Trump on Ukraine:

They have already lost the territory. The territory is lost.

But in terms of security guarantee, we're working with Europe on it.

We don't want to have a war start up again.

Trump on Thailand-Cambodia:

They started the war again and I got it ended.

Reporter: Have you recently spoken directly to Putin?

Trump: Yes, I have.

Trump on Syria:

It has been amazing what has taken place in Syria.

We got rid of Assad, we got rid of other people that were really bad people.

We have legitimate peace in the Middle East.

Trump on Gaza:

We have countries that want to go in and clean that out, if we want them to do it.

But Hamas said that they are going to disarm, we are going to find out if that is true or not.

Trump:

Hezbollah in Lebanon is a bit of a problem.

We will see what happens there.

The U.S. military carried out three more strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Eastern Pacific, killing eight people.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has visited Ahmed al-Ahmed in a Sydney hospital, praising the man who tackled a Bondi beach gunman as “the best of our country.”

Trump has filed a $5bn defamation lawsuit against the BBC over an edited clip of his 6 January 2021 speech used in a Panorama documentary.

The US has suspended a UK-US technology cooperation deal as leverage in wider trade negotiations, frustrated by Britain’s resistance on non-tariff barriers such as food standards and regulations.

Source: FT

NEW: Pentagon leaders are weighing a major overhaul of U.S. military command structure that would consolidate top headquarters, cut four-star generals, and shift focus away from the Middle East and Europe.

Under a proposal expected to reach Pete Hegseth soon, Central, European and Africa Commands would be downgraded under a new “U.S. International Command,” while Northern and Southern Commands would merge into a new “Americas Command.”

The changes would reduce combatant commands from 11 to eight and align with Trump’s strategy to prioritize the Western Hemisphere.

Source: WaPo

Zelensky:

The U.S. wants a quick end to the war; for us, quality is what matters. If speed and quality coincide, we are fully in favor.

Zelensky:

Neither de jure nor de facto will we recognize Donbas as Russian.

Zelensky:

I believe we are very close to strong security guarantees — ones that mirror Article 5 of NATO for everyone in the Alliance.

Zelensky:

I am ready for elections. If we reach certain sensitive issues, and if we decide that elections are needed. If there is a ceasefire — there will be elections.

We need 60–90 days of a ceasefire to hold elections in Ukraine.

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said its military can react rapidly to any surprise attack from China, with units able to operate independently without waiting for central command orders.

The ministry warned that China has steadily increased the scale and frequency of military activity around the island, including drills that could quickly shift from exercises to real combat.

Taipei says these operations are part of China’s “grey zone” pressure campaign designed to exhaust Taiwan’s forces.

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution reaffirming Palestinians’ right to self-determination, including an independent state, with 164 votes in favor.

Eight countries voted against, including Israel and the US, while nine abstained.

A French court sentenced former Congolese rebel leader Roger Lumbala to 30 years for war crimes committed during conflicts in the DR Congo.

Israel's Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis rejects any Turkish role or troops in Gaza:

There will not be Turkish soldiers in the Gaza Strip.

Bringing them would be “like bringing the German army to the outskirts of the Land of Israel at the end of World War II.”

They were stopped, to our joy, by British forces, and this time the Turks will be stopped by us.

You want to commit genocide against the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, and we will not allow Turkish forces to step on the soil of the Land of Israel.

These are enemy forces… a few thousand armed Turkish soldiers— for what are these soldiers coming?

READ MORE

Sudan: US adviser Massad Boulos has rejected a meeting with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan unless he accepts Quartet proposals, engages the RSF in dialogue and removes extremist elements from the army.

DR Congo: AFC/M23 rebels say they will unilaterally withdraw their forces from Uvira at the request of US mediation.

READ MORE