Following a phone call, President Trump announced plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, with high-level advisors meeting the following week led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump and Putin also discussed future trade, while a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky was scheduled to follow. This comes after growing frustration over the war’s slow progress and a recent massive Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine, which Ukraine’s ambassador says demonstrates Russia’s lack of interest in ending the war.
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The Venezuelan government has shuttered its embassy in Oslo, according to Norway’s foreign ministry. The ministry did not provide an explanation for the closure. This announcement occurred just days after opposition leader Maria Corina Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize. The news was reported by the Agence France-Presse.
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President Trump’s emphasis on direct deals has been exposed as fragile as the China trade truce falters. China’s recent unveiling of export controls on rare earths and other critical materials, vital to U.S. defense and technology, sent shockwaves through specific sectors. Despite the significant implications, broader market reactions remained muted following the announcement. This development underscores the risks associated with relying on personalized agreements.
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Following President Petro’s criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, the US revoked his visa, prompting a strong response from the Colombian leader. Petro condemned the move, arguing that the US was violating international law by punishing his denouncement of alleged genocide. Colombia’s foreign affairs ministry echoed these sentiments, criticizing the use of visa revocation as a diplomatic tool and the UN should find a neutral host country. This action marks a further deterioration in relations between Colombia and the United States, which have been strained by various disagreements, including Petro’s earlier actions blocking deportation flights and accusing US officials of coup plotting.
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US to revoke Colombia President Petro’s visa over ‘reckless’ actions in New York. This whole situation feels like a powder keg ready to blow, doesn’t it? The US is reportedly going to yank President Petro’s visa, and it’s all thanks to some rather pointed comments he made while in New York for the UN General Assembly. Apparently, he told US soldiers to disobey their orders if they were instructed to fire on citizens, which is, to put it mildly, a bold move.
Let’s be real, the core issue here is that he’s essentially telling foreign military personnel not to follow their commander-in-chief’s orders while on foreign soil.… Continue reading
Trump blasts the UN for not ‘living up’ to its potential, and honestly, it feels like he delivered a greatest hits collection of his usual tirades, filled with the same old lies and nonsensical talking points. The man jumped from child sex trafficking to criticizing Germany and then somehow ended up ranting about windmills. It was a whirlwind of incoherence, bordering on the insane, with the core message, “Climate change is a hoax,” echoing throughout. He even went as far as to suggest that “radical environmentalists” want to “kill all the cows.” It was hard not to think, “Did this really happen?”… Continue reading
Trump is breaking US diplomacy, State Department staffers say. It’s not exactly a secret, but it’s a situation that’s drawing some serious concern, especially from those who work within the State Department. The consensus seems to be that the way things are going, the U.S. is losing its footing on the world stage, and it’s all tied to how Trump handles diplomacy, or rather, doesn’t. It’s like the classic definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Here, the repeated actions appear to be eroding the very tools that the United States needs to navigate a complex world.… Continue reading
Polish foreign minister says Putin ‘laughs’ at Trump’s peace efforts, and honestly, that’s not surprising. The core sentiment here, repeated almost ad nauseam, is that the world, or at least a significant portion of it, finds Trump’s approach to diplomacy and, specifically, his efforts regarding Putin, to be a source of amusement. It’s a prevailing view, a shared experience of witnessing what many perceive as ineffective posturing.
It seems that the general consensus views Trump’s supposed “peace efforts” as largely performative, lacking substance. The complete absence of any actual listed actions speaks volumes. The overwhelming impression is that these so-called efforts are seen as hollow gestures, generating more laughter than results.… Continue reading
South Korea says US release of video showing workers arrest was regrettable, and this statement really cuts to the heart of the matter. It’s clear that the South Korean government views the public display of the arrests as a significant misstep by the U.S. authorities. The core of the concern revolves around the perceived disrespect shown to South Korean citizens and the potential damage inflicted on the critical U.S.-South Korea alliance. The public nature of the raid, captured and disseminated through video, suggests a lack of consideration for diplomatic protocol and the broader implications for international relations.
In a situation like this, it is understandable that South Korea might feel betrayed.… Continue reading
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has rejected Russian President Putin’s offer to meet in Moscow, viewing the location as a sign of insincere negotiation tactics. Zelenskyy proposed Putin come to Kyiv instead, citing ongoing attacks on Ukraine as a reason for his refusal. While the US has been advocating for face-to-face talks, Moscow has presented additional conditions and escalated shelling, further complicating the prospect of a meeting. Zelenskyy stated Russia is attempting to prolong the war and turn diplomacy into a farce, calling for strengthened sanctions, increased arms supplies, and restrictions on Russian oil and gas.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood