Trump Renews Pressure on Zelenskyy to Negotiate with Russia
Former US President Donald Trump has once again urged Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy to pursue a diplomatic agreement with Russia, asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to negotiate. In a recent interview with Politico, Trump emphasized the need for Zelenskyy to act swiftly, stating, "Zelenskyy, he has to get on the ball, and he has to get a deal done." This rhetoric echoes Trump's previous comments during a contentious White House meeting a year ago, where he and Vice-President JD Vance publicly criticized Zelenskyy.
Trump's Stance on Ukraine and Putin
Trump reiterated his belief that Zelenskyy holds a weakened position in the conflict, remarking, "Now he's got even less cards," and insisted without evidence that "Putin is ready to make a deal." Historically, Trump has characterized US support for Ukraine as wasteful and has expressed admiration for Putin, including an invitation to Alaska in August 2025. His latest statements come as the Ukraine war enters its 1,472nd day, with ongoing military engagements and diplomatic tensions.
Zelenskyy Highlights Ukrainian Drone Expertise
In response, President Zelenskyy revealed that the United States and its Middle Eastern allies are seeking Ukraine's expertise in countering Iranian Shahed drones. He noted that several countries, including the US, have approached Ukraine for assistance in defending against these drones. Zelenskyy has engaged in discussions with leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait regarding potential cooperation. Since Russia's invasion over four years ago, tens of thousands of Shahed drones have been deployed against Ukraine, with Iran using similar drones in response to US-Israeli strikes.
Hungary Detains Ukrainian Bank Employees
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Hungary of detaining seven employees from Ukraine's state savings bank while they were transporting cash from Austria to Ukraine. Sybiha posted on X, condemning the action as "state terrorism and racketeering," following Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's announcement that Budapest would use "political and financial tools" to pressure Ukraine into reopening the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Russian oil to Hungarian refineries. Hungary remains one of the few European nations maintaining close ties with Russia since the conflict began.
Nuclear Plant Repairs and Drone Incident in Crimea
Repair crews have restored an external power line to the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, nearly a month after it was disabled. Alexei Likhachev, director general of Rosatom, confirmed that repairs to the Ferosplavna-1 line were completed late Thursday. Meanwhile, in Russian-occupied Crimea, a downed Ukrainian drone fell near a five-story apartment building in Sevastopol, injuring nine people and causing significant damage, according to the Russian-appointed governor. The drone, filled with metal pieces and explosives, badly damaged the building in a city that hosts the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
