Former President Trump retracted his earlier statement regarding a deadline for a Ukraine-Russia peace settlement, stating that his goal is to achieve peace swiftly. His comments followed a meeting between his envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Vladimir Putin, with Trump expressing hope for positive outcomes. The stated aim is to prevent the ongoing loss of life, estimated at 5,000 casualties weekly. Trump deferred questions about potential sanctions against Russia.
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Michael Alexander Gloss, the 21-year-old son of a CIA deputy director, died in April 2024 while fighting for the Russian military in eastern Ukraine. An investigation by iStories revealed Gloss, who had expressed anti-American sentiment online, signed a contract with the Russian army in September 2023 and was deployed to the front lines. His family’s obituary omitted the details surrounding his death, while acquaintances reported he may have been motivated by a desire for Russian citizenship rather than a commitment to fighting. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, and the extent of the Russian military’s knowledge of his family background is unknown.
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Ukraine has formed the 1st Azov Army Corps, a significant military restructuring placing its most experienced units in a critical eastern front sector near Toretsk. Commanded by Colonel Denys Prokopenko, the Corps unites five elite brigades, including the renowned Azov Brigade, each with proven combat experience in various key battles across Ukraine. This strategic move aims to exploit Russian overstretch and fatigue, leveraging the Corps’ adaptability and expertise in urban warfare to halt and potentially reverse Russian advances in the volatile Toretsk region. The Corps’ formation represents a streamlined command structure enhancing operational coordination and resource allocation.
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In a recent interview, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the U.S.’s efforts to end the war but emphasized Russia’s longstanding ambition to dismantle American global leadership and economic power. He highlighted this as a continuation of Soviet-era policies, now resurrected under Putin’s rule, and asserted that Russia’s influence extends to former USSR states, with the ultimate goal being to target the United States. Zelenskyy further noted the alignment of Russia with Iran and North Korea in their shared antagonism towards the U.S., using the Ukraine conflict as a proxy battleground. This strategy, he argued, masks the weakness of Russia’s military, which has failed to decisively defeat Ukraine.
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Michael Gloss, son of a CIA deputy director, died in April 2024 fighting for Russia in Ukraine after enlisting in the Russian army in September 2023. Prior to his military service, Gloss traveled extensively and expressed anti-American sentiments to friends. His motivations for joining the Russian military included anger towards the U.S. and a desire to expedite obtaining Russian citizenship for his environmental work. Gloss’s family held a funeral in December 2024, omitting mention of his service in the Russian army.
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During a Kharkiv press conference, Nebraska Senator Tom Brewer emphasized the critical nature of continued US military support for Ukraine, highlighting the dependence on US-supplied weapons and ammunition. His fifth visit to Ukraine, alongside a Nebraska delegation, focused on assessing Ukraine’s military and humanitarian needs for subsequent reporting to US officials. Senator Brewer also expressed evolving concerns regarding Donald Trump’s understanding of Vladimir Putin, contrasting initial overly positive assessments with a growing awareness of Putin’s true nature. Finally, the senator discussed the US peace proposal, noting the problematic nature of concessions such as recognizing Crimea’s annexation, which directly contradicts Ukrainian law.
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On the same day US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin for three hours of constructive talks focusing on Ukraine and other international issues, a senior Russian general, Yaroslav Moskalik, was killed in a car bombing near Moscow. Witkoff’s visit, his fourth since January, comes as President Trump’s 100-day deadline for ending the war approaches, with ongoing disagreements between the US and Ukraine regarding proposed peace deals. These competing proposals differ significantly on the status of Crimea and the level of concessions required from Ukraine. The general’s death, following a similar assassination of another Russian general in December, adds another layer of complexity to the already tense situation.
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On February 12, 2025, an RCMP Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter touched down at the Lansdowne port of entry. Recent polling data reveals that Canadians view relations with the U.S. as negatively as those with Russia. This coincides with a demonstrated willingness among Canadians to strengthen ties with both China and, more significantly, Mexico.
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Boris Johnson sharply criticized Donald Trump’s proposed Ukraine peace deal, arguing that it would offer Ukraine no meaningful concessions. The plan, which reportedly includes recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea and lifting sanctions, would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future Russian aggression. Johnson contrasted this with Ukraine’s significant sacrifices in resisting the invasion, emphasizing the need for long-term security guarantees from Western allies. He concluded that Trump’s proposal lacks a mechanism to prevent further Russian attacks.
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Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the Russian armed forces’ main operations directorate, was killed in a car bombing near Moscow. The attack, similar to previous incidents claimed by Ukraine, occurred as Vladimir Putin met with Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to discuss potential peace deals in Ukraine. These talks, however, are complicated by significant differences between US and Ukrainian proposals for ending the conflict and by the ongoing violence. The Kremlin opened a criminal investigation into the bombing, while Kyiv has yet to comment.
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John Q. Hosedrinker