Boris Johnson:

There’s a great deal of sort of “euro freakoutery” and “headless chickenism” about Trump, and I can understand that.

All I would say is: just remember what Putin wants. What Putin wants is the impression of a divided West — he wants a divided West.

And the more we seem to accept the idea that America is no longer committed to European security, or that America is no longer committed to the protection and support of Ukraine, the better for Putin and the worse for Ukraine.

Don’t fall for it.

Boris Johnson:

The United States supplies 70% of NATO’s budget, 95% of NATO’s heavy lift capacity.

And depending on whether you believe that the French force de frappe actually works or not, the United States of America supplies 100% of Europe’s nuclear deterrent.

There’s Britain, yeah, but as you know, we are technologically dependent upon the United States.

Boris Johnson:

Don’t fall for the idea that Europe can just do it on its own.

Boris Johnson:

About 12% of European oil and gas comes from Russia.

A billion dollars a month worth of European money going straight to Putin. How can that possibly be right?

Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski:

I suspect Trump thought that if there were no further supplemental package, Ukraine would find itself in difficulty much faster, and the war might therefore be brought to an end because Ukraine would be forced into concessions.

I think they will eventually find that, with European support, Ukraine is not falling, and that the war cannot be ended without Ukrainian agreement and without European agreement as well, because, to use a Trumpian term, US cards are not as strong as they were.

Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski:

I think if the Hungarian elections were to be irregular — I hope they’re not — but if they were to be irregular, then we would have a deepening problem as regards rule of law.

Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski:

My bet is that this war will end not like the Second World War but like the First World War — namely when Putin runs out of resources.

He’s already spent his national reserve fund. His last big pile of resources is the gold reserve. He started with 2,200 tons. I hear it’s down to 1,700.

So this is the thing to watch, because this is how he’s funding his war.

House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, plan to force a vote next week on a war powers resolution that would block Trump from attacking Iran without congressional approval.

The vote is expected to be close in the narrowly divided House, with Republicans largely backing Trump and some Democrats opposing the resolution.

Source: POLITICO

BIG: Pro-Trump activists, who say they are coordinating with the White House, are circulating a draft executive order urging Trump to declare a national emergency over alleged Chinese interference in the 2020 election.

The proposed order would expand presidential authority over elections, potentially allowing Trump to ban mail ballots and voting machines ahead of the midterms.

Source: WaPo

Zohran Mamdani made an unannounced trip to Washington on Thursday to meet with Trump at the White House.

The 1 p.m. meeting was not on the Mayor’s public schedule, and officials did not comment on the agenda.

It is expected to focus partly on housing development in New York City.

Source: NYT

Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities say they have launched attacks on Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line border in response to Pakistani air strikes last week in Nangarhar and Paktia.

Kabul described the fighting as “heavy clashes” and accused Pakistan of repeated violations. Pakistan has not yet responded.

Steve Witkoff on Ukraine:

We see ourselves as a mediator. We do not see ourselves as a protagonist in this conflict.

So never once have we ever come to the Ukrainians, to their leadership, and sought to impose some sort of view that we expected Ukraine to adhere to.

We've listened carefully to the leadership of Ukraine — to what they can do, to what they can't do, to where political space exists for a solution to this, how we might think about territory or not...

Steve Witkoff on Ukraine:

I'm an admirer of the people of Ukraine. They're incredibly courageous people, and I've developed some really long-lasting and profound friendships with people who I have met from your country.

Steve Witkoff:

Trump is not a man that I would characterize as naive.

He is very sensible. He's very grounded in his assessments.

And I am too, by the way. And Jared Kushner is as well.

Steve Witkoff to Ukraine:

This is really important to us. We care.

We're going to do everything we can to help you to get to the right solution, the right peaceful solution, so that everybody in your country can live in peace one day.

JD Vance:

My hope for all of you is that you find somebody who loves you as much as Nancy Pelosi loves insider trading, because then you will have a very good life indeed.

WATCH: A 14-year-old Palestinian boy was shot by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank and left bleeding for about 45 minutes while soldiers blocked ambulances.

Source: BBC

White House envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were “disappointed” by what they heard from the Iranians during the morning negotiating session.

The evening session remains ongoing.

Source: Barak Ravid

WATCH: Ukraine is turning old Soviet-era An-28 turboprop planes into nighttime “drone hunters,” mounting door-fired M134 miniguns to shoot down slow-moving Russian Shahed-136 drones.

NEW: Oman’s foreign minister says U.S.–Iran talks made significant progress today.

Discussions will resume soon after consultations, with technical meetings set for next week in Vienna.

Despite the U.S. military buildup near Iran, two U.S. military officials said the Pentagon lacks the forces and munitions needed for a prolonged bombing campaign.

One official estimated that current U.S. forces in the region could sustain strikes for only 7 to 10 days, limiting the feasibility of an extended military operation.

Source: NYT