Kremlin:

The Russian delegation is heading to Istanbul and will be ready for a new round of negotiations with Kiev on June 2.

Kremlin:

Putin fundamentally supports the possibility of a personal meeting with Zelensky and Trump; such contacts are in demand, but good preparation is needed.

United Nations:

100% of Gaza's population is at risk of famine.

America Let Its Military-Industrial Might Wither. China’s Is Booming.

China’s military-industrial surge vs 🇺🇸 U.S. decline:

• China leads in shipbuilding, missile capacity, & raw materials
• U.S. lacks sailors, factories, rare earths
• China can retool civilian industry fast; U.S. can't

China controls overwhelming shares of key raw materials:

• 77% of rare earths
• 92% of graphite
• 99% of cobalt

These are essential for weapons systems. U.S. efforts to diversify sourcing have so far failed.

Source: WSJ

Canada is considering joining Trump's "Golden Dome" missile defense system.

Source: Bloomberg

The US does not plan to send a delegation to the talks in Istanbul between Ukraine and Russia.

Source: The Atlantic

Pakistan & India near border troop drawdown after worst clashes in decades.

General Sahir Shamshad Mirza:

Pakistan and India are close to returning to pre-conflict troop levels after severe border clashes.

Mirza warned that next time, the window for international diplomacy may be too short.

India denies any foreign mediation in the ceasefire, despite reports of U.S. involvement.

Source:Reuters

The Washington Post cites a European diplomat:

“If Netanyahu’s government doesn’t change course, European pressure will continue to mount.”

US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack:

President Trump has courageously woven a new Damascene brocade from the strongest of supporting and differing threads-Syria, USA, Qatar and Turkiye- 3 weeks ago thought by the world impossible.

Ukraine could receive up to ten IRIS-T air defense systems and hundreds of interceptor missiles under a €2.2 billion contract with Germany’s Diehl Defence.

Source: Defense Express

Following the failure of peace talks in Doha, Qatar, clashes have reignited between M23 rebels and government-backed Wazalendo militias in the Bambo region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Israeli Defense Minister Katz:

We will build the Jewish Israeli state in the West Bank.

Israeli Defense Minister Katz:

Settlement expansion in the West Bank is a message to Macron and his friends that they will recognize a Palestinian state on paper.

Trump:

Two weeks ago China was in grave economic danger! High tariffs I set made it nearly impossible for China to trade with the U.S.

We went cold turkey, devastating them—factories closed, “civil unrest.” I made a FAST DEAL to save them. Things stabilized.

But now, China HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!

Israel accuses Macron of being "on a crusade against the Jewish state".

Macron:

If we abandon Gaza and let Israel do what it wants, we lose all credibility.

Hamas Qassam Brigades releases a new video featuring fighters attacking undercover Israeli soldiers east of Rafah.

The West is Helping Fund Russia's War on Ukraine

Despite imposing sanctions following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Western countries continue to contribute significantly to Russia’s war financing by purchasing its fossil fuels.

Since the invasion, Russia has earned over €883 billion from fossil fuel exports — more than three times the total aid provided to Ukraine by its allies.

€228 billion of Russian fossil fuel revenue came from sanctioning countries, with €209 billion from the EU alone.

Source: BBC

US Secretary of State Rubio issued a cable to all US diplomatic missions ordering immediate additional vetting of all non-immigrant visa applicants intending to travel to Harvard University, regardless of the purpose of their visit.

Source: Reuters