15 Jul, 2025 14:54

EU welcomes Trump’s ultimatum to Russia

The US president’s tariff threat if no peace deal reached is a “positive” step, Brussels’ top diplomat Kaja Kallas has claimed

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has welcomed US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Russia’s trading partners unless a deal with Ukraine is reached within 50 days, calling it a “positive” step.

Moscow, however, has warned that Trump's declaration could be seen by Kiev as a signal to continue the war.

Trump said on Monday that he was “very, very unhappy” with the protracted negotiation process, warning Moscow of “severe” secondary tariffs of up to 100% unless the sides move towards a settlement.

“It is very positive that President Trump is taking a strong stance on Russia,” Kallas, known for her hawkish stance on Moscow, said at a press briefing.She suggested, however, that Trump’s deadline may not be enough to “pressure” Russia.

”50 days is a very long time… It is clear that we all need to put more pressure on Russia so that they would also want peace,” she stated, calling for Washington to continue supporting Kiev militarily.

Russia has repeatedly denounced Western arms supplies to Ukraine, saying they prolong the conflict without changing its course. Moscow has also condemned sanctions as illegal under international law.

Russia and Ukraine have held two rounds of direct talks in Istanbul over the past two months. Both sides agreed to major prisoner swaps and exchanged proposals on potential ways towards a settlement. Kremlin spokesman DmitryPeskov said on Tuesday that Moscow remains open to negotiations but has not received a response on the timing of the next round from Kiev.

Peskov described Trump’s ultimatum as “quite serious,” but noted that Russia needs time to analyze it. He also warned that the shift in Washington’s tone could be seen in Kiev “not as a signal toward peace, but as a signal to continue the war.”

https://www.rt.com/news/621516-eu-trump-ultimatum-russia/

(When Brussels, EU, Europe or NATO like what Trump is doing, we are going in a bad direction.None of them like and most likely hate Trump and America, and Mark Rutte is a liar.)

15 Jul, 2025 16:22

EU country’s leader denounces Brussels’ ‘imbecilic’ Russia plan

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has said the bloc’s push to phase out Russian energy imports jeopardizes his country’s economy

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has slammed the EU’s plan to phase out Russian energy imports as “imbecilic,” warning that the move would undermine his country’s energy security, as well as the rest of the bloc.

The RePowerEU plan envisages cutting all Russian oil and gas imports into the EU by 2027.The scheme has met with opposition not only from Slovakia, but also Hungary, Austria, and reportedly Italy.

In a video posted on Facebook on Monday, Fico said the “battle for Slovakia’s energy security is nearing its end,” acknowledging that Bratislava cannot veto Brussels’ plan.He accused the EU leadership of deliberately presenting the proposal as trade legislation to pre-empt opposition. Unlike sanctions, the plan only requires a qualified majority to pass.

“The [European] Commission’s proposal is, excuse my language, imbecilic.Demagogically, it is the result of a limitless obsession with Russia,” the prime minister said. He added that phasing out Russian energy will “damage the Slovak economy and undermine the competitiveness of the entire EU.”

Responding to a letter from Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who urged Fico to support the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia, the Slovak leader stated on Monday that he would not relent until “relevant stakeholders provide [Bratislava] with the necessary guarantees that after January 1, 2028, Slovakia will have sufficient gas supplies at reasonable prices.”

Slovakia blocked the sanctions package for the second time last Friday, demanding that its concerns over the separate RePowerEU plan be addressed first.

While Russian gas has not been subject to a direct EU ban, most member states have voluntarily cut imports. However, several landlocked countries – including Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic – still rely on limited volumes through exemptions. Bratislava and Budapest also receive much of their oil from Russia.

Russia has warned that targeting its energy exports will continue to cause energy prices to surge across the EU, weakening the bloc’s economy. Since 2022, growth across the EU has stagnated.

https://www.rt.com/news/621522-slovakia-fico-eu-russian-energy/

Senate confirms first new judge of Trump’s second term

The president does not have as many judicial vacancies to fill as he did during his first term in office.

Hailey Fuchs 07/14/2025, 6:13pm ET

The Senate has voted to confirm the first judicial nominee of Donald Trump’s second term, marking the resumption of the president’s longstanding campaign to install a conservative tilt across the federal judiciary.

Whitney Hermandorfer was confirmed in a 46-42 vote along party lines to replace an Obama-era appointee on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals— pushing the court which hears appeals from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee further to the right.

Trump has long indicated he expects a level of enduring loyalty from his picks to the federal bench, calling them “my judges.” But the Senate vote also follows an aggressive campaign from Trump allies to target existing judges whose rulings have created obstacles to the administration’s agenda, culminating in calls for their impeachment.

The House never pursued those impeachment resolutions. And efforts to hamstring the power of district court judges — including by limiting their ability to issue injunctions with sweeping, nationwide implications — have also proved fruitless, after the provisions were stripped from Trump’s landmark domestic policy bill signed into

law earlier this month.

In Trump’s first term, the vast transformation of the federal judiciary was a marquee accomplishment. He nominated hundreds of judges to the federal bench, buoyed by changes to Senate rules that facilitated their swift confirmation. Now, relatively few seats remain for Trump to fill, after former President Joe Biden also nominated and succeeded in seating hundreds of judges. Official U.S. courts data show roughly 49 existing vacancies.

A graduate of Princeton University and George Washington University Law School,Hermandorfer clerked for Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett and then-D.C. Circuit judge Brett Kavanaugh. She has served as director of the Strategic Litigation Unit of the Tennessee Attorney General’s office and defended the state’s near-total abortion ban along with its prohibition on gender-affirming care for minors.

In his announcement of her nomination, Trump called Hermandorfer “a staunch defender of Girls’ and Women’s Sports.”

Democrats and their allies argued that Hermandorfer, who graduated law school in 2015, lacked the professional experience to hold a lifetime appointment on the powerful appeals court and criticized her work on the frontlines of conservative culture wars.Democratic Senators voted in unison to reject her nomination.

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/07/14/congress/senate-confirms-hermandorfer-00451602

Hailey Fuchs

07/14/2025, 3:38pm ET

Senator Grassley

Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley says he has not lost confidence in Attorney General Pam Bondi’s leadership of the Justice Department,but he does want more information around the agency’s case against disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“I wish I knew what she knew, and I’m going to have to probably get some information,” the Iowa Republican said in a brief interview Monday afternoon. “But it’s not going to stop [Bondi] from doing the good work that she and the FBI is doing.”

Grassley’s comments come as many of President Donald Trump’s supporters have attacked Bondi for her handling of the case against Epstein, who died by suicide in his jail cell in 2019 on charges of sex crimes.

The Justice Department recently said Epstein had no so-called “client list,” and federal law enforcement lacked evidence that he “blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions.”

Many in the president’s base have condemned what they believed to be a lack of transparency, demanding that a list of Epstein client’s be made public.

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/07/14/congress/grassley-wants-information-from-bondi-00451798

AG Bondi says there’s no change to her position on Epstein after Trump suggests she could release more files

By Hannah Rabinowitz, Donald Judd and Paula Reid, CNN

Updated: 3:32 PM EDT, Tue July 15, 2025

Attorney General Pam Bondi said Tuesday that last week’s memo declining to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein “speaks for itself,” rejecting questions about making more documents public.

“Today our memo speaks for itself, and we will get back to you about anything else,” Bondi told reporters Tuesday, responding to questions about President DonaldTrump’s earlier comment that Bondi should release “whatever she thinks is credible.”

At the White House on Tuesday, Trump said he stood behind Bondi, responding to aquestion about his daughter-in-law Lara Trump saying that there needs to be “more transparency” around the Epstein investigation.

“The attorney general has handled that very well … really done a very good job,” Trump said.

“I would like to see that also,” the president added, in an apparent reference to the call for more transparency.

“But I think the attorney general — the credibility is very important, and you want credible evidence for something like that, and I think the attorney general’s handled it very well.”

Additionally, Trump said Bondi has not told him that his name appears in the Epstein files, despite previous accusations from ex-Trump ally Elon Musk.“No, no, she’s given just a very quick briefing,”Trump told reporters.

Bondi’s comments came during a press conference at the Drug Enforcement Agency, highlighting law enforcement seizures of 64,000 pounds of methamphetamines — including those in pill form — in drug busts since January. Several happened over the July 4th holiday weekend.

Though the surge in drugs like meth-laced pills is a national threat — and drug cases are of particular importance to the attorney general — it was not enough to divert attention from the Epstein controversy.

The department is keen to change the current conversation around Epstein, sources tell CNN,and is prioritizing putting Bondi in front of cameras to discuss other Trump priorities like the drug busts discussed Tuesday. Their hope is that the controversy will die down despite the enormous amount of backlash the department is facing from Trump’s own supporters.

That was evident during the event Tuesday, as reporters repeatedly asked about additional disclosures, as well as her relationship with FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino.Bondi repeatedly said she would not answer questions on the matter.

Bondi said that she, Patel and Bongino are “all committed” to “fighting as a team” to accomplish Trump administration priorities like reducing violent crime.

“I’m going to be here as long as the president wants me here, and I believe he’s made that crystal clear it’s four years,” Bondi said of the drama and subsequent calls for her resignation.

“Well, three and a half now, right?” she said.

Trump was also asked at the White House if he has faith in Bongino, who CNN has reported has clashed with Bondi over the release of files related to the Epstein investigation.“I like Dan Bongino,” Trump said.

https://lite.cnn.com/2025/07/15/politics/epstein-files-trump-bondi

Tesla’s long-time head of sales in North America is out

Fred Lambert | Jul 15 2025 - 8:56 am PT

Tesla’s long-time head of sales in North America, Troy Jones, has reportedly left the automaker amid demand problems.

The Wall Street Journal reported the departure today:

Troy Jones, vice president of sales, service and delivery in Tesla’s largest market, has departed after 15 years at the electric-car company, the people said.

Jones had been at Tesla since 2010 and he had several leadership positions in sales in North America.

For the past five years or so, he has been regarded as the leader of Tesla’s retail effort in the US.

His departure from the company follows the reported firing of Omead Afshar, who was Elon Musk’s right-hand man and had recently been promoted to head of North American and European operations.

Tesla appears to be completely changing its leadership in sales in North America and Europe.

Musk has reportedly taken direct responsibility for Tesla sales in those markets following Afshar’s departure.

Meanwhile, Tesla is also suffering from a significant talent exodus since a mass wave of layoffs last year has significantly affected morale.

Jenna Ferrua, Tesla’s head of HR in North America, recently exited the company.

Tesla also recently lost one of its top engineering executives behind energy products, along with the head of the Optimus program, its top crash safety architect, two of its top designers, its long-time head of software, and many more.

That’s just in the last few months.

It seems to me that the wrong people are leaving Tesla if the goal is to increase sales. 🤔🤷

View all comments

A bunch of heads are rolling over Tesla’s declining sales. All except the main one that has had a clear negative impact on sales: Elon Musk.

Tesla’s sales are down 13% in the first half of 2025 despite EV sales surging 30% globally.

When the supposedly leading EV automaker sees its sales decline amid a surging global EV market, there’s a real problem.

That problem is mainly Elon Musk who is both negatively affecting the brand and badly positioning Tesla and its EV lineup by betting the house on autonomous driving.

https://electrek.co/2025/07/15/tesls-long-time-head-sales-north-america-out/

3 hours ago

Raheem J. Kassam

Analysis

Your Response to the Epstein Saga Might Signal Which Voter ‘Class’ You’re In.

New data from the Democracy Institute shows that the Jeffrey Epstein affair and your response to it may indicate your voter ‘class’.

That’s not to be confused with how much class you have, mind. One might argue quite the contrary.

• Having surveyed 1500 likely voters with a margin of error of -/+ three percent, the group found that 63 percent of Americans disagree with the decision not to release a suspected Epstein ‘client list.’

• Of those surveyed, 67 percent of Trump 2024 voters disagree with the decision. The number swells to 72 percent amongst new 2024 voters, indicating a significant number of those who joined the Trump coalition for the first time now find themselves at odds with the President on this topic. In terms of mid-term impact, that is gigantic.

• Interestingly, the only group that agrees and disagrees in equal measure (48-48%) is the “Upper Class.” This group typically consists of those with substantial wealth, higher incomes, elite educational backgrounds, or inherited status.

• This number shifts slightly when considering the middle-class voter: 52 percent disagree with the Trump administration, and 44 percent agree.

• But again, the number swells to 72 percent for the working-class voter, with just 26 percent supportive of keeping Epstein’s list under wraps.

• Now, look at the data concerning whether people think the issue is that the “list” doesn’t exist versus those who believe it is being “covered up.”

• Three out of every four Trump 2024 voters think there’s a cover-up at hand. I declare my open agreement with them.

• One in three Harris 2024 voters agrees, and one in four new Trump voters agrees. But once again, the number tightens significantly for the Upper class, which is split 53-43, with the middle class on 57-39.

• Once again, America’s working class flexes its skepticism, with almost eight in 10 likely voters insistent on a cover-up.

• Again, this bodes poorly for Republicans both morally and politically.

Perhaps it’ll bore you, but I try always to post the methodology of the polls I cite so you can decide on their reliability for yourself: the poll of 1,500 likely U.S. voters was conducted between July 11 and July 13, 2025.

It used a party identification model favoring Republicans by two points (R+2) and was administered via landline and cell phones using interactive voice response (IVR) technology. The results were weighted to reflect national distributions for gender, age, education, income, region, voting history, and party affiliation. The overall margin of error for the survey is ±3 percent at a 95 percent confidence interval.

The Democracy Institute has been consistently one of the most accurate and fair regarding Brexit, Trump, migration, and other topics dear to the populist right.

https://thenationalpulse.com/analysis-post/your-response-to-the-epstein-saga-might-signal-which-voter-class-youre-in/

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

DOGE Cancels Billions in Federal Contracts.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced it has terminated federal contracts worth up to $2.8 billion, including $407 million in savings from 230 contracts cut last week.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: DOGE, established by President Donald J. Trump, along with various federal agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Updates were shared on July 12 via DOGE’s social media and website, with actions spanning across federal agencies nationwide.

🎯IMPACT: DOGE claims its initiatives have saved $190 billion to date, equating to $1,180 per taxpayer, while the Senate debates additional spending cuts.

IN FULL

The Department of Government Efficiency(DOGE) has revealed a significant initiative to cut federal spending, announcing that it has terminated contracts totaling as much as $2.8 billion. According to DOGE’s latest update, published on July 12, a total of 230 contracts were eliminated just last week, generating $407 million in savings.

Among the contracts recently canceled were a U.S. Department of Agriculture project described as a “Mexico sustainable landscapes consultant” and a Treasury Department program involving “mentoring, evaluation, learning specialist services in Haiti.” DOGE posted screenshots of the project descriptions on its official social media platforms to highlight examples of what it deemed unnecessary expenditures.

According to information provided on DOGE’s website,its ongoing work has resulted in estimated savings of approximately $190 billion since its inception. This figure translates to an average of $1,180 saved per taxpayer. The agency’s public database reportsthat around 11,700 federal contracts and 15,500 grants have been terminated to date, each category contributing roughly $44 billion in cuts. However, there have been some questions as to how legitimate some of these savings were during the period when Elon Musk fronted the agency.

As DOGE continues its cost-cutting mission, broader fiscal policy is also in focus.The U.S. Senate is preparing to vote on a proposed package of spending reductions, which includes a rescission of $9.4 billion from programs related to public broadcasting and foreign aid. President Donald J. Trump has voiced strong support for the plan, particularly targeting taxpayer funding for public media outlets.

“It is very important that all Republicans adhere to my Recissions Bill and, in particular, DEFUND THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (PBS and NPR), which is worse than CNN & MSDNC put together,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He has warned GOP lawmakers that failure to support the bill may cost them his endorsement.

Despite changes in leadership, including Musk‘s departure in May, who previously served as a special government employee and spokesman for the initiative, DOGE remains active.

https://thenationalpulse.com/2025/07/15/doge-cancels-billions-in-federal-contracts/

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

William Upton News War

Trump Says Zelensky ‘Shouldn’t Target Moscow.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED:President Donald J. Trump has not urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider striking Moscow and St. Petersburg, refuting a false report from the Financial Timesregarding a call between the two leaders. Speaking to the press outside the White House, PresidentTrump gave an emphatic “no”when asked if he thought the Ukrainians should launch strikes deep into Russia.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED:President Donald J. Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

📍WHEN & WHERE:Trump’s remarks refuting the Financial Times story were made outside the White House on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE:“No, he shouldn’t target Moscow.” — President Trump

🎯IMPACT:Trump’s remarks push back against an earlier false report from the Financial Times that mischaracterized a phone call with Zelensky.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump clarified that Ukraine should not launch military strikes deep into Russia, including the targeting of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Trump’s remarks, made outside the White House on Tuesday afternoon, contradict an earlier false report from the Financial Times, which claimed that the America First leader had encouraged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to target the Russian cities.

The Financial Times claimed early Tuesday that during a conversation between the two leaders, Trump asked, “Volodymyr, can you hit Moscow? Can you hit St. Petersburg too?” Zelensky allegedly responded confidently, saying, “Absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons.” However, the Trump White House was quick to push back against the report, stating that the newspaper misinterpreted Trump’s comments to Zelensky.

Later Tuesday afternoon, President Trump addressed the false report directly while fielding questions outside the White House. “No, he shouldn’t target Moscow,” Trump said, responding to a question about his call with the Ukrainian leader. Trump went on to address a 50-day window he’s given to Russia to back down from hostilities or face a new round of severe sanctions:“No, I don’t think 50 days is very long, and it could be sooner than that. I don’t think 50 days is very long.”

As diplomatic avenues remain blocked, the war in Ukraine has entered a particularly violent phase. Russia has carried out a wave of intense bombardments across Ukrainian territory, with some of the heaviest attacks reported since the war began.

Cities in the western part of the country, including Lutsk and Ternopil, were among the hardest hit, while in the Kiev region, warehouses were set on fire by drone and missile strikes.

Christopher Tomlinson contributed to this report.

https://thenationalpulse.com/2025/07/15/trump-says-zelensky-shouldnt-target-moscow/

15 Jul, 2025 17:21

Trump believes Russia will win – Politico

The US president sees Russia’s larger economy and military as decisive factors in the Ukraine conflict, according to a White House official

US President Donald Trump believes that Russian victory in the Ukraine conflict is inevitable, Politico reported, citing a senior White House official.

On Monday, Trump threatened to impose secondary US tariffs of up to 100% on Russia’s trading partners unless progress toward a peace agreement is made within 50 days. He also authorized new weapons deliveries to Ukraine, which are to be paid for by European NATO members. Moscow has warned that Trump’s declaration could be seen by Kiev as a signal to continue the war.

According to Politico, Trump decided to up the pressure on Moscow out of frustration with continued Russian strikes on Ukraine. The source noted that the US president believes thatMoscow can secure military victory against Kiev thanks to its “bigger economy” and “bigger military.”

“The president’s view is Russia is going to win; it’s a matter of how long it takes,” the White House official told the outlet, noting Moscow’s progress on the battlefield.

In recent months, Russian forces have continued to gain ground, fully liberating the Lugansk People’s Republic, as well as the Kursk Region, which was invaded by Ukrainian forces last year.

Russia has rejected Trump’s latest ultimatum, while condemning attempts to pressure it. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov asserted that this approach is “unacceptable” and demanded that Washington and NATO respect Russia’s interests and concerns.

Moscow has repeatedly stressed that it is open to conducting negotiations based on mutual respect with the aim of settling the Ukraine conflict diplomatically. However, Russian officials have also said they see no genuine effort on the part of Kiev or the West to pursue peace and repeatedly slammed calls by Western officials to inflict “strategic defeat” on Russia.

Russia has emphasized that it remains determined to achieve the goals of its military operation in Ukraine and, while it would prefer to do so through diplomacy, it is prepared to use military means if necessary.

https://www.rt.com/russia/621533-trump-believes-russia-will-win/

(So Trump gave Russia 50 days to finish off Ukraine, good, that means he knows Ukraine has been lying to him and the world about everything.)

15 Jul, 2025 17:43

Lavrov accuses Ukraine of abandoning peace talks

By rejecting the Istanbul format, Kiev is displaying “disregard for its own citizens,” according to Sergey Lavrov

Kiev is derailing peace efforts by rejecting the Istanbul negotiations format, which Moscow still considers viable, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

The sides have met for two rounds of direct negotiations in Türkiye this year, rebooting talks that Kiev unilaterally abandoned in 2022 to pursue military victory with Western assistance. At their most recent meeting in June, the delegates exchanged draft proposals outlining visions for a potential peace deal and agreed on further prisoner exchanges.Moscow has since repeatedly confirmed its readiness to continue the negotiations.

Speaking at a press briefing following an SCO session in Tianjin,Lavrov rejected Kiev’s recent claims that the Istanbul format was limited to humanitarian issues and had exhausted itself. He said such statements reflect a refusal to negotiate and a “disregard for their own citizens,” recalling Kiev’s obstruction of efforts to return the bodies of dead Ukrainian soldiers.

Moscow proposed holding a third round of talks but has received no response from Kiev. Lavrov noted that Ukraine’s delegation is now being reshuffled, with outgoing Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who headed Kiev’s team in Istanbul, reportedly set to become ambassador to the US.

According to Lavrov, the 2022 Istanbul agreements proved that, despite holding opposing positions, it was possible to agree on settlement principles. However, the UK instructed Kiev not to sign the draft, likely with US backing, effectively bringing diplomatic momentum to a halt.

Western countries have instead intensified their military support for Ukraine, supplying long-range weapons with the explicit goal of striking Russian territory and scuttling any prospects for negotiations.

Commenting on calls from Kiev and its Western sponsors for an unconditional ceasefire, Lavrov warned that Ukraine could use the pause to regroup and rearm.

Moscow has outlined conditions for a truce in its draft memorandum: Ukraine must either pull troops out of Russian territories that Kiev claims or suspend its conscription campaign and receipt of Western arms deliveries.

Lavrov reaffirmed that Russia’s military operation would continue in line with the president’s approved plan, which is aimed at securing the country’s national interests and protecting Russians and the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine.

https://www.rt.com/russia/621515-ukraine-derailing-peace-talks-moscow/

15 Jul, 00:46

Ukrainian army might have shrunk by over 200,000 in 2025 due to casualties, desertions

Meanwhile, TASS estimates - based on reports from the Russian Defense Ministry - suggest that Ukrainemay have lost over 265,000 military personnel in combat during the first six months of 2025

MOSCOW, July 15. /TASS/. The total strength of the Ukrainian army may have decreased by at least 190,000 personnel in the first half of 2025 due to combat losses and desertion, amid low mobilization, according to data obtained by TASS from mobilization-related estimatesand statistics from the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office.

While official mobilization figures in Ukraine remain classified, various public statements and estimates shed light on the situation. In April 2025, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky stated that approximately 30,000 new troops needed to be mobilized each month to offset ongoing losses, emphasizing that this target should be maintained. However, Vladimir Zelensky had earlier acknowledged that reaching 30,000 mobilizations per month was a peak achieved only briefly in 2024, following the adoption of stricter mobilization laws.

Meanwhile, TASS estimates - based on reports from the Russian Defense Ministry - suggest that Ukraine may have lost over 265,000 military personnel in combat during the first six months of 2025.

In addition, data from the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office shows that betweenJanuary 1 and June 30, 2025, a total of 107,672 cases of desertion and unauthorized abandonmentof military units were recorded. Of these, only 1,807 individuals returned to military service through formal judicial procedures.

Combined, combat losses and desertion suggest that Ukraine’s total manpower losses in the first half of 2025 exceeded 370,000 personnel. Factoring in the available mobilization figures, the net reduction in the army's size is estimated to be between 190,000 and 310,000 troops over that period.

https://tass.com/world/1989489

15 Jul, 16:47

Trump gives no clear answer whether he expects to meet with Putin

US President suggested to see how things would go with Putin, adding that so far, he is very disappointed with him

WASHINGTON, July 15. /TASS/. The head of the US administration Donald Trump did not respond clearly to aquestion from TASSabout whether he expects to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the Ukrainian crisis in depth.

He suggested to see how things would go with Putin, adding that so far, he is very disappointed with him.

He said he has ended a few wars in the last three months, but the one in Ukraine was proving tough.

"This is Biden's war," Trump said, referring to the conflict in Ukraine.

He said he was determined to promote a settlement in Ukraine.

"This is not Trump's war," he said,adding that his goal is to get the US out of this mess.

https://tass.com/world/198995

15 Jul, 16:32

Kiev believes Trump's communication style misleading — media

Vadim Skibitsky, Deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, complained on Tuesday about the lack of accuracy in Trump’s announcement of a transfer of 17 Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems to Kiev

MOSCOW, July 15. /TASS/.Ukrainian officials believe that the specific style of statements by US President Donald Trump makes it difficult to understand what he means, The Wall Street Journal reported citing sources.

"Everyone hears what they want to hear," the newspaper quoted a Ukrainian official as saying. According to the official, during a July 4 conversation, Vladimir Zelensky only hinted to the US president that Ukraine needed high-precision long-range weapons.

Vadim Skibitsky, Deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, complained on Tuesday about the lack of accuracy in Trump’s announcement of a transfer of 17 Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems to Kiev.

"We don't know exactly [what Trump meant]," he told The Guardian. According to him, the US president, speaking of Patriot, could have meant interceptor missiles, launchers or whole batteries.

Earlier, the Financial Times reported that Trump, in the July 4 conversation with Zelensky discussed transferring additional ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles to Ukraine and called for an increase in the number of strikes deep into the Russian territory.

Sources confirmed information of American media that Trump asked Zelensky about the possibility of striking Moscow if Washington provided long-range weapons to Kiev. The White House said on Tuesday that Trump had not called on Zelensky to launch new strikes deep into Russia, including on Moscow.

https://tass.com/world/1989949

(Did they ever complain about what Joe said? They really should have gotten used to his style by now. Russia says they wait a day for clarification of what PDJT means, kek.)