A U.S. delegation led by CIA director John Ratcliffe met with his counterpart at Cuba‘s Interior Ministry in Havana on Thursday, the Cuban government said in a statement, as tensions worsen over a U.S. fuel blockade that has starved the island of fuel and power generation.
Archiv: Übergabe / Aufgeben / Kapitulationen / handover / surrender / capitulations
Cuban President Acknowledges Talks With Trump Administration
President Miguel Díaz-Canel, whose country is rapidly running out of fuel, said the talks were based on “respect for the political systems of both countries.”
Trump says he’ll help pick Iran’s leader, predicts regime change in Cuba
Asked whether the United States was playing a role in the Cuban government’s demise, Trump responded: “Well, what do you think? For 50 years, that’s icing on the cake. Venezuela is doing fantastically. [Delcy Rodríguez] is doing a fantastic job. The relationship with them is great.”
Trump also confirmed the United States is in touch with Cuba’s communist leadership as instability on the island intensifies following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
“They need help. We are talking to Cuba,” Trump said.
Trump demands Iran‘s ‚unconditional surrender‘
U.S. President Donald Trump demanded Iran‘s „unconditional surrender“ on Friday, a dramatic escalation of his demands a week into the war he launched alongside Israel.
Trump made the remarks on social media just hours after Iran‘s president announced that unspecified countries had begun mediation efforts in one of the first signals of any diplomatic initiative to end the conflict.
White House welcomes Congress‘ green light for Iran conflict
In a statement after Thursday‘s House vote, the White House said: „Congress has reaffirmed the Commander-in-Chief‘s Constitutional authority to protect the American people from the Iranian regime‘s murderous ambitions and imminent threats.“
WATCH: House rejects Iran war powers resolution in narrow vote, following Senate‘s footsteps
While the tally in the House, 212-219, was expected to be tight, the outcome provided a clarifying snapshot of political support for, and opposition to, the U.S.-Israel military operation and Trump‘s rationale for bypassing Congress, which alone has the power to declare war. At the Capitol, the conflict has quickly carried echoes of the long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and many Sept. 11-era veterans now serve in Congress.
How Congress Blew All Their Chances to Stop Trump’s War With Venezuela
Since the Trump administration began striking alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean in September, there have been four failed votes on resolutions seeking to stop unauthorized attacks on either the boats strikes or Venezuelan soil. They all fell short.
Lawmakers are now preparing for another vote this week on a resolution in the Senate, their latest opportunity to pump the brakes.
5 Alarming Reasons Vucic Denounces Collapse of International Legal Order After U.S. Attack on Venezuela
Speaking after an emergency session of Serbia’s National Security Council on Sunday, President Aleksandar Vučić delivered a stark assessment of the current global system: “The international legal order and the UN Charter no longer function at all.”
This blunt declaration marks a significant shift in Serbia’s diplomatic rhetoric and reflects growing disillusionment among non-aligned and Global South nations with the efficacy of multilateral institutions. Vučić argued that the Venezuela operation—justified by Washington as a “counter-narcotics mission”—exposes a brutal reality: “In today’s world, the only rule is the law of the strongest.” He added, “Whoever is stronger exerts pressure—that is the only principle of contemporary politics.”
House Rejects McGovern’s Bipartisan War Powers Resolution, Shamefully Surrendering More Power to the White House
WASHINGTON—Today, House Republicans (and sadly, one spineless Democrat) shamefully rejected Congressman McGovern‘s War Powers Resolution, which would have directed President Trump to cease all hostilities within or against Venezuela.
“I’m furious that cowardly lawmakers have once again surrendered Congress’ Constitutional responsibility on matters of war to a wannabe dictator in the White House,” said Ranking Member McGovern. “The Founders intentionally did not want any president to have unilateral power to start a war, much less one like Donald Trump, who campaigned on ending unnecessary foreign conflicts. He‘s now breaking that promise—and his weak, pathetic lackeys in Congress are letting him drag us into yet another endless war that no one except their billionaire buddies in Big Oil want.”
Putin wants to capture Ukraine’s crucial fortress belt without a fight
(August 28, 2025)
As US-led efforts to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine struggle to gain momentum, Vladimir Putin’s latest territorial demands include the surrender of strategically vital and heavily fortified Ukrainian land in the east of the country. Moscow is calling on Kyiv to unilaterally withdraw from the approximately one-third of Donetsk province that remains in Ukrainian hands as part of any peace deal. In other words, Putin aims to secure territory at the negotiating table that his army has been unable to conquer in more that three and a half years of full-scale war.
Russia‘s coy game: Why Kremlin won‘t commit to Trump‘s peace push
There are signs that the Kremlin is not interested in a U.S.-brokered peace deal at all, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top officials reiterating maximalist demands and refusing to accept any compromise.
Instead of seeking peace, the Kremlin is trying to buy time and undermine Ukraine’s allies, analysts say. Another goal is to shift the blame to Kyiv by accusing it of rejecting Russian conditions that are effectively tantamount to capitulation.
Putin in his last address: Russia ready to fight until the last Ukrainian, offers no concessions, demands Kyiv surrender Donbas
Putin reiterated that the war in Ukraine will end only when Ukraine withdraws its forces from Donbas.
“If Ukrainian troops leave the territories they occupy, the fighting will stop. If they don’t, we will achieve this through military means,” he said.
He offered no concessions from Russia’s side.
Putin bleibt bei seinen Bedingungen – und droht
„Wenn die ukrainischen Truppen die von ihnen gehaltenen Gebiete verlassen, werden wir die Kampfeinsätze beenden“, sagte Putin bei einem Besuch in Bischkek, der Hauptstadt Kirgistans. „Wenn sie dies nicht tun, werden wir dies mit militärischen Mitteln erreichen“, so der Kremlchef.
Aus welchen Regionen genau sich die ukrainischen Truppen zurückziehen sollten, sagte Putin nicht. Russland hatte immer wieder gefordert, dass die Ukraine die vier Regionen Donezk, Luhansk, Cherson und Saporischschja vollständig an Russland abgeben müsse – auch die Teile, die Russland nie erobert hat.
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, November 19, 2025
(November 19, 2025)
Key Takeaways
Russia killed at least 26 Ukrainian civilians and injured at least 139 on the night of November 18 to 19 during its combined missile and drone strikes that disproportionately impacted civilian areas.
US and Russian officials reportedly drafted a 28-point peace plan that amounts to Ukraine’s full capitulation and would set conditions for renewed Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The reported proposed peace plan would deprive Ukraine of critical defensive positions and capabilities necessary to defend against future Russian aggression, apparently in exchange for nothing.
This reported peace plan is fundamentally the same as Russia’s 2022 Istanbul demands, which Russia presented to Ukraine when the circumstances on the battlefield appeared to favor Russia more heavily.
Russia’s long-held demands are dependent on the false premise that a Russian battlefield victory is inevitable.
Ukraine’s interdiction efforts are preventing Russian forces from using vehicles and concentrating manpower in Pokrovsk and are likely slowing down Russia’s rate of advance within the town.
Russian forces recently advanced near Borova and Hulyaipole.
U.S.-Russian Peace Plan Would Force Ukraine to Cede Land and Cut Army
(November 19, 2025)
A plan to end the war in Ukraine, negotiated between the Trump administration and Russia, would require Kyiv to surrender territory, significantly reduce the size of its army and relinquish some types of weaponry, according to officials familiar with the proposal.
The 28-point proposal, drafted without Ukrainian involvement, reflects the maximalist demands the Kremlin has made throughout the war, which Ukraine has long denounced as amounting to capitulation.
Don’t be fooled – Trump’s Gaza peace plan is a colonial con-trick on the Palestinians
(September 30, 2025)
The colonial reality is that Israel and the US have come up with a cunning plan to outsource Israel’s continued dominance or occupation of the Gaza Strip under a governor, Tony Blair (a man much reviled in the Middle East), and a king, Donald Trump, who would run Gaza.
They would rule indefinitely or until the Palestinian Authority, which governs the bits of the West Bank where Israel doesn’t want to be bothered with directly occupying, can show that it can be trusted to also run Gaza the way that the US and Israel want.
Trump’s Gaza peace plan faces a pivotal UN Security Council vote. Can it get across the line?
While many countries continue to be concerned about the details (or lack thereof) in the resolution, support from a broad coalition of regional states will probably push it over the line.
Neither the Israelis nor Palestinians have been formally included in the negotiations, but Israel has presumably worked closely to shape the text. It has pushed back strongly on language supporting Palestinian statehood and will continue to do so.
The Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, has given his broad support to the plan.
Palestinian Authority thanks Trump for ‚determined effort‘ to end Gaza war
The Palestinian Authority on Monday welcomed US President Donald Trump‘s „determined efforts“ to end Israel‘s genocide in Gaza.
Trump‘s 20 point plan to end what a growing chorus of experts, world leaders and historians call a genocide in Gaza leaves open the door for the Palestinian Authority to govern the enclave after „reforms“.
Xi Jinping hält Ansprache zu 80. Jahrestag des Sieges im Widerstandskrieg des chinesischen Volkes gegen japanische Aggression
Die großartige chinesische Nation scheue keine Macht und Gewalt, stehe auf eigenen Füssen und verbessere sich ständig. Im lebensentscheidenen Kampf von Gut gegen Böse, Licht gegen Dunkelheit und fortschrittlichen Kräften gegen reaktionäre Kräfte habe das chinesische Volk damals gemeinsam hart gegen die Feinde sowie um das Überleben des Landes, die Wiederauferstehung der chinesischen Nation und die Gerechtigkeit der Menschheit gekämpft. Heutzutage stehe die Menschheit erneut vor der Entscheidung zwischen Frieden und Krieg, Dialog und Konfrontation sowie gemeinsamem Gewinn und Nullsummenspiel. Das chinesische Volk stehe fest auf der Seite der historischen Richtigkeit und des Fortschritts der menschlichen Zivilisationen sowie halte am Weg der friedlichen Entwicklung fest, um gemeinsam mit der Bevölkerung aller Länder eine Gemeinschaft der Menschheit mit geteilter Zukunft aufzubauen.
Attorney-General Baharav-Miara refuses to attend her own dismissal hearing
“The hearing scheduled for today allows the government to dismiss the attorney general and any future advisor for foreign and corrupt considerations. In response to the fact that the advisor prevented illegal actions, ordered an investigation or prosecution of a coalition member, refused to halt a criminal proceeding against a sitting government member, or as part of a ‚political deal‘ to ensure the survival of the government,” she wrote.
High Court gives government green light to convene new panel on firing attorney general
(July 13, 2025)
The decision by Judge Noam Sohlberg came hours after Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli filed a notice to the court asking it to reject petitions against the new procedure and implied that the coalition could ignore the court if it ruled against it on the matter.
Trump says the US knows where Iran’s Khamenei is hiding and urges Iran’s unconditional surrender
President Donald Trump said Tuesday the U.S. knows where Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding during the Israel-Iran conflict but doesn’t want him killed “for now.”
Trump urged, in a social media posting, Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” as the five-day conflict continues to escalate.
Russia’s 72-hour ‘Victory Day’ truce begins
The pause in fighting, set to last until midnight on May 10–11, has been described as a humanitarian gesture marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. The Kremlin says the ceasefire also aims to create space for direct peace talks with Ukraine, without preconditions.
”Yes, this is an initiative by the Russian side, by President Putin. It remains in force,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Wednesday, stressing that Moscow is committed to honoring the truce despite Ukraine’s record-breaking drone assault ahead of its start.
101-year-old vet recalls ‚fight for civilization‘ 80 years after V-E Day
For Jack Appel, 101, the Allies‘ victory in Europe − made official on May 8, 1945 − wasn‘t just vital because otherwise, as he said, „we‘d all be speaking German now.“
„World War II was a major, major fight for civilization,“ the World War II veteran told USA TODAY this week as the globe marks the 80th anniversary of V-E Day.
VE Day: Thanksgiving service and two-minute silence to mark 80th anniversary
A thanksgiving service will be held at Westminster Abbey to mark 80 years since Victory in Europe (VE) Day from 12:00 BST
How long did it take Denmark to surrender in WW2?
The German invasion began at 4:15 AM on April 9, 1940. Denmark surrendered at 8:43 AM.
Kurdish-led administration in northeastern Syria urges ‚unity‘ as Turkey presses assault
The Kurdish-led administration says it is willing to „unite“ with the new administration in Damascus, as it raises the flag of the opposition in the territories it controls in northeastern Syria.
Northeastern Syria, which is controlled by the People‘s Protection Units (YPG) and their US-backed affiliate the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has been under attack by Turkish forces since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad on Sunday.