Trump Believes Putin Ready to Negotiate Peace in Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict

Former President Donald Trump stated in an interview that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to negotiate an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. Trump urged Putin to cease hostilities, claiming he thinks the Russian leader is 'ready to make a deal.' Meanwhile, fighting continues in Ukraine and Russian-occupied territories, with reports of intensified drone warfare. A video surfaced showing a Russian soldier losing control of a Soviet-era rotary machine gun, which spun violently before throwing him from the mounting. No injuries were reported, though the circumstances of the footage have not been independently verified. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova indicated that any multinational force deployed by Ukraine's allies after a ceasefire would be viewed as legitimate military targets. Additionally, Ukraine's military reported strikes on a thermal power station in Crimea, while Russia conducted drone and missile attacks in the Odesa region, resulting in civilian casualties.