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
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That $300 Million WH Ball Room being built - Trump to name it after himself.
Construction on Donald Trump’s controversial new White House addition is off to a disastrous start if his model of the glitzy East Wing ballroom is anything to go by. Plans shared by the MAGA administration suggest “a hurried process,” the New York Times reports, noting that a miniature mock-up of the 90,000 square foot annex, proudly unveiled to the press Wednesday, featured some truly bizarre architectural features.
Critics, like MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, have lamented what they describe as the president treating the physical structure of the nation’s highest office as if it was his own personal backyard. “To take literally a wrecking ball to the White House… it’s grotesque, just grotesque!” the Morning Joe host said Tuesday. “It’s not yours! You rent it from the American people for four years.”
Others have compared the Trump administration’s work on the building, which the president had previously promised would leave the existing structures untouched, to ISIS’s desecration of historic sites and artifacts during the terrorist group’s brutal reign across parts of Syria and Iraq.
“The first reaction I had was, what the f---? It’s not OK. The White House doesn’t belong to Donald Trump—it’s a federal building, a taxpayer building, belonging to the American people,” archaeologist Matthew Vincent, who spent two decades documenting the recovery of artifacts looted by the Islamic extremist movement, told the Daily Beast.
“What he’s doing is horrific and done without any oversight or acknowledgment from the bodies that should oversee this—and certainly not with the American people,” he added.
The NYT says Trump has indeed failed to follow established procedure for renovations on White House grounds, bypassing the usual reviews from federal groups like the National Capital Planning Commission. #Trump #US #News
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Game on: ABC News says Harris, Trump have agreed to presidential debate on Sept. 10
ABC News says that both Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his Democratic counterpart, Kamala Harris, have agreed to meet in a debate on Sept. 10.
The network’s announcement on Thursday came shortly after Trump told a news conference that he had agreed to three debates with Harris in September on separate networks.
Trump is rejoining the ABC debate days after posting on his social media network that he would not appear on the network, citing a lawsuit he has filed. His decision sets up a highly anticipated moment in an election where the first debate led to a massive change in the race — with Democratic President Joe Biden ending his reelection bid and endorsing Harris.
“I think it’s very important to have debates,” Trump said Thursday. “I look forward to the debates because I think we have to set the record straight.”
On the social media site X later on Thursday, Harris wrote that “I hear that Donald Trump has fully committed to debating me on September 10. I look forward to it.”
At a private fundraiser in Paris on Thursday, Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, said he “cannot wait” to see his wife debate Trump. He was in Paris as head of the U.S. delegation to the Summer Olympics closing ceremony.
Fox News has also proposed a debate between Harris and Trump to take place on Sept. 4, and NBC News is angling to air one on Sept. 25. During an appearance in Michigan, Harris said she was “happy to have that conversation” about an additional debate.
Trump also said he wants his vice presidential candidate, JD Vance, to debate Harris’ choice for veep, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, on CBS. The network is discussing potential dates to propose for that meeting.
ABC says that David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the Sept. 10 contest. That’s the same date that Trump and Biden had agreed to their second and final debate, before Biden’s decision put that event in doubt.
Any debate promises to take on extra importance with polls showing a tight race between the former president and current vice president. While Harris has ridden a wave of excitement among Democrats since inheriting the mantle from Biden, she has yet to appear at a news conference or give an interview to a journalist.
Republicans are already making that an issue. Vance, in a post on X as Trump was in his news conference on Thursday, said Harris was hiding behind a TelePrompter. “It’s been 18 days since she answered real questions from the media,” he wrote.
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Typer.me App Now Available on the Play Store!
Typer.me is now on the Play Store! Download the app today and start connecting with others in a whole new way. Whether you’re sharing ideas, organizing content, or exploring trending topics, Typer.me gives you the tools to stay engaged. Install now and join our growing community! Read More...
