President Vladimir Putin awarded US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, the Order of Lenin to pass on to a senior CIA official whose son was killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine. Michael Gloss, the 21-year-old son of CIA deputy director Juliane Gallina, died in Ukraine last year and enlisted with Russian forces in the fall of 2023. The Kremlin has not officially acknowledged the award, while neither the White House, the CIA, nor Witkoff have commented on the matter. Reports indicate Trump and Putin are scheduled to meet to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine.
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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that the war’s conclusion must be just and uphold the security needs of European populations. He expressed gratitude for those supporting Ukraine and its defense of European security. Zelenskyy also highlighted Ukraine’s endorsement of the joint statement from several European leaders. This statement urged the US president to negotiate with the Russian leader, but only under the condition of a ceasefire and security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe.
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The White House is contemplating inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Alaska, where President Donald Trump is slated to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week. Although no visit has been finalized, the possibility of a trilateral summit is being discussed. This development follows Trump’s announcement of a meeting with Putin on August 15th, aimed at securing a ceasefire in Ukraine, despite initial conditions for the meeting involving Zelenskyy. While the exact nature of any potential meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin remains uncertain, diplomatic efforts are intensifying, spurred by Trump’s special envoy’s meeting with Putin and proposed ceasefire outlines.
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President Zelenskyy declared that Ukraine would not allow Russia a second chance to divide its territory, citing Putin’s tactics of seeking to exchange a pause in the war for the legalization of occupied land. He emphasized that a dignified peace, based on a clear security architecture, is the only acceptable outcome. Zelenskyy highlighted the need for immediate and lasting peace, not a temporary ceasefire, and stated that Ukraine’s partners are ready to help with this. This stance comes amidst reports of potential negotiations that may involve territorial concessions, which Zelenskyy has firmly rejected.
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President Trump has yet to impose new sanctions on Russia despite Moscow’s failure to meet the August 8 deadline to cease hostilities in Ukraine. A high-level summit is planned for August 15 in Alaska between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a peace deal. Trump has hinted that a potential deal might involve territorial swaps, possibly aiming to regain some land for Ukraine. While Putin proposed a ceasefire in exchange for Ukraine’s eastern regions, the Russian leader has shown little interest in halting the war, believing his forces have the advantage.
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Ukraine’s future cannot be decided without Ukrainians, France’s Macron says, and that sentiment is crucial. It’s a simple statement, really, but it carries a weight that speaks to the very core of self-determination and sovereignty. We often hear this phrase, and it’s easy to nod along, but what does it *truly* mean in the context of the current situation? It means that any decisions about Ukraine’s fate, its borders, its governance, its very existence as a nation, should be made with the active participation and consent of the Ukrainian people. It’s about respecting their agency and their right to shape their own destiny, not allowing powerful nations to redraw maps or make deals over their heads.… Continue reading
President Zelensky rejected Putin’s proposal for Ukraine to cede territory, emphasizing that a lack of consequences for Russia’s actions will only lead to further aggression. He warned that allowing Russia to retain occupied territories would create conditions for future reinvasion. The comments were made ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and Putin where a potential ceasefire plan was to be discussed. Despite rejecting the proposal, Zelensky expressed confidence in Trump’s ability to broker a just peace, while also calling for increased sanctions against Russia.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected the idea of ceding land to Russia to end the war, emphasizing that Ukraine will not give up its territory. This comes after former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested a peace deal involving “some swapping of territories.” Trump has announced a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, potentially in Alaska, without the inclusion of Ukraine, sparking concerns that any agreement without Kyiv’s involvement would be ineffective. The Ukrainian constitution holds its territorial integrity as nonnegotiable.
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Bolton: Trump-Putin summit a ‘great victory’ for Moscow, and it seems like there’s a pretty clear consensus on this, even if the messenger is someone like John Bolton, who many people have their own issues with. The core idea is that any meeting between Trump and Putin, especially one without the presence of Ukrainian representatives, is essentially a win for the Kremlin. It lends Putin legitimacy on the world stage, regardless of any specific outcomes or agreements.
The underlying concern is that Trump is easily manipulated by Putin. His history of praising Putin, even in the face of aggressive actions, speaks volumes.… Continue reading
The upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, slated for August 15th in Alaska, may include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A White House official indicated that the final arrangements for the summit are still fluid, leaving open the possibility of Zelenskyy’s involvement. Initially, Trump expressed openness to meeting with both leaders, but later suggested a meeting solely with Putin. Notably, reports suggest that Putin may demand territorial concessions from Ukraine in exchange for ending hostilities.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood