U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration over Vladimir Putin’s stance on the Ukraine war, hinting at imposing a 25% to 50% tariff on Russian oil. In an interview with NBC News, he also threatened airstrikes on Iran and dismissed any plans to militarily control Greenland. Before finalizing any agreements, he urged the Russian President to support a UN-led government in Ukraine. Trump criticized Putin’s comments about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s credibility, stating that a lack of new leadership would mean no long-term peace deal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to the Muslim community in Russia. In a statement, he described Eid as an ancient and significant festival symbolizing spiritual growth, kindness, and compassion. He also acknowledged the Muslim community’s contributions to charitable, educational, and national projects. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin also extended his best wishes to Russian Muslims on this occasion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the United States' new administration is taking its plans to seize Greenland seriously. Former US President Donald Trump had previously claimed that acquiring Greenland was essential for Washington’s 'international security.' Putin cautioned that underestimating the US’s ambitions regarding Greenland would be a grave mistake. He pointed out that these plans have deep historical roots. While Russia is not directly involved in the territorial claims over Greenland, Moscow is concerned that NATO countries are increasingly strategizing to use the Arctic region in potential conflicts.

On Wednesday, Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange involving 175 individuals. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the released prisoners included severely wounded soldiers and fighters who had been falsely imprisoned in Russia. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the exchange, mentioning that they had released 22 severely injured Ukrainian prisoners as a goodwill gesture, though the original plan was to release 23. Zelensky expressed gratitude to the UAE for mediating the exchange.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has accused European nations of escalating tensions and prolonging the war in Ukraine rather than seeking peace.

She pointed out that Germany and France have publicly admitted to violating the 2014-2015 Minsk agreements concerning eastern Ukraine. Additionally, she claimed that Britain discouraged Ukraine from engaging in negotiations with Russia in March 2022.

Zakharova warned that any move to establish foreign military bases in Ukraine would be deemed unacceptable by Russia.

Following discussions in Riyadh last week, the United States proposed a 30-day temporary ceasefire with Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to the proposal, stating, “We are open to halting the war. However, we aim for this pause to evolve into lasting peace and address the root causes of this conflict.” He further emphasized that any ceasefire must be tied to resolving the fundamental issues that led to the war, adding that more details on the agreement are necessary.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense systems had downed 77 Ukrainian drones. The statement mentioned that six drones were shot down in the Kursk region, where Russian forces are in the final phase of expelling Ukrainian troops. Drones were also destroyed in Belgorod, Rostov, and Bryansk regions. The Kremlin claims that Russia’s operation in Kursk is nearing its conclusion, and U.S. negotiators are heading to Moscow.

Russia has presented a list of conditions to the United States for ending the Ukraine war and rebuilding relations with Washington. The specifics of these conditions remain unclear, but Russia has previously demanded assurances that Ukraine will not join NATO, a ban on foreign military deployments in Ukraine, and international recognition of its annexation of Crimea and four other regions. Russia has long claimed that NATO’s eastward expansion is the “main cause” of the conflict and that the U.S. and Western alliances must address this. Meanwhile, the United States awaits Russia’s response on a 30-day ceasefire agreement.

Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Moscow, with dozens of UAVs targeting the Russian capital. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed on Telegram that the defense ministry successfully repelled the attack, shooting down 58 drones. Emergency response teams are working in affected areas. The attack comes ahead of high-level US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia regarding efforts to end the war.

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s Permanent Representative in Vienna, stated that Israel has no right to comment on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program. When a BBC Persian journalist expressed doubts about Iran’s nuclear activities, Ulyanov firmly emphasized that Iran is a key neighbor and ally of Russia. He further clarified that even if Iran’s uranium enrichment program reaches 90%, it remains entirely peaceful.

Despite earlier assurances of ending the Ukraine war, President Donald Trump imposed multiple sanctions on Russia upon taking office. Now, following recent developments at the White House, Trump is working to ease these restrictions to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with Moscow. A draft proposal is in place, and discussions are set to begin with Russian authorities. One key objective is to stabilize relations and potentially lower global fuel prices by relaxing sanctions on Russia’s energy sector, one of the world's largest oil producers.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, marking three years of continuous warfare. Ukraine has retaliated with counterattacks. On Saturday, Russia launched a massive drone strike across Ukraine. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has been actively pushing for a ceasefire, with his officials holding talks with Russia. However, despite peace negotiations, Russia has launched another attack, causing fires in multiple cities and resulting in casualties. In response, Ukraine claims to have destroyed 20 Russian drones.

Preparations are reportedly underway for a face-to-face meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. If held, this meeting would signal a dramatic shift away from the West’s policy of isolating Moscow over the Ukraine war. Speaking to Russian state media on Saturday, Ryabkov stated that the proposed meeting would cover a range of global issues beyond just the Ukraine conflict. He emphasized the need for normalizing U.S.-Russia relations, though discussions are still at an early stage. Previously, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio suggested that diplomatic normalization, an end to hostilities, and strengthening economic ties were key factors bringing the two nations closer to negotiations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to direct talks with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed. Despite questioning Zelensky’s legitimacy after his term ended, Russia is willing to negotiate if peace is the goal. Meanwhile, a summit in Riyadh aims to discuss the Ukraine war and U.S.-Russia relations. However, Ukraine has been excluded, prompting Zelensky to reject any peace deal made without Kyiv’s involvement. The summit may lead to a Putin-Trump meeting.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent his foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and top foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, to Saudi Arabia to meet with U.S. officials. The main topics of discussion will include the restoration of Russia-U.S. relations and the potential for peace talks regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are also expected to attend. The meeting is part of preparations for a potential summit between President Trump and President Putin.