Vladimir Putin has announced he’ll meet with Donald Trump , after Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky alleged the U.S. president has been duped by Russian misinformation, Knewz.com can reveal. Putin called the meeting with U.S. officials in Saudi ...
Vladimir Putin has announced he’ll meet with Donald Trump, after Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky alleged the U.S. president has been duped by Russian misinformation, Knewz.com can reveal.
Putin called the meeting with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia a “first step” to restoring diplomatic relations with the country.
While speaking at a drone factory in Saint Petersburg, Putin said: “I was briefed (on the talks). I rate them highly, there is a result.
“In my opinion, we made the first step to restore work in various areas of mutual interests.”
The despot added: “It is impossible to solve many issues, including the Ukrainian crisis, without increasing the level of trust between Russia and the United States.”
Putin’s comments followed Zelensky criticizing the Trump administration taking a friendly stance with Russia while he pushed back on several claims the U.S. president made during a press conference earlier this week.
Zelensky expressed he “would like Trump’s team to be more truthful” when addressing Russia and the ongoing war in Ukraine, including Trump baselessly claiming Ukraine was to blame for the war breaking out in 2022.
He further pushed back on Trump claiming the U.S. has given Ukraine $500 billion – and shot down the president suggesting his country could pay back the aid with a minerals exploration deal, which Zelensky said was “not a serious conversation.”
Zelensky added: “Look, we all want a victory, and we want Trump to win, and we want Ukraine to win, all of us to succeed.
“But there is nothing clear here… I am protecting Ukraine. I can’t sell it away. I can’t sell our state.”
In regard to U.S. talks with Russia, he said: “I believe that the United States helped Putin to break out of years of isolation… All of this has no positive impact on Ukraine.”
He additionally said the talks came as a “surprise” to Ukrainian officials and sparked fears across his country, as well as Europe, that Ukraine will be left out of negotiations.
Meanwhile, Putin claimed Russia was “not imposing anything on anyone.”
He added: “We are ready, I have already said this a hundred times – if they want, please, let these negotiations take place. And we will be ready to return to the table for negotiations. No one is excluding Ukraine.”
Still, critics and political pundits have raised concerns over Trump’s increasingly cozy relationship with Putin, especially given his past praise of the dictator.
During a 2022 appearance on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, Trump called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “genius.”
He said: “I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine – of Ukraine – Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful.
“He used the word ‘independent’ and ‘we’re gonna go out and we’re gonna go in and we’re gonna help keep peace.’ You gotta say that’s pretty savvy.”
An international politics expert has warned that a potential “deal” between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will lead to Ukraine being “carved up,” while commenting on the talks held in Saudi Arabia between American and Russian diplomats. Knewz.com...
An international politics expert has warned that a potential “deal” between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will lead to Ukraine being “carved up,” while commenting on the talks held in Saudi Arabia between American and Russian diplomats.
Knewz.com has learned that the talks in Saudi Arabia resulted in the United States and Russia agreeing to work towards three goals: the establishment of closer relations and economic cooperation, the formation of “a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks,” and “to restore staffing at their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow.”
The meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, February 18, involved U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Michael Waltz, and special Mideast envoy Steven Witkoff, along with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the Russian foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov.
In a statement, Rubio stressed that the talks “marked the beginning of a conversation, and more work needs to be done.”
Lavrov seemed to echo Rubio’s sentiment as he said that “the conversation was very useful… We not only listened, but also heard each other.”
Notably, although the talks involved formulating a plan to find an end to the Ukraine war, the meeting did not include Ukrainian officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has long insisted that peace talks regarding Ukraine must involve officials from Kyiv, and has maintained that his country would not accept any outcome from the talks in Saudi Arabia.
Ukraine’s demands to be included in peace talks came amidst speculations that a settlement regarding the conflict facilitated by the current Donald Trump administration might go in Russia’s favor: with the frontline being frozen and Russia retaining the territories it has annexed in Ukraine over the course of the war.
Trump’s Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth said in a statement in Brussels on Wednesday, February 12, that “returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is unrealistic, that NATO membership should not be on the table, and that U.S. troops in Ukraine would not be part of any security guarantee,” according to reports.
A NATO membership is also something Trump does not see in the cards for Ukraine, as he said previously: “I don’t see any way that a country in Russia’s position … could allow them to join NATO. I don’t see that happening.”
Commenting on the talks in Saudi Arabia, Professor Inderjeet Parmar, Head of Department of International Politics at City, University of London, said in a statement:
“(Given) that Ukraine, NATO and the EU has been excluded from the US-Russia meeting in Riyadh indicates where power lies. President Trump is after material gains for the US – especially Ukraine’s mineral resources such as uranium, lithium, titanium, and rare earth deposits. Currently, China dominates supply chains of rare earth metals -used in military technologies for example. China is the US’ ultimate target, the global context of the talks with Russia.”
“Trump says he wants at least $500 billion worth of Ukraine’s rare earth deposits, around half of which actually lie in territories currently occupied by Russia. In return, Trump offers Ukraine security. Hence, the talks with Russia, to try and do a ‘deal,’” Prof. Parmar added.
“However, this deal is likely to either exclude or subordinate Europeans’ interests in the same minerals. As the EU foreign policy head, Kaja Kallas, noted recently, the EU has poured large amounts of aid into Ukraine and does not want to see Russia taking Ukrainian territories, the US securing natural resources, and Europe paying the bill.”
“Given what we know about the Trump administration’s material goals – hence desire to grab Greenland, Panama, Canada, etc – and Trump’s deal-maker personality – the war in Ukraine has little to do with defending democracy or sovereignty: it is a struggle for resources worth hundreds of billions of dollars, if not more. Trump also wants Ukraine to buy more US liquid natural gas,” he further stated.
“Ukraine increasingly resembles a body on the US, EU and Russian surgeon’s operating table – ready to be carved up, much as colonial terriorties were carved up by the European empires in the 19th and early twentieth centruries. The biggest loser from the process is likely to be Ukraine and its war-weary people,” Prof. Parmar concluded in his statement.
It is worth noting that U.S. military volunteers fighting alongside Ukraine’s armed forces have branded President Trump a “jacka–” and a “coward” over his private phone call with President Putin the previous week.
Trump spoke to the Russian autocrat on Wednesday, February 12, following which Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the new U.S. position to end the conflict “impressive.”
Ryan O’Leary, an Iraq war veteran who leads Chosen Company, one of the largest foreign volunteer units in Ukraine, said in a statement:
“F— Trump and his sh—y supposed peace deal… Any peace deal is ultimately up to Ukrainians alone, who should be included directly in talks. Neither Trump nor his administration should have any say in how the war ends.”
“Only the soldiers and the Ukrainian people should have that say, not some jackass and his jackass cabinet members sitting behind their white picket-fenced houses on a golf course,” O’Leary added.
Furthermore, a Ukrainian military officer called the U.S. an unreliable partner following the call and alleged that this was “the greatest disappointment from the actions of the United States.”
“Your politicians have lost their dignity… Ukraine’s betrayal after Afghanistan will have catastrophic consequences for America’s perception in the world,” the officer said in the statement.
United States military volunteers fighting alongside Ukraine’s armed forces have branded President Donald Trump a “jacka–” and a “coward” over his private phone call with President Vladimir Putin the previous week. Knewz.com has learned that President Trump spoke to the Russian autocrat ...
United States military volunteers fighting alongside Ukraine’s armed forces have branded President Donald Trump a “jacka–” and a “coward” over his private phone call with President Vladimir Putin the previous week.
Knewz.com has learned that President Trump spoke to the Russian autocrat on Wednesday, February 12, following which Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the new U.S. position to end the conflict “impressive.”
Former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton said in a televised statement that President Trump “effectively surrendered” to Putin and described the call as a cause for celebration in Russia.
“I tell you, they’re drinking vodka straight out of the bottle in the Kremlin tonight. It was a great day for Moscow,” Bolton said.
It has been reported that a Ukrainian military officer called the U.S. an unreliable partner following the call and alleged that this was “the greatest disappointment from the actions of the United States.”
“Your politicians have lost their dignity… Ukraine’s betrayal after Afghanistan will have catastrophic consequences for America’s perception in the world,” the officer said in the statement.
It has long been speculated that a settlement regarding the conflict facilitated by the current Donald Trump administration might go in Russia’s favor: with the frontline being frozen and Russia retaining the territories it has annexed in Ukraine over the course of the war.
Trump’s Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth said in a statement in Brussels on Wednesday, February 12, that “returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is unrealistic, that NATO membership should not be on the table, and that U.S. troops in Ukraine would not be part of any security guarantee,” according to reports.
A NATO membership is also something Trump does not see in the cards for Ukraine, as he said previously: “I don’t see any way that a country in Russia’s position … could allow them to join NATO. I don’t see that happening.”
Former U.S. military servicemembers fighting on Kyiv’s side for nearly three years have also expressed their fury with President Trump over the private call with Putin.
Ryan O’Leary, an Iraq war veteran who leads Chosen Company, one of the largest foreign volunteer units in Ukraine, said in a statement:
“F— Trump and his sh—y supposed peace deal… Any peace deal is ultimately up to Ukrainians alone, who should be included directly in talks. Neither Trump nor his administration should have any say in how the war ends.”
“Only the soldiers and the Ukrainian people should have that say, not some jackass and his jackass cabinet members sitting behind their white picket-fenced houses on a golf course,” O’Leary added.
Charles Carter, another US volunteer, who previously served with America’s 101st Airborne Division, said, “Trump is a coward, sucking Putin’s d—.”
“The fact that the bullet missed his f—ing face by only an inch is a worldwide travesty,” Carter further said, referring to the assassination attempt on the President back in 2024 during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has long insisted that peace talks regarding Ukraine must involve officials from Kyiv, and has maintained that his country would not accept any outcome from the recent talks in Saudi Arabia, which involved U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Michael Waltz, and special Mideast envoy Steven Witkoff, along with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the Russian foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov.
The talks in Saudi Arabia saw the U.S. and Russian sides broadly agree on three key objectives, according to reports: the establishment of closer relations and economic cooperation, the formation of “a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks,” and “to restore staffing at their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow.”
In a statement, Rubio stressed that the talks “marked the beginning of a conversation, and more work needs to be done.”
Lavrov seemed to echo Rubio’s sentiment as he said that “the conversation was very useful… We not only listened, but also heard each other.”
During a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia , United States and Russian officials discussed ending the nearly three-year-long war in Ukraine — without any Ukrainian officials present at the table. Knewz.com has learned that the meeting ...
During a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, United States and Russian officials discussed ending the nearly three-year-long war in Ukraine—without any Ukrainian officials present at the table.
Knewz.com has learned that the meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, February 18, involved U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Michael Waltz, and special Mideast envoy Steven Witkoff, along with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the Russian foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov.
The talks in Saudi Arabia saw the U.S. and Russian sides broadly agree on three key objectives, according to reports: the establishment of closer relations and economic cooperation, the formation of “a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks,” and “to restore staffing at their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow.”
In a statement, Rubio stressed that the talks “marked the beginning of a conversation, and more work needs to be done.”
Lavrov seemed to echo Rubio’s sentiment as he said that “the conversation was very useful… We not only listened, but also heard each other.”
Notably, U.S. military volunteers fighting alongside Ukraine’s armed forces have branded President Donald Trump a “jacka–” and a “coward” over his private phone call with President Putin the previous week.
Ryan O’Leary, an Iraq war veteran who leads Chosen Company, one of the largest foreign volunteer units in Ukraine, said in a statement:
“F— Trump and his sh—y supposed peace deal… Any peace deal is ultimately up to Ukrainians alone, who should be included directly in talks. Neither Trump nor his administration should have any say in how the war ends.”
“Only the soldiers and the Ukrainian people should have that say, not some jackass and his jackass cabinet members sitting behind their white picket-fenced houses on a golf course,” O’Leary added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has long insisted that peace talks regarding Ukraine must involve officials from Kyiv, and has maintained that his country would not accept any outcome from the talks in Saudi Arabia.
Ukraine’s demands to be included in peace talks came amidst speculations that a settlement regarding the conflict facilitated by the current Donald Trump administration might go in Russia’s favor: with the frontline being frozen and Russia retaining the territories it has annexed in Ukraine over the course of the war.
Trump’s Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth said in a statement in Brussels on Wednesday, February 12, that “returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is unrealistic, that NATO membership should not be on the table, and that U.S. troops in Ukraine would not be part of any security guarantee,” according to reports.
A NATO membership is also something Trump does not see in the cards for Ukraine, as he said previously: “I don’t see any way that a country in Russia’s position … could allow them to join NATO. I don’t see that happening.”
On the other hand, it was revealed the previous week that Russia is reportedly arming for local conflicts with former Soviet states, and is preparing for a potential war with NATO down the line.
An unclassified report from the Danish Defence Intelligence Service has stated that “Russia perceives itself as being in conflict with the West and is preparing for a war against NATO.”
“While no decision to initiate such a war has been made, Russia is building the capacity to make that choice if deemed necessary,” the spy intelligence report stated, adding that the threat is greater if Putin sees NATO as “militarily weakened or politically divided”.
It is worth noting that European leaders had also previously insisted that they be included in the peace talks regarding the Ukraine war as well, a demand they made in the aftermath of President Trump’s call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a statement on Thursday, February 13, that it was “premature” to discuss a role for Europe in any talks.
The Security Service of Ukraine just nabbed a traitor from among its top ranks today, with footage showing the arrest being carried out by none other than Security Service boss Lt-Gen Vasyl Maliuk. Knewz.com has learned that Colonel Dmytro Koziura, longtime counterterrorism ...
The Security Service of Ukraine just nabbed a traitor from among its top ranks today, with footage showing the arrest being carried out by none other than Security Service boss Lt-Gen Vasyl Maliuk.
Knewz.com has learned that Colonel Dmytro Koziura, longtime counterterrorism chief of the Security Service of Ukraine, has been apprehended on charges of working undercover for Russia.
Lieutenant General Maliuk led a lengthy operation, culminating in the anti-terror chief’s arrest, to prove that Koziura was feeding intel about senior government officials in Ukraine to Vladimir Putin.
The Security Service also released video clips purportedly showing the senior counterterrorism chief “passing information electronically” to the Kremlin.
It has been reported that officials in Ukraine have been aware of Koziura’s alleged treachery for months. As a result, Ukrainian spy chiefs had been feeding him false information to send to Russia.
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, was kept informed of every step of the operation, reports have mentioned.
According to reports, there are 14 proven instances of Koziura passing classified information to Russia.
“His FSB [Federal Security Service of Russia] handler was named Yuriy Shatalov and he was said to have been issued with a special mobile phone, WiFi router, and SIM card,” reports have mentioned.
It was also reported that the Kremlin “wanted Koziura to provide intelligence in Ukrainian knowledge of Russian military movements on the frontline,” and “tasked him with obtaining secret information on the armaments, infrastructure and the damage caused by Russian missile attacks.”
It has been revealed in the Security Service documents that the senior Ukrainian counterterrorism chief’s parents, “who justify Russian aggression, praise Putin and, judging by audio intercepts, know about their son’s work in the FSB.”
According to reports, they also currently face charges.
Reports have mentioned that although Koziura was recruited in Vienna back in 2018, it was not until December 2024 that Moscow ordered him to work actively.
Lieutenant General Maliuk has not revealed the total extent of the damage caused by the anti-terror chief’s espionage.
During Koziuk’s tenure as the counterterrorism chief of the Security Service of Ukraine, he had grown particularly close to Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv.
The footage of his arrest showed him being “dramatically” apprehended by Maliuk, who slapped the handcuffs on him.
“The burly accused FSB agent – aged in his 50s – was pictured with his hands cuffed behind his back with signs of facial cuts and bruises,” reports have mentioned.
The latest development came as Danish military intelligence revealed Putin might be gearing up for a conflict with NATO down the line, with his crosshairs reportedly set on the neighboring states of Georgia and Moldova once a settlement is reached regarding the Ukraine war.
Spy intelligence obtained by Denmark has reportedly revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is gearing up for local conflicts with former Soviet states, and is preparing for a potential war with NATO down the line. Knewz.com has learned that the ...
Spy intelligence obtained by Denmark has reportedly revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is gearing up for local conflicts with former Soviet states, and is preparing for a potential war with NATO down the line.
Knewz.com has learned that the Russian autocrat seemingly has a roadmap of future conflicts after a settlement is reached regarding the Ukraine war—which, reports suggest, is likely to go in Putin’s favor.
Putin has time and again stated his desire to re-establish a Russian empire—starting with Ukraine.
In order to restore Russia to the “glory days” of the Soviet Union, Putin will have to re-annex the countries it lost during the fall of the U.S.S.R. in 1991.
Going by this logic, the Baltic countries, namely Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, should be next on Putin’s invasion “hitlist”—which is exactly what defense and security expert Nicholas Drummond warned back in November 2024.
According to Drummond, Putin will soon set his sights on the Baltic territories, in addition to Moldova and some parts of Africa, as soon as he is done with Ukraine.
And now, an unclassified report from the Danish Defence Intelligence Service has stated that “Russia perceives itself as being in conflict with the West and is preparing for a war against NATO.”
“While no decision to initiate such a war has been made, Russia is building the capacity to make that choice if deemed necessary,” the spy intelligence report stated, adding that the threat is greater if Putin sees NATO as “militarily weakened or politically divided”.
The intel further said that Putin has embarked on a “major rebuilding and reform of its armed forces” aimed at “waging war against NATO.”
“[Russia] has already enhanced its military capacity through the modernisation of equipment and a significant increase in military production,” the report read.
The Danish military intelligence also pointed out that once Putin is done with Ukraine, “there are three different ways the Russian dictator could redirect military aggression targeting NATO.”
The first option is to wage a local war with a neighboring country like Georgia or Moldova, something Putin can do in a matter of months if he redirects his military forces currently engaged in Ukraine.
The second option would take Russia two years, following which it would be able to launch a war against NATO Baltic States. The Danish spy intelligence report has named Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as potential targets in Putin’s crosshair.
“The threat of a large-scale war with Europe could happen within five years, presuming the U.S. does not intervene, according to the assessment,” reports have mentioned.
During his November statement, Drummond pointed out that, being NATO member states, an attack on Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania would “dramatically escalate things.”
He said at the time, “Putin is a dangerous guy, a very dangerous guy and he wants Russia to be a superpower again.”
Mihail Popșoi, the Foreign Minister of Moldova, said back in November 2024 that the nation is not under threat of invasion while Putin is busy carrying on the Ukraine war. He added, however, that Moldova is “safe, although safe could be a strong word given the frontlines are just 200 kilometers [around 124 miles] away.”
According to reports, the governments of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are providing combat training to its citizens as threats of a potential invasion by Putin looms over the nations.
It seems Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to participate and cooperate in peace talks regarding the Ukraine war , while reports mention that the Russian autocrat is gripped by fear over the nation’s economy. Knewz.com has learned that the Russian President’s ...
It seems Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to participate and cooperate in peace talks regarding the Ukraine war, while reports mention that the Russian autocrat is gripped by fear over the nation’s economy.
Knewz.com has learned that the Russian President’s willingness to cooperate with the peace talks came amidst President Donald Trump‘s ultimatum about reaching a settlement.
Trump had repeatedly claimed on his campaign circuit that the Ukraine war would not have come to pass if he was President and that he could bring a swift end to the conflict if he took back the Oval Office.
Now that he has been reinstated in the White House, it seems Trump intends to make good on his promise.
Trump threatened to further weaken the Russian wartime economy with a tirade of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on everything sold from Russia to the United States and other countries if Putin does not cooperate and participate in peace talks—described by Trump as “making a deal.”
The new American President shared his threats on the Truth Social platform, where he wrote:
“I’m not looking to hurt Russia. I love the Russian people, and always had a very good relationship with President Putin – and this despite the Radical Left’s Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX. We must never forget that Russia helped us win the Second World War, losing almost 60,000,000 lives in the process.”
“All of that being said, I’m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE,” Trump added in his statement.
“If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries.”
“Let’s get this war, which never would have started if I were President, over with! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way – and the easy way is always better,” Trump further wrote on his Truth Social post.
He added, “It’s time to “MAKE A DEAL.” NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!”
Responding to Trump’s Truth Social comments regarding the war in a recent televised statement, Putin said that he is ready to discuss the war in Ukraine with the American President and suggested it would be a good idea for them to meet.
“We believe the current president’s statements about his readiness to work together. We are always open to this and ready for negotiations… It would be better for us to meet, based on the realities of today, to talk calmly,” Putin said in a statement to a Russian state TV journalist.
He went on to describe his relationship with Trump as “businesslike, pragmatic, and trustworthy”.
It has been reported that Putin is already concerned over the worsening economy of Russia as the Ukraine war exacts its toll.
While Russian exports of oil, gas, and minerals have seen some growth over the last two years – despite international sanctions – reports have mentioned that “domestic activity has become strained in recent months by labor shortages and high interest rates introduced to tackle inflation, which has accelerated under record military spending.”
This has, in turn, made a settlement regarding the Ukraine conflict a desirable outcome for a section of the Russian elite, further increasing the pressure on Putin to cooperate in peace talks.
Trump also talked about his “open letter” to Russia at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, essentially saying that it was Putin’s move next.
When asked if he thinks he will have solved the Ukraine crisis by the time he visits Davos next year for the forum, Trump replied:
“Well, you’re gonna have to ask Russia. Ukraine is ready to make a deal. Just so you understand, this is a war that should’ve never started. If I were president, it would never have started. This is a war that should have never, ever been started.”
“I knew that [Ukraine] was the apple of President Putin’s eye, but I also knew that there was no way he was going in and he wasn’t going in. And then when I was out, uh, bad things happened, bad things were said. A lot of stupidity all around. And you end up with what you have now. You have all these bombed-out cities. They look like demolition sites with many people killed,” he added.
The Chief Army Psychiatrist of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been arrested over allegations of “illegal enrichment” related to earnings of around $1 million since the beginning of the Ukraine war . Knewz.com has learned that while the man has not ...
The Chief Army Psychiatrist of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been arrested over allegations of “illegal enrichment” related to earnings of around $1 million since the beginning of the Ukraine war.
Knewz.com has learned that while the man has not been named in the Security Service of Ukraine statement, Oleh Druz was previously named as the chief psychiatrist of the Ukrainian armed forces.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine, the accused individual earned a commission “deciding whether individuals were fit for military service,” reports have mentioned.
It has been reported that the recently arrested chief army psychiatrist owned three apartments in or near Kyiv, one in Odesa, two plots of land, and several BMW luxury cars—none of which he officially declared.
It has been reported that the properties were registered under the names of his wife, daughter, sons, and other third parties.
Security Service investigators also found $152,000 in cash after searching the man’s home.
Druz, who is believed to be the chief army psychiatrist in question, was previously implicated in a similar case in 2017 when failed to declare two SUVs and several properties—a revelation that led to him being suspended.
The army psychiatrist currently faces ten years of incarceration if convicted on charges of “illegal enrichment and making a false declaration,” it has been reported.
It is worth noting in this regard that the Ukrainian Parliament voted in 2024 to have military medical commissions abolished, after several officials were found to have taken commissions or bribes in exchange for exempting someone from military service.
In May 2024, a Ukrainian Member of Parliament was charged with embezzling $271,885 in funds, according to reports.
In 2023, over 30 conscription officials were accused of taking bribes and smuggling people out of the country. The accused officials were fired during a government anti-corruption purge.
It has been reported that the nation has battled “endemic corruption since the first days of its independence in 1991, and government officials and independent campaigners alike say that fight is key to winning the existential war it is fighting with Russia.”
Ukraine’s war against corruption showed positive results in 2024, with anti-corruption organization Transparency International ranking the country at its highest level since 2006—104th out of 180 countries in its Corruption Perceptions Index.
One of the most significant results achieved by anti-corruption institutions in Ukraine was the arrest of the then-Supreme Court head, Vsevolod Knyazev, on bribery charges in May 2023.
Furthermore, Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky and an officer with the Security Service of Ukraine’s intelligence service, Artem Shylo, were arrested as part of the efforts as well.
Andriy Borovyk, the executive director of Transparency International Ukraine, said in a statement to BBC in 2024:
“Most Ukrainian anti-corruption institutions are showing pretty good results… This can be a safeguard because if you see somebody arrested, you will think twice before doing something corrupt.”
In his statement, Borovyk said at the time that Ukraine needs to focus on rooting out corruption in its tax and customs services, as well as improve financial oversight.
“A lot of money is coming to Ukraine from the West, and of course they are asking whether there is proper control over this money,” he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly “gripped” by panic over the economy of the country, especially in the wake of President Donald Trump ‘s ultimatum regarding the Ukraine war . Knewz.com has learned that Kremlin mouthpieces have responded ...
Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly “gripped” by panic over the economy of the country, especially in the wake of President Donald Trump‘s ultimatum regarding the Ukraine war.
Knewz.com has learned that Kremlin mouthpieces have responded to Trump’s statements by urging the Russian autocrat to nuke London.
Trump had repeatedly claimed on his campaign circuit that the Ukraine war would not have come to pass if he was President and that he could bring a swift end to the conflict if he took back the Oval Office.
Now that he has been reinstated in the White House, it seems Trump intends to make good on his promise.
Trump threatened to further weaken the Russian wartime economy with a tirade of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on everything sold from Russia to the United States and other countries if Putin does not cooperate and participate in peace talks—described by Trump as “making a deal.”
The new American President shared his threats on the Truth Social platform, where he wrote:
“I’m not looking to hurt Russia. I love the Russian people, and always had a very good relationship with President Putin – and this despite the Radical Left’s Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX. We must never forget that Russia helped us win the Second World War, losing almost 60,000,000 lives in the process.”
“All of that being said, I’m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE,” Trump added in his statement.
“If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries.”
“Let’s get this war, which never would have started if I were President, over with! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way – and the easy way is always better,” Trump further wrote on his Truth Social post.
He added, “It’s time to “MAKE A DEAL.” NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!”
It has been reported that Putin is already concerned over the worsening economy of Russia as the Ukraine war exacts its toll.
While Russian exports of oil, gas, and minerals have seen some growth over the last two years – despite international sanctions – reports have mentioned that “domestic activity has become strained in recent months by labor shortages and high interest rates introduced to tackle inflation, which has accelerated under record military spending.”
This has, in turn, made a settlement regarding the Ukraine conflict a desirable outcome for a section of the Russian elite, further increasing the pressure on Putin to cooperate in peace talks.
However, vocal Putin supporters have instead urged the autocrat to respond to the threats by making a nuclear attack on London.
Pro-Kremlin Member of Parliament Andrey Gurulev said in a televised statement that Putin should carry out the first nuclear bomb test in 35 years on the Arctic archipelago Novaya Zemlya in order to showcase Russia’s nuclear capabilities in response to Trump’s threat.
“Look at what Trump is doing… He appears not as president of the United States, but as the master of the world. Is he threatening us or what?… Maybe our president should get an account on X, and respond… And the best answer would be to stage good nuclear explosions on Novaya Zemlya, frankly,” Gurulev said in his televised statement.
Noted Russian TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov responded, saying, “Why should Novaya Zemlya be tortured? Rather than London?… [The British] will think it’s just fireworks.”
It would appear Russian President Vladimir Putin sees Donald Trump ‘s reinstatement to the White House as a new era of reduced hostility between the two nations, as he congratulated the new president and emphasized the need to prevent a Third World War...
It would appear Russian President Vladimir Putin sees Donald Trump‘s reinstatement to the White House as a new era of reduced hostility between the two nations, as he congratulated the new president and emphasized the need to prevent a Third World War.
Knewz.com has learned that the Russian autocrat said during a meeting with the Security Council of the nation that Russia “welcomes” the Trump administration’s desire to restore direct communication with the country.
Previously, the Russian President congratulated “Real man” Trump on his White House victory amidst concerns about what the win could mean for the future of the Ukraine war.
Congratulating the 78-year-old Republican candidate on his election win, Putin shared a statement, saying, “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States of America.”
According to reports, the Russian President also praised Trump for surviving multiple assassination attempts, calling the President-elect a “real man.”
“He behaved, in my opinion, in a very correct way, courageously, like a real man,” Putin was quoted as saying.
It has been reported that Putin later made another remark regarding Trump, saying that “he felt as if Trump was ‘bullied’ during his first spell in the White House.”
Speaking to his Security Council on January 20, Putin said that although the “pre-election period was not easy for US President-elect Donald Trump,” he “displayed courage and won a convincing victory.”
“According to [Putin], Russia welcomes the US president-elect’s commitment to preventing World War III and desire ‘to restore direct contacts’ with Moscow,” it has been reported by Russian state media.
The Russian President added that the dialogue between the two countries must be grounded “in equality and mutual respect.”
It is worth noting that not long ago, Putin had issued a chilling threat to Ukraine’s Western allies—prompted by the Joe Biden administration’s decision to allow Ukraine to use American missiles to strike targets deep within Russian territory.
One of the reasons Kremlin politicians seem hopeful about the Trump presidency, per reports, is their belief that a settlement facilitated by the Trump administration regarding the Ukraine war would go in Russia’s favor.
Speaking of the future of the Ukraine conflict during the meeting with the Security Council and the communication with the United States administration regarding the same, Putin said:
“The most important thing there is to eliminate the root causes of the crisis, which we have talked about many times. This is the most essential thing.”
“As for settling the situation, I want to stress that its goal should be to achieve a lasting peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people, all peoples living in that region rather than a short-lived truce, some respite for regrouping forces and rearming for the purpose of subsequently continuing the conflict, but a lasting peace based on respecting the interests of all individuals, all peoples, who live in the region,” he further said, per the Russian state media outlet TASS.
It has been speculated that a settlement arranged by the United States administration would let Putin hold on to the territory annexed by the Russian forces and freeze the frontline where it stands right now.
However, anti-Putin activists have said that the Russian President could use these gains to mount a renewed assault and encroach deeper into Ukrainian territory in the future.