Zelenskyy Praises Trump's Russia Sanctions But Says "It's Not Enough" — Demands Long-Range Missiles to Force Putin Into Peace Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed President Trump's new sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, calling them "a significant step," but insisted that Ukraine still desperately needs long-range missiles to pressure Vladimir Putin into serious negotiations.
In an exclusive interview with Axios, Zelenskyy estimated that Trump's sanctions could slash Russia's oil exports by 50%, costing Moscow up to $5 billion monthly. However, he warned bluntly: "sanctions alone won't stop" Putin.
The Shift in Trump's Approach
The Ukrainian leader revealed details of his tense October 17 White House meeting with Trump, which he diplomatically called "constructive" but acknowledged "wasn't easy." During that meeting, Trump rejected Ukraine's request for Tomahawk cruise missiles, citing escalation concerns.
But after Putin stuck to maximalist demands and diplomatic talks stalled, Trump cancelled a planned Putin summit and imposed the first direct sanctions on Russia since taking office — a dramatic U-turn.
Ceasefire Plan in the Works
Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine and its allies will finalize a ceasefire plan within the next 10 days following discussions with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The plan will be "short, without too many details" and modeled loosely on Trump's Gaza approach.
The Ukrainian president said he accepted Trump's proposal to freeze current front lines as the basis for negotiations, though he remains skeptical Putin will accept any peace proposal.
"We Need More Pressure"
"We speak not only about Tomahawks. The U.S. has a lot of similar things that don't require much time for training. I think the way to work with Putin is only through pressure," Zelenskyy told Axios.
He argued that Ukraine wouldn't even need to use the missiles immediately — just the threat of strikes on Russia's energy facilities could bring Putin to the negotiating table.
#Ukraine #Russia #Trump
Read More...
12 hours ago
Two US Navy Aircraft Down in 30 Minutes: South China Sea Incidents Raise Safety Questions
In a rare double incident, a US Navy helicopter and fighter jet crashed into the South China Sea within half an hour of each other on Sunday, October 26, 2025. Both aircraft were operating from the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier during routine operations.
What Happened:
At 2:45 PM local time, an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 went down first. Just 30 minutes later at 3:15 PM, an F/A-18F Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 22 also crashed into the waters.
The good news? All five crew members survived. The three helicopter crew members were rescued from the water, while both fighter jet pilots successfully ejected before impact and were recovered by search-and-rescue teams.
Context That Matters:
The USS Nimitz is currently on its final deployment before decommissioning in May 2026. At 49 years old, it's the Navy's oldest active aircraft carrier, now serving its 23rd deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.
These crashes add to a concerning pattern of US Navy aviation incidents. The USS Harry S. Truman experienced a friendly fire incident in December when the USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down one of its F/A-18s, and another Super Hornet fell overboard in April during evasive maneuvers against Houthi missile attacks.
The cause of both Sunday crashes remains under investigation by the US Pacific Fleet.
The incidents occurred in the strategically contested South China Sea, where US forces regularly conduct freedom of navigation operations amid ongoing territorial disputes with China.
#News #US #Navy #Aircraft #Down #South #China
Read More...
12 hours ago
