August 18, 2025 07:43:43 AM
August 18, 2025 07:43:43 AM
Ukrainian future could rely on a rushed meeting at the White House on Monday, as Ukrainian President Voldymi Zelenkie brought him an extraordinary leadership of European leadership and President Donald Trump showed him a united front against Russia.
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, Ukrainian President Voldimi Zelensky attends a media conference at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on Sunday, August 17, 2025 (AP Photo)
Zelenskyy brings the top European leader to him and meets Trump
Plans to join Zelensky in the US capital are European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer, German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finland President Alexander Stab and NATO President Mark Latte.
The table for discussion will allow for NATO-like security guarantees, which Ukraine needs to have durability in peace with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has opposed Ukraine’s full participation in NATO, but Trump’s team has argued that it is open to allies who agree to protect Ukraine if Russian leaders are attacked.
The influx of European political hitters has now come after being removed from the Putin and Trump summit last Friday, and they are trying to protect Ukraine and the continent from the spread of invasions from Moscow. The Alaska sit-in created a contour to stop the war in Ukraine, which began with a Russian invasion in 2022, but it was unclear whether the conditions discussed would ultimately be accepted by Zelensky or Putin. read more.
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By arriving as a group, they hope to avoid obstacles like Zelensky’s meeting at the elliptical office in February.
Russia hijacks satellites to broadcast Victory Day Parade in Ukraine
When Russia held its Victory Day Parade this year, hackers supported the Kremlin and hijacked orbital satellites that provided television services to Ukraine. Ukrainian viewers saw footage of the parade shine from Moscow, instead of the usual programming. Waves of tanks, soldiers, weapons.
The message was intended to be intimidating, indicating that wars of the 21st century were unfolding not only in land, sea, and air, but also in cyberspace and outer space. Disabling a satellite can be devastating without a single bullet, and can be done by targeting the satellite’s security software or destroying its ability to send or receive signals from Earth. read more.
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National security officials say Russia is developing nuclear-based weapons designed to remove almost every satellite in low-Earth orbit at once. Weapons combine physical attacks that wavy outwards to destroy more satellites, while nuclear components are used to fry electronics.
Democrats are looking for new candidates who can help them win the home
Democrats say new recruits for US home seats in next year’s midterm elections are uniquely suited to break through in districts dominated by Trump’s popularity. Many are already well known in their communities. And in parts of North Carolina, Kentucky and Michigan, parties are betting that such local credibility can be skeptical at the places where the Democratic brand has fallen.
Heading into the midterm next year, Democrats believe momentum is on their side. Historically, the president’s party has lost ground in the mid-term, and Democrats have to pick up just a few seats to break the GOP hold in Washington. read more.
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Republicans are confident and point out that Democrats have seats that are far more vulnerable than they have this cycle. Democrat Kamala Harris won only three House districts last year, with 18 Democrats representing the Trumpvon district.
