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New Statesman
8 hours ago
- Politics
- New Statesman
What Trump really thinks of Ukraine
(Photo byPerhaps the most consequential meeting of the Ukrainian war took place last night at the White House. Volodymyr Zelensky was with Donald Trump in the Oval Office before both leaders met with the top flight of European leadership. Since January, President Trump's Oval Office has been a sort of proverbial torture chamber, where he courts flattery and humiliates those who refuse to bend to his will. Sometimes these meetings can feel like a hazing ritual at a frat house, an initiation ceremony into the new world order. When Zelensky visited in February, JD Vance and Trump chastised him for not being grateful enough and a pro-Trump journalist mocked him for not wearing a suit and tie. This time, however, Trump played host. Zelensky didn't lose his temper. Sporting a black jacket, he made sure to thank Trump straight away and offered him a letter thanking Melania for her support – a wily move given Trump's Slovene first lady has become a White House critic of the Russian president, often pointing out to her husband that Putin reneges on his promises to stop bombing Ukrainian cities. Meanwhile, JD Vance stayed shtum on the sofa and later glad-handed Keir Starmer in the East Room. The atmosphere was congenial, poised and anxious. That Zelensky was escorted by European leaders has been spun as a show of unity. Which is true with regards to Europe. But remember that this extraordinary move to cancel their summer plans in order to fly to Washington DC was only necessary because Trump had been so chummy with Putin in Alaska. European leaders addressed him as 'dear Donald' in the hope that obsequiousness would sweeten their demands. The two key European requests were that the US provide a security guarantee for Ukraine, and that a ceasefire be agreed before a full-blown peace deal is thrashed out. The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said the credibility of their meeting in front of the world's press depended on a ceasefire being in place before the next one. He didn't want to march up the hill only to let an opportunity to end the war slip by. Emmanuel Macron, sitting next to Trump, reiterated the point. Starmer stuck to the British strategy: meekness in public affords strength in private. He stuck to calls for unity. Trump had once promised 'severe consequences' if Putin did not agree to a ceasefire, but after Alaska he now thinks a ceasefire is unnecessary – evidence, yet again, of Putin's influence over the US president. One Washington insider told me recently that the administration wants to pivot away from Europe in order to deal with the Chinese. Europe should police its own continent, in other words, because the US has bigger threats to handle. There are two problems with that. First, European military capacity is weak. The UK, for instance, would probably have to move troops from the Baltic in order to guard Ukraine's eastern flank. Also note this morning's Financial Times, which reports that Trump might get another $100bn from the Europeans in exchange for American weapons for Ukraine. The opportunity cost is investment in Europe's own military industrial base. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Second, what happens if European troops get into a shooting match with the Russians across the ceasefire line? Would the Americans back them up? Trump has said he will support a European-led security guarantee, but the details are hazy and the promises untrustworthy. His Truth Social post last night spoke only about American 'coordination' of the security guarantee. The reset in tone is significant, at least. There is growing momentum behind a peace deal. Any breakthrough now looks likely to take place at a mooted summit between Zelensky and Putin. At one point, Trump was caught on a hot mic saying: 'I think [Putin] wants to make a deal for me – do you understand? As crazy as it sounds.' This either means Putin is genuinely ready to end the war, or Trump has yet again been duped by the manipulator-in-chief. In any case, yesterday showed that Trump sees himself merely as a mediator between Europe and Russia, as the Putin-whisperer with a hotline to the Kremlin, not as Ukraine's ally in the face of Russian aggression. This piece first appeared in the Morning Call newsletter; receive it every morning by subscribing on Substack here [See also: Trump reverses course on Ukraine, again] Related
Daily Mirror
12-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Gary Neville tells Man Utd to make one more transfer if they want 'healthy' league place
Gary Neville believes the capture of a new goalkeeper can help make Manchester United a top six side - especially if their new look attack is able to produce in the final third Gary Neville has claimed Manchester United can finish in the top six if their three new strikers notch 40 goals - and they get another goalkeeper to keep them out at the other end. Ruben Amorin's side finished 15th last season after scoring only 44 goals in Premier League games. But the £73.7m signing of Slovene Benjamin Seska has taken their summer spending on strikers to over £200m following the arrival of Bryan Mbeumbo and Matheus Cunha. And former Reds defender Neville believes there will have to be an improvement on the last torrid campaign. 'I think they'll be looking at Champions League, I think that'll be the ambition,' he said. 'I think we've gone past the point now where we say Manchester United have to win the league, I think that's unrealistic. 'I think top six would be healthy, I think that my feeling is probably between seventh, eighth is where I'm looking at it now, but I think they could, without Europe, they could get into the top six if they have a good run, and those players settling up front, which I'm actually quite happy about the players they've signed up front. 'I didn't think they had the £200 million to spend. If you said to me after that Tottenham game in the Europa League that Manchester United would have a forward line of those three that they've signed, I'd have snapped your hand off. I like the profile of those players, whether they settle in now is obviously the big question. Two of them are proven Premier League players, obviously they've got to step up a level, Sesco's young, he's got potential. He's young, can he get off to a good start? That's important for him. 'Can they embed themselves at United? Can they get the probably 35-40 goals which would be par for those three players? If they can get 40 goals, United's goals last season was terrible, they've got a good chance of getting into that top six, but they've got to settle those three players, and we can't take that for granted anymore at United. If they get a goalkeeper, I think that they could get into the top six, but a lot of things have to go on.' Manchester United conceded 54 Premier League goals to finish the season with a goal difference of -10. Paris-Saint Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is available for £30m - and big wages - as an upgrade from Andre Onana. Amorin will also have more time to work with his players without European football. Antonio Conte took Chelsea from 10th to champions in his first season in 2016-17. 'I think it'll help, it has to help, because there's basically more training time, less pressure on the players, less injuries, it means that the best players can play more often in the league, and not have those demands of a Thursday night game,' Neville said. 'But I think we've got to start the season well, there were some tough fixtures early on.' Neville claimed Sunday's clash with Arsenal was a good opening game for his club. 'I just think they need something big,' he said. And fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher reckons Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are in even bigger need of a strong start to the season. 'It's a big game, we're out for Arsenal,' he said. 'I think there's going to be that much pressure on Arsenal, just because we're in year five now, I think it's year six, and it just feels like right from the start everyone's eyes are on them. so I don't think it's a great game actually for Arsenal, to kick off the season as well, because of the situation that they're in, where it just feels like all eyes are on them from the very start. 'I'm not saying it's Premier League or bust, that type of thing, because I actually think Mikel Artel has done a brilliant job, and to be second, year after year, people sort of sneer at him, Arsenal finish second again, but there's a lot of good clubs in this, so to second every year is not a mean feat. 'I think it would be good for them to get some sort of trophy. I think they had a good result in their last pre-season match but I think the one before that, they lost at home, and there was a few murmurs in the crowd. It's not just people outside, people in the stadium are worried. It's like: 'This has to happen now'.'
USA Today
11-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Slovenia teammate says Luka Doncic is becoming a more vocal leader
The Los Angeles Lakers are now Luka Doncic's team after he signed a three-year contract extension with them several days ago. That means he is going to be expected to not only produce on the court but also show strong leadership both on and off the court. Doncic has always come off as a low-key man who isn't exactly the loudest voice in the room. But as he starts to prepare for the EuroBasket tournament as a member of the team that will represent his native Slovenia, that may be starting to change a little. Per Slovenian outlet SportKlub, teammate Klemen Prepelič said that the superstar is becoming more vocal (translated from Slovene). 'Luka with his constant availability and commitment, shows an ideal attitude towards the national team, is open and positive. He knows how to cheer on young people. 'In addition, he has changed a bit. He talks significantly more than in the past. This is probably related to the challenge that awaits him at the LA Lakers, where he is becoming the first face of the franchise and a true leader. 'His basketball IQ is unimaginable. Whatever he says, he says in good faith, with enthusiasm and in the hope that his teammate will be better because of it.' On Friday, Slovenia played its first friendly game of EuroBasket versus Germany. While Doncic struggled from the free throw line, he did well with 19 points and five assists in 24 minutes. The competition will officially begin on Aug. 27 and run through mid-September. Now that he's in much better physical shape and apparently more vocal as a leader, we may be just starting to see the version of Doncic that everyone will remember once his career is over many years from now.
Economic Times
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
You won't believe which Trump family member is Zelensky's key ally in DC, hint - she's based out of White House
In a surprising turn of events, it seems that Melania Trump is playing a big part in changing her husband's mind about the Ukraine conflict. As President Donald Trump agrees to give more military aid to Kyiv, insiders say the first lady has been reminding him of the cost of war in terms of lives Trump has quietly become an unexpected voice that has changed Donald Trump's tough stance on Russia. Using her Eastern European background, she is said to have reminded him of Ukraine's suffering and questioned Russia's sincerity. This earned her praise from Ukrainians online and surprised many people in the Beltway with her behind-the-scenes number of Russian airstrikes has been brought up by Melania Trump to her husband. With Trump's recent tougher stance on Russia, the first lady may be President Zelenskyy's unlikely ally in the White House, as per a report by The Independent. During this week's decision to send Patriot air missiles to Kyiv, Melania Trump has been reminding the president of the number of people killed by Russian airstrikes on Ukraine. Donald Trump acknowledged at a press conference on Monday that his wife was instrumental in exposing the Russian president's duplicity, which has repeatedly embarrassed the White House by saying one thing and doing another, after a string of unsuccessful peace negotiations between the United States and Russia.'I go home, I tell the first lady, 'I spoke to Vladimir today, we had a wonderful conversation.' And she says, 'Oh really, another city was just hit she said, referring to Monday afternoon's events from the Oval Office. First Lady Melania was born in 1970 in the former Yugoslavia, behind the Iron Curtain. Speaking to her son Barron in Slovene, she praises Ronald Reagan for his role in ending the Cold War, and both of them continue to possess EU passports. The first lady is close to Barron, who is a student at NYU, and has reportedly preferred to spend time away from the White House since her husband's inauguration in January."It [Melania's fondness for Ukraine] is not surprising at all given she grew up in the former Yugoslavia, a country with no love for Russia," Mary Jordan, author of The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump, told The Times, indicating that those who know Melania Trump are not surprised by her influence."She's been trying to make her point for longer than anyone else in the cabinet."According to Jordan, Melania is well-versed in European politics because her father, 81-year-old Viktor Knavs, often visits Slovenia, where she grew up."Her country is fully behind Ukraine, and the people there are horrified that the United States would abruptly stop providing arms to Ukraine."Donald Trump called Putin "shrewd" and "genius" when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, while Melania called the conflict "heartbreaking" and "horrific." Following the announcement, an X user shared a photo of "Agent Melania Trumpenko" sporting a jacket bearing the Ukrainian Armed Forces' logo and a wide-brimmed hat, causing a stir on some pro-Ukrainian social media platforms. Agent Melania Trumpenko — Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) July 14, 2025 Similar images of the first lady draped in Ukraine's blue and yellow flag and dressed in combat fatigues quickly surfaced. ALSO READ: Reddit down app not working: Thousands affected as site struggles to stay online, issues with login failures Current affairs magazine Business Ukraine wrote, "There is a lot of love for Melania Trump on Ukrainian social media tonight," along with a meme of three cartoon characters giving her a Ukrainian hat. User Ernő Buzás joked, "Melania is doing more for Ukraine on her own than the entire GOP." Lots of love for Melania Trump on Ukrainian social media tonight — Business Ukraine mag (@Biz_Ukraine_Mag) July 14, 2025 Another user joked, "Melania Trump's role in preventing this administration's total abandonment of Ukraine is not what I expected but also tracks exactly with Trump's decision-making process," alluding to the widely-quoted social media adage that Trump frequently adopts the viewpoints of the last person he spoke Trump allegedly questioned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the most recent setback with Putin about whether his nation's military could use missiles to strike Moscow and St. Petersburg to make Russia "feel the pain." Besides that the president threatened to impose "severe tariffs" on Russia if Putin did not consent to a ceasefire within 50 days, as per a report by the Daily Beast. Is Melania Trump influencing US policy toward Ukraine?Yes. According to reports, she has played an important role in convincing Trump to take a tougher stance against Russia. Why is Melania being referred to as "Agent Melania"? Ukrainian social media dubbed her "Agent Melania Trumpenko" due to her unexpected role in supporting Ukraine behind the scenes.
India Gazette
27-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"We are with India...": Nepal's Consul General Aswin Kumar Shrestha
Ljubljana [Slovenia], May 27 (ANI): Consul General of Nepal in Slovenia, Aswin Kumar Shrestha, said that people of Slovenia love Kashmir, Ladakh and the whole country, and they would like to travel to India. Shrestha made these remarks after meeting an all-party delegation, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi, in Slovenia. He said he asked Kanimozhi whether it was safe to travel to India. On meeting all-party delegation, he said, 'Our already told and supported that we are with you, India, and I think we are all stands for that and here I have this also many general Slovenes that are in ..., they love Kashmir very much, of course India is superpower, not because of superpower but beautiful country with rich culture, and so they would like to go and I had also put questions to Madam, if it is safe to travel to Kashmir because they would like to travel very much, and Slovene people are very much in love with Kashmir, Ladakh, India, the whole country and so our president has clearly given support to India and we are all for that.' The delegation led by Kanimozhi, includes SP MP Rajeev Rai, BJP MP Brijesh Chowta, RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta, AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal and former envoys Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf, also met Slovenian Association for International Relations (SDMO) President Marjan Setinc. During the meeting, the MPs explained India's actions following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Operation Sindoor and India's new approach of zero tolerance against terrorism and rejection of nuclear blackmail by Pakistan. In a post on X, Indian Embassy in Slovenia stated, ''Sharing Bharat's stand with the world' The all-Party delegation led by Hon'ble MP Smt. @KanimozhiDMK held an engaging and productive interaction with President Mr. Marjan Setinc and senior members of the Slovenian Association for International Relations (SDMO).' 'The delegation explained India's actions after the dastardly terror attack at Pahalgam, Operation Sindoor and India's new approach of zero tolerance against terrorism and rejection of nuclear blackmail by Pakistan. The rich discussions with the senior foreign policy practitioners were helpful in building a better appreciation of India's principled stance and strengthening India-Slovenia cooperation in the fight against terror,' it added. All-party delegation held a meeting with National Council of Slovenia President Marko Lotric on Tuesday and conveyed India's resolute stance of zero-tolerance towards terrorism and the new normal after Operation Sindoor. Indian Embassy in Slovenia said that the MPs, during the meeting, appreciated Slovenia's role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in promoting global peace and its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism that needs to be eradicated. 'Continuing their engagements during their second day in Slovenia, the all-party delegation led by Hon'ble MP Smt. @KanimozhiDMK called on H.E. Marko Lotric, President of the National Council of Slovenia. The delegation conveyed India's resolute stance of zero tolerance towards terrorism and the new normal after Operation Sindoor. They appreciated Slovenia's role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in promoting global peace and its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism that needs to be eradicated,' the Indian Embassy in Slovenia posted on X. In a diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, the central government has formed seven multi-party delegations to inform nations about Pakistan's links to terrorism and India's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including one Nepali national and injured several others. India targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. The Indian Armed Forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. India and Pakistan agreed for a cessation of hostilities on May 10. (ANI)
