Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky meets Friedrich Merz, now German Chancellor, in the Bundestag in Berlin, December 9, 2024

EA-Times Radio VideoCast: Is Putin Losing His Gamble on Trump and Ukraine…or Will Trumpists Tear Apart UK and Europe?

Tuesday’s Coverage: Zelensky Calls for “New and Strong Sanctions Against Russia” After Record Strikes

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 2014 GMT:

Donald Trump says Vladimir Putin may be intentionally delaying negotiations for a ceasefire to halt Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

He expressed disappointment at Russian bombing: “We’re going to find out whether or not he’s tapping us along or not, and if he is, we’ll respond a little differently.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the Kremlin has proposed the next round of talks with Ukraine for June 2 in Istanbul.

“The Russian side, as agreed, has promptly developed a relevant memorandum, which sets out our position on all aspects of reliably overcoming the root causes of the crisis,” he said.

Russia’s lead negotiator, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, said he sent proposals to Ukraine with a date and venue to exchange memoranda.

UPDATE 1642 GMT:

Germany will provide a new military aid package of around €5 billion ($5.65 billion), the German Defense Ministry confirmed amid Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.

The Ministry cited Russian airstrikes “with many civilians killed and injured, as well as the massive destruction of civilian infrastructure in particular”.

UPDATE 1337 GMT:

Ukraine and Germany have reached agreements on defense investments.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made the announcement in a joint press conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Merz said, “We Europeans are ready to support technical talks between Ukraine and Russia.” Zelensky added that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who was in the Ukrainian delegation in May 16’s talks with Russia in Istanbul, had spoken by phone with the head of the Russian group, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky.

The Chancellor said the Nord Stream pipelines from Russia will not resume deliveries of natural gas to Europe: “We will continue to increase the pressure on Russia. We will do everything in this context to ensure that Nord Stream 2 cannot be put back into operation.”

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline was damaged in September 2022 by underwater explosions, before it began operations.

The Trump Administration and the Kremlin have reportedly discussed the revival of Nord Stream 2 as part of a resolution of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

UPDATE 1112 GMT:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pointed to Russia amassing more than 50,000 troops, including some of its best forces, near the Sumy region in northeast Ukraine.

Zelensky assured that Kyiv has taken steps to prevent the force from conducting a large-scale offensive.

Vladimir Putin and Kremlin officials have declared recently that they must overrun territory to establish a “buffer zone” near the border with Ukraine. Three villages in the “gray area” in Sumy were reportedly occupied this week.

Zelensky said, “Their largest, strongest forces are currently on the Kursk front [in western Russia]…to push our troops out of the Kursk region and to prepare offensive actions against the Sumy region”.

The President said he believes Russia wants to take an area of Sumy about 10 km (6 miles) deep.

UPDATE 1105 GMT:

The Kremlin has rejected a meeting of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump.

Zelensky proposed the session to seek an end to Russia’s invasion. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the meeting could only take place after “concrete agreements” between Kyiv and Moscow.

Three Russian officials told Reuters that Vladimir Putin is demanding a written pledge by NATO not to accept any countries in Eastern Europe, as well as the lifting of several sanctions on Moscow.

A “senior Russian source” said Putin is ready for an agreement to end his invasion, but “not at any price”.

At a news conference, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov postured that Kyiv must repeal alleged “discriminatory laws”, and reaffirmed that Ukraine must accept a “neutral status”.

UPDATE 0647 GMT:

Almost 300 flights have been cancelled, delayed, or diverted at Moscow’s four airports because of Ukrainian drone attacks on nearby facilities supporting Russia’s invasion.

At the Vnukovo airport, 64 departures and 74 arrivals were delayed from midnight, with some planes redirected to St. Petersburg.

Around 30 departures and 39 arrivals were delayed or cancelled at Domodedovo, more than 60 departures and 23 arrivals at Sheremetyevo, and two departures and six arrivals at Zhukovsky.

The restrictions were lifted at 7:15 a.m. Moscow time.

The Ukrainians reportedly struck the Elma technology park, where enterprises produce electronic and optical products and control and measuring devices, as well as process various materials. The Kronstadt drone development company, which roduces Orion strike and reconnaissance drones, was attacked.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed 33 drones were shot down by air defense forces, while Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov said 42 drones were destroyed by 7 a.m.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Wednesday, as Germany steps up support for Kyiv’s resistance of Russia’s 39-month full-scale invasion.

Taking office on May 6, Merz has called on international partners to step up military backing, including of Ukraine’s counter-attacks inside Russia. Earlier this week, he said the US, UK, and France have lifted restrictions on long-range missile strikes on facilities supporting Moscow’s invasion.

While in opposition, the Chancellor called on his predecessor Olaf Scholz to lift the ban on supply of Germany’s Taurus missiles to Ukraine. However, he has not confirmed if he has implemented the change — instead, he said Berlin’s military provision will no longer be discussed in public.

In his nightly address to the nation, Zelensky said:

We are also preparing new agreements with our European partners in the near future, to attract investment into Ukrainian production. First and foremost, this means the production of unmanned systems and long-range capabilities — everything that allows us to maintain control on the front lines, protect the lives of our warriors, and operate at significant distances.

Trump Acknowledges Protection of Putin’s Invasion — But Will He End It?

On Tuesday, Donald Trump effectively admitted that he has protected Russia’s invasion and mass killing of civilians, as he chided the Kremlin in a social media post:

What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!

Trump did not say if he would lift the protection and take steps against Russia. However, Administration officials told both the Wall Street Journal and CNN that sanctions on Moscow are under consideration.

Trump’s ally, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal have introduced a bill mandating toughened sanctions. The measure has been sponsored by 81 of 100 senators.

On Sunday night, Trump snapped amid Russia’s record-setting strikes with around 900 drones and almost 100 missiles fired on Ukraine in three nights:

Trump posted on Sunday evening, more than 24 hours after Russia fired 69 missiles and 298 drones, killing 12 civilians and injuring 79.

I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!

I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!

The Kremlin dismissed the criticism as “emotional overload”.

Two US officials told CNN that during his phone call with Putin on May 19, Trump was told that a “memorandum of peace” outlining conditions for a ceasefire would soon be delivered. However, no document has been received.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that there is “no timeline” for completing the memorandum.

Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, criticized former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for comments that threatened World War III.

Medvedev blustered, “Regarding Trump’s words about Putin ‘playing with fire’ and ‘really bad things’ happening to Russia. I only know of one really bad thing — WWIII. I hope Trump understands this!”

Kellogg responded that the remarks were “reckless” and “unfitting of a world power”.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce added:

If the Russians cared about the nature of how [peace efforts are] proceeding, they would be thinking less about [Trump’s statements] and more about what they could do – which is in their hands – to stop the carnage and the slaughter that’s happening right now.

One official summarized, “Putin is dangerously close to burning the golden bridge that Trump laid for him.”