Former President Donald Trump declined an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/zelensky-invites-trump-to-fulfill-re-election-vow-of-settling-russia-ukraine-war-in-24-hours" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invite to Ukraine</a> from President Volodymyr Zelensky to witness the scale of the Eastern European nation&#8217;s ongoing conflict with Russia.
Zelenksky extended the invitation to Trump during an interview with NBC on Sunday to make good on the former president&#8217;s vow of settling its war with Russia in &#8220;24 hours&#8221; — a repeated claim that Trump said would happen if he takes back the White House in 2024.
But Trump declined the offer in a <a href="https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/volodymyr-zelenskyy-donald-trump-war/2023/11/05/id/1141054/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> to Newsmax.
&#8220;I have great respect for President Zelenskyy, but think it would be inappropriate to go to Ukraine at this time,&#8221; Trump wrote in a statement. &#8220;The Biden administration is currently dealing with him, and I would not want to create a conflict of interest.&#8221;
Trump, who currently holds the lead for the 2024 presidential GOP nomination, has said he could strike a deal between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky to solve the international war overseas in &#8220;one day&#8221; if re-elected to the White House.
&#8220;If I&#8217;m president, I will have that war settled in one day – 24 hours,&#8221; Trump told CNN&#8217;s Kaitlan Collins earlier this year during a town hall, adding he would meet with the two presidents who &#8220;have weaknesses and they both have strengths&#8221; to settle the war.
&#8220;It&#8217;ll be over, it&#8217;ll be absolutely over,&#8221; Trump said.
Trump added during the interview that he doesn&#8217;t view the war &#8220;in terms of winning and losing.&#8221;
&#8220;I think in terms of getting it settled so we stop killing all these people,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;Russians and Ukrainians, I want them to stop dying. And I&#8217;ll have that done in 24 hours.&#8221;
Zelensky said during an interview with NBC that if Trump could &#8220;manage it,&#8221; he is welcome to visit Kyiv but signaled doubt in Trump&#8217;s ability to end hostilities if re-elected.
&#8220;If he can come here, I will need … 24 minutes to explain to President Trump that he can&#8217;t manage this war,&#8221; Zelenskiy said. &#8220;He can&#8217;t bring peace because of Putin.&#8221;
Trump has been critical of U.S. support of the war, saying the Biden administration&#8217;s involvement has led to a &#8220;reckless escalation&#8221; in Ukraine.
In July, President Joe Biden signed an executive order making as many as 3,000 reservists from the U.S. military available to travel to Europe and support NATO efforts to end hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. This comes as Ukraine has received nearly $350 billion in foreign aid, including $113 billion from the U.S., which has been crucial to its continued war effort.
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The Biden administration and Democrats on Capitol Hill have pushed for a joint $106 billion aid package to Israel and Ukraine, but the Republican-controlled House passed a standalone bill to support Israel while leaving aid to Ukraine on the negotiating table, possibly as part of a deal for increased border security.
Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have said that proposal is dead on arrival. Still, allies of Ukraine are worried that the debate itself shows unqualified support for Ukraine is becoming unsustainable. The U.S. still has about $5 billion of outstanding allocated aid waiting to be sent to Ukraine due to an accounting error by the Pentagon. Still, once that runs out, further funds would have to be approved by the divided Congress.
Zelensky said if Washington, D.C., refuses to send more aid, U.S. soldiers could eventually get involved in a greater conflict with Russia.
&#8220;If Russia will kill all of us, they will attack NATO countries, and you will send your sons and daughters [to fight],&#8221; Zelensky told NBC.
Michael Whittaker contributed to this report.

Conservatives Attend The Annual CPAC Event

Trump Declines Invite To Ukraine From Zelensky: Report

Biden Administration

Donald Trump

Global Politics

Ukraine-Russia War

Vladimir Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky

World

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday invited former U.S. President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine to make good on his vow of settling the Eastern European nation&#8217;s ongoing conflict with Russia in &#8220;24 hours&#8221; — a repeated claim that Trump said would happen if he takes back the White House in 2024.
&#8220;Former President Trump said that about 24 hours, that he can manage it and finish the war,&#8221; Zelensky <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/zelenskyy-says-he-only-needs-24-minutes-to-explain-to-trump-he-can-t-bring-peace-in-ukraine-197150277504" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> during an interview with NBC. &#8220;For me, what can I say? So he&#8217;s very welcome as well.&#8221;
Trump, who currently holds the lead for the 2024 presidential GOP nomination, has said a number of times that he could strike a deal between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky to solve the international war overseas in &#8220;one day&#8221; if re-elected to the White House.
&#8220;If I&#8217;m president, I will have that war settled in one day – 24 hours,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-cnn-town-hall/h_9832474de73ae094f7e9593ff2c37b57" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> CNN&#8217;s Kaitlan Collins earlier this year during a town hall, adding he would meet with the two presidents who &#8220;have weaknesses and they both have strengths&#8221; to settle the war.
&#8220;It&#8217;ll be over, it&#8217;ll be absolutely over,&#8221; Trump said.
Trump added during the interview that he doesn&#8217;t view the war &#8220;in terms of winning and losing.&#8221;
&#8220;I think in terms of getting it settled so we stop killing all these people,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;Russians and Ukrainians, I want them to stop dying. And I&#8217;ll have that done in 24 hours.&#8221;
But Zelensky signaled doubt in Trump&#8217;s ability to end hostilities if re-elected.
&#8220;If he can come here, I will need &#8230; 24 minutes to explain to President Trump that he can&#8217;t manage this war,&#8221; Zelenskiy said. &#8220;He can&#8217;t bring peace because of Putin.&#8221;
Trump has been critical of U.S. support of the war, saying the Biden administration&#8217;s involvement has led to a &#8220;reckless escalation&#8221; in Ukraine.
In July, President Joe Biden signed an executive order making as many as 3,000 reservists from the U.S. military available to travel to Europe and support NATO efforts to end hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. This comes as Ukraine has received nearly $350 billion in foreign aid, including $113 billion from the U.S., which has been crucial to its continued war effort.
But with a potential second Trump administration retaking the White House in 2025, Zelenksy said he was unsure if Ukraine would lose U.S. support.
&#8220;Really, I don&#8217;t know. Really, I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Zelenksy told NBC on &#8220;Meet the Press.&#8221; &#8220;I hope that it depends not only on the president institutionally. I think it depends on the opinion of Americans, of your society. I think that is most important. I think it&#8217;s important in the United States and EU, the attitude of just ordinary people. It&#8217;s their support. It&#8217;s their money. It depends on them.&#8221;
&#8220;And they are sure in Ukraine. I know that they support Ukraine — love us. And really, they understand our difficult war against Russia. And I think only after that, society is pushing the leaders and leaders make right decisions,&#8221; he added.
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According to Gallup, support for more aid has steadily declined for more than a year. A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-u-s-and-european-officials-float-peace-terms-for-ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plurality of Americans</a> — 41% — believe the U.S. is too involved in the war in Ukraine, including 62% of Republicans and 44% of independents. While only 14% of Democrats say the same, more than 60% of Democrats, Republicans, and independents believe neither side is winning the war.
The Biden administration and Democrats on Capitol Hill have pushed for a joint $106 billion aid package to Israel and Ukraine, but the Republican-controlled House passed a standalone bill to support Israel while leaving aid to Ukraine on the negotiating table, possibly as part of a deal for increased border security.
Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have said that proposal is dead on arrival. Still, allies of Ukraine are worried that the debate itself shows unqualified support for Ukraine is becoming unsustainable. The U.S. still has about $5 billion of outstanding allocated aid waiting to be sent to Ukraine due to an accounting error by the Pentagon. Still, once that runs out, further funds would have to be approved by the divided Congress.
Zelensky said if Washington, D.C., refuses to send more aid, U.S. soldiers could eventually get involved in a greater conflict with Russia.
&#8220;If Russia will kill all of us, they will attack NATO countries, and you will send your sons and daughters [to fight],&#8221; Zelensky told NBC.
 Michael Whittaker contributed to this report.

Meeting Of The President Of Ukraine And The Head Of The EU Commission

Zelensky Invites Trump To Fulfill Re-Election Vow Of Settling Russia-Ukraine War In ’24 Hours’

Zelensky Invites Trump To Fulfill Re-Election Vow Of Settling Russia-Ukraine War In '24 Hours'

2024 Election

Politics

Trump 2024

John Kirby, the United States National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, ripped into Russian President Vladimir Putin for blaming the anti-Semitic riot at Makhachkala Airport in Russia on the West.
On Sunday, mobs yelling “Allahu Akbar” hunted down Jews in Dagestan and stormed the airport, making their way onto the tarmac to attack Israelis who had just arrived from Tel Aviv, according to multiple reports. The North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan is a majority-Muslim region in southwest Russia that borders Azerbaijan and Georgia.
One Israeli citizen, aboard the plane and later on a bus that rioters chased, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/airport-closed-southern-russia-after-people-pour-onto-runway-russian-aviation-2023-10-29/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Ynet, “The bus kept turning around &#8230; and people were chasing it and throwing stones. I put my suitcase against the window. &#8230; They came inside, went from person to person, and <a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hylxpgtm6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a> if they were a Muslim or a Jew. I said I was a Muslim, because I was scared to death. Fortunately, they believed me and continued on.”
Kirby had <a href="https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-770930" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the attack “can only be described as a chilling demonstration of hate … Some people have compared it to the pogroms of the late 19th and early 20th century and I think that is an apt description.”
Putin <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/airport-closed-southern-russia-after-people-pour-onto-runway-russian-aviation-2023-10-29/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">insisted</a> that U.S.-backed forces were trying to destabilize Russia, saying, “For this purpose, they use a variety of means, as we can see &#8211; lies, provocations and sophisticated technologies of psychological and information aggression. The events in Makhachkala last night were inspired also through social networks, not least from the territory of Ukraine, by the hands of agents of Western special services.”
“Admiral, you mentioned Putin’s response or lack of response to this anti-Semitic mob at the airport, but his spokesman reportedly said that yesterday’s events were largely the result of outside interference and that the security meeting is in part to discuss attempts by the West to use the events in the Middle East to divide the Russian society,” a reporter said to Kirby.
“Well, isn’t that sweet?” Kirby replied. “It’s classic Russian rhetoric isn’t it, when something goes bad in your country, you just blame somebody else, blame it on outside influences. The West had nothing to do with this. This is just hate, bigotry, and intimidation, pure and simple. And a good leader, a decent leader would call it out for what it is, the way President Biden has called it out here in this country. Instead of blaming the West for something and pushing and pushing it off to somebody else.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mobs-in-russia-yelling-allahu-akbar-hunt-down-jews-storm-airport-after-flight-from-israel-arrives-reports">Mobs In Russia Yelling ‘Allahu Akbar’ Hunt Down Jews, Storm Airport After Flight From Israel Arrives: Reports</a>

Collage Maker-31-Oct-2023-10-39-AM-1878

Kirby Rips Putin For Blaming Anti-Semitic Riot In Russia On The West

Anti-Semitism

Jews

John Kirby

Russia

The leaders of Russia and North Korea held a rare summit on Wednesday after North Korea’s Kim Jong Un traveled to a city in Russia’s Far East in his <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/inside-north-korean-leader-kim-jong-uns-armoured-train-2023-09-12/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">armored</a> train.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Kim in person for the first time <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/kim-jong-un-vladimir-putin-meeting-russia-rcna104775" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since</a> 2019, and the two discussed topics including Russia’s war in Ukraine, space technology, and the potential for military cooperation between the two countries. The meeting took place at Vostochny Cosmodrome, which is the most important launch center in Russia, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-putin-missile-0d70f5190df1088ebe53e8ca19f8e9c9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Associated Press.
“Russia is currently engaged in a just fight against hegemonic forces to defend its sovereign rights, security and interests,” Kim <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-putin-missile-0d70f5190df1088ebe53e8ca19f8e9c9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in an apparent reference to the Ukraine war. “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has always expressed its full and unconditional support for all measures taken by the Russian government, and I take this opportunity to reaffirm that we will always stand with Russia on the anti-imperialist front and the front of independence.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING: Putin greets Kim Jong Un at cosmodrome in Russia’s far east
 <a href="https://t.co/xFsIyL4MVy">pic.twitter.com/xFsIyL4MVy</a>
&mdash; Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1701816100550217770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
At one point, Kim <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/kim-jong-un-vladimir-putin-meeting-russia-rcna104775" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> Russia’s war a “sacred fight” that has his “full and unconditional support.” Putin also signaled his support for North Korea, describing how the Soviet Union was the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/nkoreas-kim-meets-putin-missiles-launched-pyongyang-2023-09-13/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first</a> to recognize the North when it was established in 1948 and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-jong-un-putin-timeline-336b51634fab28a34ec210a78866f4d9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">backed</a> the country during the Korean War.
The two discussed the potential for military cooperation, with Putin <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/12/asia/kim-jong-un-putin-meeting-russia-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> that “there are certain restrictions, and Russia complies with all these restrictions,” while adding that there are possibilities for cooperation between the two in that realm. “There are things that we can of course talk about, discuss, think about it. And here too there are prospects,” Putin said.
Prior to the summit, numerous reports suggested Putin was seeking to get ammunition and weapons for the war in Ukraine. For his part, Kim was likely to request food and missile technology, according to the AP. Relatively few details were disclosed regarding military cooperation and aid agreements, and according to the Kremlin, sensitive discussions between the two will <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/nkoreas-kim-meets-putin-missiles-launched-pyongyang-2023-09-13/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remain</a> private. The White House has previously warned that such arms deals would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions; Russia is one of five permanent members of the Council.
Putin also appeared to say he was open to helping Kim and North Korea advance its space program. He <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/12/asia/kim-jong-un-putin-meeting-russia-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the North Korean dictator has a “great interest in space, in rocketry” and that Russia would “show our new objects. We’ll talk about all the issues without haste, there is time.” The Hermit Kingdom has failed twice this year alone in launching a space satellite – once in May, and again in August – despite prioritizing space technology, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/23/asia/north-korea-second-satellite-launch-fails-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to CNN.
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The location of the summit – a prominent Russian spaceport – is significant, according to Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. He <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/12/asia/kim-jong-un-putin-meeting-russia-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">says</a> the site location is “provocative because it suggests that Putin may offer sanctions-violating satellite launch technology in exchange for North Korean munitions that Moscow would employ in its illegal war in Ukraine.”
U.S. State Department head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination James O’Brien blasted the summit, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-putin-missile-0d70f5190df1088ebe53e8ca19f8e9c9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a>, “Russia is now overtly engaging with a country that the U.N. has sanctioned. And that’s very problematic for Russia’s global position.”
According to former National Security Adviser John Bolton, North Korea had <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/12/asia/kim-jong-un-putin-meeting-russia-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">much to gain</a> from the meeting: “From North Korea’s point of view, this gets them back into really significant contact with Russia for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union.&#8221; Bolton also said the meeting &#8220;goes well beyond a potential arms deal.&#8221;
Shortly before the summit, North Korea <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-missile-kim-jong-un-5a247c5612306bfd1901f851ffba47d3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern seas – a rarity while Kim is out of the country.

TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-NKOREA-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY

Kim Jong Un, Putin Discuss Military Cooperation, Space Tech, And Ukraine War At Russian Summit

Kim Jong Un

North Korea

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/north-korea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Korean</a> dictator Kim Jong Un arrived in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/russia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russia</a> on Tuesday aboard a bulletproof train ahead of expected talks with Russian President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/vladimir-putin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vladimir Putin</a>.
The rare trip by Kim to Russia is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kim-jong-un-expected-to-meet-with-putin-for-weapons-talks-reports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected to center</a> on Putin obtaining more weapons for the war with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine</a>, such as artillery shells and anti-tank missiles, and Kim looking to gain access to Russian nuclear technology and food supplies. 
Kim was met by officials and a military band in Khasan, Russia, after traveling on a train known for its security, slow speed, and luxury amenities, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-russia-amid-us-warnings-not-sell-arms-2023-09-12/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=Daily-Briefing&amp;utm_term=091223" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Reuters. A <a href="https://ria.ru/20230912/vstrecha-1895861006.html">video</a> posted by Russian state media shows Kim getting off a green train in the eastern Russian train station early Tuesday morning before the military band started playing. 
Putin and Kim <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/09/12/world/russia-ukraine-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will</a> have an “intensive exchange of opinions on the situation in the region,” according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov.
“Naturally, being neighbors, our countries cooperate in certain sensitive spheres which should not be publicly revealed or announced,” he said. 
The White House has opposed any arms sales between the two nations, threatening sanctions if they do agree to weapons sales or trades. 
“Arms discussions between Russia and [North Korea] are expected to continue during Kim Jong Un’s trip to Russia,” White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-putin-674e9f1155de1c83ca1a819e7dbf96ed">said</a>. “We urge the (Democratic People&#8217;s Republic of Korea) to abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia.”
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that “any transfer of arms from North Korea to Russia would be a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions,” adding that the U.S. would implement new sanctions if weapons were transferred. 
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Russia and North Korea have aligned themselves in recent years, with Russia opposing U.S.-backed U.N. sanctions on North Korea, and North Korea recognizing the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk, contested areas in eastern Ukraine that are a focal point of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Previous intelligence about possible arms transactions that made the media rounds last year led both nations to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/22/north-korea-weapons-russia-us-assessment/">issue denials</a>. Meanwhile, the U.S. has approved <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-asks-congress-for-more-than-13b-to-support-ukraine-and-12b-for-disaster-fund">more than $110 billion</a> in aid to Ukraine as its defenders keep up the fight to try and fend off Russian forces who invaded the country over a year and a half ago.
Kim has left North Korea only seven times since taking power back in 2011.

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un in Russia

Kim Jong Un Enters Russia On Bulletproof Train For Expected Weapon Talks With Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may soon meet with Russian President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/vladimir-putin">Vladimir Putin</a> for negotiations on weapons, according to multiple reports on Monday.
Senior administration officials <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/04/putin-kim-meeting-weapons-deal-russia-north-korea/">told The Washington Post</a> that Kim plans to make a rare trip out of North Korea to meet with Putin later this month.
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/04/us/politics/putin-kim-meeting-russia-north-korea-weapons.html">The New York Times</a>, citing American and allied officials, reported that Kim would travel from North Korea&#8217;s capital of Pyongyang to the Russian port city of Vladivostok — probably by armored train. The duo <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/04/24/716873097/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-and-russian-president-vladimir-putin-meet-for-su">previously met</a> in the same city, which is not far from North Korea&#8217;s border with Russia, in 2019.
With this new round of talks, Putin aims to secure more weapons for its war in Ukraine, such as artillery shells and anti-tank missiles, while Kim wants access to Russia&#8217;s advanced technology on nuclear submarines and satellites as well as food assistance for his <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/north-koreans-face-increasing-repression-threat-starvation-un-says-rcna100564">starving country</a> of roughly <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korea-suffers-one-of-its-worst-food-crises-in-decades-ee25aa86">26 million people</a>, officials told the New York Times. Kim could also make other stops, including at the Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch center and even Moscow.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang in July and Kim <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/kim-jong-un-russia-north-korea-ukraine-banned-missiles-rcna96590">showed off</a> his nation&#8217;s banned ballistic missiles. That high-profile trip was reportedly followed by delegations from North Korea and Russia visiting the other country, possibly setting the stage for a new meeting between their leaders.
The White House revealed last week that the United States had intelligence showing that Kim and Putin have <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-north-korea-weapons-munitions-letter-8c48787c798a50beda774a8ac5cc91ba">exchanged letters</a>. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby also told reporters that information showed negotiations were &#8220;actively advancing&#8221; as Russia seeks munitions from North Korea in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
“We have information that Kim Jong-Un expects these discussions to continue, to include leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia,” said National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, according to a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/04/politics/north-korea-kim-putin-arms-negotiations/index.html">CNN</a> report on Monday.
&#8220;We urge [North Korea] to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia,&#8221; Watson <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/04/us/politics/putin-kim-meeting-russia-north-korea-weapons.html">also said</a>.
The Biden administration has sought to deter weapons negotiations between Russia and North Korea with <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-sanctions-russian-company-over-alleged-support-for-north-korean-weapons-programs-79642dd0">volleys</a> of <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/4155289-us-issues-sanctions-targeting-north-korea-russia-arms-trade/">sanctions</a>. Previous intelligence about possible arms transactions that made the media rounds last year led both nations to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/22/north-korea-weapons-russia-us-assessment/">issue denials</a>.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has approved <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-asks-congress-for-more-than-13b-to-support-ukraine-and-12b-for-disaster-fund">more than $110 billion</a> in aid to Ukraine as its defenders keep up the fight to try and fend off Russian forces who invaded their country over a year and a half ago.

Russian President Vladimir Putin receives North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un in Vladivostok

Kim Jong Un Expected To Meet With Putin For Weapons Talks: Reports

National Security

U.S.

Genetic testing confirms Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a plane crash last week, Russian officials said on Sunday.
Prigozhin&#8217;s demise comes two months after he led a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/blinken-sees-cracks-emerge-in-putins-hold-on-russia">brief uprising</a> against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Russian Investigative Committee said Prigozhin was found to be one of several passengers who perished when a private jet crashed in the Tver Region north of Moscow on Wednesday, according to <a href="https://tass.com/emergencies/1665923">Russia&#8217;s state-run TASS</a>.
&#8220;As part of the investigation into the plane crash in the Tver Region, molecular genetic examinations have been completed,&#8221; the committee said.
&#8220;According to their results, the identities of all 10 victims have been established,&#8221; the committee added. &#8220;They correspond to the list stated in the flight manifest.&#8221;
Dmitry Utkin, a top commander of the mercenary group, was also listed as a passenger.
The aircraft was traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg, according to TASS.
A criminal investigation is looking into the possibility of flight safety rules being violated, the report added.
The Department of Defense&#8217;s initial assessment similarly determined that Prigozhin died in the crash, Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3504670/pentagon-press-secretary-brig-gen-pat-ryder-holds-a-press-briefing/">said</a> on Thursday. The U.S. military assessed that reports indicating a surface-to-air missile took down the plane were inaccurate, he added.
ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/prigozhins-body-medical-examiners-office-kremlin-remains-silent/story?id=102525074">reported</a> that U.S. officials suspect the incident was caused by a bomb explosion onboard.
On Friday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov pushed back on &#8220;speculation&#8221; from the West surrounding the crash. &#8220;All of that is sheer lies,&#8221; Peskov <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/prigozhins-body-medical-examiners-office-kremlin-remains-silent/story?id=102525074">said</a>.
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Prigozhin, 62, was once seen as an ally of Putin whose mercenaries acted in Russia&#8217;s interests in places such as Africa and the Middle East, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/08/26/yevgeniy-prigozhin-putin-wagner-dies/">according to The Washington Post</a>.
But the ties between Prigozhin and Putin appeared to fray in the midst of Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine, which reached 500 days in July.
Prigozhin criticized the Russian military&#8217;s handling of the conflict, accusing generals of denying his forces supplies in the fight, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/10/world/europe/yevgeny-prigozhin-wagner-group-russia.html">per The New York Times</a>.
In an uprising that lasted roughly 24 hours, Wagner troops began a march toward Moscow in late June. Although Prigozhin and his mercenaries appeared to be <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/poland-troops-belarus-border-wagner-fighters-nato-tensions-rcna98974">exiled to Belarus</a> as part of a deal to end the rebellion, the Wagner leader was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/27/europe/prigozhin-inside-russia-intl-hnk/index.html">spotted</a> in Russia a month later.
After the plane crash last week, Putin said Prigozhin was a &#8220;talented man&#8221; who made &#8220;serious mistakes in life,&#8221; <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/24/europe/putin-prigozhin-comments-intl/index.html">CNN reported</a>.

Tribute to Prigozhin near Wagner Center in Rostov-on-Don

Genetic Testing Confirms Wagner Leader Died In Plane Crash, Russia Says

Russian President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/vladimir-putin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vladimir Putin</a> responded on Thursday to the news that Wagner paramilitary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who failed in his attempt to overthrow the Russian government back in June, was killed in a plane crash this week, saying that Prigozhin made &#8220;serious mistakes.&#8221;
Video showed the plane that Prigozhin was on falling from the sky over Russia with a plume of white smoke hanging in the area where an explosion happened that caused the crash.
&#8220;I knew Prigozhin for a very long time, since the early ’90s,&#8221; Putin <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/8/24/russia-ukraine-war-live-wagner-chief-prigozhin-reported-dead-in-jet-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;He was a man of complicated fate, and he made serious mistakes in his life, but he achieved the right results. He was a talented person, a talented businessman, he worked not only in our country, and worked with results, but also abroad, in Africa, in particular.&#8221;
&#8220;He was involved there with oil, gas, precious metals and stones,&#8221; he said. &#8220;As far as I know, he just returned yesterday from Africa. He met some officials here. But what is quite definite &#8212; the head of the Investigative Committee reported to me this morning &#8212; is they have already begun a preliminary investigation into this event. And it will be carried out in full, and taken right to the end.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING:
A private jet owned by Prigozhin was just shot down by Russian air defenses over Tver.
Around 10 people onboard have been killed. <a href="https://t.co/mUCHws77Y0">pic.twitter.com/mUCHws77Y0</a>
&mdash; Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) <a href="https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1694394927948415203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
News of Prigozhin’s death comes just a few hours after Russia <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-video-catches-moment-prigozhins-plane-falls-from-sky-slams-into-ground" target="_blank" rel="noopener">removed</a> General Sergei Surovikin, nicknamed “General Armageddon,” as head of the country’s air force after he went missing during the attempted coup and was accused by some of playing a role in it.
Reuters reported that a top Russian official said on background: “Ex-chief of the Russian Air and Space Forces Sergei Surovikin has now been relieved of his post, while Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov, head of the main staff of the Air Force, is temporarily acting as commander-in-chief of the Air Force”.
Prigozhin served nearly a decade in prison after being convicted of “assault, robbery, and fraud” in 1981, according to Insider. After being released from prison, he made his living selling hot dogs on street corners and eventually started a catering business, where he eventually met Russian President Vladimir Putin — then a low-level government official.
His company, Concord Catering, started receiving contracts from the Russian government in the mid-to-late 1990s.
According to a Wall Street Journal documentary, the Russian government laundered money to Prigozhin through his catering company, which he eventually used to start Wagner — initially a small group of only a few hundred former Russian soldiers who were hired to do Russia’s bidding in Ukraine in 2014.
Having Wagner do Russia’s bidding gave the Russian government plausible deniability as the group engaged in dirty work. Russian government contracts to Concord Catering have reportedly been estimated to be well into the billions of dollars.
An expert on Wagner told The Wall Street Journal that it is best to think of the group as a “state-backed paramilitary cartel.” The group is accused of massacring and raping civilians and exploiting natural resources in poor countries with dire security situations. The resources — commodities like gold, oil, and gas — go back to the Russian government.
The group operates in South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
The Wall Street Journal said that it identified 64 companies that are linked to Wagner and are used as front companies to move money and assets. The report said that the Kremlin is connected to all of it.

Russian President Vladimir Putin Receives Members of Student Construction Brigades in Moscow

Putin Responds After Prigozhin Killed Following Failed Coup Attempt: ‘Made Serious Mistakes’

Putin Responds After Prigozhin Killed Following Failed Coup Attempt: 'Made Serious Mistakes'

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-russian-warlord-prigozhin-who-tried-to-overthrow-putin-reportedly-dead-in-plane-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly killed</a> when a private jet crashed a short distance outside Moscow on Wednesday. Russian authorities confirmed that all ten passengers — including Prigozhin — had perished in the crash.
But the reported safe landing of a second jet linked to the Wagner Group — the Russian paramilitary organization Prigozhin <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/prigozhin-halts-wagners-advance-toward-russias-capital-as-his-forces-neared-100-miles-from-moscow-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">led in revolt</a> against Putin just weeks earlier — <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/08/24/second-jet-spotted-after-prigozhin-crash-sparks-conspiracy-theories/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sparked rumors</a> that the group&#8217;s former chief might have faked his own death.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Shortly after the Crash in the Tver Region, a 2nd Business Jet owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin that was heading along a similar Route from St. Petersburg landed in Moscow. <a href="https://t.co/Exl760OeAo">pic.twitter.com/Exl760OeAo</a>
&mdash; OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) <a href="https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1694400331247948098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 650 landed at Ostafyevo airport in St. Petersburg around the same time the other plane crashed, and conspiracy theorists soon began to wonder whether Prigozhin — who has faked his own death at least once in the past and knew that the Kremlin considered him a marked man — had pulled a last-minute switch.
Prigozhin, 62, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-cia-head-petraeus-prigozhin-lost-his-wagner-group-should-be-very-careful-around-open-windows" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rumored to be in mortal danger</a> — likely on a direct order from Russian President Vladimir Putin — shortly after the failed coup attempt and after Putin declared that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/russia-drops-criminal-case-against-prigozhin-soldiers-who-participated-in-mutiny-will-not-be-punished" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all charges</a> against the paramilitary leader had been dropped.
A <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/23/europe/russia-wagner-prigozhin-plane-crash-analysis-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from CNN on Thursday detailed some of the background on Prigozhin&#8217;s history, explaining why so many were ready to believe that he had not been aboard the plane that crashed the day before.
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The former Wagner Group leader often employed elaborate disguises and had several passports and identification documents at his disposal. He had also reportedly previously employed at least one body double.
Adding fuel to the fire, Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov reportedly accused Ukrainians and their allies of &#8220;spreading a fake message about the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin&#8221; in the hours after the crash.
Also worth mentioning is that Prigozhin &#8220;died&#8221; once before — in <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/prigozhin-wagner-alive-russia-plane-crash-b2398536.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">another plane crash</a>, no less — only to appear three days later. The plane crash in question took place in Congo in 2019.
Kyiv-based journalist John Sweeney mentioned Prigozhin&#8217;s history on &#8220;Good Morning Britain&#8221; on Thursday, saying, &#8220;Prigozhin has got [a] previous for this. In 2019, he was supposed to be on a plane in the Congo. It crashed, and it turned out he wasn’t on the plane, so you have to worry a little about this. He’s kind of like a vampire. Are we really sure he’s dead?&#8221;

Yevgeniy Prigozhin

Second Jet Linked To Prigozhin Spotted, Sparks Rumor Russian Paramilitary Leader Is Still Alive

Belarus

The moment that Wagner paramilitary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who failed in his attempt to overthrow the Russian government back in June, died was caught on camera as footage showed the plane that he was on falling out of the sky after some sort of explosion.
&#8220;Social-media channels close to Wagner said Russian air defenses shot down the jet, an Embraer Legacy 600,&#8221; The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/plane-carrying-wagner-owner-prigozhin-crashes-in-russia-all-aboard-killed-82d25f1e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. &#8220;Video footage posted by onlookers showed what looked like the trail of a missile and the plane falling from the sky with one wing missing.&#8221;
Russia said that it was launching an investigation into the matter to determine the cause of the crash.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING:
A private jet owned by Prigozhin was just shot down by Russian air defenses over Tver.
Around 10 people onboard have been killed. <a href="https://t.co/mUCHws77Y0">pic.twitter.com/mUCHws77Y0</a>
&mdash; Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) <a href="https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1694394927948415203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency has announced that an Investigation has been launched to determine the “Cause” of the Aircraft Crash in the Tver Region which Killed all 10 Passengers onboard including Yevgeny Prigozhin. <a href="https://t.co/1kguZWO4lr">pic.twitter.com/1kguZWO4lr</a>
&mdash; OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) <a href="https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1694396997870993873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
News of Prigozhin&#8217;s death comes just a few hours after Russia <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-appoints-new-aerospace-forces-chief-after-incumbent-vanished-during-2023-08-23/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">removed</a> General Sergei Surovikin, nicknamed &#8220;General Armageddon,&#8221; as head of the country&#8217;s air force after he went missing during the attempted coup and was accused by some of playing a role in it.
Reuters reported that a top Russian official said on background: &#8220;Ex-chief of the Russian Air and Space Forces Sergei Surovikin has now been relieved of his post, while Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov, head of the main staff of the Air Force, is temporarily acting as commander-in-chief of the Air Force&#8221;.
Prigozhin <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-russian-warlord-prigozhin-who-tried-to-overthrow-putin-reportedly-dead-in-plane-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">served</a> nearly a decade in prison after being convicted of “assault, robbery, and fraud” in 1981, according to Insider. After being released from prison, he made his living selling hot dogs on street corners and eventually started a catering business, where he eventually met Russian President Vladimir Putin — then a low-level government official.
His company, Concord Catering, started receiving contracts from the Russian government in the mid-to-late 1990s.
According to a Wall Street Journal documentary, the Russian government laundered money to Prigozhin through his catering company, which he eventually used to start Wagner — initially a small group of only a few hundred former Russian soldiers that were hired to do Russia’s bidding in Ukraine in 2014.
Having Wagner do Russia’s bidding gave the Russian government plausible deniability as the group engaged in dirty work. Russian government contracts to Concord Catering have reportedly been estimated to be well into the billions of dollars.
An expert on Wagner told The Wall Street Journal that it is best to think of the group as a “state-backed paramilitary cartel.” The group is accused of massacring and raping civilians and exploiting natural resources in poor countries with dire security situations. The resources — commodities like gold, oil, and gas — go back to the Russian government.
The group operates in South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
The Wall Street Journal said that it identified 64 companies that are linked to Wagner and are used as front companies to move money and assets. The report said that the Kremlin is connected to all of it.

WATCH: Video Catches Moment Prigozhin’s Plane Falls From Sky, Slams Into Ground

Conflicts

Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed new restrictions into law on Monday that dramatically clamp down on transgender individuals inside his country.
The new federal law bans transgender surgeries, transgender hormone therapy, and the use of puberty blockers by transgender individuals, according to the Russian government.
&#8220;The only exception to this rule will be medical interventions related to the treatment of congenital physiological abnormalities (defects), as well as genetic and endocrine diseases caused by structural disorders of the reproductive tract in children,&#8221; Putin&#8217;s office <a href="http://en.kremlin.ru/acts/news/71795">said</a> in a statement. &#8220;Such interventions will be allowed in accordance with decisions made by medical commissions of medical organisations within the jurisdiction of the Russian Healthcare Ministry.&#8221;
The new law annuls any marriage if a spouse changes their gender, and those who change their gender are automatically &#8220;excluded from those who have the right to be adoptive parents, and they cannot be appointed guardians or trustees.&#8221;
The 70-year-old president has long fought against transgender ideology, comparing them in 2021 to COVID-19.
&#8220;It’s like the coronavirus pandemic,&#8221; Putin <a href="https://www.rt.com/sport/544220-vladimir-putin-transgender-athletes-olympics/">said</a> at a news conference. &#8220;New strains appear, we can’t escape it. It’s necessary to find effective countermeasures.&#8221;
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&#8220;If someone thinks that women and men are the same thing, then be my guest. But there is common sense,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I stick to the traditional approach that a woman is a woman, a man is a man, a mom is a mom, and a dad is a dad.&#8221;
Putin took exception with male prisoners who have claimed to be transgender so they can be moved into women&#8217;s prisons or male athletes who have claimed to be transgender so they can compete against women in sports.
&#8220;A man declares himself a woman and competes in weightlifting, let’s say, or some other sport,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Women’s sport will cease to exist. There has to be some kind of common sense.&#8221;

RUSSIA-POLITICS-PUTIN

Russia Bans Transgender Medical Procedures, Changing Genders On Documents, Adoptions By Trans People

LGBT

Social Issues

Former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> said during an event on Tuesday evening that the legacy media was lying about Russia&#8217;s war in Ukraine by underplaying how bad the death and destruction truly are.
Trump made the remarks during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity in Iowa after he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-ill-give-ukraine-more-weapons-than-they-ever-got-if-putin-does-not-end-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> over the weekend that he would threaten Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine by telling him that if he did not, the U.S. would send more weapons to Ukraine than they have ever received before.
&#8220;You have cities with no building standing. It looks like just a demolition zone. It&#8217;s so horrible and, you know, and then they&#8217;ll say two people were hurt,&#8221; Trump told Hannity. &#8220;No. Hundreds of people and thousands of people were killed. You&#8217;re gonna find out when this whole thing is over that the number of people killed is far greater than they tell you. They&#8217;re not telling you the truth. Many, many thousands, hundreds of thousands of people are dying. There cities are being obliterated.&#8221;
&#8220;And basically they say, &#8216;What&#8217;s your stance? Are you for Russia or are for&#8211;? I&#8217;m for one thing, very simple,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I want to stop people from getting killed and I&#8217;ll have it stopped, fast.&#8221;
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-7029">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Trump says the media is lying about the war in Ukraine: &quot;You&#39;re going to find out when this whole thing is over that the number of people killed is far greater than they tell you. They&#39;re not telling you the truth. I&#39;m for one thing. I want to stop people from getting killed.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/SKwrCxAMpy">pic.twitter.com/SKwrCxAMpy</a>
&mdash; TheBlaze (@theblaze) <a href="https://twitter.com/theblaze/status/1681481102093955072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Donald Trump Delivers Remarks At Nevada Recruitment Event

Trump Says Media Lying About Ukraine War: ‘Hundreds Of Thousands Of People Are Dying’

Trump Says Media Lying About Ukraine War: 'Hundreds Of Thousands Of People Are Dying'

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