UK and France Convinced Trump Putin Was Manipulating Him After Months of Diplomatic Pressure

According to reporting by Politico, a sustained three-month diplomatic effort by the United Kingdom and France has reportedly succeeded in persuading former U.S. President Donald Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin was exploiting and misleading him.

The initiative, led by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, involved a series of behind-the-scenes communications and high-level discussions aimed at redirecting Trump’s stance on the war in Ukraine. For months, Starmer and Macron persistently urged Trump to cease applying pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and to refocus his political ire and strategic criticism toward the Kremlin.

Sources familiar with the matter told Politico that a turning point came during Trump’s recent face-to-face meeting with President Zelensky in Rome. The direct encounter is said to have had a strong personal impact on Trump, helping shift his perspective on the nature of Russia’s aggression and the role of Western unity in confronting Moscow’s ambitions.

This diplomatic breakthrough, if sustained, could have significant implications for transatlantic consensus on the Ukraine conflict—particularly in light of Trump’s influence within the U.S. political landscape and the ongoing debate over future military and financial support to Kyiv.

Zaluzhny Reveals Secret NATO Command Center in Germany

Former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valery Zaluzhny, has revealed the existence of a covert operational headquarters in Germany where Ukrainian, American, and British military officers collaborate on strategic planning against Russia.

According to Zaluzhny, this facility serves as a coordination centre for joint military efforts, including intelligence sharing, strategic planning, and operational oversight in Ukraine’s defence against Russian aggression. The disclosure highlights the depth of military cooperation between Ukraine and its Western allies, emphasizing their role in shaping battlefield tactics and broader strategic initiatives.

While neither the United States, the United Kingdom, nor Germany have officially confirmed the existence of such a facility, the existence of such a command centre would underscore the level of international support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Russian Espionage in Britain

A recent report by The Times has revealed that Russian intelligence has deployed sensors and surveillance equipment off the coast of Britain to monitor the movements of the British Navy’s Vanguard-class nuclear-powered submarines. This discovery underscores growing concerns about Russian espionage activities targeting critical military infrastructure in Western nations.

The placement of surveillance devices near British territorial waters suggests a sophisticated intelligence-gathering effort aimed at tracking the operational patterns of the Royal Navy’s nuclear deterrent. The Vanguard-class submarines, which carry the UK’s Trident nuclear missiles, are a key component of Britain’s national defense strategy. Any attempt to monitor or interfere with their movements raises significant security concerns.

Underwater surveillance tactics have become an integral part of modern intelligence operations, with Russia investing heavily in subsea capabilities. The use of sensors to track submarine activity aligns with broader trends in hybrid warfare, where nations employ unconventional methods to gain strategic advantages without direct military confrontation.

In addition to underwater monitoring, reports indicate that even before the war in Ukraine, Russian intelligence had installed surveillance sensors on the luxury yachts of Russian billionaires stationed in Britain. These devices were allegedly used to gather intelligence on British naval movements, highlighting the use of civilian assets for espionage purposes.

This revelation raises concerns about the extent of Russian intelligence penetration into Western commercial and private sectors. The deployment of surveillance equipment on luxury vessels suggests a calculated effort to exploit non-military assets for intelligence gathering, allowing for discreet monitoring without arousing immediate suspicion.

The exposure of Russian surveillance operations in British waters comes at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and NATO. With the ongoing war in Ukraine and increasing fears of hybrid warfare, Western nations are on high alert for intelligence activities that could compromise national security.

Britain’s response to these findings will likely involve increased counter-surveillance measures, stricter monitoring of foreign-owned assets, and enhanced naval security protocols. The discovery also reinforces the need for NATO allies to strengthen their collective intelligence-sharing and counter-espionage efforts to mitigate threats from hostile state actors.

Trump’s Tariffs Could Harm UK Trade, Business Secretary Warns

UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump pose a threat to the UK because they will damage global trade.

Speaking to Radio Times, Reynolds explained that anything that disrupts the global trading system poses a threat to the UK.

“Any barrier to trade, particularly between the UK and our main trading partner, which is the United States, is frustrating to me. It is a challenge. I recognise that the UK is in a better position than many other countries from what was announced last night, but I was still disappointed,” the minister said.

As a reminder, Donald Trump has announced a minimum basic tariff of 10% on almost all goods imported into the US. According to Trump’s decision, a 34% tariff will be imposed on China, 20% on the European Union, 46% on Vietnam, 32% on Taiwan, 24% on Japan, 26% on India, 25% on South Korea, 36% on Thailand, 31% on Switzerland, 32% on Indonesia, 24% on Malaysia, 10% on the United Kingdom, 17% on Israel, and 30% on South Africa.