NEW: EU members prepare to suspend Syria sanctions on energy, transport, reconstruction and related banking transactions, according to EU draft declaration

Kremlin:

Russia and the United States have agreed to immediately begin concrete, substantive preparations for a meeting between Putin and Trump.

Trump and his aides think the cost of defending Europe is too high.

Source: New York Times

Trump and his advisors believe a settlement with Moscow would allow the U.S. to shift security resources toward China, which they see as the greater threat.

Source: NYT

BIG: European officials expect Trump to agree to withdraw US forces from the Baltic states.

US bases in Ramstein, Germany, and air bases in Britain will not be discussed at this time.

Source: Bild

The European Union is considering transferring 93 billion Euros of unused coronavirus funds to its defense sector.

The EU's additional financing needs for defense are estimated at about 500 billion Euros over the next decade.

Source: FT

NEW: Vance warns Zelensky he will regret "badmouthing" Trump and condemns his "atrocious" response to peace talks.

JD Vance:

Zelensky had been getting bad advice on how to deal with the new administration and for the past three years had been told he could do nothing wrong.

Western officials reveal plans for a “reassurance” force in Ukraine:

• Less than 30K European troops in key cities, ports & infrastructure (not in the east)
• High-tech border monitoring with drones, satellites & ISR aircraft
• Airspace protection to restore commercial flights & intercept threats
• U.S. aircraft in Poland & Romania on standby if needed
• Larger NATO forces on the eastern border ready to move.

Source: Larisa Brown

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas:

Palestine is not for sale and not a single inch of it will be given up, whether in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank or Jerusalem.

BIG: U.S.-Russia talks include discussions on withdrawing U.S. troops from NATO countries that joined after 1990.

Here’s the list of NATO countries that joined after 1990:

🇨🇿 Czech Republic
🇭🇺 Hungary
🇵🇱 Poland
🇪🇪 Estonia
🇱🇻 Latvia
🇱🇹 Lithuania
🇸🇰 Slovakia
🇸🇮 Slovenia
🇷🇴 Romania
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
🇦🇱 Albania
🇭🇷 Croatia
🇲🇪 Montenegro
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
🇫🇮 Finland
🇸🇪 Sweden

Source: Bild

Italy is reportedly preparing for a possible U.S. troop withdrawal from Kosovo, leaving European allies alone against Serbia’s Putin-friendly leader Vučić.

German diplomats described this as a “conceivable horror scenario” given the region’s history of civil war.

Source: Bild

US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz:

We are unhappy with Kiev's rhetoric in response to the economic initiatives put forward, Trump does not intend to tolerate this.

The total number of U.S. troops stationed in Europe is around 63,886, based on data from mid-2024, with no significant changes reported by early 2025.

There are approximately 421 U.S. troops stationed in NATO countries that joined after 1990.

These countries include Poland, Romania, and others with smaller or no permanent U.S. troop presence.

German Chancellor Scholz:

Trump's description of Zelensky as a dictator is wrong and dangerous.

US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told Fox both French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will come to Washington next week.

Trump's former VP Mike Pence to Trump:

Mr. President, Ukraine did not “start” this war.

Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives.

The Road to Peace must be built on the Truth.

US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz:

Why hasn't President Zelensky tried to end this war for the betterment of his country? And we have to ask ourselves, is Ukraine's position improving or not on the battlefield?

US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz:

The era of endless, devastating war, bringing death and destruction on all sides, costing billions, and claiming hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of lives—that era is over.

Elon Musk says it's time for DOGE to audit the money sent to Ukraine.

Russia's Medvedev:

“A dictator without elections—Zelenskyy better move fast or lose his country.”

Three months ago, I’d have laughed if you said a U.S. president would say this.

Trump is 200% right. Bankrupt clown…