Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić:

That statement does not reflect the will and policy of either the President of Serbia or the Government of Serbia. We must be responsible.

Our policy must be dialogue, compromises, conversations, and never ethnic cleansing. Period.

Now, Snežana herself is a victim of ethnic cleansing and so on, but this message must be crystal clear: our policy is completely different. Our policy is peace, stability, and no ethnic cleansing.

Ukraine’s pro-government UNITED24 Media pauses all publishing today so staff could join nationwide protests against Zelensky’s firing of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov — widely praised for transforming Ukraine’s drone and tech warfare.

Many see the move as unexplained and destabilizing mid-war.

Russian ballistic missiles hit Kyiv early Thursday, killing two people and injuring six, including a teenager.

The attack sparked fires in warehouses and marked Russia's sixth missile strike on Kyiv this month.

Source: Reuters

Netanyahu has postponed his planned U.S. visit after the funeral of former Sen. Lindsey Graham was delayed until later this month.

Source: N12

Many Republicans worry Trump will spend his primetime speech revisiting his 2020 election fraud claims because they believe voters are far more concerned about the economy and cost of living.

They fear it could distract from the GOP's strongest campaign message and turn off moderate voters, while MAGA allies believe the speech could energize the Republican base and help push the SAVE America Act.

Source: Politico

Kremlin:

There are currently no prospects for a quick resumption of peaceful negotiations on Ukraine.

It doesn't matter who heads the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine; the main thing is that there is someone in Kyiv who is capable of making a decision that would allow for a resolution to the conflict.

Ukraine's parliament approved Serhii Koretskyi as the new prime minister.

Former Ukrainian Minister of Defence Fedorov:

We need to replace Syrsky and the Chief of the General Staff.

Syrskyi is not willing to openly discuss all the problems. He is willing to attend meetings, engage in intrigue, and believe that someone has launched a campaign against him in the media.

Zelensky has never let me down as a member of the team in the past seven years.

However, when 90% of the people who have problems after our work at the Ministry of Defense come to him, it is difficult for him to analyze everything and make a decision.

Former Ukrainian Minister of Defence Fedorov:

I am acting according to my conscience, and I appeal to the deputies: act according to your conscience as well.

Where is your courage to speak openly about the real problems?

People are dying for freedom, and we are sitting on Bankova Street and afraid to openly say what we don't actually believe.

Kuwait's military says its air defenses are intercepting hostile drones following what it described as Iranian aggression.

BIG: Iran has instructed Yemen's Houthis to prepare to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if the U.S. attacks Iranian power infrastructure.

The Houthis are said to have deployed missiles and drones near the strategic waterway and are awaiting orders.

Source: Reuters

Zelensky:

I understand, I hear, and I respond to what society is saying.

We are fighting for freedom and democracy. People have the right to do what they want.

If they wanted to come out and protest, then they were right to do so.

Zelensky on Fedorov:

During wartime, the president should not be making choices in such a situation. I would very much like to see unity.

The parties haven't found it, and the problem is not only with the parties, but also with me.

I am not absolving myself of responsibility.

Fedorov will remain in my team, but the exact role he will hold will be announced later.

Israel allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to bolster U.S. support for its war effort and improve its global image, including a $45 million lobbying contract with former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale.

Source: WSJ

Former Ukrainian Minister of Defence Fedorov:

For the first time, we built a real-time battlefield analytics system that tracks losses.

We began receiving daily reports on casualties. But decisions about whom to support, whom to reinforce, and where to allocate resources are still not made on the basis of data.

They are made on the basis of loyalty. You cannot build or develop a successful system that way.

Another major problem is the blocking of initiatives and endless bureaucratic battles.

During six months at the Ministry of Defense, we were unable to establish centers of competence or reform the organizational structure because the General Staff would not approve it—claiming the name wasn't right or something else was wrong.

Instead of bringing in new people capable of generating ideas, the system kept resisting change.

Former Ukrainian Minister of Defence Fedorov:

We have to fight asymmetrically. We simply cannot mobilize the same number of people as Russia can.

Everything that works for us is based on technology and asymmetry.

Former Ukrainian Minister of Defence Fedorov:

The war has changed completely. Drone technology changes constantly—new capabilities and new features appear at least four times a year.

Technology itself evolves 20 to 30 times within a single year. The entire system of command and control has changed, and we must change with it.

We cannot keep relying on what worked back then.

Former Ukrainian Defence Minister Fedorov said President Zelensky offered him an adviser role after deciding to replace him, but Fedorov refused, saying he isn't interested in holding office for its own sake.

Source: Pravda Ukraine

Former Ukrainian Minister of Defence Fedorov:

Technology should fight first. We should lose drones—not people.

Only after that should the infantry move in.

CNN found that Trump praised or promoted more than 20 companies on Truth Social shortly after his investment managers bought their stocks.

Source: CNN