During Pope Francis’s funeral in Vatican City, Presidents Trump and Zelensky held a productive, constructive private meeting. While specifics weren’t released, the discussion focused on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with Zelensky expressing hope for a full ceasefire and lasting peace. The meeting, prompted by European officials hoping to bridge divides in peace negotiations, followed previous tense encounters between the two leaders. Trump’s proposed peace deal, which includes territorial concessions by Ukraine, contrasts sharply with Kyiv’s counter-proposal.
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In response to escalating tensions following a contentious meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened a London summit with European leaders to chart a course towards peace in Ukraine. The summit aims to establish a unified European plan for ending the conflict, which will then be presented to the United States. This initiative follows a significant loan agreement between the UK and Ukraine to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities. The summit seeks to overcome the divisions created by the Trump-Zelensky meeting and restore momentum to the stalled peace process.
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Following a contentious White House meeting between Presidents Zelensky and Trump that ended without agreement on a mineral deal, Italian Prime Minister Meloni urged an immediate summit of the U.S., EU, and Western allies to address the ongoing situation in Ukraine. This call emphasizes the need for unified Western action, warning against divisions that weaken the West and benefit adversaries. Meloni’s proposal, to be communicated to allies shortly, follows recent reaffirmations of support for Ukraine from European leaders, highlighting growing concerns about exclusion from US-Russia negotiations. The proposed summit builds upon a previous meeting convened in Paris.
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Negotiations between the US and Ukraine are underway for a natural resources agreement. The deal would create a joint US-Ukraine reconstruction investment fund, granting the US access to Ukraine’s substantial mineral reserves in exchange for investment. While President Trump claims an agreement is finalized, President Zelensky emphasizes its success depends on Trump’s actions and includes securing critical security guarantees for Ukraine. The agreement encompasses various natural resources, including minerals, oil, and gas, aiming to reduce US reliance on China for essential materials. Ukraine’s undeveloped resources necessitate significant foreign investment for extraction.
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John Q. Hosedrinker