DC Mayor Muriel Bowser tells why she won't run for 4th term==

Mayor Muriel Bowser has spent the past year trying to strike a balance between her constituents and the Trump administration. Here's what she told News4 about her decision and D.C.'s future.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser won’t run for reelection, ending months of speculation over whether she would seek a fourth term. She gave News4 an in-depth interview on her decision.

“It was time for me to pass the baton on to the next set of leaders who are going to take our city to the next level (of crime” she forgot to say!),” the mayor said in an interview with News4 at her home.

Bowser said she made the decision for her family. In the interview, she said now is the time to do something else while she still has a lot of energy, vigor and great ideas.

DC Mayor Bowser will not seek 4th term

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser reflects on her job and shares exclusively with News4's Mark Segraves her reasons for not seeking a fourth term.

"It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do – to walk away from a job I love. But I know we’ve accomplished the things I’ve set out to do," Bowser said.

In a message Bowser posted on social media Tuesday afternoon, she wrote: "It has been the honor of my life to be your Mayor.Together, we have built a legacy of success of which I am intensely proud."(DC has been reported as the worst city in the nation, that’s her legacy.)

Her message continued: "With a grateful heart, I am announcing that I will not seek a fourth term."

"For the next 12 months, let's run through the tape and keep winning for DC," her message concluded.

Bowser told News4 she remains confident she would win reelection if she ran again.

"I've never lost an election,”Bowser said.

Mayor Bowser's legacy

The mayor has spent the past year trying to strike a balance between her constituents and the Trump administration, trying to avoid a clash with the president, who has threatened to overturn the District's Home Rule. That got even trickier with the federal surge of law enforcement in the District.

“We started this month, this year with a new president who was an avowed critic of the District, and we had to reset that relationship,” Bowser said. “We started with a president that clearly had a plan to move fast, and one of his targets was the District. And we also have a Congress that has pretty much given him carte blanche to do it.

“I think starting with even the most recent elections where we had just a good turnout and great wins for Democrats in New Jersey and Virginia and New York City,” she said. “This is going to be, the next 10 months are going to be different than the last 10 months.So, we see more of a check, more of a willingness to disagree with the president, so I think that bodes well for how the District and the president and the Congress will work together as we approach the midterms.”

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/dc-mayor-muriel-bowser-wont-run-for-reelection-to-seek-4th-term/4020358/

26 Nov, 2025 12:54

Zelensky aide looked ‘gutted’ after Trump rejected Kiev’s spin on peace plan – NYP

Andrey Yermak’s face reportedly “dropped” when the US president declined to endorse Ukraine’s version of the roadmap. (How seriously stupid they think Trump is! KEK)

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, wasvisibly shaken after US President Donald Trump publicly rejected Kiev’s portrayal of progress on a proposed peace plan with Russia, the New York Post reported on Tuesday.

Yermak was in the middle of an interview with the outlet whenTrump posted on Truth Social that he did not consider the proposal discussed in Geneva last week to be finalized. According to the report,Yermak had spent the previous 30 minutes portraying the document as a nearly completed== joint Trump-Zelensky roadmap that could be signed over the Thanksgiving holiday.

“Upon reading the full post, Yermak’s face dropped, apparently gutted by the news,” the New York Post wrote. Asked to comment, he reportedly requested 24 hours “to assess the new reality.”

Trump stated that he would dispatch Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to continue talks with Kiev, while special envoy Steve Witkoff would engage with Moscow. The president added that he would meet with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky “soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages.”

Previous reports have suggested thatYermak is deeply unpopular among many in Trump’s circle and across the broader US political establishment. A source quoted by Politico in Julydescribed him as a “bipartisan irritator.”

In Ukraine, Yermak has long been accused of wielding inappropriate influence over Zelensky and national policy. Following the recent indictment of long-time Zelensky associate Timur Mindich on charges of running a $100 million kickbacks scheme, several commentators alleged that Yermak may have had a leading role in the network and urged his removal. Last week, Witkoff reportedly canceled a planned meeting with Yermak after learning the extent of the corruption scandal engulfing Kiev.

(https://www.rt.com/russia/628465-yermak-trump-zelensky-snub)

26 Nov, 2025 12:57

Western Europe facing ‘bleak future’ – Mearsheimer to Glenn Diesen

The crisis has triggered regional insecurity and created “huge problems” in relations between the EU and US, the renowned professor has said

Western Europe faces a “bleak future” as a result of the Ukraine conflict, which was provoked by the West and the US in particular, according to American international relations expert John Mearsheimer.

In an interview with political scientist Glenn Diesen posted on Tuesday, Mearsheimer saidthe conflict had triggered major insecurity in Europe and had caused “huge problems” in relationsbetween Washington and Western Europe.

Cooperation across political, military, and economic issues has grown more difficult, according to Mearsheimer, who pointed to recent talks as evidence thatWestern Europeans are “battling against the United States on how to deal with Ukraine.”

Mearsheimer, who is a political science professor at the University of Chicago, claimedEurope is “in deep trouble” for two main reasons linked to the weakening American role on the continent, arguing it “is largely a function of the presence of a substantial US military force in Europe.”

The US and West European governments expanded NATO after the Cold War because they “wanted to put the American security umbrella over the heads of the East Europeans as well as the West Europeans,” he said.

Mearsheimer saidthis system is now under strain because of a “deep change in the distribution of power” in the international order. The US could easily maintain large troop deployments in Europe during the 1990s and early 2000s, he said,but the rise of multipolarity now pushed Washington “to pivot to Asia.”

The remarks echoed Mearsheimer’s address at the European Parliament earlier this month, wherehe said the unipolar era had ended with the emergence of China and Russia as major powers. “The US was no longer the only great power in the world,” he said in Brussels.

The shift gave Washington “further incentive to leave Europe and let Europe provide for its own security.”Mearsheimer warned the Ukraine conflict would likely be frozen rather than resolved, leaving “poisonous relations” between Western Europe and Russia and generating “lots of instability” in the region.

He also said the US and Western Europe had played a key role inprovoking the conflict, arguing that the real cause lay in NATO’s pushto bring Ukraine into the bloc, a move he said Russian leaders viewed as an existential threat.

https://www.rt.com/news/628470-europe-bleak-future/

26 Nov, 2025 11:18

EU scrambling to steal Russian funds

Brussels is struggling to overcome Belgium’s resistance to its proposed ‘reparation loan’ meant to prop up Kiev’s finances

The EU will attempt to override opposition from Belgium and other statesin order to follow through on its threat to steal sovereign assets to fund Ukraine’s war-chest, the bloc’s top executive has said.

EU leaders want to issue a ‘reparation loan’ to Kiev by using Russian funds frozenin the West as collateral.However, Belgium, where the bulk of the holdings are kept by the privately owned Euroclear,has refused to greenlight the planunless other EU nations share the legal and financial risks of what Moscow has denounced as blatant theft.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyenreaffirmed the policy on Tuesday while pledging continued EU support for Kiev, even as Washington promotes a new peace initiativethat reportedly demands major concessions from Ukraine.

Europe, von der Leyen said, will “stand firmly by Ukraine” throughout any future discussions, adding that “a central point is the question of financing for Ukraine, including the use of the immobilized Russian sovereign assets.”

“Ukraine’s interests are our interests,” she said. “They are inseparable.”(she just said we are thugs and thief’s to steal anyone’s money except their own, which they have very little left)

Politico previouslyreported that pro-Kiev officials in the bloc have floated a temporary “bridge loan,” taken out collectively by EU member states, which would keep Ukrainesolvent for several months. Supporters hope that once Belgium is persuaded, the larger reparation loan could later be approved and used to repay this interim debt.

“We hope to be able to solve their hesitation,”one EU diplomat told the outlet. “We really do not see any other possible option than the reparations loan.” Another official said, “if we don’t move, others will move before us.” Both spoke on condition of anonymity.

Russian officials have accused Brussels of trying to prolong the conflict for domestic political gain and to justify soaring defense budgets that benefit European arms makers.

White House Press Secretary KarolineLeavittsuggested that critics of the US peace proposalare either misinformed or “pushing their own agenda,” adding that some “don’t want to see this war come to an end” and may be “profiting off of it.”

https://www.rt.com/news/628461-eu-russian-sovereign-funds/

26 Nov, 2025 10:11

Zelensky wants his European backers at Trump meeting

The presence of his supporters “would be helpful” during talks with the US president, the Ukrainian leader has said

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has called for European leaders to attend his next meeting with US President Donald Trump for discussions on resolving the conflict with Russia.

Zelensky issued the call after days of scrambling with his western European backers, all of whom were blindsided by a US submission of a draft peace proposalto Kiev last week. Kiev and the EU wish to impose a ceasefire before talks in order to offset the accelerating collapse on the frontline, while Moscow has insisted on a long-term peace deal being in place before any deals are signed.

“I am ready to meet with President Trump – there are sensitive points to discuss, we still have them – and we believe that the presence of European leaders could be helpful,” Zelensky said on Tuesday in an address to EU leaders, a video of which was released by his office. (KEK what a coward. The EU are the true masters of Ukraine!)

[update: Trump has since dismissed Zelensky's call for urgent talks and has announced that he will send his envoy to Moscow]

When Zelensky met with Trump in Augustafter the US president’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska,he was accompanied by seven Western officials, including NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and the leaders of Finland, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK.(they are all chickens.)

A leaked version of the initial US plan appeared torequire Kiev to abandon several of its long-standing “red lines,” including its bid for NATO membership and territorial claimsagainst Russia. Ukrainian officials say they persuaded Washington to substantially revise the document.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cautioned thatif the revised draft deviatesfrom what Moscow considersthe original “spirit of Anchorage,” the situation will become “radically different.”

Zelensky’s political standing at home has been weakened by a recent corruption scandal involving long-time associate Timur Mindich, who was charged by Western-backed anti-graft investigators with running a major kickback scheme.

Surveillance of Mindich by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine captured conversations involving Zelensky and his chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, possibly implicating both, media outlets report.

https://www.rt.com/russia/628447-zelensky-trump-not-alone/

26 Nov, 2025 07:48

US warns Ukraine of ‘imminent defeat’ – NBC

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has reportedly pressed Kiev to accept a peace deal before it’s too late

A senior US military official has warned thatUkraine faces “imminent defeat” on the battlefield and urged Kiev to accept a US-drafted peace deal== before its position deteriorates further, NBC News reported on Tuesday, citing people briefed on the talks.

The initial version of the 28-point draft plan would reportedly require Ukraine to relinquish the parts of the new Russian regions in Donbass still under its control, freeze the front lines in Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, and cap the size of its army.

In a meeting with Ukrainian officials in Kiev last week, US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told his counterparts thattheir troops “faced a dire situation on the battlefield and would suffer an imminent defeat against Russian forces,” NBC reported, citing two sources.

The Russian military has been on the offensive in recent months in Donbass and elsewhere, with Ukrainian officials complaining of a lack of manpower.

Driscoll went on to say that Russia is increasing the scale and pace of its air attacks and can “fight on indefinitely,” andwarned that US industry cannot keep supplying weapons and air defenses at the required rate, NBC said.

“The message was basically – you are losing, and you need to accept the deal,” the network’s source said.

According to NBC, Kiev refused to sign the deal, which has since been amended. Several media reports also suggest that Driscoll held “secret talks” with the Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday.

NBC described the talks betweenDriscoll and Ukrainian officials as a sign of a long-running rift in the Trump administration between Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

WhileVance’s camp is seeking to push Kiev to compromiseand see it “as the primary obstacle to peace,”supporters of Rubio believe that the Ukraine conflict could be settled by pressuring Russia, the network said. Vance and Rubio have denied being at odds over Ukraine. (So Rubio a Russia hater, is the tie up? Why even say that now? Treachery!)

Russia has said it remains in contact with Washington and has received the broad outlines of the plan, but said it will not “engage in megaphone diplomacy,” which could jeopardize the peace efforts.

https://www.rt.com/news/628445-us-warns-ukraine-imminent-defeat/

26 Nov, 2025 02:51

Trump defends Witkoff’s tactics on negotiating Ukraine peace

The US president has denied that his envoy has been “too pro-Russian”

US President Donald Trump has defended key Ukraine negotiator Steve Witkoff afterBloomberg claimed that it obtained a leaked phone call between Witkoff and a top Kremlin official.

On Tuesday, Bloomberg published what it described as a transcript of Witkoff’s conversation with Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov from October 14. Neither Russia nor the US has confirmed its authenticity.

Asked aboard Air Force Oneif Witkoff was “coaching” the Russians on how to deal with him, Trump said he was unaware of the alleged leak. He called Witkoff’s approach “standard,”adding that the envoy, a former real estate developer, had to “sell” terms to both Russia and Ukraine.

“That’s what a dealmaker does. You got to say, ‘Look, they want this – you got to convince them with this.’That’s a very standard form of negotiations,” Trump said.“I would imagine he’s saying the same thing to Ukraine. Each party has to give and take,” he added.

Asked if Witkoff was being “too pro-Russian,”Trump said no.

“Look, this war can go on for years. And Russia has got a lot more people, a lot more soldiers. If Ukraine can make a deal, it’s a good thing. I think it’s great for both,” he added.

Also on Tuesday, Bloomberg publishedwhat it claims is a transcript of a phone call between Ushakov and Russia’s investmentenvoy and Ukraine negotiator, Kirill Dmitriev.Dmitriev has said the transcript is fake. Russian officials previouslyaccused the Western media of spreading disinformation in an effort to undermine Trump’s mediation efforts.

US and Ukrainian negotiators met in Geneva over the weekend, after which Trump said his original 28-point peace plan was “fine-tuned”with additional input from both Russia and Ukraine.

Trump said on Tuesday that he directed Witkoff to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, while US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll would remain in contact with Ukrainian officials.

https://www.rt.com/news/628434-trump-defends-witkoff-tactics/

(I bet this came from US Department of State, because the diplomats!think they can do better, and most of them hate Trump!)

25 Nov, 2025 23:42

Ukrainians must work – Germany’s Merz

The German chancellor has promised to tighten the law on welfare payments

The employment rate among Ukrainian refugees living in Germany is unacceptably low, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said, vowing to overhaul the system of benefits.

Germany has been one of the primary destinations for Ukrainians since the conflict with Russia erupted in 2022, with an estimated 1.1 million residing in the country as of mid-November.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA) on Tuesday, Merz saidmore Ukrainian nationals should seek employment.

“Germany has one of the lowest employment rates for Ukrainian refugeesin the entire European Union. Some countries have rates of 70% or 80%,while ours is still below 30%. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Merz argued that Ukrainians who can work should no longer rely on Burgergeld, or citizens’ allowance, which is normally reserved for German nationals.

In 2022, Germany passed a law makingUkrainians eligible for a basic allowance of €563 ($650) per month, along with housing assistance. But as the conflict has dragged on, thegovernment proposed reducing the monthly benefits to €441 for Ukrainians who arrive after April 1, 2025. The measure is expected to affect around 83,000 people, according to Focus.

Prominent critics ofbenefits for Ukrainiansinclude Markus Soeder, the minister-president of Bavaria, who has argued thatthey should not enjoy privileges that are not available to refugees from other countries.

Merz has also noted that military-age men have been fleeing Ukraine to avoid conscription, as Kiev struggles to replenish its battlefield losses. Earlier this month, he said heasked Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky to “ensure that these young men remain in their home country, where they are needed, and not in Germany.”

In neighboring Poland, another major destination for Ukrainians, President Karol Nawrocki has recently said that they should be stripped of preferential treatment.

https://www.rt.com/news/628423-berlin-unhappy-ukrainians-unwilling-work/

25 Nov, 2025 20:51

EU can no longer consider US an ally – ex-bloc foreign policy chief

Donald Trump has effectively sidelined the bloc on the proposed Ukraine peace plan, Josep Borrell has said

The EU can no longer consider the US an ally after Washington submitted a draft peace plan directly to Kiev, thus sidelining the bloc, former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has stated.

Washington presented Kiev with the proposal last week, giving it until this Thursday to respond. WesternEuropean nations, blindsided by the plan, have rejected any agreement that would cross Kiev’s proclaimed red lines, including its bid to join NATO and the question of territorial concessions.

In a series of X posts on Monday, Borrell said USPresident Donald Trump’s Ukraine peace plan had exposed what he called the failure of the EU’s “appeasement strategy” toward the US president, arguing that the bloc’s concessions on military spending, tariffs, and energy supplies had “achieved nothing.”

“Trump’s United States can no longer be considered an ally of Europe, which is not even consulted on matters affecting its own security,” Borrell claimed, adding thatEurope “must acknowledge this shift in US policy and respond accordingly.”

Borrell

1/ Trump’s plan to end the war in Ukraine exposes the failure of the EU’s appeasement strategy. Giving in to his demands on military spending, tariffs, digital deregulation, multinational taxation, and energy supplies has achieved nothing.

10:39 AM · Nov 24, 2025

borrell

2/ With the 28-point plan to end the war in Ukraine,Trump’s United States can no longer be considered an ally of Europe, which is not even consulted on matters affecting its own security. Europe must acknowledge this shift in U.S. policy and respond accordingly.

10:41 AM · Nov 24, 2025

The initial plan would reportedly require Ukraine to stay out of NATO, relinquish the parts of the new Russian regions in Donbass still under its control, freeze the front lines in Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions, cap the size of its army at 600,000.The plan would also provide sanctions relief to Russia.

European leaders pushed back, however, and reportedly sought to essentially rewrite the plan. The Telegraph and Reuters later published details of an alternative proposal drawn up by the UK, France, and Germany that would entail the fighting being halted at the line of contact, territorial discussions pushed to a later stage, and a NATO-style US security guarantee given to Kiev.

Ukrainian officials reportedly agreed to the US proposal in principle, with only technical points remaining to be ironed out. Moscow has described the reported US draft as a potential basis for an agreementbut has dismissed the European version as “completely unconstructive.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said Moscow is willing to discuss “specific wording” of a possible peace deal, but will not compromise on any of the core objectives that President Vladimir Putin outlined to Trump during their meeting in Alaska in August.

https://www.rt.com/news/628415-borrell-us-eu-ally-ukraine/

KEK the EU is useless and not welcomed, and they are pissy about it. I think Morrell got the message, the EU sucks!

25 Nov, 2025 19:58

NATO state seeks missiles able to strike deep inside Russia

The Swedish military has claimed Moscow poses a direct threat

=Sweden needs long-range cruise missiles to strike deep inside countries it views as a threat, such as Russia, according to a Swedish Armed Forces report released on Monday. Moscow has rejected claims it has hostile intentions toward Western countries as baseless.

The document calls for investment in strike capabilities able to reach targets at a “strategic depth” of roughly 2,000 km.The straight-line distance between Moscow and Stockholm is just over 1,400 km.

In an interview to Reuters on Tuesday, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said that the country must “build a stronger deterrent” to Russia’s growing long-range capabilities. Last month,he warned that people living in European NATO states should prepare for a possible war with Russia.

Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict,Sweden has given up neutrality and joined NATO. It has become one of Kiev’s most persistent backers, supplying artillery systems, anti-tank weapons, air-defense components, ammunition and training to Ukrainian forces. In June, it agreed to increase defense spending to match a new NATO target of 5% of GDP, up from the current 2.7%.

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard has been very hawkish on Russia,but also criticized fellow NATO members for not providing enough aid to Ukraine, and forcing Nordic countries to take on a disproportionate share.

“The fact that the Nordic countries, with less than 30 million people, we provide for one-third of the military support that the NATO countries, with almost 1 billion people, provide this year … This is not sustainable. It’s not reasonable in any way. And it says a lot about what the Nordics do – but it says even more about what the others don’t do.” she said.

Earlier this month, defense officials from the Nordic and Baltic nations reportedly held tabletop drills in Norway that simulated a “possible armed conflict” or “military action against Russia on the northern flank,” according to media reports.

Russia has repeatedly dismissed allegations it has hostile intent toward Western nations and has voiced concern over the growing military activity near its borders, condemning what it describes as the West’s “reckless militarization.”

(Europe still pushing a big fat lie, so they can gin up the fear to their citizens from Russia, with more control and lies. Plus they are almost all broke. I thank God that I was not born in the EU.)

https://www.rt.com/news/628405-sweden-long-range-missiles-russia/

26 Nov, 2025 10:11

Russia to tighten immigration rules – Security Council

Foreigners cannot “groundlessly” expect permanent residence and must leave at the end of their legal stay, Aleksandr Grebenkin has said

Russia no longer sees immigration as a way to offset falling birthratesand will not allow migrants to overstay their legal welcome, Aleksandr Grebenkin, deputy secretary of the country’s Security Council, has said.

In an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta released Tuesday, the senior official commented on Russia’s State Migration Policy for 2026-2030, approved in October. He said it prioritizes national security and economic developmentwhile focusing on combating illegal immigration and integrating foreigners who share traditional values.

“According to the new policy, the migration of foreign citizens to our country is no longer viewed as an auxiliary means of addressing demographic issues, but rather as an additional tool for implementing economic measures,” he stated. He explained that foreigners cannot expect permanent residence in Russia, except for certain categories, and must leave when their legal stay expires.

“The migration situation has changed significantly,” he added. “New security threats have emerged as hostile states and radical groups seek to exploit migration to undermine our interests, destabilize domestic politics, and fuel tensions with migrants’ home countries.”

He said migrants’ worldview has also shifted, shaped by different environments.He pointed to arrivals from former Soviet republics who he said often show “a dismissive and consumerist attitude toward Russia.”

“All of this fuels rising tensionsin Russian society over migration and the emergence of interethnic and interfaith conflict,” he stated.

Grebenkin said Russia has introduced measures to remove newcomers who maypose risks, including mandatory fingerprinting, health checks, photographing, and digitized migration records. He said these and other steps have helped cut the number of foreign citizens staying in Russia illegally more than threefold.

Russian officials have long warned of alooming demographic crisis, with 2024 data showing the lowest annual birthrates since 1999.The government has rolled out multiple support measures, including lump-sum childbirth payments and expanded maternity benefits.

Russia has tightened migration rules following the deadly Crocus City Hall terrorist attack last year, in which Islamic State-linked Tajik nationals killed 149 people at the behest of Ukrainian intelligence, according to Russian authorities. At a government meeting last month, President VladimirPutin said Russia will not follow countries that try to address demographic issues by replacing native populations with “chaotic migration.”

https://www.rt.com/russia/628439-russia-migrants-demographic-fix/

26 Nov, 2025 06:45

Putin aide confirms upcoming visit by US negotiators

Steve Witkoff and other delegates seeking to resolve the Ukraine conflict are heading to Moscow next week, Yury Ushakov has said

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and other officials involved in negotiations on resolving the Ukraine conflict will visit Moscow next week, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov has confirmed.

Ushakov, who advises President Vladimir Putin on foreign affairs, mentioned the trip in remarks on a Bloomberg report, which quoted what it claimed were leaked phone calls Ushakov held with Witkoff and senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev.

The Russian official told journalist Pavel Zarubin he does not comment on confidential communications, declining to either confirm or deny the authenticity of the transcripts.

Whoever leaked them apparently aims to harm Russian-US relations, Ushakov added, noting: “Somebody tapped, somebody leaked, but not us.”

Bloomberg claimed the purported discussion between Ushakov and Witkoff was the “genesis”of the 28-point US proposal on ending the Ukraine conflict, which was discussed with representatives from Kiev in Geneva last weekend.Supporters of Ukraine interpreted the transcripts as evidence that the plan was “Russian” and not American.

US President DonaldTrump brushed off the allegations, saying Witkoff was engaged in “standard” mediationseeking to “sell” some sort of a compromise to both sides of the hostilities. Dmitriev dismissed the publication as “fake,” and stated that “warmongers are sad that their sad trick does not work” after Trump’s reaction.

Ukrainian officials claim that they have convinced the US to alter its proposal in a way that respects Kiev’s red lines. A member of Vladimir Zelensky’s administration even asserted following the talks in Geneva that the initial plan, which was also leaked to the press, “no longer exists” in its original form.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has described the “media hype” regarding the discussions as an attempt to derail Trump’s efforts and “distort the plan.” He added that Moscow refused to engage in “megaphone diplomacy” and sought calm discussions of the issue behind closed doors.

https://www.rt.com/russia/628441-putin-witkoff-meeting-russia/

26 Nov, 2025 00:48

Russian negotiator on Ukraine denies phone call leak

Kirill Dmitriev has said the transcript of his supposed conversation published by the US media is false

Russia’s investment envoy and negotiator on Ukraine, Kirill Dmitriev, has said the transcript of his alleged phone call published by Bloomberg is false.

On Tuesday, Bloomberg claimed that it obtained a recording of Dmitriev’s short conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide, Yury Ushakov, on October 29. The publication did not release the audio but posted the transcript in Russian and English.

Commenting on the story on X, Dmitriev wrote “fake.” He previously accused the Western media of spreading disinformation in an attempt to derail US President Donald Trump’s efforts to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine.

In Bloomberg’s transcript, a person labeled as ‘Dmitriev’ is shown saying he would “make this paper from our position” and “informally pass it along.”

Last week, the White House confirmed that it drafted a peace plan, which critics claim favors Russia. The EU has since presented a counterproposal, while US and Ukrainian officials met on Sunday to further discuss Trump’s draft.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday thatthe draft was leaked to create “media hype” aimed at undermining US President Donald Trump’s mediation efforts.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the public speculation about the negotiations as “a travesty,” adding that Moscow “does not engage in megaphone diplomacy.”

https://www.rt.com/russia/628431-dmitriev-denies-phone-call-leak/

The enemies are desperately trying to prevent the end of the war. And no longer is Russia is an enemy.

26 NOV, 09:50

Dialogue with US, Western speculation, concessions: statements by senior Russian diplomat

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov emphasized that Moscow will not cross any of its own red lines on Ukraine and urged the media to focus on objective reporting

MOSCOW, November 26. /TASS/. Russia-US relations are still in the early stages of normalization, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said at a press conference.He noted that Moscow isn’t rushing its dialogue with Washington.

The senior diplomat emphasized that Russia will not cross any of its own red lines on Ukraine and urged the media to focus on objective reporting.

TASS has compiled the deputy foreign minister's main statements.

On relations with US

Relations between Russia and the US are still in the early stages of repair, and"the overall success of this process is not guaranteed."

The Russian side is still unconvinced that the US "respects" its fundamental interestsand is committed to working together to eliminate the root causes of the crisis and "fundamental contradictions."

Russia is ready to continue dialogue with the US on all areas of mutual interest,"but only on an equal and mutually beneficial basis."

Washington's actions in its relations with Moscow are quite contradictory, even "despite the current US administration's declared support for the restoration of dialogue with Russia."

Russia is showing "due patience" in its dialogue with the US.

There have been no "real shifts" in the dialogue with the US side on the resumption of air traffic and the return of Russian diplomatic property.

On speculation around peace plan

The media must exercise maximum responsibility and stick to journalistic principles: "Now is precisely the time, the moment when we must not succumb to provocations."

The Western media isn’t treating Russia objectively in its coverage of the Ukraine peace process: "Over the past few days, we have seen numerous information leaks, attacks, and assaults through the UK mediaand social networks on the very idea of reaching an agreement, an agreement that would address the root causes of this conflict."

"There can be no question of making concessions or abandoning our approach to the key issues facing us,including in the context of the special military operation."

Russia is not ready to publicly discuss the various versions of US President Donald Trump's planfor a peaceful settlement in Ukraine: " After all, time and attention are needed for the dialogue process to continue."

Diplomatic efforts on Ukraine "require silence," while the West wants to pump them up, using its media as a weapon in the information war: "Here we see that a number of media outlets are being used not just as ‘drain pipes,’ but as weapons in the information war."

On global security

Russia admits to the possibility of extending thequantitative limits of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) in a year if the treaty remains in place: "In the future, a decision could be made to extend this situation, of course, based on an analysis of the strategic situation."

Russia hopes that "negative scenarios" in the field of strategic stability can be avoided, but is "ready for any developments."

The global security situation will deteriorate sharply if the US does not accept Russia's proposalon New START restrictions and "begins to build up its capabilities."

On Ukrainian settlement

The US continues to supply weapons and intelligence to Ukraine, despite the "Russian-American understandings" reached during the summit in Alaska.

Potential threats in future

The Asia-Pacific region "could become one of the most conflict-prone" as the provocative actions of certain regional states "are becoming much more apparent than before."

On grain deal

The time for the grain deal has passed, but there is anunderstanding that "effective, workable efforts are needed in the area of food security.".

https://tass.com/politics/2049387

26 NOV, 03:17Updated at: 26 Nov, 05:50

Media leaks, upcoming US envoy visit: What Kremlin aide said 1/2

Yury Ushakov noted that the leaked transcripts of his alleged conversations with Steve Witkoff were intended to hinder efforts to improve Russia-US relations

MOSCOW, November 26. /TASS/. A tentative agreement has been struck that US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Moscow next week, Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov told TV reporter Pavel Zarubin.

He added that the leaked transcripts of his alleged conversations with Witkoff were intended to hinder efforts to improve Russia-US relations. Ushakov also said that Russian and Ukrainian intelligence officers held occasional meetings in the UAE to discuss sensitive issues, including prisoner swaps.

TASS has compiled the key points from what the Russian presidential aide said.

On Witkoff’s visit to Moscow

There is a tentative agreement for Witkoff to visit Moscow next week: "A tentative agreement has been reached that he will come to Moscow next week."

Russia and the US have not yet engaged in discussions of the Ukraine pace plan,but the process will begin during Witkoff’s visit to Moscow; the US envoy won’t be traveling to Russia alone.

Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to receive the US envoy: "If Witkoff comes, the Russian president will definitely receive him."

On media leaks

The goal of leaking the transcripts of Ushakov’s alleged conversations with Witkoff is to hinder efforts to strengthen Russia-US relations: "It’s probably to hinder the process. This is hardly being done to improve relations."

It’s not clear where the media obtained information on phone calls between Moscow and Washington: "Some are tapping, some are leaking, but it’s not us."

Phone calls with Witkoff happen often, but Russia never discloses confidential conversations to the media: "I don’t comment on the essence of the conversations, as they are confidential. No one should comment on such things."

On Russia-US dialogue

Russia and the US continue to build relations, particularly through phone calls, even though it’s a difficult process. "They [Russia-US relations] continue to be built, albeit with difficulties. The process involves this kind of communication, including over the phone."

On Abu Dhabi meetings

A new US official has held an apparently planned meeting with Kiev officialsand a completely unexpected meeting with Russian officials in the United Arab Emirates. "The new US official currently responsible for the Ukraine issue suddenly turned up at the meeting. "As far as I understand, he met with Ukrainian officials, which must have been agreed in advance.He also held a meeting with our representatives, which was completely unexpected".

https://tass.com/politics/2049029

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Washington’s peace plan for Ukraine was not discussed at the Abu Dhabi talks: "The peace plan has not been discussed in detail with anyone. We have seen it, we have received it, but there have been no discussions yet."

Officers from Russian and Ukrainian intelligence agencies hold "occasional meetings" in the United Arab Emirates to discuss sensitive issues such as prisoner swaps.

On US peace plan

Russia has not yet been formally presented with the US peace plan for Ukraine, but the document has been sent to Moscow through unofficial channels."It’s not official, but we have the document."

Russia has unofficially received several versions of the peace plan, which "is even confusing." "Let’s say that we have some of the latest versions. I believe this is the case."

The two countries’ teams have not yet held serious discussions but Russia and the US maintain contact, "including over the phone." "No one has come to the table yet to discuss specific provisions."

Russia is positive about certain provisions of the US peace plan for Ukraine, "==but many things require specialized discussions among experts=."

Russia has not discussed the details of the US peace plan with anyone, while a number of its provisions "require really serious analysis and serious discussion."

The Europeans are "unnecessarily" interfering with the Ukraine peace process.

https://tass.com/politics/2049029

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Takes Victory Lap Over ‘First Rebuilt House’ in Pacific Palisades After Fires – There’s Just One Little Problem

By Mike LaChance Nov. 26, 2025

Los Angles Mayor Karen Bass recently did a little victory dance about the ‘first rebuild’ of a house in the Pacific Palisades after the wildfires. Hey, it has only been almost a year, right?

There is one little problem with the house that Bass is celebrating, however.

It was a developer project that was in the works before the fires even happened. That’s right, this house wasn’t even one of the average homes destroyed by fires and her incompetence. What a surprise.

The New York Post reports:

LA Mayor Karen Bass called out for ‘phony’ Palisades rebuild after devastating wildfire

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is getting called out forprematurely taking a victory lapfor touting the “first Palisades fire rebuild.”

Locals are calling the latest announcement from Bassmisleading, and a glaring sign the city didn’t bother to check whether the house it was showcasing was even a fire-loss rebuild at all.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/11/los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-takes-victory-lap/