**Trump Plans to Engage with North Korea and Russia**
US President Donald Trump has announced that he plans to reach out to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un again. In an interview, Trump said he intends to contact Kim, calling him a “smart guy.” This move is a shift from the previous Biden administration.
During his first term in office, Trump had a rare diplomatic effort with Pyongyang to halt their nuclear program. However, this effort did not achieve any lasting progress. The North Korean leader has become increasingly assertive, forming an alliance with Russia and carrying out new missile tests.
**Russia’s War on Ukraine**
Kim Jong Un has also become Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s key ally in the war against Ukraine. He has provided ballistic missiles, artillery, and 12,000 troops to fight against Ukraine. The US president plans to reach out to Putin to broker a peace deal in Ukraine, threatening additional sanctions if Moscow does not negotiate.
The war on Ukraine continues to escalate, with Russian attacks killing at least six people and injuring nine over the past day. North Korea is reportedly preparing to send more troops to Russia to fuel the conflict.
**Trump’s Views on Kim and Putin**
Trump has expressed sympathy for authoritarian leaders like Putin and Kim. He described Kim as a “smart guy” who is not a “religious zealot.” The US president also said that he wants to meet with Putin soon to end the war in Ukraine.
However, experts are skeptical about Trump’s diplomatic efforts. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has admitted that Trump’s previous attempts did not achieve any lasting progress in stopping Pyongyang’s nuclear arms development.
**Escalating Conflict**
The conflict on Ukraine continues to escalate, with Russia’s Defense Ministry reporting the interception of 121 Ukrainian drones overnight. The news comes as Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least six people and injured nine over the past day.
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