Rubio and Lavrov hold phone call, but accounts on Ukraine and sanctions differ
Russia emphasized economic issues, particularly sanctions relief, while the US focused on finding solutions to the war in Ukraine.
Politico: Trump officials head to Saudi Arabia for talks with Russia, Ukraine joins as well
Earlier on Saturday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine had not been invited to the peace talks in Saudi Arabia.
Forbes: Ukraine’s MiG-29 takes out Russian drone team in Kursk with four American bombs
Ukraine’s fighter jet wiped out a platoon of Russian drone operators, who had been targeting Sumy Oblast.
US asked European capitals this week how many troops they can send to Ukraine, FT reports
The questionnaire also requested details on weaponry and security arrangements they can offer Ukraine in a potential post-war settlement with Russia.
US could send troops to Ukraine to guard rare earth resources, NBC reports
Trump proposed acquiring $500 billion in Ukrainian rare earth minerals for US military aid. While he claimed Kyiv “essentially agreed,” Zelenskyy rejected the draft deal, citing a lack of security guarantees.
As US refuses to defend Europe, Russia’s military budget now bigger than Europe’s altogether
With the US scaling back NATO commitments, the IISS reports Russian defense spending has surged to $462 billion, surpassing Europe’s and leaving it vulnerable to the Kremlin’s growing military might.
“Remember Minsk-2.” Europe should stay out of Ukraine peace talks, Kellogg says
The 2015 Minsk-2 ceasefire deal, aimed at ending the Russia-inspired war in eastern Ukraine, failed despite European involvement.
Ukraine’s F-16s deploy US missiles adapted to defeat Russian air tactics, TWZ reports
Recent photos show Ukrainian pilots using short-range Sidewinder and long-range AMRAAM missiles, effectively countering Russia’s R-37M standoff tactics.
Forbes: Ukraine hides Shrike drones underwater for stealth attacks on Russian forces
Ukrainian forces have developed a way to turn every pond and water-filled crater into a potential ambush point.
“If Russia couldn’t beat Ukraine in 2022, why would it win now?” A defiant voice amid despair
In an exclusive interview, Ukrainian defense expert Mykhailo Samus challenges the prevailing despair, arguing that despite the challenges, Ukraine’s future is now one of opportunity.
Peace at what price? Bloomberg maps three ways Ukraine war could end
As Trump initiates Ukraine peace talks with Putin, European allies could face $3.1 trillion in defense spending over the next decade, depending on the war’s outcome.
Forbes: Ukrainian “dragon drones” melt Russian “turtle tanks” with 3,000°C thermite charges
Russian efforts to protect armored vehicles with sheets, grills, and logs now face a molten countermeasure that gives crews just 10 seconds to escape before suffering fatal burns.
Watch: Ukraine’s Soviet S-300V1 air defense fires 8m interceptors at Russian ballistics
In newly released footage, Ukraine highlights the role of its Soviet-era S-300V1 missile defense system, which is seen intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. Shooting down ballistic threats remains a difficult challenge even for Western air defense systems.
The Insider: As Russia depletes Soviet tanks and artillery, Putin’s Ukraine war drive to end by 2026
Once boasting a vast Soviet arsenal, Russia now has just 2,000 tanks left. With production stuck at 250 tanks yearly against massive battlefield losses, Moscow faces an insurmountable math problem.
