Former US General criticizes Trump's Ukraine peace plan

Former US European Command leader Ben Hodges has dismissed President Donald Trump's claims that peace in Ukraine is imminent, calling such assertions “ridiculous.” Hodges noted that Russia has made no concessions and argued that the Trump administration has exerted pressure on Ukraine rather than demanding movement from Moscow.

Reports indicate that Vladimir Putin is seeking a meeting in China with Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to negotiate an end to the conflict. While Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed discussions regarding such a meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for Ukraine to be included in the talks.

In a separate development, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff held a three-hour meeting with Putin in St. Petersburg, during which he reportedly described the Russian leader as a “friend of humanity.” This occurred shortly after Russian forces targeted the historic center of Kyiv with cluster munitions, resulting in at least two deaths.