PRESIDENT Donald Trump has denied claims that he will visit Vladimir Putin in Moscow for the May 9 victory day parade.
It comes after French outlet Le Point claimed, citing Russian sources, that the Republican would be in attendance,
Trump rubbished the report he will fly to Russia for Victory Day celebrations on May 9.
The Red Square showcase celebrates Russia’s defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 and has become a marquee event for the Russian strongman.
It would signify the initial trip by a US president since Vladimir Putin commenced a comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and a striking shift of luck for Putin.
But President Trump was quick to squash the claim, responding “no, I’m not” upon being asked if he was to attend.
Putin’s puppet Dmitry Peskov also denied Trump’s attendance to Russian media.
On Friday, Trump also mentioned that for the groundbreaking Ukraine war peace agreement to advance, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky need to “come together.”
Trump referenced the shockingly extensive casualty figures in the war to explain his eagerness to finalize the agreement, stating that there is a possibility to achieve it.
Victory Day a showcase of Russia’s military in Moscow’s Red Square.
This year’s Victory Day parade is expected to follow suit of last year’s lacklustre celebrations, where Putin vowed Russia was “always” ready to strike the West and snubbed Britain in a snarling World War 2 rant.
Questions also surround whether the parade, for the third year in a row, will include just one measly tank – reportedly an 80-year-old T-34.
Last year the mad Russian dictator did one of his shortest Victory Day speeches than ever before, lasting just seven minutes.
Putin also had his nuclear briefcase on show in Red Square as he issued a chilling warning of a new global war.
Plain-clothed aides carried the nuclear briefcase or ‘football’ – which could be used to start World War Three – as well as protection shields to use in the event of an assassination attempt against the dictator.
Three of his hulking Yars atomic missile launchers also thundered over the cobbles in a show of force to the West.
The military parade broadcast on smart TVs was also reportedly targeted by anti-war hackers for at least 20 seconds.
Footage suddenly appeared across Russia showing the reality of the war in Ukraine – fields of dead troops, wrecked equipment and scores of helmets of fallen soldiers.
It also lined up images of Moscow’s troops in a ‘Z’ formation next to German World War 2 soldiers forming a Nazi swastika.
It comes after Trump slammed Ukrainian President Zelensky’s approval ratings, called for fresh Ukraine elections and appeared to suggest that Ukraine started the war with Russia following the historic peace talks in Saudi Arabia.
Putin praised the Republican for “changing his position” when he “began to receive objective information” on Wednesday – a mere few hours after Zelensky slammed Trump for living in a “Russian disinformation bubble”.
The tyrant said he welcomed Tuesday’s talks between Russian and US officials in Saudi Arabia, dubbing them the “first step” to restore relations with Washington.
Speaking from a drone factory in Saint Petersburg, smug Vlad said: “I was briefed [on the talks]. I rate them highly, there is a result.
“In my opinion, we made the first step to restore work in various areas of mutual interests.”
He added that ensuring there’s a resolution to the conflict is a top priority for Russia, but explained that his country has to build trust with the US to achieve this.
The dictator also shared that Trump was starting to receive “objective information”, without elaborating.
He said: “We will be ready to return to the negotiating table”.
In Kyiv, Deputy Minister of Defence Serhii Boiev hit back at Donald Trump’s claim that European troops in Kyiv will spark World War Three.
He warned that without the presence of British or European allies, Putin will pretend to agree to a ceasefire while secretly “firing on all cylinders in recruiting and training”.
The silver-haired top minister added that without a fresh pledge of military support from Trump, in three months time the army will experience a critical dip in weapons supplies.
In a secret briefing room, Mr Boiev told The Sun that Sir Keir Starmer was completely right to pledge “British boots on the ground” in Ukraine.
The Prime Minister made a rallying cry to Europe urging leaders to “step up” and deploy peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.
The PM vowed the UK will “do our bit” to try and enforce a peace deal.
Mr Boiev said: “If Ukraine doesn’t go to Nato then Nato needs to go to Ukraine.
“We want European forces to be here to ensure a sustainable peace.
“The security guarantees that come out of this war are essential including the contingency of allies on the ground.”
Labour MPs David Taylor and Phill Brickell, who met with Mr Boiev in Kyiv, said: “If the US falter, the UK must be willing to step up. The front line here in Ukraine is the front line for Brits. The evil tyrant Putin will not stop.
“Keir Starmer must set a rapid path to at least 2.5% on defence. We must look to support a new, protected supply chain of easy to make and easy to use warfare drones.
“And, we must designate all members of the United Russia Party as terrorists, using any sanctioned money for the war effort.”
Zelensky accused Moscow of misleading Trump in a press conference earlier – which the US President has since responded to in a tirade on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Zelensky support is ‘overwhelming’ – Trump’s ‘insulting’
By Noa Hoffman in Kyiv
SUPPORT for Volodymyr Zelenskyy is “overwhelming” and it’s “insulting” for Donald Trump to demand elections, Ukrainian politicians blasted today.
Inside Kyiv’s eerily quiet parliament, seething MPs warned the US President it would be “impossible” to hold elections as a precursor to a ceasefire with Russia.
Politicians said that polling station locations, such as schools, have been bombed to smithereens and soldiers cannot abandon the front line in order to vote.
Dmytro Natalukha, chair of Ukraine Economic Affairs Committee, told The Sun: “It’s insulting for Trump to mention the level of support for Zelensky – it’s inappropriate to say the least.
“A lot of people are taking that insult personally – including those who do not support Zelensky.
“It is seen as an assault on the institution of the presidency of Ukraine.”
Mr Natalukha insisted that when the war is over and infrastructure is in place, MPs will support fresh elections.
He said: “It’s our sixth year as MPs and just like Dobby from Harry Potter we would like our sock in the end.
“Logistically and physically it’s very hard to implement elections right now.”
In freezing Kyiv, Trump’s call for fresh elections and suggestion that Zelensky was responsible for starting the war has enraged ministers and senior parliamentarians.
Between blaring sirens warning of an impending missiles attack, Mr Natalukha said: “If Trump wants a noble peace prize he needs both sides to be happy.
“But we are not happy.”
Ukraine’s Deputy Economic Minister Oleksii Soblev told The Sun: “Look at the social networks right now.
“Just today polling strong support for Zelenskyy and it will probably go much higher after Trump’s intervention.”
The Ukrainian president said this afternoon: “Unfortunately, President Trump, who we have great respect for as leader of the American people … lives in this disinformation space.”
Speaking right after the US and Russian foreign ministers held talks in Saudi Arabia, Zelensky continued: “We want security guarantees this year because we want to end the war this year.”
The Ukrainian president also said the costs of the war in Ukraine so far sits at $320 billion, with $120 billion paid by Ukraine and the rest from the US and Europe – but Trump disputes the numbers.
The US President has previously stressed that the US wants the equivalent of $500 billion worth of rare earth minerals from Ukraine in exchange for support.
But Zelensky said the American demands are “not a serious conversation,” adding: “I am protecting Ukraine. I can’t sell our country”.
The Ukrainian president also shared that while the US alleges that 90 per cent of support for Ukraine comes from them, “the truth is somewhere else”.
Zelensky added: “We are grateful for their support”.
Trump slammed Zelensky in a 232-word post, making it crystal clear that he believes only the US has the clout to end the war in Ukraine.
The Republic wrote that the Ukrainian president was a “modestly successful comedian” and accused him of having “talked the US into a war that couldn’t be won”.
He raged the war “never had to start” and said Ukraine could “never be able to settle” the conflict without “the US and TRUMP”.
“The United States has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe, and Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back,” wrote Trump.
“Why didn’t Sleepy Joe Biden demand Equalization, in that this War is far more important to Europe than it is to us.
“We have a big, beautiful Ocean as separation.”
Trump blasted Zelensky as playing Biden “like a fiddle” – and called him a “dictator without elections”.
He wrote: “Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.
“In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only TRUMP, and the Trump Administration, can do.”
