Trump’s recent moves, including a conversation with Putin and a demand for Ukrainian mineral rights, are worrisome signs for Zelensky.

‘We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations,’ Trump says

The diplomatic tango between Washington and Moscow is underway, but Trump’s promise to bring a quick end to the war in Ukraine on Trump’s terms appears more unlikely with each passing day. Prior to the conversation between the two leaders during the last four days, diplomats representing Moscow and Washington in their respective embassies did the detail work of arranging the phone diplomacy. But, according to Borizzkman, there were two, not one, conversations (this is Borizzkman’s concise eight-minute video presenting the latest developments):

New memoir unintentionally lays bare his own missteps in the ‘march to war’ with Russia

As Donald Trump says he wants to end the war in Ukraine, Edward Lozansky recommends some background reading on the roots of the conflict.

While the US president cannot end the Ukraine war on terms that will satisfy Putin, some believe Washington’s willingness to upend international norms will help Moscow

I am stealing the title of Alastair Crooke’s recent post on Trump and Russia because that was the starting point of my interview with him this week. It is now up on Counter Currents and is embedded in this piece.

Goods and services can be sanctioned, or they can receive a tariff, but it makes no sense to do both in succession. While Donald Trump is liberal with threats of tariffs, there are fresh reports that the US is planning further sanctions on Russia unless it comes to the negotiating table. The Kremlin has dismissed this as “nothing new”.

The 47th president wants to end conflicts but not resolve them

Donald Trump’s election victory can genuinely be called a miracle, given the powerful political, financial, judicial, informational, public, and criminal forces that tried not only to prevent it, but also to imprison him for decades or even kill him. Let’s add to this that at the age of 78, campaigning while facing large enemy armies is difficult.