel… Who needs peace like that?" he said.

Trump argued that the Istanbul meeting could serve to clarify the viability of a deal and help all parties adjust their positions accordingly. "European leaders, and the US, will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly," he added.

Ukraine, however, has maintained a different stance. President Volodymyr Zelensky insists that negotiations cannot proceed unless Russia first commits to the 30-day ceasefire proposed by Kiev and backed by a coalition of European leaders. "Only then will Kiev sit down at the negotiating table," Zelensky said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed that Ukraine and its allies are ready to implement the ceasefire starting May 12, provided international monitors are in place and Moscow agrees.

Trump, expressing frustration with the impasse, questioned Kyiv's commitment to diplomacy. "I'm starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who's too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll… HAVE THE DEAL, NOW!!!"

As the May 15 summit draws nearer, Turkey has affirmed its readiness to host the negotiations. President Erdogan has launched a series of diplomatic phone calls with Western leaders to help safeguard the initiative from disruption. Turkish officials emphasized that "a window of opportunity has opened for peace," but warned that sustained efforts from all sides would be essential.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... -to-end--b