PrairiePundit

 Federalist Wire: ... In a striking moment of diplomatic alignment, Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed President Donald Trump’s claim that the war in Ukraine would never have ignited had Trump been in office instead of Joe Biden. The agreement came during a press conference following a summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday evening. “I can confirm that,” Putin declared, addressing reporters as the summit concluded. His statement bolstered Trump’s repeated assertions, made both during his campaign and after retaking the presidency, that his leadership could have averted the Ukrainian conflict. Critics have challenged Trump’s perspective, questioning his claims that Ukraine provoked the war and that Biden’s administration missed critical opportunities to prevent it. Yet Putin’s remarks lent a powerful voice to Trump’s narrative. “I’d like to add one more thing,” Putin said, reflecting on past diplomatic efforts. “I’d like to remind you that i...

 Blaze: President Donald Trump said the reason Russia invaded Ukraine under President Biden instead of himself is obvious. Trump had a historic meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to discuss the possibility of peace with Ukraine. In a press conference after their discussion, Putin confirmed Trump's long-held claim that he would not have started a war with the Ukraine if Trump was in the Oval Office at the time, in early 2022. Speaking with Fox News' Sean Hannity soon after, Trump said he knew exactly why that invasion happened under President Biden, and not under his watch. Hannity brought up Putin's statement, and asked if the Russian leader gave specific reasons as to why he made the remark. "He did," Trump began . "I know the reason, it's gross incompetence. We have a border that is totally close now and people come in, but they come in legally." Trump revealed that not only did Putin say that if he had won the 2020 president...

 Federalist Wire: ... At a February 2024 campaign event, he stated, “You don’t pay your bills; you get no protection. It’s very simple,” adding, “I would encourage them to do whatever the h*ll they want” regarding a potential attack on a NATO nation by Russia. Yet, this blunt approach delivered results. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who shares a positive rapport with Trump, playfully acknowledged his unorthodox style. Referencing Trump’s rant about a faltering Iran-Israel ceasefire, Rutte said, “Daddy has to sometimes use strong language.” Rutte highlighted the disruptive yet effective nature of his diplomacy. “Donald Trump’s a real contrast to Joe Biden,” Peter Rough, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center on Europe and Eurasia, said to Fox News Digital. “Joe Biden bear hugged the NATO allies to the point of smothering them with adoration, and that caused them, I think, to sit back and relax a little bit.” “Donald Trump, by contrast, exposes the allies to just enough hosti...

  Trending Politics: President Donald Trump admitted on Monday that he may have misjudged Russia’s President Vladimir Putin as a “brilliant” dealmaker who sought fair terms for an end to war with Ukraine. His mind changed, however, only after First Lady Melania Trump intervened. Shortly after announcing new sales of U.S. arms to NATO allies , some bound for Ukraine, Trump revealed that Melania was the better judge of character after listening to him retell his last call with Putin. She pointed to Putin’s reneging on promises he made to her husband over the phone, something that Trump said became obvious to him after weeks of negotiations. “I go home. I tell the first lady, ‘You know, I spoke to Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation.’ She said, ‘Oh, really? another city was just hit,'” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “There’s times I’d get home. I’d say, ‘First lady, I had the most wonderful talk with Vladimir. I think we’re finished.’ And then I’ll turn on the telev...

 Trending Politics: President Donald Trump admitted on Monday that he may have misjudged Russia’s President Vladimir Putin as a “brilliant” dealmaker who sought fair terms for an end to war with Ukraine. His mind changed, however, only after First Lady Melania Trump intervened. Shortly after announcing new sales of U.S. arms to NATO allies , some bound for Ukraine, Trump revealed that Melania was the better judge of character after listening to him retell his last call with Putin. She pointed to Putin’s reneging on promises he made to her husband over the phone, something that Trump said became obvious to him after weeks of negotiations. “I go home. I tell the first lady, ‘You know, I spoke to Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation.’ She said, ‘Oh, really? another city was just hit,'” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “There’s times I’d get home. I’d say, ‘First lady, I had the most wonderful talk with Vladimir. I think we’re finished.’ And then I’ll turn on the televi...

 NY Post: President Trump has often extolled the virtues of achieving peace through strength — and now he’s actually doing it. In the last few weeks, Trump has readopted the successful foreign policy of his first term to consolidate an alliance of pro-American democracies more powerful, and more united, than the burgeoning axis of evil sowing chaos across the globe. The results have already been superlative. Israel gained air superiority over Iran, and the United States used that advantage to execute a daring mission targeting Tehran’s sinister nuclear program. America’s NATO allies pledged to significantly increase their defense spending. And on Monday, Trump ordered the Pentagon to resume sending weapons to the Ukrainians, who continue their fight for national survival against the invading Russians. “We’re gonna send some more weapons. We have to,” explained Trump. “They have to be able to defend themselves.” This world-changing string of interconnected successes represents a...

 Politico: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he “echoed” President Donald Trump’s “disappointment and frustration at the lack of progress” in talks to end Russia’s war on Ukraine during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday. Rubio met with his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum in Malaysia on Thursday. The face-to-face conversation comes amid growing tension between Washington and Moscow, as the Kremlin’s determination to continue its war on Ukraine has thwarted Trump’s attempts to broker peace — a feat he had promised to deliver swiftly upon entering office. “Our strategy is to continue to engage all parties involved in finding an outcome to this conflict,” Rubio told reporters after his talk with Lavrov. “We will engage any time that we have an opportunity to do so, like we did today. I echoed what the president said — both disappointment and frustration at the lack of progress.” Trump ha...

  DC Daily Journal: ... Beyond Ukraine, the Trump-Putin call addressed Iran’s nuclear ambitions, a pressing issue as Tehran’s uranium enrichment program advances. “We also discussed Iran, and the fact that time is running out on Iran’s decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!” Trump wrote. He emphasized his stance: “I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement.” Putin offered to assist in U.S.-Iran talks, suggesting Russia could play a role in breaking the current impasse. Russia’s relationship with Iran has deepened since the Ukraine war began, driven by mutual opposition to Western sanctions. In 2024, Iran supplied Russia with missiles for the Ukraine front, receiving Russian fighter jets in return. This alliance complicates Trump’s efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program, as Tehran remains defiant. Reports on Monday suggested the Trump administration might allow limited uranium enri...

 Daily Mail: Ukraine has launched an audacious underwater attack on Putin 's prized Kerch Bridge to Crime a with Kyiv claiming the link has been left in a 'state of disrepair'. Around 2,500 pounds of explosives detonated early this morning, damaging underwater pillars of the 12-mile-long bridge, a key supply route for Russian forces invading Ukraine. Footage showed smoke billowing over the bridge after the blast caused the entire structure to shake. Russian forces were forced to quickly close the bridge to traffic. It comes as the Ukraine war continues to spiral out of control amid stalling peace talks. The latest attack in Crimea follows an audacious blitz by Volodmyr Zelensky on Vladimir Putin's nuclear-capable long-range bomber fleet on Sunday. The 117-aircraft operation codenamed 'Spider's Web' - Ukraine's largest drone attack of the war - struck airfields in Siberia and the far north of the country. It comes amid fears that Putin will take the nu...

 ISW: Two high-ranking members of Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle reiterated Putin's June 2024 non-negotiable demands that any resolution of the war in Ukraine must result in regime change, extensive territorial concessions, and long-term limitations on Ukraine's military after US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff's April 11 meeting with Putin. Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Head Sergey Naryshkin claimed on April 15 that any future peace agreement ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine must include terms concerning Ukraine's neutrality; the demilitarization and "denazification" of the Ukrainian state; the abolition of Ukrainian laws that allegedly discriminate against Russian-speakers in Ukraine; and the recognition of Russia's illegal annexation of all of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson oblasts.[1] Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed to Russian state business outlet Kommersant on April 14...

  Collin Rugg @CollinRugg NEW: Putin says he believes Donald Trump is in danger, says his family is being hit by attacks that even gangsters in Russia wouldn't do. Putin, who seems to be trying to flatter Trump, said he was confident the president-elect could find a solution in Ukraine. "Absolutely uncivilized means had been used against Trump all the way up to ass*ssination attempts, numerous ass*ssination attempts. And I think he's not safe even now." "I think President Trump is a smart person and a cautious one." "Not only was Trump subjected to humiliating court procedures, accusations, and so on, but his family was attacked as well. His children were attacked. Gangsters don't do this.". See also: President Putin: Trump Is In Danger ... "What was most striking ... was not even that absolutely uncivilized means of struggle were used against Trump, absolutely uncivilized, up to and including attempted murder, and more than once,” Putin ...