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 @ISIDEWITHNewsRussiaUkraineWashingtonVladimir PutinMoscowInternational RelationsSaudi ArabiaTurkeyVolodymyr ZelenskyyPeace TalksIstanbulEstoniaTallinn•••6 days ago

High-Stakes Istanbul Peace Talks Loom as Putin and Zelenskyy Face Pressure to Negotiate End to Ukraine War

International attention is focused on Istanbul, where critical peace talks are set to address Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Despite mounting global pressure, both Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump have indicated they will not attend the summit, casting uncertainty over the negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed willingness to negotiate in any format, but the outcome may hinge on Russia's representation at the talks. World leaders, including Brazil's President Lula, are urging direct engagement to break the deadlock. Meanwhile, reports suggest Russia may be preparing a new offensive, raising the stakes for a diplomatic breakthrough.

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 @ISIDEWITHlinked…6 days6D

President Zelenskyy ready for 'any format' of peace negotiations with Russia ahead of Istanbul talks

https://lbc.co.uk

President Zelenskyy has said Ukraine was ready for 'any format' of negotiations with Putin but admitted next steps will depend on who represents Russia at Istanbul peace talks.

 @ISIDEWITHlinked…6 days6D

Ukraine war latest: Trump says he's unsure whether Putin will attend Ukraine peace talks in Turkey as Kremlin stays silent

https://kyivindependent.com

Trump says he's unsure whether Putin will attend Ukraine peace talks in Turkey as Kremlin stays silent * Russia likely preparing major offensive in Ukraine despite peace efforts, FT reports * Trump needs to understand that Putin lies,

 @CraneBertPacifismfrom North Carolina  commented…6 days6D

It’s frustrating to see world leaders dragging their feet when innocent lives are at stake—no war is worth this suffering. I just hope these talks actually lead to a real ceasefire and lasting peace instead of more empty promises.

 @BassBartDemocratic Socialismfrom Maine  commented…6 days6D

Real peace will only come when ordinary people—workers and communities—are put first in these negotiations, not the interests of oligarchs and war profiteers on either side.

 @7B98JY5Left-Wing Populism from Connecticut  commented…6 days6D

Peace is desperately needed, but it’s hard to trust any real progress when the talks are dominated by elites and the voices of ordinary Ukrainians and Russians keep getting left out.

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…4mos4MO

Top Qatari official says Trump Hamas ceasefire deal 'over the line'

A top Qatari official told Just the News on Thursday night that Donald Trump's pressure and the negotiating work of the President-elect's envoy Steve Witkoff helped push a long stalled ceasefire and hostage release deal between Hamas and Israel "over the line.""There truly is no better way for an incoming administration to handle this situation," said Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, the Minister of State at Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Al-Khulaifi acknowledged his statement to Just the News the rarity of having a deal first negotiated by incumbent President Joe Biden pushed to fruition by his successor even before Trump takes office on Monday.U.S. and Israeli officials confirmed to Just the News that Trump and Biden coordinated their strategies before Witkoff dispatched to the region a few weeks ago, creating a diplomatic dynamic that helped restart a deal reached last spring but soon faltered and stagnated for months.Witkoff and Biden administration officials met in Doha with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister, before Witkoff dispatched separately to Jerusalem to negotiate outstanding issues with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to officials from all three countries. The diplomacy coupled with a statement Trump issued warning there would be "hell to pay" that upped the ante on Hamas and Israel set the stage for the deal announced by Biden, Trump and Qatar on Wednesday, al-Khulaifi told Just the News."Securing a ceasefire and hostage deal has been a priority for the incoming administration," the minister said. "President-elect Trump has been clear in his public statements that he wants to see an end to the war as soon as possible. These messages supported our efforts as we continued mediating between the parties to try to finalize an agreement."Steve Witkoff in particular has been actively engaged in the discussions to get a deal over the line," he added. "He has been in Doha, working closely with our team to close the gaps between the two sides in the final few days. There truly is no better way for an incoming administration to handle this situation."

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…6mos6MO

Hegseth Out, DeSantis In? Trump Rethinks Defense Pick

President-elect Donald Trump is considering Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a possible replacement for Pete Hegseth, his pick to run the Pentagon, according to people familiar with the discussions, amid Republican senators’ concerns over mounting allegations about the former Fox News host’s personal life.Picking DeSantis, a 2024 GOP primary rival for the presidency, would amount to a stunning turn for Trump. But he would also find in the governor a well-known conservative with a service record who shares Trump’s—and Hegseth’s—view on culling what they see as “woke” policies in the military.Trump allies increasingly think Hegseth might not survive further scrutiny, according to people close to the president-elect’s team, which considers the next 48 hours to be crucial to his fate.DeSantis, who served as a Navy lawyer in Iraq and the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, was on an earlier list of potential defense-secretary candidates that transition officials presented to the president. Trump ultimately went with Hegseth. But as Hegseth’s nomination has faltered, that list has been revived and DeSantis is again among the choices Trump is considering, the people said.The discussions are in their early stages, one of the people said, adding that Trump has floated DeSantis’s name in casual conversations with guests at Mar-a-Lago, his private Florida club.Trump could decide not to choose DeSantis and select another replacement, if Hegseth’s nomination falls apart, the people said. Another potential defense-secretary candidate who has been discussed by Trump allies, according to people familiar with the matter, is Elbridge Colby, a former Pentagon official and ally of Vice President-elect JD Vance. Trump is also considering Sen. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa) for the job, some of the people said.DeSantis was once seen as an acolyte of Trump but his decision to challenge the former president in the 2024 GOP primary began a conflict between them, with Trump casting DeSantis as disloyal. Trump easily prevailed in the primary and friends of the two have worked to repair the relationship.

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