Trump Blasts Pope Leo as "Weak" Amid Foreign Policy and Immigration Disputes 
Poll: Israelis Split on Iran Ceasefire as Netanyahu's Approval Declines 
U.S., Australia, and Philippines Conduct Joint South China Sea Military Drills Amid Rising Tensions With China 
U.S.-Iran Peace Talks in Islamabad Pause With Key Differences Unresolved 
Trump Warns China Over Iran Arms as Diplomatic Talks Intensify 
Chinese Brands Are Taking Over Brazil — And It's Just Getting Started 
U.S. Blockade of Strait of Hormuz Sends Oil Tankers Into Retreat 
Peru Presidential Election 2026: Keiko Fujimori Takes Early Lead in First-Round Vote 
U.S. Blockades Strait of Hormuz After Iran Nuclear Talks Collapse 
Islamabad at a Standstill as U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Take Center Stage 
Peru Presidential Election 2025: Lopez Aliaga Leads Early Results 
Hungary's Orban Loses Power as Magyar Wins in Landslide; U.S. Reactions Divided 
Costa Rica Receives First Wave of U.S.-Deported Migrants Under New Bilateral Agreement 
Iran War Fallout: How Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Egypt Are Struggling With Rising Energy Costs 
Trump Dismisses Iran Talks, Orders Strait of Hormuz Blockade 
Czech and Slovak Leaders Rally Behind Hungary's Orban Ahead of Critical Election 
U.S. Blockades Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Iran Tensions 
Fears remain that Russia may attempt an invasion of Ukraine following the situation at the border over the past months. However, the threat of a possible Russian invasion may put the US military forces in Ukraine at risk.
AFP reports that in the event that Russia decides to invade Ukraine, the US may be forced to withdraw troops that are currently based in Ukraine. Up to 200 members of the US National Guard troops are stationed in Ukraine as part of a regular rotation going back to 2015. The troops are training with the Ukrainian army along with troops from NATO and Germany.
An unknown number of US special operations forces are also in Ukraine and working with their counterparts in the region.
US President Joe Biden has ruled out the possibility that US troops would be fighting alongside Ukraine against the Russians should they launch an offensive against Ukraine. This is especially as Moscow has deployed over 100,000 troops and artillery to the borders. This may mean that Americans in Ukraine may be forced to an abrupt retreat if an offensive is launched by Russia.
“The Florida National Guard currently has members deployed to Ukraine in this rotating advise-and-assist capacity,” said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.
“Obviously…we are going to continue to watch the situation on the ground, and if we need to make decisions for force protection purposes, we’ll do that,” said Kirby. “There are no changes planned to their operations in Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, four Ukrainians have been sanctioned by the US, two of them lawmakers, and accusing them of working on behalf of Russian intelligence to “destabilize” Ukraine amidst tensions in the region. Washington announced the sanctions Thursday, saying it will be coordinating with Kyiv to “identify, expose, and impose costs” on Ukrainians working for Russia.
Two members of the Ukrainian Parliament, Taras Kozak, and Oleg Voloshyn are targeted by the sanctions. Former Ukrainian officials Vladimir Sivkovich and Volodymyr Olinyk are also part of the four that are being sanctioned by Washington.
“This action is intended to target, highlight, and undercut Russia’s ongoing destabilization effort in Ukraine,” said the State Department in a statement.
