Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Australia Progresses AUKUS Review as U.S. Affirms Strong Support 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
A Ukrainian presidential aide said Kyiv has no involvement in a recent drone attack that targeted the Kremlin. The aide noted that such an attack does not benefit Ukraine and would only provoke Russia to retaliate.
In comments to Reuters, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak on Wednesday that the accusation by Moscow that Kyiv was behind the drone attack on the Kremlin, along with Russia’s arresting of alleged Ukrainian saboteurs, was a sign that Moscow was gearing up for a large-scale “terrorist” attack in the coming days. Moscow accused Ukraine of attacking the Kremlin with drones to target Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“Of course, Ukraine has nothing to do with drone attacks on the Kremlin. We do not attack the Kremlin because, first of all, it does not resolve any military tasks,” said Podolyak. “In my opinion, it is absolutely obvious that both ‘reports about an attack on the Kremlin’ and simultaneously the supposed detention of Ukrainian saboteurs in Crimea…clearly indicates the preparation of a large scale terrorist provocation by Russia in the coming days.”
Meanwhile, local media reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an unannounced visit to the Netherlands on Wednesday. The unannounced visit includes a meeting with the International Criminal Court which is based in The Hague, and a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and members of the Dutch parliament.
Dutch news outlet ANP reported that Zelenskyy landed at the Schiphol Airport late Wednesday following his surprise attendance at a Nordic summit in Finland earlier that day.
During Zelenskyy’s visit to The Hague, he is also expected to deliver a speech titled “No Peace Without Justice for Ukraine,” according to public broadcaster NOS.
Zelenskyy has already made unannounced visits overseas to London, Paris, and Washington DC since Russia’s invasion. During his unannounced visit to Helsinki, Zelenskyy pledged that 2023 would become a decisive year for Kyiv in dealing with Moscow.
“I believe that this year would be decisive for us, for Europe, for Ukraine, decisive for victory,” Zelenskyy told reporters in a joint press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto.
During the Nordic summit, the countries in attendance pledged continued support for Ukraine. Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden pledged continued “political, financial, humanitarian, and military support.”
