18 Feb, 2025 06:22

Russia and US agree to continue Ukraine talks: Live updates 1/4

Moscow says negotiations were “not bad,” and that the two sides have agreed to contacts in due course

Top Russian and US diplomats have held talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to find a way to restore diplomatic relations, set the stage for a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, and pave the way for resolving the Ukraine conflict.

The Russian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and includes Yury Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy aide. Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), also took part in the negotiation process. The American side was represented by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for the Middle East.

Neither Ukraine nor the EU attended the meeting, with Kiev signaling that it would not recognize the results of the talks unless it is included.(tough shit Zelensky baby dictator)

18 February 2025

13:58 GMT

Moscow and Washington have agreed to start the Ukraine conflict settlement process, Lavrov has said. He added that Russia will appoint its representative once Moscow receives information on who will be speaking for Washington.

13:55 GMT

Russia and the US have managed to address the least serious problems in relations, including the reciprocal appointment of envoys and removing some restrictions applying to diplomatic missions, Lavrov added.

13:54 GMT

Lavrov has described the talks as “very useful.” “We not only listened, but heard each other. I have a reason to believe that the American side now better understands our position,” he said.

13:48 GMT

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio kicked off the meeting by underlining thatevery state must be guided by the drive to protect its national interest. Moscow fully agrees with this stance, Lavrov said.

13:39 GMT

Commenting on theprospects of lifting the sanctions on Russia, Rubio remarked that they were the direct consequence of the conflict. “In order to bring an end to any conflict, there has to be concessions made by all sides,” he said, noting that the EU imposed its own restrictions on Russia, and the bloc would have to be involved in the talks at some point.

13:39 GMT

There is a lot of “tough work ahead” regarding the future status of territories that joined Russia after February 2022, Waltz has acknowledged. “The important thing is that we have started this process.”

13:31 GMT

Asked about what the US would consider enduring peace in Ukraine, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz stressed that Washington wants to see a permanent settlement. “We know, just the practical reality:There is going to be some discussion of territory… and security guarantees,” he told reporters.

13:26 GMT

The US will appoint a high-level diplomatic team “to help negotiate and walk through theend of the conflict in Ukraine in a way that is enduring and acceptableto all the parties engaged,”Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said, adding that Moscow and Washingtoncould discuss “geopolitical and economic cooperation”that could result from the end of hostilities.

13:16 GMT

Russia and the US have agreed to restore embassy staffing after years of tit-for-tat cutsfueled by geopolitical tensions, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said, as quoted by AP.

“We’re going to need to have vibrant diplomatic missions that are able to function normally in order to be able to continue these conduits,” he said.

13:07 GMT

Lavrov also met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after the end of the talks with the US delegation, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said.

https://www.rt.com/news/612888-russia-us-talks-ukraine-saudi-live/

>>22606189

2/418 February 2025

13:03 GMT

The Trump administration has kept Kiev out of the loop regarding the topics it wanted to discuss with Russia during the talks in Saudi Arabia, the Washington Post reported,citing an unnamed Ukrainian official.(Boo Hoo)

Trump officials “haven’t told us what they wanted to talk about, and we have no perspective on what Ukrainian interests they want to trade,” thesource said, arguing that “it’s a weak path, to talk to Russia behind Ukraine’s back.”

13:02 GMT

Talks with Russia are “an important step forward,” US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce has said, as cited by Reuters. She added that the sides agreed to “establish a consultation mechanism to address irritants to our bilateral relationship with the objective of taking steps necessary to normalize the operation of our respective diplomatic missions.”

According to Bruce, Moscow and Washington also agreed to appoint “high-level teams to begin working on a path to ending the conflict in Ukraine.” The sides also seek to “lay the groundwork for future cooperation on matters of mutual geopolitical interest” and explore economic and investment opportunities which could present themselves after the end of hostilities.

12:32 GMT

The Russian and US diplomats have outlined their positions on the Ukraine conflict and agreed that “teams of negotiators will make contact on this topic in due course,” Ushakov has said.

“The Americans should appoint their representatives, we will appoint ours, and then, probably, the work will get underway.”

Ushakov noted that the Russian team’s composition will be decided by Putin once Moscow receives a list of US officials involved in the talks.

12:23 GMT

Ushakov has stated that the Russia-US talks were “not bad,” adding that the sides agreed to take account of each other’s interests. “It is hard to say yet whether [the Russian and US positions] are getting closer, but we have talked about it,” the Putin aide has said.

12:13 GMT

The Russian and US delegations have had “a very serious discussion on all issues,” according to Ushakov.

12:12 GMT

It is unclear so far when Putin and Trump would meet, Yury Ushakov, the Russian president’s top foreign policy aide, has said, adding that it is unlikely it will happen next week.

11:56 GMT

The ongoing Russia-US talks could pave the way for a Trump-Putin meeting in Saudi Arabia “as soon as next week,” Bloomberg has reported, without providing further details.

11:51 GMT

There isno reason to believe that Russia and the EU can reach a breakthrough in relations in the near future, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko has said. He reiterated that Moscow is against the deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine, warning that it would only lead to escalation.

11:45 GMT

The EU will play no role whatsoever in the future talks over Ukraine, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko has said. He added that if the bloc wants peace in the region, it should halt its arms deliveries to Kiev.

10:58 GMT

US President Donald Trump has proposed a three-stage road map to Russiaon settling the Ukraine conflict, German MEP Sergey Lagodinsky has claimed, citing his sources. According to the lawmaker, the plan includes a ceasefire followed by elections in Ukraine, and finally the “signing of a final agreement.”

Lagodinsky said the arrangement “is the complete fulfillment of all Putin’s desires,” claiming that the Russian leader “dreams of getting a pro-Russia candidate” in the country, while Trump could benefit from “a president who would be so weak that he would sign away all the Ukrainian resources.” (The EU wanted the money and Russia leadership gone, it’s not going to happen, but many EU leaders will be replaced imo)

https://www.rt.com/news/612888-russia-us-talks-ukraine-saudi-live/

>>22606200

3/4

10:31 GMT

Russia sees “a nervous and almost panic-like reaction” from the West to the talksin Saudi Arabia, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova has stated. “We witness anunprecedented phenomenon in the international relations. [The West] is trying to impose its participation in the negotiation process,” she said. (This is the EU,KEK)

10:06 GMT

The Russian and US delegations will continue their talks in Riyadh after a short break, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said. She added that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov plans to speak to reporters after the end of the negotiations.

09:49 GMT

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has told Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, thatthe bloc “is carrying its full share of military assistance to Ukraine and stands ready to do even more,” according to the readout of the conversation. She also stressed that any resolution of the conflict “must respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, backed by strong security guarantees.” (Shut to fuck up Ursula, y’all broke it, so you can’t be involved in fixing it, and Ukraine is NOT in the EU. Their arrogance is beyond the pale)

09:42 GMT

Ukraine has every right to seek EU membership as a sovereign country, Peskov, has said. “We are talking about economic integration processes. Here, no one can dictate anything to any country… We have a completely different position on issues related to security, defense, or military alliances. Here, we have a different and well-known approach.” (No one wants them in the EU, unless the whole countries evil leadership and corruption is exorcised for at least a decade. They’ve had this dictate since the early 2000’s with no progress ever. Plus their entire country is filled dangerous arms and radiation, cancer rates will start showing up soon. The second “Killing Fields” exist now, 2nd WW was first)

09:37 GMT

Russia has always been ready to negotiate peace in the Ukraine conflict, Peskov said, arguing that the same was not true about Kiev, the EU, and the Biden administration. “The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. And, of course, we prefer peaceful means to achieve them.”

09:27 GMT

It is still unclear when Putin and Trump could have a face-to-face meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told reporters. “Perhaps some estimates will appear based on the results of today’s talks. But we will find out about this later, at the end of this dialogue.”

09:27 GMT

The EU Commission has released a short clip of its president, Ursula von der Leyen, welcoming Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Earlier, several media outlets drew attention to the fact thatthe retired general is not present at the US-Russia talks in Riyadh.

08:47 GMT

Major US oil companies could “at some point”return to doing business in Russia, RDIF head Kirill Dmitriev has told the New York Times. “We believe at some point they will be coming back, because why would they forego these opportunities that Russia gave them to have access to Russian natural resources?”

08:10 GMT

RDIF head Dmitriev believes that Russia and the US could cooperate on a number of Arctic projects. “The Biden administration has spread a lot of disinformation… Our dialogue [with the Trump administration] allows us to show the truth that the Russian economy is developing at a good pace. We also need to work on joint projects, for example, in the Arctic and other areas,” he said.

07:55 GMT

Russia and the US could makeprogressin talks in two or three months, Dmitriev has said, without elaborating further.He went on to praise the Trump administration, noting that unlike Biden’s team,it is willing to listen to Moscow.

https://www.rt.com/news/612888-russia-us-talks-ukraine-saudi-live/

>>22606214

4/4

07:55 GMT

The policies of former US President JoeBiden undermined global confidence in the dollar, RDIF head Kirill Dmitriev said, adding that Western sanctions have helped shape Russia into a more independent nation. According to Dmitriev, the resumption of dialogue with the US proves that the West’s policy of deterring Moscow has failed.

07:43 GMT

TASS news agency showed a photo from the talks including members of the Russian delegation seated in front of their US counterparts.

07:32 GMT

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, and RDIF chief Kirill Dmitriev have arrived at the negotiations, according to a video shared by the Foreign Ministry.

07:14 GMT

The EU will have to “pony up” for Ukraine’s restoration at the demand of the United States, Nikolay Patrushev, a top aide to President VladimirPutin, has said. In an interview with Russian daily Aif, hestated that the bloc got what it deserves, given that “the main culprits of the destruction in Ukraine are the EU countries, who recklessly finance the Ukrainian armed forces.”

18 February 2025

07:03 GMT

The EU has been essentially excluded from talks over the future of Ukrainebecause it has failed to invest the appropriate amount of money into the military, Armin Papperger, the chief executive of the German defense company Rheinmetall, told the Financial Times. Rheinmetall has been one of the key enterprises supplying Ukraine with military equipment.

“If you don’t invest, if you’re not strong, they handle you like kids… If parents have dinner, the kids have to sit at another table. The US is negotiating with Russia and no European is at the table – it has become very clear that the Europeans are the kids.”

06:46 GMT

A Ukrainian drone attack on a major oil pumping station in southern Russia, which is linked to US companies,is a deliberate challenge from Kiev to Washington ahead of talksin Saudi Arabia, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said.

Medvedev compared the raid with an attack of an “animal on its master.” (Kek it’s true, Kiev has never stopped terrorism at Russia)

“The overfed fat brute pounced on its owner, who paused the feeding and even began to think about butchering the annoying animal. And then, out of desperation, the brute decided to bite its owner and hurt him more. Dripping with sticky saliva, it grabbed the hand of its feeder. The hand of the President of the United States (Joe),”he said.

06:38 GMT

Kirill Dmitriev, theCEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, has confirmed that he has already met with the members of US PresidentDonald Trump’s team, describing them as “great problem-solvers.” He declined to speculate on the potential promises Washington will give Moscow, suggesting that the sides must have a full-fledged dialogue first.

06:26 GMT

It is very important for the US and Russia to “build bridges,” Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund (RDIF), told CNN prior to the talks. “US-Russia relations are very important for the world,” he said, underscoring the need for cooperation.

Asked whether his key goal is to see the removal of US sanctions against Russia, Dmitriev stressed that it is American companies that suffer from the restrictions the most. “It’s US businesses who lost $300 billion from leaving Russia.”

(https://www.rt.com/news/612888-russia-us-talks-ukraine-saudi-live/

What’s unbelievable is the entire EU (except two or three countries), followed the greedy Joe Bidan dementia patient, (who was never very smart) to this road to Hell.Didn’t even one of them consider they will NEVER win against Russia?The combined brain power of that group has to be extremely low. Committing to destroy their own countries for the shithole Ukraine, was an easy decision not to engage in. I think the real stories that come out later wil be extremely disturbing to the whole continent of Europe. No doubt Obama, Clinton, etc with Joe’s counselors and others, are/were involved

>>22606197

Seriously so. Many historians have said America and Russia have been and are natural allies. If we can permanently restore this, our countries can save the world. It would certainly make the citizens happy. Tucker said the Russians people love America and Trump

18 Feb, 2025 14:58

EU wants Ukraine peace deal before ceasefire – Reuters

The bloc is reportedly ready to provide Kiev with security guarantees it needs to settle the conflict

The EU does not want Ukraine to announce a ceasefire with Russia before a comprehensive peace agreement is reached between Moscow and Kiev, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing an unnamed European official. According to the report, the bloc considers an unconditional ceasefire “dangerous.”

Several EU members reportedly agreed on this stance during anemergency summit in Paris on Monday. The meeting wasarranged by French President Emmanuel Macronfollowing Washington’s announcement of an “immediate”start to negotiations on a Ukraine peace settlement, which began with bilateral US-Russia talks in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Tuesday. Neither Ukraine nor the EU were invited to attend. (The EU was told to stay out but Macron is freaked out because if the US finds out what he and they did, it will ignite a firestorm)

Macron’s summit was attended by the leaders of Germany, the UK, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as well as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO chief Mark Rutte.

“We believe it is dangerous to conclude a ceasefire without a peace agreement at the same time,” an EU official who spoke on condition of anonymity told Reuters, summarizing the results of the gathering. He noted that the attendees expressed readiness to provide Ukraine with security guarantees it needs for starting the peace process, but did not clarify what these would entail. Kiev has previously demanded NATO membership as part of such guarantees, but Washington last week dismissed the notion, given that Moscow views Ukraine’s aspirations to join the military bloc as one of the key causes of the conflict.

“We are ready to provide security guarantees, with modalities to be examined with each party,depending on the level of American support,” (the want US money) the official stated.

The claims have been partly confirmed by Macron, who wrote in a post on X following the summit that “a strong and lasting peace” in Ukraine “must be accompanied by strong and credible security guarantees.” Macron urged the EU, the US, and Ukraine to “collaborate” in peace efforts, which he claimed was the “key” to settling the conflict. (A pretty bold assumption.)

The Paris summit came a day after Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, made it clear that the EU would not be invited to take part in US-Russia peace efforts. Many EU officials have criticized this stance, claiming that the bloc should be involved as the outcome will affect the entire continent. (You fuckers could have destroyed the world, you won’t get what you want)

However, not all EU states have opposed Trump’s unilateral peace initiatives. In a post on Facebook on Tuesday,Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called those attending the Paris summit “warmongers,” and said there should be “no place” for them in any initiatives aimed at bringing about peace.

Commenting on the criticism which the US-Russia talks in Riyadh have drawn among EU states, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Tuesday called it “a nervous and almost panic-like reaction” and “an unprecedented phenomenon in the international relations.”

https://www.rt.com/news/612944-eu-ukraine-peace-deal-ceasefire/

18 Feb, 2025 13:11

‘No place’ for EU ‘warmongers’ at Ukraine talks – Hungarian FM

US-Russia efforts are about peace, while the bloc’s politicians want the conflict to continue, Peter Szijjarto has said

Russia and the US have been right not to invite the EU to talks in Saudi Arabia, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said. In a post on Facebook on Tuesday, the official said there should be “no place” for those who want the Ukraine conflict to continue in any initiatives aimed at paving the way towards peace.

Bilateral Russia-US negotiations kicked off in the Saudi capital Riyadh earlier on Tuesday. The talks, led by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are the first direct attempt by Moscow and Kiev to restore ties after nearly three years of animosity, and are expected to pave the way for negotiations on the settlement of the Ukraine conflict.

The talks have, however, sparked outrage in the EU, whose members have lamented that Washington failed to consult themprior to reestablishing dialogue with Moscow and did not invite them to the negotiating table.(They fail to understand Trump has all the records of Joe Bidan, and he knows exactly what they did)

“We, peace-loving Hungarians, have been waiting for this for three years!” Szijjarto, whose government is a longstanding critic of the West’s approach to the Ukraine conflict and a proponent of peace, wrote on Facebook.

“Pro-war Europeans are decrying they were not invited to sit at the table… but why should they be? The talks are about peace, they are no place for warmongers!” he added. Speaking to reporters ahead of US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday, Szijjarto expressed hope that they will “lead to peace in Ukraine as soon as possible.”

Many EU officials have voiced criticism of Washington’s unilateral peace effortsover the past few days. The process began with US President Donald Trump’s phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin last Wednesday, after which the US leader declared that Ukraine peace negotiations should start “immediately.”

Anger spiked further after Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, signaled that the bloc would not be at the table when the US and Russia discuss peace, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to call for an emergency gathering of European leaders.

Macron’s summit took place in Paris on Monday, and was attended by the leaders of Germany, the UK, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, as well as EU Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen and NATO chief Mark Rutte.

According to comments made by several attendees following the meeting, it focused on the potential deployment of European troops to Ukraine and the willingness of European NATO members to step up defense spending,but failed to yield any concrete decisions on both fronts.

German Chancellor OlafSchloz saidthose present agreed, however,that “there must be no division of security and responsibility between Europe and the US” on Ukraine. Macron stated after the meeting that lasting peace could only be achieved through collaboration across the EU, the US, and Ukraine.(They forgot Russia! They are still going along with their original plan)

(Trump is not done with these corrupt leaders, as he said yesterday “it doesn’t bother him if the EU ramps up tarifffs”. So their opinion on anything, matters very little. I’m sure Putin and the Russian leaders are telling Trump and Team what the EU has been doing and done. Scholz, Johnson and Macron started this war, plus Scholz allowed the blowing up of Nord Stream 2, they all have a lot to answer to. It seems it wasn’t a big enough signal from Trump that they are not invited to the talks. They should be very afraid at this point. ==This is quite hilarious=!)

Musk and DOGE should be sent to Europe to audit all these countries. Kek.

(https://www.rt.com/news/612923-hungary-ukraine-peace-warmongers/

18 Feb, 2025 16:31

EU arms stockpiles empty – German defense contractor

Rheinmetall’s CEO has urged the bloc to ramp up weapons spendingamid the alleged Russia threat

The EU has depleted its arms stockpiles due to the Ukraine conflict, leaving it exposed to a potential Russian threat, Armin Papperger, the CEO of German arms manufacturing giant Rheinmetall, has stated.

The defense executive’s warning was voiced in an interview published by the Financial Times on Monday. It comes amid a renewed attempt at launching a US-Russia dialogue, with the sides on Tuesday holding their first meeting since the start of the Ukraine conflict.

Speaking to the FT on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Papperger, the head of one of the key Western firms supplying Kiev with military equipment, projected sustained high demand for arms in the region, even if peace talks lead to a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire.

At the same time, he noted that“The Europeans and the Ukrainians have nothing in their depots,”referring to low arms stockpiles among Ukraine’s NATO allies in the region.

The Rheinmetall chief went on to warn that “Even if the war [in Ukraine] stops — if we think that we have a very peaceful future, I think that’s wrong.”(it was always about arm manufacturers sales)

Despite a more than 30% increase in EU defense spending between 2021 and 2024, Papperger argued it remains insufficient to address current security challenges. He claimed his company would benefit even if there was a ceasefire becausethe bloc would continue to invest in weapons as it confronted the alleged threat of Russian aggression.

Papperger criticized EU nations for under-investing in defense for decades, saying it was why they were excluded from Tuesday’s Riyadh talks. Neither Ukraine nor Washington’s European NATO allies were invited to participate in the Russia-US meeting, where an agreement was made to start the conflict settlement process.

The CEO’s remarks come as the US has signaled its intent to minimize American military involvement once a potential truce is reached, instead seeking to shift the financial and logistical burden of supporting Kiev onto regional allies.

Vladimir Zelensky said last week that without NATO security guarantees, Ukraine would need to expand its army to 1.5 million troops – and that maintaining them would require a 50% increase in funding. (KEK, blackmail from the petty tyrant)

Rheinmetall has been one of the biggest winners amid rising global instability. Papperger told the FT he expects the company’s annual sales to reach between €30 billion ($32 billion) and €40 billion ($43 billion) within five years – a sharp jump from the $6 billion reported in 2021, before the Ukraine conflict’s escalation.

The German arms giant had previously stated that the conflict has “significantly improved business performance.”

Moscow has repeatedly denounced Western arms shipments to Ukraine, arguing they only prolong the conflict without changing its outcome, while increasing the risks of a direct Russia-NATO clash.

https://www.rt.com/news/612930-eu-ukraine-conflict-russia/

14 Feb, 2025 16:22

Zelensky demands 1.5 million-strong army

Europe must help Ukraine beef up its military until it joins NATO, the country’s leader has told the Munich Security Conference

Vladimir Zelensky has issued a new demand to Ukraine’s western backers, after the US said Kiev’s goal of NATO membership is “unrealistic.” Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Friday,Zelensky stated that Kiev needed an army of some 1.5 million soldiers.

If Ukraine is not a member of the US-led military bloc, then it must build its defense capabilities together with Western Europe, Zelensky warned. He went on to claim that NATO membership remained the best and “cheapest”option for Ukraine’s security.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week described Kiev's hopes of NATO membership as “unrealistic,” a stance that was later reaffirmed by US President Donald Trump.

Zelensky insisted however “Until we are part of NATO, we need an army capable of protecting the country. This means NATO-standard weaponry and a sufficient number of trained Ukrainian troops. Based on calculations with our military leadership, that means an army of 1.5 million soldiers,” Zelensky said.

Russia has maintained that Ukraine’s aspirations to join the US-led military bloc are one of the conflict’s root causes. On Thursday, Trump blamed the hostilities on his predecessor Joe Biden’s support for Ukraine’s bid to join NATO.

The US President held a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, stating afterwards that Moscow and Washington would start immediate negotiations to end the fighting.

In January, Zelensky proposed deploying at least 200,000 European soldiers as peacekeepers in Ukraine to enforce any potential peace agreement with Russia. In a recent interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman, Zelensky said Ukraine had 980,000 military personnel in service.

Maintaining a 1.5 million-strong army would require a 50% increase in funding, Zelensky said, questioning who would finance it and how.

The Trump administration recently froze all foreign US aid, including for Ukraine, amid a government-wide spending review. Many EU and NATO members have failed to meet the bloc’s current defense spending target of 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Snce the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, western countries have provided over $82 billion in aid to Ukraine per year, according to data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. A Friday press release by the think tank claims that the EU has given Kiev nearly $64 billion in military aid, while the US has provided some $66 billion.

(Zelensky will be a distant memory soon. Wait until the DOGE team finds all the funds spent by the US in Ukraine. And where it went. The U.S. should seize the four more luxury properties he bought in Europe and elsewhere during the war, when money was pouring in.)

https://www.rt.com/news/612738-zelensky-demands-army-nato/

Why is the EU even listening to Zelensky?

18 Feb, 2025 16:07

Americans no longer want to fund Ukraine – RFK Jr.

TheUS has spent over $300 billion on aid to Kiev, according to President Donald Trump

The American people do not want to see their taxpayer dollars endlessly being spent on the Ukraine conflict, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said.

To date, the US Congress has approved nearly $183 billion in aid for Kiev since the escalation of the conflict in 2022. US President Donald Trump has put the total at more than $300 billion.

Kennedy, who was confirmed as the new US health secretary last week, said it was time to cut the flow of funding, in a statement on X on Sunday.

”The American people will not accept hard-earned tax dollars fueling endless conflicts. We demand an end to these forever wars,” he wrote.

”It's time for peace! The perpetual funding is over!”

Since his inauguration last month, Trump and his administration have pivoted to an “America First” approach to foreign funding, amid a wider push to cut government spending. Most US aid abroad has been suspended while it is reviewed for alignment with the new administration’s goals.

Earlier this month, Trump insisted that Kiev repay Washington for the funding it has received to date, which the US leader claimed was “more than $300 billion.” Trump demanded the “equivalent of $500 billion worth of rare earths”from Ukraine in return.

According to The Economist,US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gave Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky an hour to signaway Ukraine’s mineral wealth in its entirety when they met last week, whichZelensky reportedly declined.

One former Ukrainian senior official referred to the agreement as “colonial,” according to AP.

Moscow and Washington agreed to establish a framework toward settling the Ukraine conflict during talks in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Tuesday. The bilateral meeting was the first between US and Russian diplomats since the West froze ties three years ago.

Ukrainian and EU officials were not invited to the discussions in Saudi Arabia, andZelensky has insisted that he will consider any decisions taken without his presence as null and void.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who led the Russian delegation, noted the negotiations were productive, and that the US side “now has a clearer understanding of Russia’s position.”

https://www.rt.com/news/612961-americans-ukraine-funding-rfk/

(Just wait until Trump Team audits where all the Ukraine money really went. There will be a lot of political leaders in US and Europe involved.)