As world leaders gathered in The Hague for a pivotal NATO summit, few expected the most surprising moment would come from a single social media post.

On the eve of the event, Donald Trump’s Truth Social lit up with a gushing message, purportedly from NATO’s new Secretary-General Mark Rutte. The post, full of praise and Trump-style bravado, declared:
“You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done.”

It read like a fan letter, not a diplomatic message—and it raised more than a few eyebrows. But behind the flattery was a calculated strategy that, as the summit unfolded, proved far more effective than many predicted.

Flattery, Strategy, and a Carefully Orchestrated Summit

Mark Rutte, the former Dutch prime minister and newly minted NATO Secretary-General, knows Trump well. During Trump’s first term, Rutte had already established himself as a smooth operator in Washington, using charm, casual wit, and just enough ego-stroking to stay on the former president’s good side.

But this time, Rutte went all in. Publicly praising Trump’s Iran strategy, softening awkward moments (like Trump’s explosive outbursts over Iran and Israel), and even offering a lighthearted “Daddy sometimes uses strong language” joke, Rutte seemed to play the role of diplomatic wingman.

Critics scoffed. Supporters called it savvy. But what’s clear is this: the summit was shaped around Trump, and Rutte helped keep the wheels on.

Even the summit schedule itself was scaled down—just one main session for leaders, reportedly tailored to fit Trump’s preferences. In a throwback to the transactional diplomacy that defined Trump’s earlier NATO appearances, the entire event was built to flatter, not frustrate.

The Results: Trump Gets Credit, NATO Gets Results

The big takeaway from the summit? NATO leaders unanimously agreed to a historic pledge: spend 5% of GDP on defense by 2035, a staggering increase from the long-elusive 2% goal. It’s a win Trump had floated back in January—and now, it’s policy.

“This is the success of President Donald Trump,” Polish President Andrzej Duda declared at the summit. Lithuanian officials echoed the sentiment, even joking that NATO’s new motto could be “Make NATO Great Again.”

Not everyone was thrilled. Spain hesitated on the language, potentially leaving room to meet its commitments without fully embracing the 5% target. Trump, unsurprisingly, called them out.

“It’s terrible what they’ve done,” he said, threatening trade penalties. “We’re going to make them pay twice as much.”

Still, the summit largely avoided the kind of diplomatic spats that have plagued past gatherings. Even Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose relationship with Trump has been historically rocky, came away with a nod toward future U.S. support and a rare Trump rebuke of Vladimir Putin.

What Changed? Trump’s Tone—and NATO’s Tactics

Perhaps the most unexpected twist was Trump himself. Known for questioning NATO’s value, he offered a surprisingly positive assessment.

“These people really love their countries,” Trump said of the alliance. “It’s not a rip-off.”

“I came here because it was something I’m supposed to be doing,” he added. “But I left here a little bit different.”

While some leaders quietly admitted Rutte’s sycophantic tone made them cringe, they also acknowledged it worked. Diplomacy, as one put it, “has many forms.”

In the End, Everybody Wins—Sort Of

The Hague summit will be remembered as a strange but effective chapter in NATO diplomacy. Rutte’s charm offensive helped avoid drama, deliver on spending goals, and hand Trump a headline-grabbing win.

And for all the awkward jokes and ego-massaging, NATO left the summit stronger, better funded, and—for now—unified in its mission. Whether that unity lasts is another question. But at least for one high-stakes week, the alliance held.

Source: CNN – Inside the NATO charm offensive that shocked as much as it delivered

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After nearly three years without direct negotiations, Russia and Ukraine finally agreed to meet — but the day kicked off with confusion, media frenzy, and high-stakes political theater in Istanbul.

What was expected to mark a turning point in the long-running war between Russia and Ukraine turned into a day of uncertainty, spectacle, and mixed signals on Thursday. The highly anticipated talks, initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin and backed by Turkish mediation, were supposed to begin in Istanbul — yet the morning brought more questions than answers.

Confusion on the Bosphorus

Journalists packed into Dolmabahçe Palace on the banks of the Bosphorus, but Ukraine had yet to confirm if it would even participate. Turkish officials told CNN there was “no scheduled meeting yet,” and the scene quickly devolved into a chaotic stakeout.

While the Kremlin confirmed Putin wouldn’t attend in person, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was busy in Ankara meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In the meantime, media crews swarmed the Russian consulate, hoping for clarity. They got very little.

“Everyone is tired of this,” said Russian defense journalist Stanislav Ivashchenko. “But we will defend our position.”

Why Putin Pushed for Talks Now

The surprise proposal for renewed talks came five days earlier, as Moscow faced mounting international pressure. Kyiv and its Western allies had issued an ultimatum: agree to a 30-day ceasefire or face new, harsh sanctions. Rather than concede, Putin offered to revive the negotiation process Ukraine had abandoned back in 2022.

To signal seriousness, Russia selected Istanbul — the site of early failed peace talks — and brought back the same chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, a loyal Putin ally and former culture minister.

“The delegation is committed to a constructive approach,” Medinsky said in a brief, tense appearance at the consulate. His statement focused on achieving “long-term peace” and addressing the “root causes of the conflict” — a phrase that hinted at Russia’s continued rejection of Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and even its sovereignty.

Trump’s Shadow Looms Over the Talks

Adding a new layer of geopolitical drama, former U.S. President Donald Trump signaled he might attend the talks himself. Speaking from Abu Dhabi, Trump told reporters, “Nothing’s gonna happen until Putin and I get together.” His envoys, Keith Kellogg and Steve Witkoff, are already set to arrive in Istanbul on Friday.

Zelensky appeared to take Trump’s influence seriously. After his meeting with Erdoğan, he announced Ukraine would send a delegation — and upped the stakes by appointing Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to lead it. The reason? “Out of respect for President Trump,” Zelensky said.

What’s at Stake

While the start of talks suggests a new chapter may be opening, deep skepticism remains. Russia’s rhetoric, which still questions Ukraine’s right to exist independently, makes real compromise seem distant.

Former Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev, who resigned in protest over the war, summed it up bluntly: “Two great powers should sit together and decide how inferior countries should live under their umbrella — that’s how Putin sees the world,” he said. “That’s why Zelensky doesn’t fit.”

The Road Ahead

For now, the first steps toward dialogue have been taken — though amid chaos, mixed messages, and a swirl of international intrigue. Whether these talks will yield anything more than headlines remains to be seen.

Source: CNN – A day of confusion and chaos as Russia and Ukraine agree to first direct talks in 3 years

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In the early hours of a pivotal night at a lavish Doha clubhouse, the air was thick with tension. Negotiations aimed at halting the war in Gaza had dragged on for months, with no breakthrough in sight. It was nearly 3 a.m. when the parties involved – bitter enemies who would not even speak directly to each other – seemed to have reached a turning point.

The Players: Hamas and Israel’s Negotiators

On the first floor, a Hamas delegation, led by a leader who had survived an Israeli airstrike that killed seven of his family members, scrutinized a new ceasefire proposal. Meanwhile, on the second floor, Israeli intelligence advisers, still seeking justice for the October 7 attack by Hamas that killed over 1,200 Israelis, reviewed the same terms.

The stakes were high, with Qatari, U.S., and Egyptian mediators pushing both sides to pause the violence and bring dozens of Israeli hostages home. But trust was scarce.

“They were extremely suspicious of each other. No trust at all,” recalled an Egyptian official involved in the negotiations. For hours, both sides debated terms, particularly over the details of troop withdrawals and Israel’s demand for a list of hostages. Every word felt like a potential trap.

By Wednesday evening, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani finally announced a ceasefire agreement. But the relief was tempered by lingering tensions, with disputes over details still unresolved in the days that followed. Despite the challenges, a fragile ceasefire held, with three Israeli women released from captivity and dozens of Palestinian prisoners freed.

A Year-Long Road to Dealmaking

The path to this ceasefire was not swift. It was a culmination of over a year of tense negotiations and shifting political landscapes. “Everything aligned in the last week in a way that brought the long negotiations to fruition after 15 months of bloodshed,” said Mehran Kamrava, a Georgetown University professor based in Qatar.

The Broader Context

The agreement unfolded against the backdrop of a U.S. presidential transition, with both President Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, eager to bring the war to an end. The conflict had claimed over 47,000 lives in Gaza, many of them women and children, while Israel had seen 1,200 of its citizens killed in the Hamas attacks.

Qatar, a small but wealthy nation, played a central role as a mediator. Hosting both the largest U.S. military base in the region and offices for leaders of Hamas and the Taliban, Qatar positioned itself as a neutral go-between in an increasingly volatile Middle East. Egypt, too, worked diligently to keep the talks moving forward, with an eye on preventing further instability.

Unlikely Partners: Biden and Trump Allies in Negotiations

What made this moment in history particularly remarkable was the involvement of unlikely allies. While U.S. President Joe Biden sent veteran Middle East negotiator Brett McGurk, former President Donald Trump tapped real estate billionaire Steve Witkoff, a man with no diplomatic experience but strong ties to Qatar. Together, they worked to push both sides toward a deal.

The breakthrough came after months of deadlock, particularly over the numbers of hostages and prisoners to be released and the specifics of Israel’s troop pullback. President Biden had initially outlined a deal in May, but talks faltered after Israel’s bomb killed Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, and the discovery of six Israeli hostages’ bodies in Gaza.

Resuming Negotiations After a Pause

The talks experienced setbacks in the summer, as Israeli forces intensified their military operations and Qatari mediators temporarily suspended efforts. But after Witkoff’s involvement in late November, momentum began to build. He met with Israeli officials before returning to Doha, where progress was made in December.

“Witkoff and McGurk were pushing the Israelis, Qatar was pushing Hamas,” said an official familiar with the process. This cooperation was pivotal in pushing the talks forward.

Last-Minute Hiccups and Final Agreement

By early January, the situation had finally shifted. Hamas agreed to provide a list of hostages to be released in the first phase, and both sides seemed to be nearing an agreement. On January 11, Witkoff flew to Israel for a crucial meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, while McGurk worked the phones from Washington. Negotiations continued late into the night at Qatar’s prime minister’s office, with representatives from both sides never crossing paths.

The last-minute technical details, including disagreements over the buffer zone in Gaza and the list of prisoners to be released, delayed the final deal. Yet, after extensive negotiations that stretched into the early morning hours, the breakthrough came: a ceasefire agreement.

The deal was not without complications. Last-minute demands from Hamas and Israel’s accusations of changes to agreed-upon terms led to more back-and-forth. However, after another round of separate meetings, the deal was finally announced, though both sides continued discussions on implementation.

What’s Next: A Fragile Peace

The ceasefire deal represents a critical moment in the ongoing Gaza conflict, but it is still fragile. Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed hope that it could foster goodwill and rebuilding, but the road ahead remains uncertain. Both sides are set to resume talks in just over a week to work on the second phase, which includes the release of all remaining hostages and a permanent ceasefire.

Negotiators are preparing for even tougher discussions ahead, and the future of the region remains in delicate balance.

This rewrite clarifies key moments and breaks the narrative into sections that emphasize the importance of the ceasefire, the complexity of the negotiations, and the unlikely partnerships that helped make it possible. It also highlights the ongoing challenges in the implementation phase of the deal.

Source

The post Breaking the Silence: How a Ceasefire Deal Was Reached Between Gaza and Israel appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah is reportedly “very close,” according to a regional source who spoke to CNN on Sunday. This development comes amidst escalating violence, with Israeli strikes leading to a significant rise in fatalities in Lebanon since mid-September.

Progress Toward a Ceasefire

While talks for a ceasefire have advanced, the deal is not finalized yet. U.S. and Israeli officials have cautioned that mediators have not received full approval. “We are moving in this direction, but there are still some issues to address,” said a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hezbollah is reportedly weighing a U.S.-Israeli proposal for a 60-day pause in fighting, which could pave the way for a more permanent truce.

Background on the Conflict

The hostilities intensified in mid-September when Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel in solidarity with Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza. Israel responded with a large-scale offensive, including a ground invasion, targeted assassinations of Hezbollah leaders, and widespread airstrikes. Among those killed was Hassan Nasrallah, a founding figure of Hezbollah.

Mediation Efforts

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein has been working with regional leaders to broker a ceasefire. According to Axios reporter Barak Ravid, Hochstein warned on Saturday that if Israel does not respond positively to the proposed deal soon, he may withdraw from mediation efforts.

Netanyahu held a security consultation on Sunday to discuss the proposals, highlighting the ongoing deliberations.

Rising Casualties in Lebanon

The human cost of the conflict continues to grow. On Saturday alone, Israeli strikes killed at least 84 people and injured 213, including nearly 30 fatalities in a densely populated area of central Beirut.

Since September 16, the Lebanese health ministry reports that 3,072 people have been killed and 13,426 injured due to Israeli military operations.

The urgency for a ceasefire grows as the humanitarian toll mounts, but key obstacles remain before a formal agreement can be reached.

Source

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