Trump is in talks with Russia to end the war

[putnam6]

Trump criticizes both Putin and Zelenskyy as he pushes for Ukraine ceasefirehttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-ukra...zelenskyy/

President Trump lashed out at both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, expressing frustration with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders as he struggles to forge a truce in the three-year-old war between their nations.
Although Mr. Trump insisted to reporters that "we're making a lot of progress," he acknowledged that "there's tremendous hatred" between the two men, a fresh indication that negotiations may not produce the swift conclusion that he promised during the campaign.
Mr. Trump began voicing his criticisms in an early morning interview with NBC News while he was at Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Florida. He said he was "angry, pissed off" that Putin questioned Zelenskyy's credibility.
The Russian leader recently said Zelenskyy lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal and suggested that Ukraine needed external governance.
Mr. Trump said he would consider adding new sanctions on Russia, which already faces steep financial penalties, and using tariffs to undermine its oil exports.
The Republican president rarely criticizes Putin, and he's previously attacked Zelenskyy's credibility himself. For example, Mr. Trump has suggested that Ukraine caused the war that began with a Russian invasion three years ago, and he's insisted that Zelenskyy should hold elections even though it's illegal under Ukraine's constitution to do so during martial law.
On his flight back to Washington on Sunday evening, Mr. Trump reiterated his annoyance toward Putin but somewhat softened his tone.
"I don't think he's going to go back on his word," he said. "I've known him for a long time. We've always gotten along well."
Asked when he wanted Russia to agree to a ceasefire, Mr. Trump said there was a "psychological deadline."
"If I think they're tapping us along, I will not be happy about it," he said.

[putnam6]

in other news .... upgrading NATO's defenses 

Colby Badhwar 

@ColbyBadhwar
·
10

Poland will sign a $2 billion Foreign Military Sales Letter of Offer and Acceptance with the United States for PATRIOT sustainment. The approvals of Poland's 3 PATRIOT FMS cases are attached. They total an estimated value of $29.5 billion.

[putnam6]

Opinion
Marc A. ThiessenPutin is stalling and Trump is angry. It’s time for ‘maximum pressure.’The Russian leader is in no position to drag his feet.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/...utin-weak/
 

“I was very angry — pissed off” when Putin “started getting into Zelensky’s credibility” and “started talking about new leadership” in Ukraine, Trump told NBC’s Kristen Welker. He said that “if Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault,” he will impose crushing secondary tariffs on Russian oil sales. Henceforth “if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States,” Trump said.
Trump is right. Putin is dragging his feet and does not seem to realize that he is in no position to make demands. Russia is incredibly weak, both economically and militarily, which means that in these negotiations, Trump holds all the cards.

In 2022, Putin planned for a war that would last weeks but now finds himself in a protracted conflict that is bleeding Russia’s human, military and financial capital dry. That gives Trump enormous leverage. If Putin refuses his demands for peace, Trump can unleash an Iran-style maximum pressure campaign on Moscow that would devastate Russia.

 
Putin has gravely miscalculated. If Trump decides the Russian leader is the obstacle to peace and brings down the hammer with economic sanctions and increased military support for Kyiv, Russia will be in a world of hurt. Because the reality is that Putin is economically and militarily weak and has no path to victory. He doesn’t hold the cards, Trump does. And he is getting ready to play them.
 

[putnam6]

@jetorixjones3 hours ago
Dave Smith encapsulates my political beliefs more than any other political commentator. I doubt I'm alone in that@tullyiversen58 minutes ago
Dave Smith is a master at articulating complex issues in a way that's both insightful and accessible; always a pleasure to listen to.@Dawgnation4o2 hours ago
I love dave smith. So well spoken and comedic. He doesnt miss when calling out corruption@Leon_reads
1 hour ago
I listen to Dave smith because he can explain my views better than myself.@elijahdelcastillo94763 hours ago
Dave Smith is one of the few JRE guest that literally never disappoints.
@jimthewhale
3 hours ago
ive never clicked on a joe rogan episode faster

[Kwaka]

RT News - April 4 2025 6AM GMT

After many years, the White house has accepted a Russian Diplomat again. Putin's take on how the meeting went, 'three steps in the right direction where made'.

[xuenchen]

Dayyammm if true!! 

In first, Kyiv captures Chinese troops fighting within Russian army –Zelensky shares hostages’ video

[sahgwa]

More toddlerism between Putin and Zelenski it seems. Nothing progressing. Unfortunately. 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/18/europe/ru...index.html

“If it is not possible to end the war in Ukraine, we need to move on,” he told reporters before departing Paris, where he had held high-level talks with European and Ukrainian officials. “We need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable,” he said.
Rubio’s comments point to mounting frustration within the Trump administration at the lack of progress at bringing the three-year full-scale war to a halt.
Asked to clarify what Rubio meant that the US would “move on,” a US official told CNN the secretary of state was talking about the US moving on from negotiations and that the next few days will be important to figure out where things go from here.
A source familiar with negotiations for a Ukraine peace deal told CNN’s Pamela Brown that Rubio was “communicating the president’s views.” Characterizing the administration’s thinking on where things stand in the conflict, the source said, Trump “doesn’t have limitless patience for people to posture and play games.”
“It’s time to get serious,” the source added.

[sahgwa]

More toddlerism between Putin and Zelensky it seems. Nothing progressing. Unfortunately. 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/18/europe/ru...index.html

“If it is not possible to end the war in Ukraine, we need to move on,” he told reporters before departing Paris, where he had held high-level talks with European and Ukrainian officials. “We need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable,” he said.
Rubio’s comments point to mounting frustration within the Trump administration at the lack of progress at bringing the three-year full-scale war to a halt.
Asked to clarify what Rubio meant that the US would “move on,” a US official told CNN the secretary of state was talking about the US moving on from negotiations and that the next few days will be important to figure out where things go from here.
A source familiar with negotiations for a Ukraine peace deal told CNN’s Pamela Brown that Rubio was “communicating the president’s views.” Characterizing the administration’s thinking on where things stand in the conflict, the source said, Trump “doesn’t have limitless patience for people to posture and play games.”
“It’s time to get serious,” the source added.

https://www.rt.com/news/615567-western-s...eployment/
 Only six Western states willing to deploy troops to Ukraine – AFPThus far, only six nations, including the UK, France, and the Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - have promised to contribute troops, the AFP reported, citing unnamed European officials. The sixth state in the group was not named by the agency.
 Trump Will Walk Away From Ukraine Talks in Days if Moscow and Kyiv Aren’t Serious About Peace, Warns Rubio

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2025/04...rns-rubio/

If there are no indications the two sides are actually willing to agree to a ceasefire — previous bids to establish such a state have been met with further demands for concessions, conditions, and carveouts — then “the President’s probably at a point where he’s going to say ‘well, we’re done’.”
Remarkably, Rubio appeared to imply that neither Russia nor Ukraine appeared to be engaging properly

[xuenchen]

Good post there sahgwa!

Lots of chatter going on about Zelenskyy sabotaging and stalling and BS'ing! 

The Zel's "strategy" possibly being to sign the Mineral Deal with The U.S. and see if Putin backs off with American Business presence in Ukraine. 

Either way, NATO is being made a fool of 
 

More toddlerism between Putin and Zelensky it seems. Nothing progressing. Unfortunately. 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/18/europe/ru...index.html

https://www.rt.com/news/615567-western-s...eployment/
 Only six Western states willing to deploy troops to Ukraine – AFPThus far, only six nations, including the UK, France, and the Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - have promised to contribute troops, the AFP reported, citing unnamed European officials. The sixth state in the group was not named by the agency.
 Trump Will Walk Away From Ukraine Talks in Days if Moscow and Kyiv Aren’t Serious About Peace, Warns Rubio

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2025/04...rns-rubio/

[sahgwa]

I just want people to stop dying over this nonsense.