Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed hope that the upcoming US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia will be productive and lead to significant progress. While he will be present in the Gulf kingdom, he will not participate directly in the discussions. His government continues to push for a swift and lasting peace, despite ongoing challenges.  

 

Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of US President Donald Trump, confirmed that the American delegation is seeking to establish a framework for peace that could bring an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine. The meeting comes at a critical moment, following a public clash last week between Zelensky and Trump at the White House. During that encounter, Trump remarked that Zelensky was not yet ready to put an end to the conflict, leading to a temporary halt in military aid and intelligence-sharing from the US. In response, Zelensky expressed regret over the incident and has been making efforts to mend relations with Washington, Ukraine’s key military supporter.  

 

On Thursday, Witkoff revealed that Trump had received a letter from Zelensky that contained both an apology and a clear expression of gratitude. "Hopefully, we get things back on track with the Ukrainians, and everything resumes," Witkoff said.  

 

Zelensky has faced mounting pressure from the US to consider concessions in any future peace talks. However, he has remained firm in his demand for strong security guarantees for Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Kremlin's forces have taken control of about 20% of Ukrainian territory, and intense fighting continues.  

 

On Thursday night, Ukraine reported a large-scale missile and drone assault targeting its energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Poland scrambled fighter jets and activated air defense systems in response to the attack, as the threat extended as far as western Ukraine.  

 

Zelensky announced the upcoming US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia in a series of social media posts after attending a summit in Brussels, where European Union leaders agreed to increase defense spending. "Ukrainian and American teams have resumed work, and we hope that next week we will have a meaningful meeting," he wrote on X. He emphasized that Ukraine has sought peace from the very beginning, insisting that the conflict has persisted solely because of Russian aggression.  

 

Calling on the international community to exert greater pressure on Moscow, Zelensky urged global leaders to push Russia toward accepting the necessity of ending the war. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow was looking for a peace agreement that would ensure long-term security for Russia. "We don't need anything that belongs to others, but we won't give up anything that belongs to us either," Putin declared.  

 

As diplomatic efforts continue, the upcoming discussions in Saudi Arabia could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the war and determining whether a peaceful resolution is within reach.

 

Based on a report by BBC  2025-03-08

 

 

Yesterday’s breaking news in The Financial Times included an article from their Washington correspondent James Politi telling us that: 

 

Quote

US President Donald Trump has threatened Russia with additional ‘large scale’ sanctions and tariffs, as he seeks to pile pressure on Moscow in an effort to broker a peace deal in Ukraine.

The author then quotes directly from Trump’s latest message on his Truth Social platform:

 

Quote

Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED.

The author does not break out the logic of this statement, though that is highly relevant. Trump speaks of ‘pounding’ on the battlefield.  What he obviously had in mind was the preceding evening’s massive attack on energy infrastructure across Ukraine using missiles and drones. What Russia was doing was to take advantage of Ukraine’s loss of U.S. intel that had been guiding its air defenses. Insofar as Donald’s domestic and foreign opponents might cry foul, accusing the U.S. of enabling this destruction, the President was now, quite logically, pledging to apply great pressure on Russia so that it, too, would hasten to the peace table that Trump is preparing.

What amazes me is that colleagues in the nonmainstream media whom I greatly esteem for their worldly experience and intellectual sophistication utterly fail to see what Trump is doing because they still do not understand that he may just be a cleverer political operator than they could be. After all, we know that Trump is superficial, narcistic, a person who hardly reads anything.

Consequently, they take his remarks at face value and scoff at the foolishness in his claim now to pummel Russia with new sanctions. They joke at his expense that the US has already thrown at Russia all the punishing sanctions it was capable of and that Russia’s remaining exports to the United States available for crushing tariffs are just enriched uranium for American nuclear power plants and fertilizer, without which U.S. farmers need not bother plant their seeds for the coming season’s crops.

What these colleagues miss is that the latest threats to punish Russia were meant for the ears of Trump’s opponents, who are uninterested in the effectiveness of sanctions against Moscow and only want to hear that more sanctions are coming so that the Kremlin will finally be broken and submit to Washington’s will.  Put in simple language, what Trump was doing was neutralizing his enemies, nothing more.

And so, I ask: who is the better negotiator, Donald Trump or my far more sophisticated and intellectually consistent colleagues?

I close this brief essay with a remark on another recent initiative of the Trump administration that has not been given the full attention of serious analysts that it merits. This initiative pertains to the Middle East. I have in mind the latest direct meetings between the U.S. hostage negotiator and Hamas over the release of U.S.-Israeli dual national hostages, the dead as well as those alive. The BBC and other broadcasters have mentioned this, have pointed out that it is the first such direct American talks with the terrorist organization, as Washington calls Hamas. But they do not explore what this means for U.S. – Israeli relations, although just a tiny bit of attention suggests there is a gold mine here to be explored.

We have heard in recent days how Trump has threatened Hamas with dire consequences if it does not agree to Israel’s latest changes to what was agreed a month ago about the end of Phase One and start of talks over a possible extension into Phase Two of the cease fire. Lightning bolts would be delivered to the miscreants.

And now it turns out that Trump negotiators are meeting behind closed doors with these same miscreants and are doing so without the presence of the Israelis, whose war it is after all. Has Washington finally extricated itself from the web of deception that Benjamin Netanyahu has been spinning for three decades?

Hopefully someone with greater expertise and research in Middle Eastern politics will take this ball and run with it.

OK, today you're in a peaceful mood... 😀

6 minutes ago, transam said:

Fight for freedom, not a car.......😉

Folk here can twist stuff for their agenda, but they cannot contradict the fight for freedom.............

Did you even get the reference to the new car? A Bugatti apparently,  when his country is at war, do you think is army outfit means he is on the front lines?

Just now, frank83628 said:

Did you even get the reference to the new car?

 

Did you?

 

The news is false.

Bugatti S.A.S. told Polygraph.info that the company is “aware” of “fake news” “suggesting a recent purchase of a BUGATTI vehicle by Mrs. Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine.”

While the company “does not normally disclose” information about its clients, “In this case, BUGATTI Automobiles S.A.S. makes an exception because it is a false report and does not correspond to the truth. According to an internal check, Mrs. Zelenska is not a BUGATTI customer,” Nicole Auger, head of Marketing and Communications at Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S., wrote in an email to Polygraph.info.

Vérité Cachée website was created on June 22, 2024, nine days before publishing the Zelenska-Bugatti fake.

Just now, frank83628 said:

Did you even get the reference to the new car? A Bugatti apparently,  when his country is at war, do you think is army outfit means he is on the front lines?

🤣...........Are you sure it wasn't a Boeing 747...............🤣

Just now, CallumWK said:

 

Did you?

 

The news is false.

Bugatti S.A.S. told Polygraph.info that the company is “aware” of “fake news” “suggesting a recent purchase of a BUGATTI vehicle by Mrs. Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine.”

While the company “does not normally disclose” information about its clients, “In this case, BUGATTI Automobiles S.A.S. makes an exception because it is a false report and does not correspond to the truth. According to an internal check, Mrs. Zelenska is not a BUGATTI customer,” Nicole Auger, head of Marketing and Communications at Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S., wrote in an email to Polygraph.info.

Vérité Cachée website was created on June 22, 2024, nine days before publishing the Zelenska-Bugatti fake.

Yes, and we've also been told Ukraine have been winning the war. So many lies been told, 

Just now, frank83628 said:

Yes, and we've also been told Ukraine have been winning the war. So many lies been told, 

By you................🤕

Might not want to fly Zee.  Just saying...

10 minutes ago, transam said:

By you................🤕

I've never said Ukraine were winning, I knew they weren't, unlike you and the herd,🐑🐑🐑🐑

14 minutes ago, transam said:

🤣...........Are you sure it wasn't a Boeing 747...............🤣

He's probably pocketted enough to buy a couple. 

Just now, frank83628 said:

I've never said Ukraine were winning, I knew they weren't, unlike you and the herd,🐑🐑🐑🐑

I know you haven't, you just believe everything your leader says...............Baaaaah.............

Just now, frank83628 said:

He's probably pocketed enough to buy a couple. 

That is what you would believe, a wannabe Putin fighter.................🙄

 

34 minutes ago, transam said:

Fight for freedom, not a car.......😉

Folk here can twist stuff for their agenda, but they cannot contradict the fight for freedom.............

I don't see any problem with millions of Ukrainians dying so Mrs Z can have a new bugatti, if that is what is deemed important in the struggle. Not sure I want to pay for it myself in higher prices and taxes mind. 

28 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

Go troll somewhere else.

 

From your own link.

 

The news is false.

Bugatti S.A.S. told Polygraph.info that the company is “aware” of “fake news” “suggesting a recent purchase of a BUGATTI vehicle by Mrs. Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine.”

While the company “does not normally disclose” information about its clients, “In this case, BUGATTI Automobiles S.A.S. makes an exception because it is a false report and does not correspond to the truth. According to an internal check, Mrs. Zelenska is not a BUGATTI customer,” Nicole Auger, head of Marketing and Communications at Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S., wrote in an email to Polygraph.info.

Vérité Cachée website was created on June 22, 2024, nine days before publishing the Zelenska-Bugatti fake.

Bought in a company name or some similar subterfuge. As we remember with a web of 20 shell companies you can literally commit treason and no leftist "fact checker" can trace it. 

25 minutes ago, transam said:

I know you haven't, you just believe everything your leader says...............Baaaaah.............

And who is winning?

19 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

As we remember with a web of 20 shell companies you can literally commit treason and no leftist "fact checker" can trace it. 

The same as many of your posts.

1 minute ago, frank83628 said:

is the richest man on the planet,  is dumb?

Yes! He is dumb about the lives of those of us who live in the real world.

5 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

So, lets just clarify, a man who puts rockets into space and lands them again, made his own satellite wifi connection, bores tunnels under cities, created the predecessor to PayPal, is the richest man on the planet,  is dumb?

Yes it's so funny. 

7 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

So, lets just clarify, a man who puts rockets into space and lands them again

Duh

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj92wgeyvzzo

SpaceX rocket explodes, raining debris from sky for second time in a row

 

7 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

bores tunnels under cities

 

Elon Musk's Boring Company has completed about 2.4 miles of operational tunnels,

 

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34009211

Boring Company is a money making machine just like SolarCity, Tesla, and SpaceX even though not a single one of those companies could be profitable without the heavy subsidization they receive.

Just now, frank83628 said:

So, lets just clarify, a man who puts rockets into space and lands them again, made his own satellite wifi connection, bores tunnels under cities, created the predecessor to PayPal, is the richest man on the planet,  is dumb?

It would seem you go all goooooy over blokes with cash, though I am not surprised, as you think Putin is fab for killing Ukrainians because he can...........

5 minutes ago, rough diamond said:

Yes! He is dumb about the lives of those of us who live in the real world.

How so? Please explain

2 minutes ago, transam said:

It would seem you go all goooooy over blokes with cash, though I am not surprised, as you think Putin is fab for killing Ukrainians because he can...........

That's a word salad even Kamala would be envious of

3 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

Duh

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj92wgeyvzzo

SpaceX rocket explodes, raining debris from sky for second time in a row

 

 

Elon Musk's Boring Company has completed about 2.4 miles of operational tunnels,

 

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34009211

Boring Company is a money making machine just like SolarCity, Tesla, and SpaceX even though not a single one of those companies could be profitable without the heavy subsidization they receive.

Compared to AN keyboard warriors who brag about eating bacon and eggs. Righto Musk is dumb.

Just now, frank83628 said:

That's a word salad even Kamala would be envious of

You would think that.......🤕

Odd not a peep on this thread till a supporter of democracy checks in(strange) anyway unfortunately president Zelenskyy optimism is misplaced the most valuable Russian asset on the planet will not betray his master(I think we all know as to who I’m referring to) the great betrayer is merely making sounds he’s rock solid in his support and coddling of the enemy.

4 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

That's a word salad even Kamala would be envious of

At least Kamala leaves the house. These guys do nothing but whinge. Trump is dumb, Musk is dumb. What winners they are. 

4 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

Duh

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj92wgeyvzzo

SpaceX rocket explodes, raining debris from sky for second time in a row

 

 

Elon Musk's Boring Company has completed about 2.4 miles of operational tunnels,

 

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34009211

Boring Company is a money making machine just like SolarCity, Tesla, and SpaceX even though not a single one of those companies could be profitable without the heavy subsidization they receive.

A rocket exploded..yes, on a test flight, but you are forgetting the fact he actually IS making rockets, taking satellites into space..He is literally a 'rocket scientist', Therebis that or a  'brain surgeon' 2 top professions the old saying goes.

His boring company has dug 2.5 miles.... but he HAS a boring company 

You on the other hand are......?

4 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Compared to AN keyboard warriors who brag about eating bacon and eggs. Righto Musk is dumb.

Musk is a talented engineer no doubt about that he’s also got a lot of talent working for him thats were the achievements are generated he is brilliant in that regard no doubt about it.In the field of humanity democracy emotional intelligence he is lacking big time in that arena he is indeed stupid and disconnected no doubt about it.he should stick with what he’s good at but he won’t he’s power mad.

8 minutes ago, Tug said:

Odd not a peep on this thread till a supporter of democracy checks in(strange) anyway unfortunately president Zelenskyy optimism is misplaced the most valuable Russian asset on the planet will not betray his master(I think we all know as to who I’m referring to) the great betrayer is merely making sounds he’s rock solid in his support and coddling of the enemy.

Why does there always have to be an 'enemy' with you old men, cold war is over, your American goverments have been provoking & funding wars and régime change since WW2 ended, how about a change of MO, negotiations, diplomacy, negotiations... leave that old mentality where it belongs.