NATO's Rutte:

We are in an age of confrontation we did not seek. It was contrived in capitals working to undermine us: Moscow, Beijing, Pyongyang, and Tehran.

Russia brought war back to Europe and joined China, North Korea, and Iran to expand their capabilities and influence.

But history shows North America and Europe together are a winning combination. Our adversaries notice.

Source

NATO's Rutte:

Putin's game in Ukraine? He wants it all but knows he can't. Every conflict ends, though not always with negotiation. WWII we won outright. The Cold War we won with Reagan and Thatcher.

Ukraine will likely end with negotiations, but Zelensky must know his country is protected after any peace deal or ceasefire.

Source

NATO's Rutte:

China diversified its economy, Russia has not. Russia is a petrol-based economy, now facing issues as Ukrainians hit key oil refineries with drones, impacting the economy.

There are queues at gas stations. In the US, if you could not fill up cars, 1776 would happen again. In Russia, so far, they cope.

Source

JD Vance:

Trump has been very clear: he wants Gaza and the West Bank to be controlled by the people who live there.

JD Vance on the Gaza deal:

I feel more optimistic about where we are right now than where we have been at any point in the last few months.

JD Vance:

The Russians are killing and losing a lot of people with little to show for it.

In recent weeks, they’ve refused bilateral meetings with Ukrainians and trilateral meetings involving Trump or other US officials.

JD Vance:

The Russians need to wake up and accept the reality. A lot of people are dying, they don't have a lot to show for it. How many more people are they willing to lose? How many more will they kill for very little, if any, gain on the ground?

Hopefully not that much, but our attitude is we’ll keep working for peace and hope the Russians wake up to the reality on the ground.

Trump will attend the gathering of top US generals in Quantico, Virginia, originally called by Secretary Hegseth.

His surprise decision adds major security concerns, as hundreds of high-ranking officers are being brought in from around the world.

Source: WaPo

Iranian President Pezeshkian to Fox News:

If Trump's goal was for us not to have any nuclear weapons, that was easily attainable.

They used that as an excuse to carry out an attack that they should not have.

Netanyahu canceled almost all of his meetings in New York today, likely to prepare for his meeting with Trump and revise the draft agreement.

Source: Amichai Stein

Fox News: Why did you enrich to 60%? No energy uses enrichment anywhere near that levels?

Iranian President Pezeshkian: Well, that is right, perhaps we do not need the 60% enrichment.

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to meet today in New York with Netanyahu to finalize the US plan to end the Gaza war.

Source: Axios

Netanyahu to Fox News:

We know the place where Iran hides the enriched uranium.

NEW: Denmark has banned civilian drone flights from Monday to Friday after fresh drone sightings at military bases and previous incidents that shut airports.

The move comes ahead of major EU and European Political Community summits in Copenhagen.

Source: Reuters

NOW: Ukraine is attacking Russia's Belgorod.

Mecca Tower, the tallest building in Gaza City, was destroyed by the Israeli forces.

Footage from Al Araby TV shows Hamas Qassam fighters storming an Israeli army site in Khan Younis.

Situation in Russia's Belgorod after Ukrainian attacks, there is a blackout in the region.

Clash Report Africa Bulletin – Fifth Issue Out Now

In this edition, we track intensifying wars, fragile peace efforts, and shifting economic currents stretching from the Sahel through Central Africa to the continent’s southern rim.

BREAKING: Trump says that the negotiations on his plan to end the war in Gaza are in their “final stages.”

Source: Barak Ravid

Netanyahu:

I don't decide a thing for Trump. He is the most independent leader that I have seen in all my years.

The idea that I boast that I control him is a lie.