(2025-05-15). Europe's sticks are a little limp. responsiblestatecraft.org 
As the Istanbul peace talks get underway, Europe's response to the Russia-Ukraine war exposes its profound weakness and reliance on U.S. support, with leaders like France's Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Keir Starmer, and Germany's Friedrich Merz resorting to bluffs that lack substance.The European trio, after visiting Kyiv and meeting with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on May 10, issued Russia
(2025-05-15). Putin, Trump to skip Ukraine peace talks in Turkey. newarab.com 
US President Putin on Sunday proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday "without any preconditions". Late on Wednesday, the Kremlin said the delegation would include presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky and Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin. | After…
(2025-05-15). Fantasy and Exploitation: The US-Ukraine Minerals Deal. counterpunch.org 
The agreement between Washington and Kyiv to create an investment fund to search for rare earth minerals has been seen as something of a turn by the Trump administration. From hectoring and mocking the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before the cameras on his visit to the US capital two months ago, President Donald Trump had apparently
(2025-05-15). Istanbul 2.0: know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. responsiblestatecraft.org 
(2025-05-15). Trump not attending Turkey talks on Russia-Ukraine war, says US official. geo.tv 
US President Donald Trump sits inside the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, DC, May 9, 2025. — ReutersUS President Donald Trump will not travel to Turkey to participate in the upcoming Russia-Ukraine talks scheduled for Thursday, according to a US official speaking on…
(2025-05-15). The lessons from Trump's Yemeni debacle could inform his future decisions on Ukraine. pressenza.com Five New York Times (NYT) journalists collaborated to produce a detailed report earlier this week about " The US' top regional military official already kn…
(2025-05-15). "The mining agreement signed between Ukraine and the United States illustrates the desire of US capital for unrestricted access to Ukrainian mineral resources." cadtm.org
(2025-05-15). Marshal Zelenskyy's High Noon. peoplesdispatch.org The past few days have felt like a decisive chapter in the Ukrainian conflict — a time of mounting tensions, sudden twists, and a game of diplomatic ping-pong between Moscow and the West. The apparently divided and squabbling West now appears united in its support for Kiev. Trump, the Peacemaker, seems to be leaving the final acts to the unserious adolescents of Europe, captured on Sadly, the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism only exposed the immaturity…
(2025-05-15). German general spends 80th anniversary of the defeat of Hitler's Wehrmacht with Ukrainian neo-Nazi commander. wsws.org Freuding's insult to the memory of the millions who were murdered by German fascism must be understood not only as a provocation but as a statement of policy: No less than in World War II, German imperialism will rely on fascist forces to achieve its goals.
(2025-05-15). NGO says it will start aid operations in Gaza within weeks. newarab.com 
A new humanitarian organisation that has US backing to take over aid delivery to A statement from the group, called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, identified several US military veterans, former humanitarian coordinators and security contractors that it said would lead the delivery effort. Many in the aid community believe it is mea…
(2025-05-15). Fresh Start For The Greens, With New Leader Larissa Waters. menafn.com (MENAFN – The Conversation) | Queensland Senator Larissa Waters is the new leader of the Australian Greens, following a two-hour partyroom meeting held in the wake of the party's lacklustre …
(2025-05-14). 'Judging Freedom,' 14 May edition: EU Nonsense on Ukraine! gilbertdoctorow.com We are all in waiting mode, expecting news on whether Trump is indeed going to be in Istanbul for peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war. The latest word from the White House is that he may be there. In that case, and only in that case, Vladimir Putin will also come to Istanbul. Zelensky …
(2025-05-14). Trump Envoy Reveals NATO Troop Deployment Plans for Ukraine. globalresearch.ca I have been wondering if the Trump regime's peace negotiations are sincere. The plan revealed by Trump's envoy Keith Kellogg indicates that the negotiations are not sincere. Putin, Lavrov and Security Council Secretary Shoigu, the former Minister of Defense, have …
(2025-05-14). Interview with Professor Glenn Diesen, 14 May: Trump's Ukraine Peace Plan or Deception? gilbertdoctorow.com I heartily recommend this interview to the Community because we addressed issues that are skipped over in the very focused commentaries on geopolitical news though they provide an essential context for interpreting this news. I have in mind for example the whole issue of Trump's tariff wars. I put this together with Trump's obvious respect …
(2025-05-14). Back to Istanbul! Key nodes for US-Russia-Ukraine talks. responsiblestatecraft.org 
Direct talks between senior Ukrainian and Russian representatives, if they do take place in Istanbul on Thursday, will be a real step forward and a significant achievement by the Trump administration. It is worth remembering that only three months ago the Ukrainian government was still rejecting even the idea of talks with the Putin administration as illegal, and demanding prior Russian withdrawal from all the occupied areas of Ukraine as a precondition for negotiations.Putin's apparent rejection of Zelensky's
(2025-05-14). Zelensky urges Trump to help bring Putin to the table. geo.tv 
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group ahead of a two-day NATO Defense Ministers Council at the alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, October 11, 2023. — Reuters KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky…
(2025-05-14). Putin Aide To Lead Talks With Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday. news.antiwar.com An aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin will lead a Russian delegation in talks with Ukrainian officials that will be held in Istanbul on Thursday, the Kremlin announced on Wednesday night. The aide, Vladimir Medinsky, led the Russian delegation the last time Russia and Ukraine held direct negotiations, in 2022. The US discouraged those negotiations, …
(2025-05-14). President Maduro: Europe's Leaders Went to Kiev to 'Call for More War'. orinocotribune.com 
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro returned to Venezuela after his official visit to the Russian Federation and resumed his program Con Maduro+, where he praised the events celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. He criticized his European counterparts, some of whom went to Ukraine in order to promote war against Russia from there. | "They made a fool of themselves," said President Maduro. "They went to celebrate war, to call for sanctions. They went to celebrate in the world capital of Nazi-fascism in the 21st century," said the president. | President Ma…
(2025-05-14). A New Phony "Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine" Is in the Making in The Hague. Stephen Karganovic. globalresearch.ca Kaja Kallas'
(2025-05-14). Fico remains unmoved in following independent path despite hostility from Zelensky. infobrics.org Zelensky failed to bribe Fico with half a billion euros to lift NATO membership veto.
(2025-05-14). Tensions between US and Denmark over Greenland keep escalating. infobrics.org Former NATO official warned Trump not to insist on plans to annex Greenland to US territory.
(2025-05-14). Video: The US-NATO War Against Yugoslavia, the Globalization of War. globalresearch.ca This video was presented at the first panel of the second day of the international conference 'From the Aggression to the New Just Order', The House Army of Serbia, Belgrade, March 23 2024, titled 'The US-NATO war against Yugoslavia, The …