Science

Macron: Europe Prepping Fresh Russia Sanctions ‘In Coordination’ With US

Europe is preparing new Russia sanctions ‘in coordination’ with the United States, according to fresh words of French President Emmanuel Macron.

He said while attending a European security meeting in Albania that the EU will ready these sanctions given that Russia continues to refuse an “unconditional ceasefire” with Ukraine.

“We are continuing to prepare new sanctions in coordination with the United States,” Macron told reporters, following Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul on Friday, which ended without any significant breakthrough. One CNN headline, for example, says that “A whiplash week of diplomacy leaves Ukraine much where it started.”
Via AFP

But the talks – which involved a relatively low level delegation on the Russian side – did result in commitments to a sizeable prisoner swap, the likelihood of further rounds of talks, and both agreeing to compose their vision of a future ceasefire.

The prisoner exchange pledge is significant, given it would mark the largest since the Russian invasion: there will be an exchange 1,000 prisoners of war.

However, there’s no ceasefire – not even the 30 days that Kiev and Washington have been pushing for.

Earlier in the day Kiev’s top European allies blasted Russia’s stance as presented in Istanbul “unacceptable”:

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, joined by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish leader Donald Tusk, said in a statement on Friday that “the Russian position is clearly unacceptable, and not for the first time,” according to Reuters.

The Wall Street Journal has described that “The talks, in the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, came about as the result of President Trump’s pressure, so far mostly applied on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, to find an end to the war.”

President Zelensky has meanwhile been making clear that Ukraine will not surrender its territory as “this is Ukraine’s land” – and he isn’t so much as ready to even offer Crimea. Zelensky and European leaders are reportedly holding a phone call with US President Trump in the wake of the Istanbul meeting.

Prior statement of Macron two months ago…

NEW
Macron: Europe’s sanctions on the Russian Federation will be lifted only in the event that the regime withdraws behind the borders of 1991.
🇪🇺🇺🇦🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/HugcikWxwC
— Astraia Intel (@astraiaintel) March 26, 2025
They will likely try to convince the US leader that attempts to negotiate an end to the war with Putin are futile. This seems to have been Zelensky’s aim all along: getting Washington and Trump back on his side, and securing the unending flow of weapons, cash, and intelligence.

Will the White House at the very least demand that Zelensky will acknowledge Russian sovereignty over Crimea 

Tyler Durden
Sat, 05/17/2025 – 07:35…

National Police Week: A Tribute To Our Law Enforcement Heroes

Authored by Rep. Elise Stefanik via RealClearPolitics,

This National Police Week, we pause to honor the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. We remember the brave officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, and we express our deepest gratitude to those who continue to serve with unwavering dedication. It is an important moment to reflect on the courage, sacrifice, and selflessness that law enforcement officers demonstrate daily, particularly in Upstate New York and across our great state.

To the law enforcement officers of Upstate New York, the North Country, and everywhere else across our nation: Thank you. Your service does not go unnoticed, and your commitment to keeping our communities safe is deeply appreciated. I stand with you, and I will continue fighting for policies that prioritize the safety of our communities, ensuring that you have the resources and support needed to do your vital work.

In these challenging times, it’s crucial that we stand up for those who serve us. While the far left continues to push anti-police rhetoric and policies that put our officers in dangerous positions, it’s more important than ever to back the blue. The far-left “Defund the Police” movement and the dangerous rise of anti-police sentiment threaten the very fabric of our communities. Our law enforcement officers are the backbone of our safety and security, and they deserve the respect, resources, and protection to do their jobs effectively. Their hard work ensures that law-abiding citizens can live in peace, free from fear.

Unfortunately, many on the left in Albany, Washington, and across the nation are taking law enforcement for granted. Policies like reckless bail reforms and calls to defund the police only endanger our communities. It’s time we recognize the critical role our officers play in public safety and stop allowing radical left movements to jeopardize their ability to serve and protect.

During my tenure in Congress, I have worked tirelessly to provide officers with the resources, training, and recognition they deserve. I introduced bills aimed at bolstering funding for police departments, improving officer safety, and enhancing mental health services for law enforcement personnel. I also have been a vocal proponent of holding criminals accountable while ensuring that police officers have the necessary protections to do their jobs without fear of unjust retribution.

In Upstate New York, we are fortunate to have some of the most dedicated law enforcement officers in the country. Their work has resulted in our district having one of the lowest crime rates in the nation.

I’m proud to stand with them and will always fight for policies that support law enforcement and keep our communities safe.

National Police Week may only last seven days, but the gratitude and respect we owe to our men and women in blue should echo every single day. Thank you to our heroes in uniform, and may we continue to support and protect them in their mission to safeguard us all.

Republican Elise Stefanik represents…

America’s Next Top Migrant: White House Denies Noem Backing DHS Citizenship Game Show

The White House has denied a report that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is backing a proposal for a reality TV series that pits immigrants against each other for the grand prize: a fast-track to U.S. citizenship.

According to a 35-page pitch obtained by DailyMail.com, the Department of Homeland Security has been in contact with reality TV producer Rob Worsoff – known for Duck Dynasty and Millionaire Matchmaker – on a show called The American. The show would take a dozen pre-vetted immigrants on a cross-country journey aboard a train, competing in “cultural” challenges like assembling a Model T Ford in Detroit, rolling logs in Wisconsin, and digging clams in Maine.

Contestants would be greeted in New York City at Ellis Island by “a famous, naturalized American who was also born in another country,” the pitch reads, with names like Sofia Vergara, Ryan Reynolds, and Mila Kunis floated as possible hosts. Each contestant would receive a personalized baseball glove before hitting the rails aboard “The Citizen Ship.”

“Along the way, we will be reminded what it means to be American – through the eyes of the people who want it most,” Worsoff’s pitch says.

There’d be elimination rounds, dramatic town halls, and viewer voting tallied by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services staff – yes, actual DHS employees, according to the proposal. The live finale would see the train stop in Washington, D.C., with the winner sworn in on Capitol Hill as Thunderbird jets roar overhead. “There won’t be a dry eye within 10 miles!” the pitch promises.

Game show prizes? Think red-white-and-blue Americana: 1 million American Airlines points, a $10,000 Starbucks gift card, or a lifetime supply of 76 gasoline.

Tricia McLaughlin, DHS’s top spokesperson, confirmed the department had a call with Worsoff last week. “I think it’s a good idea,” she said. Though she claimed Noem “is yet to be briefed,” DailyMail.com reports Noem supports the show and wants to move forward.

DHS Distances

That said, DHS on Friday confirmed that it had received the pitch – but a spokesperson denied the Mail’s report that Noem was involved. In a statement to the Epoch Times, DHS Assistan Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the Mail’s reporting “completely false,” and denied claims that Noem had either “backed” or “reviewed” the plan.

“The Department of Homeland Security receives hundreds of television show pitches a year, ranging from documentaries surrounding ICE and CBP border operation to white collar investigations by HSI,” she said, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and Homeland Security Investigations.

TV show proposals undergo “a thorough vetting process prior to denial or approval,” McLaughlin said, adding that the reality TV “show in question is in the very beginning stages of that vetting process and has not received approval or denial by staff.”

Separately, McLaughlin told news outlets that she had spoken with the producer of the proposed reality show. -Epoch Times

Worsoff, a Canadian-born producer, said, “I’m not affiliated with any political ideology. As an immigrant myself, I…