(2025-05-16). Putin, Zelensky no-show in Istanbul dims hopes of breakthrough. presstv.ir Ukraine and Russia appear deadlocked over next steps in effort to end the war after President Vladimir Putin rejected a face-to-face meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey.
(2025-05-16). The geopolitical future of Ukraine four possible scenarios for. onlineopinion.com.au The most probable outcome for 2025—2026 is a continued stalemate, where neither Ukraine nor Russia achieves a decisive military victory.
(2025-05-16). Russian and Ukrainian Officials To Hold Talks in Istanbul on Friday. news.antiwar.com Russian and Ukrainian delegations are set to hold negotiations in Istanbul on Friday, which will mark the first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since 2022. Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, will lead the Russian side, and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will head the Ukrainian delegation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky …
(2025-05-16). Diplomacy Watch: Istanbul talks postponed and 'in shambles'. responsiblestatecraft.org 
The highly anticipated peace talks in Turkey
(2025-05-16). Ukraine has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in arms buys: Report. presstv.ir Ukraine has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in botched arms purchases, says a report by the Financial Times newspaper.
(2025-05-16). "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
(2025-05-16). Rubio speaks to Netanyahu on Gaza, Iran as Trump tours Gulf. newarab.com 
US Secretary of State Rubio, who broke away from Trump's trip to join NATO talks in Turkey, told reporters he discussed the war in Gaza and voiced alarm over the humanitarian situation as Israel blocks food and other supplies from entering the Palestinian territory. | Rubio "stressed the deep US commitment to its historic relat…
(2025-05-16). US senators seek to block Trump's UAE, Qatar defence deals. aljazeera.com Senators accuse US President Donald Trump of engaging in 'corruption of US foreign policy' with defence deals.
(2025-05-16). Venezuela Thanks UNICEF for Efforts in Return of Two-Year-Old Maikelys. orinocotribune.com The Venezuelan government has thanked the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for its role in facilitating the return of Maikelys Espinoza, the two-year-old girl separated from her mother by the government of the US empire before being repatriated. | On Thursday, May 15, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez met with Gianluca Rampolla, the coordinator of the United Nations (UN), in Caracas to highlight the agency's efforts. | "In a meeting with Ambassador Gianluca Rampolla, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Venezuela," the vice president wrote on social media, "we conveyed President Nic…
(2025-05-15). Istanbul hosts first direct Ukraine-Russia peace talks. vaticannews.va Hundreds of journalists gathered in Istanbul on Thursday afternoon as Ukraine and Russia were scheduled to hold their first direct talks there after more than 3 years of war. Russia has confirmed | that President Vladimir Putin will not be taking part despite having called for the talks himself. |
(2025-05-15). Putin dismisses Head of Ground Forces ahead of Istanbul peace talks with Ukraine. albawaba.com ALBAWABA- Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the head of the Russian Ground Forces, General Oleg Salyukov, just hours before the start of renewed peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, Turkish and Russian media reported Thursday.A presidential decree issued Thursday evening confirmed Salyukov's removal. No official reason was provided, and the Kremlin has not yet named a successor. The timing of the move, however, has raised questions, as it comes amid sensitive diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine.General Salyukov had led the Russian Ground Forces since 2014 and was con…
(2025-05-15). Zelensky arrives in Ankara amid peace talks with Russia. albawaba.com ALBAWABA – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the Turkish capital, Ankara, amid expected peace talks with Russia, The Kyiv Independent reported. Later today, the Ukrainian president is expected to hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A Russian delegation arrived in Turkey for peace talks with the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, according to Russian media.On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said while on his Middle East trip that he is still willing to go to Turkey on Friday if enough progress is made in the Istanbul peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.‚ö°&O…
(2025-05-15). Under the Guise of Charity: CIA's Hidden Money Laundering Network Exposed. covertactionmagazine.com We are diving deeper into our investigation of CIA actions that contradict U.S. national interests. Today, we uncover another CIA-affiliated company using taxpayer money to supply Ukraine with weapons and military equipment—outside the scope of official aid packages. Typically, money-laundering scandals involve substantial sums, ranging from tens of millions to billions of dollars. In such …
(2025-05-15). Germany's Political and Cultural Establishment Prepares to Stand Up to Putin and His Allies. bylinetimes.com In warm spring evening sunshine in the centre of Leipzig a group of mostly young activists are trying to garner support for a petition. Large, glossy and clearly professionally printed posters call for an end to "the war against Russia". | The activists are largely ignored by the shoppers and commuters making their way to the entrance of the nearby station. The only interaction I witness involves a young man who stops to say the best way of ending the conflict would be for Vladimir Putin to just withdraw from Ukraine. | Germany's artistic institutions have distanced themselves from Russia in the immediate aft…
(2025-05-15). Ukraine War Day Macron The Mason? Part I. awfulavalanche.wordpress.com 
Dear Readers: | There has been some discussion/debate as to whether or not French President Emmanuel Macron is a cokehead. Perhaps the jury is still out on that. But one thing we know for sure: Macron is a Freemason. | If you don't believe me, then you will need to read The secretive cult of Freemasonry has a long and checkered history in France,…
(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). Losing & learning nothing. strategic-culture.su 
The delusions about Ukraine continue as from the start. Washington and its puppet regime in Kiev have lost the war they provoked but there is no speaking of a defeat. | By Patrick LAWRENCE | Join us on , , and . | Contact…
(2025-05-15). Our Best Look Yet At Ukraine's AIM-9 Sidewinder-Toting Magura-7 Drone Boat. twz.com 
Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) released new video and details about the GUR commander "Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, and a team of special service specialists publ…
(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). Zakharova: Russia's position on Ukrainian peace deal reflects situation on ground. eng.belta.by Russia's position on a possible peace deal with Ukraine has changed to reflect changes on the ground, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told journalists…
(2025-05-15). Ukraine's former PM: Warsaw complies with directives of Western intelligence, ignores Volyn massacre. eng.belta.by The Polish leadership ignores the history of the Volyn massacre because it is guided by the directives of the Western intelligence services to silence these facts, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov said.
(2025-05-15). EU has destroyed one of its member states to save the banks. Now Kiev wants Europeans to pay its debts. defenddemocracy.press Ukrainian Finance Minister's Plan to Solve Ukraine's Debt — Just Don't Pay It May 8, 2025 With the country's debt approaching 100% of GDP, Ukraine's Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko boasted about the possibility of shifting the burden of debt payments to European taxpayers. "Most of this debt was borrowed during the war on soft …