NEW: U.S. Special Operations helicopters, likely from the elite 160th Aviation Regiment, flew within 90 miles of Venezuela during Caribbean training missions.

The flights coincide with President Trump authorizing CIA covert operations inside Venezuela and U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats.

The missions appear to involve the MV Ocean Trader, a mobile special ops base near Trinidad, and mark a major U.S. buildup in the region.

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) — the “Night Stalkers” — is the U.S. Army’s elite helicopter unit that provides global special operations air support.

They specialize in fast, low-altitude nighttime missions using modified Chinooks, Black Hawks, and Little Birds.

Source: WaPo

White House:

The US and Russia will hold a high-level meeting next week.

BREAKING: Trump:

I just concluded a very productive call with President Putin. He congratulated me and the U.S. on the Peace in the Middle East and said it could help end the Russia-Ukraine war.

We discussed trade after the war and agreed our high-level advisors, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will meet next week.

Putin and I will then meet in Budapest to seek an end to the war.

I’ll meet President Zelensky tomorrow in the Oval Office to discuss the call. Great progress was made.

White House:

Trump will try to move the ball forward for peace in Ukraine.

Trump feels like progress was made on call with Putin.

White House:

Trump thinks it is still possible to get Putin and Zelensky together.

He'll talk about this with Putin.

Germany mounted a land-based IRIS-T SLM air defense system on F125 frigate Baden-Württemberg, following earlier Russian, Israeli and U.S. experiments with similar setups.

Trump:

If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the Deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them.

Netanyahu:

I know exactly how many hostages Hamas holds.

If we don’t get them, Israel will act accordingly.

Hungary's Orban:

The planned meeting between the American and Russian presidents is great news for the peace-loving people of the world.

We are ready!

Israeli and US officials are concerned that hardliners within the Netanyahu government will use the hostage body issue to undermine the ceasefire and push for the resumption of the war.

Source: Axios

Kremlin aide Ushakov:

Putin told Trump that Tomahawks will not change the situation on the battlefield, but will damage the relations between Russia and the US and the settlement in Ukraine.

NEW: Israel is bombing Lebanon again.

Dozens of attacks are reported.

Israel is blocking a Turkish delegation with rescue teams and heavy equipment from entering Gaza, saying:

“Hamas can immediately return the bodies of abducted individuals; there’s no reason to let the Turks in.”

Source: JPost

📈 Russian market following Putin-Trump call today.

Venezuelan Navy landing ship sank during a training drill simulating a US invasion.

The vessel ran aground off Venezuela’s coast and was lost, though no casualties have been confirmed.

Italian driver Fabio Barone set a new record for the fastest car driven on a ship, hitting 101.9 mph (164 km/h) in a Ferrari SF90 Stradale on the Italian Navy carrier Nave Trieste.

With only 200 meters to accelerate and brake, Barone narrowly stopped before the deck’s ski-jump ramp.

Ukraine plans to ban Russian cartoon “Masha and the Bear”.

Trump:

I am outraged that the International Maritime Organization is voting in London this week to pass a global Carbon Tax.

The United States will NOT stand for this Global Green New Scam Tax on Shipping, and will not adhere to it in any way, shape, or form.

Hungary's Orban:

I just got off the phone with President Trump.

Preparations for the USA-Russia peace summit are underway.

Hungary is the island of PEACE!