LATEST ON POSSIBLE UKRAINE TALKS IN ISTANBUL: HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:

🟠A series of trilateral meetings:

At 10:45 - representatives from Turkiye, the US, and Ukraine
At 12:30 - Turkiye-Russia-Ukraine (Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will deliver the opening speech.)

🟠All negotiations will take place at the Dolmabahçe Presidential Office, where direct talks between Russia and Ukraine are expected to resume for the first time since spring 2022.

🟠The Russian delegation is led by the president’s assistant, Vladimir Medinsky, while Ukraine is represented by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

🟠The Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul the day before and waited for nearly 12 hours for their Ukrainian counterparts, as President Zelensky only signed the decree for the Ukrainian delegation late in the evening.

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🪖💸 Ukraine wasted $770M on FAKE or DEFECTIVE arms

Foreign brokers received hefty sums for weapons and shells that were often UNUSABLE, the FT writes.

In some cases, Ukraine paid in advance to little-known companies, only for the weapons to be delivered late or not at all.

The fallout is a huge blow to Ukraine’s $6B-$8B annual weapons budget, as domestic CORRUPTION further complicates matters, according to the newspaper.

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📸 PICTURED: US Secretary of State patiently explaining to Ukrainians why it's time to sit down with Russia 😂

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😨💲 HALF-TRILLION DOLLAR SHIELD: Pentagon unveils blueprint for its new Golden Dome

The Department of Defense has already touted the Golden Dome air defense system as a “dependable umbrella of protection.”

But a price tag raises eyebrows: the system could cost a whopping $542B, with its space-based interceptors alone potentially hitting $161B.

The project is expected to be completed by 2045 at the earliest.

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❗️Trilateral meeting between Turkiye, US, and Ukraine concludes in Istanbul — Turkish Foreign Ministry source

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🇷🇺☦️'Orthodoxy led us to Russia'—US' Air Force veteran on leaving the US over cultural concerns

A US Air Force veteran who served in Yugoslavia and Iraq described Orthodoxy as offering a deeper, more stable historical and spiritual foundation, one that drew him toward Russia and its values.

The veteran also voiced serious concerns about cultural trends in the US, particularly the LGBTQ* agenda, which "represents an attack on families ultimately."

*a movement recognized as extremist and banned in Russia

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❗️In Istanbul, everything is ready for the trilateral meeting with representatives of Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey.

It was reported that the meeting is scheduled to start at 12:30.

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❗️The Russian delegation left the hotel for talks with the Ukrainian side in Istanbul, a source told Sputnik

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❗️ Russian troops have liberated the settlement of Volnoye Pole in the Donetsk People's Republic, Russia's Defense Ministry announced.

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🚨 Will we see Putin-Trump meet anytime soon? Kremlin drops a hint 👇

🇷🇺 Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov just set the stage for potential historic negotiations—here’s what you need to know:

▪️ Any Putin-Trump talks must be high-stakes, high-prep—Ukraine & global crises on the table.

▪️ NATO in "fighting mode" – They’re not here to talk—they’re waging war by proxy.

▪️ Putin convenes Security Council today. Expect big moves.

▪️ Diplomatic Call: Putin may hold an international phone call this evening—details remain undisclosed.

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🚨💸Waste, overspending & missing gear: US veteran exposes military supply chain FAILURES

A former US Air Force member who served in Iraq and Yugoslavia reveals shocking inefficiencies in wartime procurement.

“I saw a lack of accountability for supplies, equipment when they're purchased, a lot of waste that would go on with that,” he tells Sputnik.

Overseas, “they were the only game in town sometimes with getting stuff quickly,” leading to inflated prices and either shortages or overpaying.

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WATCH 🎥🎥

🚨Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Kick Off in Istanbul🚨

👉 Watch live in our Telegram

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🔎 ICC hamstrung by Trump’s sanctions

The International Criminal Court (ICC) now has problems conducting even “basic tasks,” AP reports, citing the organization’s staffers and allies.

The hurdles the ICC currently faces due to Trump’s meddling include:

▪️US staffers of the ICC being warned that they risk arrest if traveling to the United States

▪️ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan losing access to his email and his now-frozen bank accounts

▪️Some NGOs refusing to work with and even outright severing all contact with the ICC

Human Right Watch international justice director Liz Evenson has already complained that Trump’s sanctions “will prevent victims from getting access to justice.”

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🚨 TURKIYE WELCOMES RUSSIA AND UKRAINE IN ISTANBUL — Turkish FM Hakan Fidan

He emphasized that the delegations from Moscow and Kiev must decide for themselves whether to pursue peace or "continue the destructive conflict."

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❗️Key updates on the Russia-Ukraine talks happening now in Istanbul

🔶 Talks have started with opening remarks from Turkish FM Hakan Fidan.

🔶 Fidan said Russia and Ukraine must decide whether to make peace or “continue the destructive conflict.”

🔶 Kiev reportedly plans to discuss a possible Putin-Zelensky meeting.

🔶 Ukraine’s delegation head Umerov reiterated the demand for a ceasefire before talks.

🔶 Earlier today, US, Ukrainian, and Turkish delegations met.

🔶 After that, US Secretary Rubio spoke with UK, French, and German national security advisers.

🔶 Trump said the Putin meeting will happen “as soon as possible.”

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❗️Trump says that he "may" call Putin to discuss the Ukraine settlement, according to CNN

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❗️The first negotiations in three years between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine, taking place in Istanbul, have already lasted an hour, a Sputnik correspondent reports

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