Germany's Chancellor Merz:

Our economic development has been stagnating for more than eight years now — almost an entire decade — while other countries have continued to grow, in some cases significantly.

And for the coming years, we are being told that if things continue as they are, Germany’s annual growth potential will be less than half a percent.

That is not enough. We must work on that.

Trump to Fox News:

Timeframe for an Iran deal is one week.

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz:

There is no NATO without the United States.

There is also no power of the United States without its participation in NATO.

This is a two-way relationship.

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz:

By 2030, Poland will have the strongest and largest army in Europe — the best organized and best equipped.

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz:

We are ready to receive additional American soldiers.

Zelensky:

Russia has broken the ceasefire. Ukraine will respond symmetrically. Depending on the situation tonight and tomorrow, we will also decide on our further responses.

Russia has fought itself into a position where even their main parade now depends on us.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry is urging foreign countries to ensure the evacuation of diplomats from Kyiv.

Russia will strike decision-making centers in Kyiv if Ukraine disrupts the May 9 parade.

Trump:

On June 14, we are having a big fight. It’s never gonna happen again, and it never happened before.

It’s gonna happen right in front of the White House.

Trump:

Khabib fought 29 fights, and I think he won 29 fights.

Reporter: You are facing an opponent in Iran that has refused to submit.

Trump: Why do you say they refuse to submit? You don’t know that.

Reporter: They fired at U.S. ships a few days ago.

Trump: A few days ago is a long time ago. They want to make a deal badly.

Trump on Iran:

Their missiles are mostly decimated. They have probably 18–19% left, not a lot in comparison to what they had.

Trump on Iran:

We had some good talks before, and all of a sudden, the next day, they forgot what happened.

They are proud.

Trump on Iran:

The stock market is higher now than when we started this war.

Trump on Iran:

Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. They have agreed to that.

Trump:

Whether I make the pope happy or not, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

He seemed to be saying they can; I say they cannot.

Trump:

I thought oil prices would go to 200–250 dollars. It’s at 100 dollars now.

Even if it went to 200, it would have been worth it.

Trump on Iran:

The deal will happen, but never a deadline.

Trump on Iran:

We’ve had very good talks over the past 24 hours.

~$920M in crude oil shorts were opened at 3:40 AM ET — 70 minutes before Axios reported the US and Iran were nearing a “14-point” deal to end the war.

Nearly 10,000 contracts were sold short with no major news at the time.

By 7:00 AM ET, oil had dropped over 12%, turning the trade into an estimated +$125M gain.

Source: The Kobeissi Letter

U.S. officials expect Iran to respond within 24–48 hours to a proposed peace framework, but some in Washington doubt a final deal will come together.

Source: Axios

The FBI Director has been handing out personalized bourbon bottles engraved with “Kash Patel FBI Director” and an FBI shield, alarming current and former bureau officials who say the behavior is unprecedented and unprofessional.

Patel has distributed the bottles to FBI staff and civilians at official events, sometimes transporting cases of bourbon on DOJ aircraft.

Source: The Atlantic