Zelenskyy Met with Starmer, Merz and Macron – Now Heading to Brussels

Yesterday, Ukraine President Volodymr Zelenskyy traveled to London to meet with British PM Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron.

As expected, part of the Zelenskyy meeting with the “coalition of the willing” included a briefing by Ukraine negotiator Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, who held detailed consultations for three days last week in Miami with Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

President Zelenskyy then departed London traveling with his media entourage to Brussels for the next round of discussions with the European Union stakeholders, financiers and politicians. During the trip Zelenskyy told his media stenographers, “Under our laws, under international law — and under moral law — we have no right to give anything away. That is what we are fighting for.”

The U.K, France and Germany support Zelenskyy’s position that he is not going to concede any territory to the Russian Federation, specifically the 30% of the Donbas area in Eastern Ukraine currently at the heart of the physical conflict.

The 30% issue surrounds the Donetsk region in Ukraine, which includes the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Russia is currently pushing deep into fortified Ukraine resistance in this region with a population of around 100,000. Zelenskyy claims losing this area would allow Putin to invade the Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions.

Historically, this Donbas area was part of a brutal long-term Ukraine civil war between the pro-Russia eastern Ukrainian citizens and the pro-EU western aligned Ukrainian army. Russia’s current position is for Ukraine to cede the entire Donbas to Russia as part of the ceasefire agreement, or Russia will continue forward conflict military operations until successful.

Seeing things through the pragmatic prism of inevitability, President Trump’s view appears to be that this Donbas area will be lost to Russia one way or the other. So, the best scenario to stop the killing is for Ukraine to give up this territory as part of the ceasefire terms. Zelenskyy, with support of the EU, France, Germany and U.K says a firm “no.”

Politico reports that Zelenskyy said in August of this year “it would take Russia four-years to fully occupy the Donbas,” subsequently a lot of killing would take place during this process. President Trump is trying to stop the brutal “killing” part of that dynamic by getting the negotiation to the point of concession, but the EU team view any land area concession as positive affirmation for Russia to continue threatening Europe.

♦ On the ‘Security Guarantee‘ issue, this is where a quagmire is presented by European leaders.

From a pragmatic standpoint a European demilitarized zone, stood up and supported by EU military forces would appear to be the best solution. However, the “coalition of the willing” say they are willing to put security troops into Ukraine, but only if the USA will defend them if attacked by Russia. In essence, quasi-NATO forces on a non-NATO country, that if attacked would draw the entirety of NATO into the conflict, including the United States.

The U.K, France, Germany and EU Commission want a security structure similar to NATO for Ukraine that legally binds the United States to defend their interests if the ceasefire does not hold. President Trump has rejected this construct as yet another way for Europe to pull the U.S into a conflict zone that is not in our vital national security interests.

The ceasefire proposal structured by Trump, Witkoff and Kushner – seemingly supported by Russia, does not permit Ukraine to join NATO; however, EU membership is entirely up to the EU and people of Ukraine to decide. If Ukraine joins the EU, then EU forces alone should provide the security guarantee, not NATO which includes the U.S. and Canada.

(Washington Post) […] Zelensky said Ukraine will not surrender its territory in the eastern Donbas region — not to hasten peace talks, not to satisfy Washington’s push for compromise and not under pressure from Moscow’s continuing military onslaught.

Ukraine and Europe have insisted that a ceasefire be declared along current battle lines, but Russia has refused. Putin has claimed, illegally, to have annexed four entire regions of Ukraine (in addition to Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014) — far more territory than his military forces have been able to occupy.

Some Ukrainian officials held out hope that the negotiations could still bear fruit.

The proposal “is closer to be doable for Ukraine, but not easy and not finished,” said a senior Ukrainian official familiar with recent discussions, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. (read more)

President Zelenskyy, whose term in office has long expired, departed London with his EU media entourage heading to Brussels. The collective group is trying to figure out how to keep America tied to their stakeholder interests in Ukraine.

The European leaders are manufacturing a construct that is not supported by the vast majority of the citizens within the EU, even within Ukraine itself. Meanwhile back in the USA, congress (House and Senate majorities) supports the position of Ukraine and the EU against the interests of President Trump and the voting majority.

The ruling class is supporting Zelenskyy, while the killing of the non-ruling class continues on the fields of Ukraine.

https://theconservativetreehou...russels/#more-278637

3900 soldiers in a week in just one sector. Pretty shocking how poorly Ukraine's forces are performing given all of the money and equipment we gave them.


https://tass.com/politics/2055027


Kiev forces lost nearly 3,900 soldiers, mercenaries in a week along LPR borders — expert
The greatest losses in manpower were inflicted on the enemy in the zone of responsibility of the Battlegroup West
LUHANSK, December 8. /TASS/. The Ukrainian armed forces lost nearly 3,900 soldiers and mercenaries killed and wounded in fighting along the borders of the Lugansk People's Republic in a week, they suffered the heaviest losses in the area of responsibility of the Battlegroup West, military expert Andrey Marochko told TASS.

"From November 29 to December 5, 2025, our units improved their tactical position along the forward edge and advanced deep into the enemy's defenses on the western borders of the LPR. <…> The losses of Ukrainian armed forces in the zones of responsibility of the Battlegroups North, South, and West during the reporting period amounted to approximately 3,875 Ukrainian fighters and mercenaries. The greatest losses in manpower were inflicted on the enemy in the zone of responsibility of the Battlegroup West, operating in the Kupyansk, Borovsk, and Krasny Liman directions, as well as in the area of the LPR occupied by the Ukrainian armed forces," he said, analyzing data from the Russian Defense Ministry.

Marochko added that during the aforementioned period, the Russian armed forces fighters also destroyed 56 units of various armored combat vehicles, 26 field artillery pieces, 66 electronic and counter-battery warfare stations, 59 ammunition, fuel, and supply depots, as well as more than 230 different enemy combat vehicles.

Tags

Zelenskyy just said no to the Trump peace deal

Zelensky Definitively Shuts Door On Trump Peace Plan, Won't Cede Territory

So he'd rather just grind on and sacrifice all of his country's young men, this is insane. He's a dead man walking.

Wow. I’m not surprised, but still… wow. How can anyone say this guy wants peace at this point?

quote:

So he'd rather just grind on and sacrifice all of his country's young men, this is insane. He's a dead man walking.

European leaders pushing forward maximalist counter-demands...
He's too stupid to see his European "allies" are going to be the end of him.

^^ His European 'allies' are going to be the end of Europe as well.

In the words of the great Pete Hegseth... FAFO. The man simply had to surrender territory which was a more than reasonable ask given Russia's promise to not push past Donetsk.

The US wants to remain engaged in these discussions but the distance between the US delegation and the Europeans and Zelensky is becoming obvious to all:

Zelenskyy and EU Leaders Release Official Position and Joint Statement Following Berlin Negotiations – USA Did Not Sign

Before getting to the details as released for media consumption, three facets deserve emphasis.

(1) The primary objective of Ukraine/EU has been a publicity campaign to retain influence and support. (2) U.S. Emissaries Witkoff and Kushner are silent on the announced negotiated result. (3) Ukraine’s lead negotiator Rustem Umerov notes, “There is a lot of noise and anonymous speculation in the media right now. Please don’t fall for rumors and provocations. The American team led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are working extremely constructively to help Ukraine find a way to a peace agreement that lasts.”

I would overlay that within the weeks of discussions it is easy to spot distance between Umerov and Zelenskyy, specifically as it pertains to the influence of the EU Leadership group. Meaning, Zelenskyy is a puppet for the EU team, whereas Umerov appears more pragmatic and seemingly more focused on the interests of Ukraine.

Additionally, despite the violence and death in the war, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to say he is in no hurry to end the bloodshed. This becomes more important to recognize when you look at the post-Berlin comments from Zelenskyy himself.

First, to the outcome of the negotiations as expressed by the EU Leadership team.

This is their official joint statement on their position within the framework. Again, not signed or accepted by the U.S delegation. [SOURCE]

The Leaders welcomed significant progress on President Trump’s efforts to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They also welcomed the close work between President Zelenskyy’s and President Trump’s teams as well as European teams over the recent days and weeks. They agreed to work together with President Trump and President Zelenskyy to get to a lasting peace which preserves Ukrainian sovereignty and European security. Leaders appreciated the strong convergence between the United States, Ukraine and Europe.

Leaders agreed that ensuring the security, sovereignty, and prosperity of Ukraine was integral for wider Euro-Atlantic security. They were clear that Ukraine and its people deserved a prosperous, independent, and sovereign future, free from fear of future Russian aggression.

Both the US and European leaders committed to work together to provide robust security guarantees and economic recovery support measures for Ukraine in the context of an agreement on ending the war. This would include commitments to:

♦ Provide sustained and significant support to Ukraine to build its armed forces, which should remain at a peacetime level of 800,000 to be able to deter conflict and defend Ukraine’s territory.

♦ A European-led ‘multinational force Ukraine’ made up from contributions from willing nations within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing and supported by the US. It will assist in the regeneration of Ukraine’s forces, in securing Ukraine’s skies, and in supporting safer seas, including through operating inside Ukraine.

♦ A US led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism with international participation to provide early warning of any future attack and attribute and respond to any breaches along with a deconfliction mechanism to work on mutual deescalatory actions that can be taken to benefit all parties.

♦ A legally binding commitment, subject to national procedures, to take measures to restore peace and security in the case of a future armed attack. These measures may include armed force, intelligence and logistical assistance, economic and diplomatic actions.

♦ Invest in the future prosperity of Ukraine, including making major resources available for recovery and reconstruction, mutually beneficial trade agreements, and taking into account the need for Russia to compensate Ukraine for the damage caused. In this vein, Russian sovereign assets in the European Union have been immobilised.

♦ Strongly support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

The leaders expressed their support for President Zelenskyy and agreed to support whatever decisions he ultimately makes on specific Ukrainian issues. They reaffirmed that international borders must not be changed by force. Decisions on territory are for the people of Ukraine, once robust security guarantees are effectively in place. They agreed that some issues would need to be resolved in the final stages of negotiations. They underlined that they would support President Zelenskyy to consult his people if needed.

They were clear that as in any deal, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed and that all parties must work intensively towards a solution that could assure a lasting end to the fighting.

They were also clear that any deal should protect the long-term security and unity of the Euro-Atlantic and the role of NATO in providing robust deterrence. They stated that any elements affecting the EU and NATO will be discussed among EU and NATO members respectively.

It is now incumbent upon Russia to show willingness to work towards a lasting peace by agreeing to President Trump’s peace plan and to demonstrate their commitment to end the fighting by agreeing to a ceasefire. Leaders agreed to continue to increase pressure on Russia to bring Moscow to negotiate in earnest.

They all committed to work on rapid further progress in the coming days and weeks to jointly conclude and endorse an agreement for a lasting peace. They reaffirmed their strong support for President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine in their fight against Russia’s illegal invasion and in delivering a just and lasting peace.

This statement remains open for other countries to join. [SOURCE LINK]

As noted in the position of the “EU Leadership,” under their plan the Russian sovereign wealth fund will be permanently confiscated by the EU and distributed according to their stakeholder interests. Ukraine President Zelenskyy later stated he expects to receive $40 to $45 billion euros per year from these confiscated assets.

There are two scenarios: 1 – if the war ends, the funds will go toward rebuilding the country; 2 – if aggression continues, Ukraine expects €40–45 billion annually for defense and security.

Here, in his words to the media after the Berlin conference, is where you need to read between the lines for Zelenskyy’s mindset. Notice he is already positioning a continuance of the conflict, “if aggression continues….”

To the issue of permanent confiscation of a captured sovereign wealth fund. Think about the ramifications here, not just to Russia but to the international monetary system. The Russian sovereign wealth fund is not the money of Vladimir Putin; it is the investment fund belonging to the people of Russia.

This precedent, if carried out, means all nations with sovereign wealth funds (Japan, Asia countries, Saudi Arabia, et al) will now look upon those funds as “at risk” investments forever. If the U.S/EU assembly can simply confiscate the EU/USD-based wealth of a sovereign nation, then all nations are at risk of a similar outcome based on the ideological alignment of the control group. Western asset holdings will forever be viewed through this political prism.

Next, Zelenskyy expects to receive all the Russian funds, or €40 to 45 billion annually from the Russian account holders in the EU if the fight continues.

Presumably this Russian money would be used to continue the Ukraine graft and conflict if the USA refuses to send more money. This is a core element behind what Zelenskyy then said to reporters.

Here are Zelenskyy’s words as quoted and summarized (I have verified by reviewing 3 sources from the media team). The emphasis is mine:

– The U.S. wants a quick end to the war; for us, quality matters. If speed and quality coincide, we’re fully on board, Zelenskyy said.

– Neither de jure nor de facto will we recognize Donbas as Russian.

– Zelensky confirmed talks with Trump and European leaders. According to him, the unity of Ukraine, the U.S., and Europe was demonstrated.

– Today or tomorrow we will finalize the documents. Then, in the coming days, the U.S. will hold consultations with the Russians, followed by consultations with the U.S. President. After that, our teams will meet in the U.S. soon—possibly even over the weekend.

– “I believe we are very close to strong security guarantees. Where there is a Fifth Amendment, as in NATO—meaning a mirror of Article 5 for all Alliance members.

– Ukraine supports the idea of a Christmas truce.

– A reparations loan or other use of frozen Russian assets is a financial guarantee of Ukraine’s security. There are two scenarios: 1 – if the war ends, the funds will go toward rebuilding the country; 2 – if aggression continues, Ukraine expects €40–45 billion annually for defense and security.

– In the first version of the peace plan there were certain points I don’t want to comment on, but importantly, they are no longer there.

– The U.S. is seeking compromise approaches and proposes a free economic zone format, but this does not mean Russian control. At the same time, the President acknowledged that the issue of territories remains one of the key questions, and there is still no consensus.

– “I am ready for elections. If we reach certain sensitive issues and decide elections are needed—if there is a ceasefire, there will be elections.” {SOURCE}

The second point by Zelenskyy is factually stunning. “Neither de jure nor de facto will we recognize Donbas as Russian.” Not within law, nor within a matter of fact, will Zelenskyy recognize the Donbas region as Russian territory.

If accurate and not just PR, Ukraine will not concede the Donbas region to Russia. This is the context behind all other points on regional geography or territories. Zelenskyy will not give Putin the Eastern Ukraine region which Russia currently occupies.

In a very real and pragmatic way this position can make all of the negotiated ceasefire talks, entirely moot. This is also why this appears to be the emphasis: “U.S. officials said that territorial questions — including Donbas — will ultimately be resolved directly between Ukraine and Russia, at the highest political level, essentially leaving the territorial question for the final stage of discussions. {Source}

I’m not sure how the Ukraine-U.S-EU-Russia negotiations can frame all other aspects while simultaneously leaving out the part of territorial concessions until later.

As noted by the official statement from EU Leadership, “as in any deal, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.” Perhaps this is how they are structuring momentum; keep focused on the small things for agreement, until you hit the wall of major disagreement at the end. This would not be beginning with the end in mind.

https://theconservativetreehou...ot-sign/#more-278838

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfr...dkt_nbr=010104hucex8

US and Ukraine Reach Consensus on Key Issues Aimed at Ending War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters that he would be willing to withdraw troops from the country’s eastern industrial heartland as part of a plan to end Russia’s war, if Moscow also pulls back and the area becomes a demilitarized, free economic zone monitored by international forces.
The proposal marks the clearest indication yet of the compromises the Ukrainian leader would be willing to make on the Donbas region, control of which is a major sticking point in peace negotiations.

A similar arrangement could be possible for the area around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is currently under Russian control, Zelenskyy said. He said that any peace plan would need to be put to a referendum.

Zelenskyy spoke to reporters Tuesday to describe a 20-point overarching plan that negotiators from Ukraine and the U.S. hammered out in Florida in recent days, though he said that many details are still being discussed.

Russia has given no indication that it will agree to any kind of withdrawal of its troops from land it has seized. In fact, Moscow has insisted that Ukraine relinquish the remaining territory it still holds in the Donbas — an ultimatum that Ukraine has rejected. Russia has captured most of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk — the two areas that make up the Donbas.

Asked about the plan, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that Moscow would set out its position based on information received by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who met with U.S. envoys in Florida over the weekend. Peskov declined to share further details.

American negotiators have engaged in a series of talks with Ukraine and Russia separately since U.S. President Donald Trump presented a plan to end the war last month — a proposal widely see as favoring Moscow, which invaded its neighbor nearly four years ago. Since then, Ukraine and its allies in Europe have worked to pull the plan closer to Kyiv's position.

Zelenskyy said that figuring out control of the Donbas region is “the most difficult point.”

Meanwhile, on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the U.S. has proposed creating a consortium with Ukraine and Russia, in which each party would have an equal stake. Zelenskyy countered with a proposal for joint venture between the U.S. and Ukraine, in which the Americans would be able to decide how to distribute their share, including giving some of it to Russia.

Zelenskyy acknowledged that the U.S. has not yet accepted Ukraine's counterproposals.

“We did not reach a consensus with the American side on the territory of the Donetsk region and on the ZNPP,” Zelenskyy said, using an acronym for the power plant in Zaporizhzhia. “But we have significantly brought most of the positions closer together. In principle, all other consensus in this agreement has been found between us and them.”

Creating a free economic zone in the Donbas would require difficult discussions on how far troops would be required to move back and where international forces would be stationed, Zelenskyy said, adding that it should discussed at the leaders level.

The working U.S.-Ukraine draft also proposes that Russian forces withdraw from the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv regions. Zelenskyy envisions that international forces could be located along certain points of the contact line within the free economic zone to monitor the implementation of the agreement.

“Since there is no faith in the Russians, and they have repeatedly broken their promises, today’s contact line is turning into a line of a de facto free economic zone, and international forces should be there to guarantee that no one will enter there under any guise — neither ‘little green men’ nor Russian military disguised as civilians,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine is also proposing that the occupied city of Enerhodar, which is the closest city to the Zaporizhzhia power plant, become a demilitarized free economic zone, Zelenskyy said.

This point required 15 hours of discussions with the U.S., he said, and no agreement was reached.

cont...

Bankrupt Canada goes deeper in the hole!

Canada Offers Ukraine Additional $2.5 Billion in Aid
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced $2.5 billion in funding to Ukraine after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/...w6uHCXIZpuFTvSyvQ%3D

DEAR PRESIDENT TRUMP
Please do not acquire this now, shithole country, as a 51st state!

quote:

DEAR PRESIDENT TRUMP
Please do not acquire this now, shithole country, as a 51st state!

Well, not the whole country, anyway. Alberta has oil.

I wish we would wash our hands of this whole affair, period.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/...l1ar0fuVwSeZUodAc%3D

Trump Calls Putin Prior to Meeting With Zelenskyy in Florida

Zelenskyy said he will discuss forms of security, including air defense missiles, in his meeting with Trump.

President Donald Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida on Dec. 28 to discuss a plan to end the yearslong war with Russia.

“These are some of the most active diplomatic days of the year right now, and a lot can be decided before the New Year,” Zelenskyy wrote in an X post on Dec. 28.

“We are doing everything toward this, but whether decisions will be made depends on our partners—those who help Ukraine, and those who put pressure on Russia so that Russians feel the consequences of their own aggression.”

Zelenskyy said he will discuss forms of security, including air defense missiles, in his meeting with Trump.

Prior to the meeting, Trump said he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone.

“I just had a good and very productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting, at 1:00 P.M. today, with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Dec. 28.

“The meeting will take place in the main dining room of Mar-a-Lago. Press is invited. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Sunday’s meeting comes one day after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Zelenskyy in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and announced plans to send $2.5 billion in aid to the war-torn country.
The Ukrainian leader told reporters last week that he also planned to discuss territorial issues and draft a political framework for ending the conflict as well as an economic agreement.
Trump campaigned on ending the war in Ukraine, which started in February 2022, and his administration’s efforts have inched closer in recent weeks.

America’s initial 28-point peace plan, which was condensed into 20 points last week, has a heavy focus on Ukraine receiving security guarantees, becoming an EU member, and receiving a global development package and funding for economic recovery.

Key territorial questions in the peace plan are still being negotiated, such as what will become of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared ‍Kushner spoke to Zelenskyy for an hour on Christmas Day.
“It was a really good conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram after the meeting.
“There are some ‌new ideas on how to bring the real peace closer, and it concerns ⁠formats, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline.”

Witkoff said the United States and Russia have had “productive and constructive meetings” to advance the peace plan.

“Russia remains fully committed to achieving peace in Ukraine,” Witkoff wrote after meetings with Russian Special Envoy Kiril Dmitriev last week.
“Russia highly values the efforts and support of the United States to resolve the Ukrainian conflict and re-establish global security.”

Despite the peace talks, Zelenskyy said Russia has launched more than 2,100 attack drones, 800 guided aerial bombs, and 94 missiles at Ukraine in the past week.

Don't hear much about this now do we?

Ukraine’s ex-energy minister charged with corruption after attempt to flee

https://www.politico.eu/articl...-nuclear-corruption/

Ukraine’s state anti-corruption agencies on Monday charged former Energy Minister German Galushchenko with money laundering and taking part in a criminal organization, a day after he was arrested at the Ukrainian border during an attempt to flee the country.

The crackdown is part of the ongoing Operation Midas, which is investigating the $100 million corruption plot in Ukraine’s state nuclear energy sector that rocked the inner circle of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last year.

According to the National Anti-Сorruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), Galushchenko and his family members became investors in a fictitious investment fund, created to launder the $100 million siphoned out of Ukrainian state nuclear energy company Energoatom.

“To conceal his involvement, two companies were created in the Marshall Islands, integrated into the structure of a trust registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The high-ranking official’s ex-wife and four children were registered as beneficiaries of the companies,” NABU said in a statement Monday.

NABU did not name Galushchenko directly, but described him as Ukraine’s energy minister in 2021-2025 in its official communication about the case. Galushchenko was the only energy minister serving from 2021 until July 2025.

Detectives, with the help of anti-corruption authorities from 13 countries, established that money was transferred out of the fund to accounts in Swiss banks.

"Over $7.4 million was transferred to the accounts of the fund, which was managed by the suspect’s family. Another over 1.3 million Swiss francs and 2.4 million euros were issued in cash and transferred directly to the family in Switzerland," NABU said.

“Some of these funds were spent on paying for the children’s education in prestigious institutions in Switzerland and were placed in the accounts of his ex-wife. The rest was placed on a deposit, from which the family of the high-ranking official received additional income and spent it on their own needs,” the detectives added.

Galushchenko was not available for comment, but he earlier denied wrongdoing during the special investigation commission meeting in the Ukrainian parliament in January.

Parliament dismissed Galushchenko from his recent post as justice minister in November as the corruption probe snowballed.

European Nationalists Rally Around Orbán Following Zelensky's "Outrageous" Remarks

Authored by Thomas Brooke via Remix News,

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has condemned remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Budapest says amounted to a threat against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Responding to comments made during a press briefing in Kyiv on Thursday, Szijjártó said the statement was “beyond every limit” and reflected what he described as “the kind of ‘culture’ coming from Kyiv.”

“This is the man Brussels admires and the country they want to fast-track into the European Union,” Szijjártó said.

“No one can threaten Hungary or its prime minister. No one can blackmail us just because we refuse to pay the price of Ukraine’s war and refuse to accept higher energy prices because of Ukraine.”

Zelensky had been speaking to compatriots about the proposed €90 billion European funding package for Ukraine, and warned that a single EU leader should not block the measure, widely interpreted as meaning Viktor Orbán.

“We hope that in the European Union, one person will not block the 90 billion [euros]. Otherwise, we will give this person’s address to the armed forces, to our guys, let them call him and talk to him in their own language,” Zelensky said.

The Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament also criticized the comments, saying that “statements suggesting intimidation or threats of violence are incompatible with democratic principles and with the spirit of mutual respect that should guide relations between partners.”

The group noted that EU member states have already provided approximately €200 billion in support to Ukraine and said such rhetoric was difficult to reconcile with Ukraine’s ambition to join the European Union.

Tensions escalated further after Orbán responded on social media, declaring that Hungary would restore energy flows through the Druzhba oil pipeline by force, if necessary.

“There will be no deals, no compromise. We will break the Ukrainian oil blockade by force. Hungary’s energy will soon flow again through the Friendship pipeline,” Orbán wrote.

“President Zelensky’s threats are not about me. He is threatening Hungary. Unfortunately for him, he cannot stop me from protecting Hungarian families,” he added.

Several Members of the European Parliament stood in support of Hungary following the remarks.

“Let me remind you that Hungary decided to take this step not out of some whim or bad mood, but in response to Ukraine halting the transit of oil to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline,” noted Polish MEP Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik, affiliated with the right-wing Confederation. “Because of this, fuel prices in Hungary have risen, and Prime Minister Orbán is simply standing firm in defense of his citizens.”

“Not another euro for Zelensky and his corrupt gang! We stand with Hungary,” added Austrian Freedom Party MEP Harald Vilimsky.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geop...s-outrageous-remarks

6 Ukrainians and 1 American caught red handed training groups to conduct terroristic acts against India. And Ukraine demands their citizens be returned immediately.

If Ukraine did not have knowledge of this operation, why would they want them returned to Ukraine quickly, or at all. Why were they not in Ukraine fighting the Russians?

https://www.hindustantimes.com...101773803523688.html

US national Matthew VanDyke arrested by NIA over links to anti-India groups. Who is he?



An American citizen, Matthew Aaron VanDyke, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on March 13 along with six Ukrainian nationals. The agency said all of them had entered India on tourist visas illegally and were working in close contact with anti-India insurgent groups.

Matthew VanDyke has worked as a soldier, an international businessman, a war correspondent and a columnist.

Officials identified the six Ukrainians as Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefaniv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim and Kaminskyi Viktor.

VanDyke is from Baltimore in the US state of Maryland. According to his website, he has worked as a soldier, an international businessman, a war correspondent and a columnist.

In January and February 2009, Matthew VanDyke worked as a war correspondent for The Baltimore Examiner, where he was embedded with US forces in Iraq.

He claims to be a veteran of the Libyan revolution, was held as a prisoner of war there, and later set up a military contracting company called SOLI (Sons of Liberty International).

According to the website, SOLI “operates on a non-profit model to provide free security and military consulting and training to communities fighting terrorism, insurgency, and oppressive regimes”.

The case against them

Court papers show that the NIA has filed a case under section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, which deals with conspiracy, support, abetment or incitement to carry out a terrorist act, as mentioned in an earlier HT report.

A Delhi court on Monday sent all seven to NIA custody until March 27. The agency informed the court that it is also looking for eight more Ukrainians. It said all 15 had entered India on tourist visas illegally, adding that the groups they trained in Myanmar had links to anti-India insurgent organisations.

The accused “entered India on tourist visa on separate dates and flew to Guwahati and thereafter, they travelled to Mizoram without requisite documents - Restricted Area Permit (RAP)/Protected Area Permit (PAP) and entered Myanmar illegally and they were to collect a pre-scheduled training for Myanmar-based ethnic armed groups (EAGs), known to support terror organisations/gangs operating in India in the domain of drone warfare, drone operations, assembly and jamming technology, etc targeting the Myanmar Junta,” the NIA’s submission to the court said.

The agency told the court that VanDyke and the six Ukrainians admitted during questioning that they trained these armed groups more than once. It also said they were involved in illegally bringing large shipments of drones from Europe into Myanmar through India for use by these groups.

“The EAGs they were training and supplying with weapons and other terrorist hardware are known to be supporting some banned Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs), which affects the national security and interest of India,” an NIA officer told HT, declining to be named. “We are trying to unearth the entire conspiracy, and a hunt is on for others.”

US, Ukraine react to arrest of nationals

The US embassy in India said it is "aware of the situation" but cannot share details due to privacy rules related to US citizens.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has raised the matter with the Indian government. Ukraine’s ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, met Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the ministry of external affairs, and submitted an official note. The note called for the immediate release of the Ukrainian nationals and sought consular access, according to Ukraine’s foreign ministry.





https://www.ndtv.com/india-new...ykes-arrest-11234193

The arrest of an American national in India has uncovered several crucial leads in a high-level investigation encompassing national security angles. Matthew VanDyke was among seven foreigners who were arrested two days earlier in connection with an alleged conspiracy hatched against India.

The accused had crossed into Myanmar illegally via India to train ethnic armed groups there and some banned groups in India too, India's top anti-terror body, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), had said.

Scanning his social media footage and mobile phone, officials have now found that VanDyke had previously been linked to numerous military conflicts and operations abroad, while the investigation now aims to ascertain how he managed to reach the northeast and with what mission.

The American embassy confirmed it is aware of the situation but refused to divulge further details.

Big Details Emerge After US Mercenary Matthew VanDyke's Arrest In India VanDyke identified himself as a security analyst, documentary filmmaker, and war correspondent, but sources suggest there are more layers to the shadowy figure.

Big Details Emerge After US Mercenary Matthew VanDyke's Arrest In India
VanDyke identified himself as a security analyst

The arrest of an American national in India has uncovered several crucial leads in a high-level investigation encompassing national security angles. Matthew VanDyke was among seven foreigners who were arrested two days earlier in connection with an alleged conspiracy hatched against India.

The accused had crossed into Myanmar illegally via India to train ethnic armed groups there and some banned groups in India too, India's top anti-terror body, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), had said.

Scanning his social media footage and mobile phone, officials have now found that VanDyke had previously been linked to numerous military conflicts and operations abroad, while the investigation now aims to ascertain how he managed to reach the northeast and with what mission.

The American embassy confirmed it is aware of the situation but refused to divulge further details.


VanDyke: Modern Warfare Operative

VanDyke identified himself as a security analyst, documentary filmmaker, and war correspondent, but sources suggest there are more layers to the shadowy figure.

The American was a mercenary military instructor with reported former associations with the US military, sources said. He served in Iraq among other combat zones. He also provided "special forces-style" training that encompasses disciplines such as guerrilla warfare, tactical operations, drone usage, and modern warfare techniques, sources added.


VanDyke's Early Days

VanDyke gained prominence during the Libyan Civil War. He reportedly embarked on a motorcycle journey across North Africa and the Middle East after completing university. During this period, he forged friendship with the people of Libya. When the revolution erupted there, he joined the rebel fighters. He was arrested and held captive for about six months. However, he managed to escape and returned to the US after the war ended in 2011.

He then planned to produce a documentary on the Syrian revolution that started soon after. However, the execution of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, both his friends, by ISIS, made him change his plan and focus on training armed groups. He then founded the Sons of Liberty International (SOLI) to train and advise armed groups around the world.

During the investigation, officials came across several recordings in which VanDyke was reportedly heard making statements that backed rebellions across the world. He stated that his objective was not just to deploy foreign fighters into combat, but rather to train local populations to fight for themselves.

VanDyke had even issued global appeals to mercenaries to join insurgent groups in Venezuela, Myanmar, and Iran.

His arrest in India assumes significance since he is believed to be linked to armed networks active in the Northeast. VanDyke is also believed to have been providing training in drone operations and modern warfare techniques.

His arrest throws up major security questions, especially if the Indian territory was being used as a transit corridor and if he had any link to anti-India and banned groups. Espionage and intelligence-gathering angles are also being probed.

3 Major Theories

Three major potential theories are being examined in connection with VanDyke's arrest, sources suggest. The first points to a larger international initiative, possibly a broader strategy to destabilize India. This hypothesis stems from allegations against the CIA of conducting covert operations across the globe.

Some analysts also believe that a network linked to Ukraine could be behind this, especially after President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need for special operations in foreign countries. Earlier, Ukraine's presence had been observed in conflict zones in Sudan, Mali, Syria, and Libya.

Experts also suggest that VanDyke could be linked to the geopolitical tensions surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war, possibly as a consequence of India buying Russian oil during the Ukraine war and maintaining strategic ties with the country.

Maybe promising…

“Moscow and Kyiv have both signalled the end of the war in Ukraine may be in sight, as chilling footage shows a Ukrainian drone brigade killing 8,000 Russian troops in a single month. …”

https://mol.im/a/15724343

Now that this laundromat is closed, I guess the Dems don't care about it anymore. Or did peace break out while I wasn't paying attention?

With GOP Help, House Dems Force Vote To Give Another $1.3 Billion To Ukraine

In a rebellion defying the priorities of Speaker Mike Johnson, House Democrats have teamed up with two Republicans and an independent in a parliamentary maneuver that will force a vote on a bill that would give another $1.3 billion in military aid and other assistance to Ukraine, as that country continues to lose territory in its war with Russia.

"We look forward to seeing the House pass this bill quickly and encourage the Senate to take it up without delay. The ​brave men and women of Ukraine ​are waiting," said NY Rep. Gregory Meeks, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the author of the bill.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geop...r-13-billion-ukraine