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Ukraine Claims Russian Summer Offensive Falls Short of Strategic Goals

A firefighter works at the site of an apartment building hit during a Russian drone and missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine in this handout picture released August 30, 2025. Ukraine’s armed forces have declared that Russia’s much-publicized summer offensive failed to secure full control of any major Ukrainian city, despite Moscow’s claims of significant territorial gains. Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov stated that since March, Russian forces had captured over 3,500 square kilometers of territory and taken control of 149 settlements. However, Ukraine’s General Staff dismissed these figures as “grossly exaggerated,” asserting that no major urban centers were fully occupied by Russian troops. Military analysts note that Russia’s campaign, aimed at seizing the Donbas region and forcing Ukraine into concessions, devolved into a slow, attritional struggle rather than the decisive breakthrough Moscow had anticipated. While Russian ...

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Trump Tees Off in Scotland Amid High-Stakes EU Trade Talks and Political Turmoil

 

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Scotland on Friday for a five-day visit blending golf, diplomacy, and controversy. The trip comes as the U.S. and European Union edge closer to a landmark trade deal that could reshape transatlantic commerce. Trump is set to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with talks expected to focus on finalizing a framework agreement that may include a 15% tariff on EU goods.

While Trump described the potential deal as “the biggest trade agreement” of his administration, he acknowledged lingering “sticking points” with Brussels. His meeting with Starmer is being framed as a celebration of the U.S.-UK trade deal reached in May, though steel tariffs remain a contentious issue.

The visit is also shadowed by domestic political fallout over Trump’s ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Trump dismissed the renewed scrutiny, urging media to focus on other figures linked to Epstein. White House officials reportedly hope the controversy will fade while Trump is abroad.

Trump will spend the weekend at his Turnberry resort before heading to Aberdeen to inaugurate a new golf course named after his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, a native of Scotland. Despite his familial ties, Trump faces a chilly reception: 70% of Scots hold an unfavorable view of him, and protests are planned in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

The trip offers Trump a chance to reinforce international alliances and distract from domestic woes, but whether it results in concrete trade breakthroughs remains to be seen.

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