Knowing that President Trump has essentially stopped the Ukraine/NATO/IC/EU offensive combat operations for Ukraine that use western supplied drones/missiles with complete reliance on U.S/NATO targeting, it does not come as a surprise to see Ukraine President Zelenskyy call for a “sky and sea truce.”

Zelenskyy’s proposal for Russia to stop the air and sea combat operations, while simultaneously supporting frontline combat operations, is essentially an EU effort to maintain the fight by counteracting the Trump pressure point.

EU spokesperson Volodymyr Zelenskyy doesn’t factually want a ceasefire; they want a situation that retains the status quo and neuters Russia’s strategic advantage.

EU News – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for an air and sea truce on Friday after Russia bombarded Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight.

Writing on Telegram, he reiterated that there must be “silence” in the seas and skies over Ukraine. The “first steps toward real peace must include forcing the sole source of this war, Russia, to stop such attacks against life,” the Ukrainian leader said.

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Previously French President Emmanuel Macron refused to commit to putting French troops together with U.K troops on the ground in Ukraine.  Politically in France, Macron is on the ropes.

Obviously, such a direct commitment of troops into Ukraine would put tenuously positioned Macron in an even worse position.  However, putting French technical support systems into place to replace the withdrawn U.S. targeting system just sounds better.

So, as the optics of French politics present, yeah, yeah, that’s the ticket – Macron goes that way.

Stepping into the spotlight Macron said in an address to the nation on Wednesday that Russia was “a threat for France and Europe”, that the Ukraine was already a “global conflict” and that he would open a debate about extending the French nuclear umbrella to allies in Europe.

Macron also said that he plans next week to hold a meeting of army chiefs from European countries willing to send troops to Ukraine after any eventual peace deal with Russia. Macron told the people of France that his nation needs to be ready if the United States is no longer by its side.

Russia Responds –MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian officials and lawmakers on Thursday poured scorn on French President Emmanuel Macron for saying that Russia threatened Europe and cautioned that such talk could lead the West towards the abyss of a new world war.

[…] the advance of Russian forces in Ukraine in 2024 and U.S. President Donald Trump’s upending of U.S. policy towards Ukraine and Russia and demand for a peace deal to end the war have triggered a crisis among European powers who fear the United States is turning its back on Europe.

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Expressing frustration over the intransigence of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who demands to maintain the killing fields in Europe, President Trump says, “America will not put up with it much longer.”

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The remarks by Zelenskyy follow a meeting in London with various EU leaders who are assembling a ‘coalition of the willing’ to support Ukraine with enlarged military operations.  Zelenskyy tells the AP:

““We are talking about the first steps today, and therefore, until they are on paper, I would not like to talk about them in great detail.” “An agreement to end the war is still very, very far away, and no one has started all these steps yet. The peace that we foresee in the future must be just, honest, and most importantly, sustainable,” he added.

President Trump notes the intransigence from Zelenskyy seemingly hails from the mindset that the United States will continue to fund and support the Ukraine government in their conflict against Russia.  “This guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing,” President Trump noted on Truth Social.

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President Donald Trump and French President Macron hold a joint press availability together with their diplomatic counterparts in the oval office.

President Trump and Macron took questions from the U.S. and European media.  Interestingly, you can see how important it is for Macron to hear how the USA will be part of a peacekeeping effort.  WATCH:

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Last weekend French President Emmanual Macron organized an emergency meeting in Paris with leaders from the European Union to address the unfolding crisis of President Trump organizing a ceasefire and peace in the war between Ukraine and Russia.

The outcome of the meeting was what would be expected. Each member of the EU said they would not put their military forces into a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine if the United States were not leading the effort.  Having previously warned the NATO alliance to step-up their military spending, President Trump has no intention of putting U.S. troops into a regional conflict that affects Europe.

Additionally, Macron has domestic political issues he is hopeful to draw attention away from; meanwhile British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is similarly alarmed as the U.K has taken up the prominent position of military support for Ukraine.  Together, they are both planning quick trips to the White House for talks with President Trump.

WASHINGTON DC – French President Emmanuel Macron is coming to Washington next week, national security adviser Mike Waltz said on Wednesday.

Macron called for an emergency “informal” meeting with world leaders just days ago in Paris to discuss European security and the challenges posed by President Donald Trump’s administration. Trump and Macron had a “friendly” but brief conversation just prior to the summit, POLITICO reported on Monday.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also set to visit next week, Waltz said on Fox News. Starmer’s office confirmed the visit earlier this week.

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Get ready for a key geopolitical battle; the fight to end the Marshall Plan.

Since the end of World War II, the USA has permitted a system of one-way trade rules that allowed Europe to rebuild on the backs of the American economy.  A series of trade tariffs against U.S. goods was imposed to raise funds for the reconstruction.  Those tariffs never ended; the Marshall Plan continues through today.

Additionally, as a measure to allow the EU to focus internally, the USA provided most of the national security protection for the entire region and the American taxpayer funded U.S. military operations throughout Europe so the EU could spend defense money on their rebuilding.   Again, that never really ended; and the USA maintains the largest majority of NATO military spending.

President Trump has stated his intention to reset both dynamics.  To lower the USA footprint within NATO, demand every NATO member meet its financial obligations, and to reset the trade and tariff system to create equity and reciprocity; thereby effectively ending the Marshall Plan.

The aggregate European Union does not like this Trump trade agenda, nor are they willing to spend more on their own defense.  Today, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held a press briefing where she spoke about the looming negotiations with President Trump, and stated the EU will never permit financial, economic or military equity.  The EU will fight any effort to stop the Marshall Plan. WATCH:

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There are trillions at stake.

It is always, always, about the economics of the thing.

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The NATO war in Ukraine is essentially lost. Russia holds the strongest position against Kyiv and its supporters. President Donald Trump is set to take office in the USA raising new questions over Europeans’ trade relations, elimination of the Marshal Plan, and EU spending on their own common defense. Then add the slow-motion collapse of Trudeau’s Canadian government, and consider…

…Hungary has rebuked the Brussels control agenda. Georgia has rejected NATO and the EU’s manipulation. The government of France, essentially Germany’s most powerful partner leading the European Union, collapsed on a few short weeks ago. And now Germany, Europe’s largest economy, will be in the hands of a caretaker government until they can organize elections early next year.

When the control mechanisms of the totalitarian left fail, we see the machinery tremoring slowly, slowly, until suddenly, all at once it freezes.

GERMANY – The German government collapsed on Monday as Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in Parliament, deepening a crisis of leadership across Europe at a time of mounting economic and security challenges.

[…] On Monday, German lawmakers voted to dissolve the existing government by a vote of 394 to 207, with 116 abstaining.

Coming just nine months before parliamentary elections had been scheduled to happen, the vote was an extraordinary moment for Germany. The elections, now expected on Feb. 23, will be only the fourth snap election in the 75 years since the modern state was founded. The moment reflects a new era of more fractious and unstable politics in a country long known for durable coalitions built on plodding consensus.

Mr. Scholz had little choice but to take the unusual step of calling for the confidence vote after his three-party coalition splintered in November, ending months of bitter internal squabbling and leaving him without a parliamentary majority to pass laws or a budget.

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Video from the first meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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The centuries-old Paris landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral reopens today, five-and-a-half years after a devastating fire destroyed its spire and roof and brought the entire Gothic masterpiece within minutes of collapsing.

The 860-year-old medieval building has been meticulously restored, with a new spire and rib vaulting, its flying buttresses and carved stone gargoyles returned to their past glory and the white stone and gold decorations shining brighter than ever. The state hands over the building to the Catholic church, the archbishop opens the door, and a liturgical celebration is held with singing and a blessing.

President Trump and various foreign dignitaries are in attendance.  UPDATE: Video Added

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President Trump arrives to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in advance of the reopening celebration for Notre Dame Cathedral.

French media are now openly reporting on a sideline meeting between President Trump and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.  The meeting with Zelenskyy was predictable given the nature of how Macron had structured the events.

President Trump’s arrival video:

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President Trump and Emmanuel Macron delivered short remarks to the assembled press pool.  Video Below:

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