The U.S. is considering reducing its military presence in Europe due to priorities in the Asia-Pacific region and along the Mexican border.

U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth informed Zelensky about this, leaving the Ukrainian delegation “stunned” by the statement.

Source: NBC

Ukrainians gather for a protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.

Trump:

There is no profit for anyone in having WW3, and you are not so far away from it.

Heavy engineering vehicles with Egyptian flags arrived at northern Gaza this morning.

Trump:

Scott Bessent actually went to Ukraine and was treated rudely because they basically said 'no' and Zelensky was sleeping and couldn't meet with him.

He went there to sign a document and when he got there, he came back empty-handed. They wouldn't sign the document.

Trump wants to get rid of Zelensky, he has never liked Zelensky and thinks he is "difficult."

Trump, in order to force Ukraine to sign the agreement, will "probably" cut or stop military aid, as well as disconnect the Ukrainian Armed Forces from intelligence data and Starlink.

He may also lift sanctions on Russia.

Source: The Economist

Trump:

I think we should take over Washington, D.C. and make it safe.

They’re not doing the job, there is too much crime and too many tents on the lawns.

I can’t have sights of homelessness when hosting foreign leaders in Washington.

Trump's son has shared a deepfake video of Zelensky with the caption:

Zelensky should really just go and win the war without our endless $$$.

Kremlin:

Zelensky's popularity is falling, the trend is clear.

The previous US administration wanted to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian and was the locomotive of financing Kyiv, now this approach has changed.

Keir Starmer will present Trump a plan to send fewer than 30,000 European troops to Ukraine.

He will urge Trump to have US jets and missiles on standby in Eastern Europe to respond with if Russia breaks the terms of the deal.

European forces will be deployed to Ukrainian cities, ports and other critical infrastructure sites, such as nuclear power stations, but not on the front lines.

Poltava, Kryvyi Rih, and Dnipro appear likely to become bases for European troops.

Source: The Telegraph

Ukraine will allocate over €1 billion for FPV drone procurement in 2025.

Brazilian President Lula:

Scholz asked for weapons for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but Brazil does not sell them to those who kill Russians.

Source: TASS

Ukrainian sources report series of explosions occurred in Russian Army's FPV drone goggles during use by pilots.

Explosives with remote detonation were embedded in the goggles, which were supplied to Russian FPV pilots by volunteers.

Ukrainian Intel chief Budanov:

In 2025, I think we will reach a ceasefire between the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer (owner of Politico), praised JD Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference, calling it an “inspiring message.”

Döpfner argued that Europe misunderstood Vance:

“Honestly, I think it’s an inspiring message. You don’t have to take everything literally, but you should try to take it seriously.”

Döpfner dismissed European reactions as “unsmart, unstrategic, and even dangerous,” emphasizing the importance of a strong transatlantic alliance.

Kremlin said that the idea of a possible new prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States was on the agenda after Moscow and Washington agreed to start work on restoring relations at all levels.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, asked by reporters about the possibility of a new swap, said U.S.-Russia talks on Tuesday in Riyadh had contributed to a general rapprochement between the U.S. and Russia.

Reports suggest Trump’s Truth Social has been blocked in Ukraine.

Verification is ongoing.

France withdrew from its sole military base in West African nation of Ivory Coast.

Source: AFP

Junta-led Niger commission recommends at least a 5-year transition to democracy, State TV reports.

General Abdourahamane Tchiani is the leader of the military junta that took power in Niger through a coup on July 26.