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Category: News
August 19, 2025
Health
News

Hegseth and RFK Jr. Kick Off ‘Pete and Bobby Challenge’ With Gym Showdown.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched the “Pete and Bobby Challenge” with a Pentagon gym showdown, promoting fitness through a timed pull-up and push-up challenge.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Pete Hegseth and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced Monday at the Pentagon Athletic Center.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s all about making America healthy again. We’re going to be fit, not fat.” – Pete Hegseth

🎯IMPACT: The challenge aims to inspire Americans to improve their physical fitness and foster a healthier, more capable nation.

IN FULL

On Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched the “Pete and Bobby Challenge” with a fitness demonstration at the Pentagon Athletic Center. The challenge, requiring 100 push-ups and 50 pull-ups against the clock, was showcased in a promotional video featuring the two officials working out alongside military personnel.

Hegseth, aged 45, completed the challenge in 5:25, while Kennedy, 71, finished in 5:48. Both urged Americans to participate, with Kennedy saying, “Pete and I are going to do our part and encourage America’s youth to do this challenge… in any order you want in less than 10 minutes.”

Hegseth stated in the video, “It’s all about making America healthy again. We’re going to be fit, not fat,” emphasizing physical readiness for military recruits by stressing, “We want recruits that are ready to go.”

Hegseth has consistently advocated for high physical fitness standards in the military. In a March memo, he called for a review of current fitness requirements, stating, “We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world’s most lethal and effective fighting force.”

In April, he called a study that found over two-thirds of National Guard and Reserve personnel are obese or overweight “completely unacceptable,” adding: “This is what happens when standards are IGNORED — and this is what we are changing. REAL fitness & weight standards are here.”

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August 19, 2025
Immigration
NatSec

What Is the New World Screwworm, and Why Is the USDA Spending $750 Million to Stop It?

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. government plans to breed thousands of sterile flies in southern Texas to combat flesh-eating maggots threatening American cattle. Once contained well south of Panama, illegal immigration and cattle smuggling have seen the New World screwworm regain a foothold in Mexico and the southern United States.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R).

📍WHEN & WHERE: A $750 million factory will be built at Moore Air Force Base near Edinburg, Texas, with plans to release sterile flies within a year.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Farm security is national security,” said USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins.

🎯IMPACT: The effort aims to protect livestock, secure the food supply, and bolster national security by preventing the spread of the New World screwworm. The parasitic, flesh-eating fly larva can decimate cattle populations and even burrow through human skin.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is set to construct a $750 million factory in southern Texas to breed thousands of sterile flies in an effort to combat the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasitic maggot that poses a serious threat to American cattle and, in some cases, humans as well. The factory will be located at Moore Air Force Base near Edinburg, Texas, approximately 20 miles north of the border. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans to release the sterile flies into the wild within a year.

The New World screwworm, a parasitic larval phase of the New World screwworm fly—described by the USDA as a “devastating pest”—burrows into the eyes and flesh of living animals, causing severe and often fatal damage. The parasite can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, and occasionally humans, posing a significant threat to the ranching community, the national food supply, and national security overall. The pest was largely eradicated in the United States by the 1970s through similar sterile fly programs, and later sterilization efforts pushed the insects’ population below the isthmus of Panama.

However, recent outbreaks in Mexico have raised concerns. It is believed the parasitic maggots bypassed the sterile fly zone set up in Panama through the flow of illegal immigrants heading north from South America and through illegal cattle smuggling. The parasite has gained footholds in the Caribbean as well, with a significant outbreak in Honduras that has impacted the island’s human population. An outbreak of the screwworm in the Florida Keys in 2016, linked by some to illegal immigrant arrivals from Cuba, was swiftly eradicated.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized the importance of the initiative, stressing, “Farm security is national security.” Rollins outlined additional measures, including $100 million in funding for traps, lures, therapeutic treatments, and border patrols utilizing “tick riders” on horseback and dogs trained to detect the parasite. The USDA also confirmed that the border will remain closed to imports of cattle, horses, and bison from Mexico until the parasite is pushed back closer to Panama. Notably, the screwworm outbreak in Mexico has driven a spike in beef prices in the U.S.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott joined Rollins at a news conference in Austin, Texas, highlighting the urgency of the situation for border and livestock-producing states. The USDA noted that sterile flies remain the most effective method for controlling the spread of the pest, which has already caused significant damage to Mexico’s cattle industry. Mexico’s agriculture ministry has announced plans to take steps to address the issue.

Image by CSIRO.

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August 19, 2025
Health
News

U.S. Measles Outbreak Has Reached This Many Cases, Deaths:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. has recorded the most measles cases in over 30 years, with over 1,300 cases reported nationwide. However, only three fatalities have been confirmed.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local health officials, and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

📍WHEN & WHERE: 2025, with outbreaks centered in West Texas and additional cases reported in at least 39 states.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The federal government’s position, my position, is that people should get the measles vaccine.” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

🎯IMPACT: The outbreak has already been declared over in Texas.

IN FULL

The United States is experiencing its largest measles outbreak in more than three decades, according to figures released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over 1,300 cases have been reported nationwide, spanning at least 39 states. West Texas saw over 760 confirmed infections—but health officials have now declared the outbreak over in the Lone Star state, with only two known fatalities.

Measles spreads easily and can result in serious complications, including brain inflammation and death. During the 2023–2024 school year, vaccination coverage among U.S. kindergarteners declined to 92.7 percent, down from 95.2 percent in 2019–2020.

The outbreak in Texas mainly affected children and adolescents who were either not vaccinated or only partially vaccinated. A third fatality linked to the outbreak occurred in New Mexico. These were the first reported deaths from measles in the United States since 2019.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., previously a noted skeptic of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, encouraged Americans to receive the measles shot in response to the outbreak. “The federal government’s position, my position, is that people should get the measles vaccine,” Kennedy stated in an interview on April 8.

Still, he reaffirmed his opposition to vaccine mandates, emphasizing that he opposes government-imposed vaccine requirements.

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August 19, 2025
Crime
Immigration

ICE Captures Illegal Immigrant Accused of Killing Teen Couple.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested an illegal alien accused of killing two high school sweethearts in a drunk driving crash in Dane County, Wisconsin.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The victims were 18-year-old Hallie Helgeson and 19-year-old Brady Heiling. The accused is Noelia Martinez-Avila, a 30-year-old illegal alien from Honduras.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on July 20 in Dane County, Wisconsin. ICE arrested Martinez-Avila on August 13.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Hallie Helgeson and Brady Heiling had their whole lives ahead of them—and they would still be alive today if it weren’t for Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila—a criminal illegal alien from Honduras,” said Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

🎯IMPACT: Martinez-Avila remains in ICE custody and faces charges of felony vehicular homicide and impaired driving. Her next hearing is set for September 22.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested an illegal immigrant from Honduras accused of killing high school sweethearts Hallie Helgeson, 18, and Brady Heiling, 19, in a drunk driving crash in Dane County, Wisconsin. On July 20, illegal immigrant Noelia Martinez-Avila, 30, was allegedly drunk driving when she crashed into Helgeson and Heiling. Helgeson was killed at the scene, while Heiling was critically injured but survived until July 25.

Martinez-Avila had a prior criminal record, including multiple driving violations, but was reportedly shielded from federal immigration enforcement due to Dane County’s sanctuary policy, which does not honor ICE detainers. ICE agents arrested Martinez-Avila on August 13, charging her with two counts of felony vehicular homicide and impaired driving. ICE officials noted that local law enforcement gave them less than an hour’s notice to make the arrest.

“Hallie Helgeson and Brady Heiling had their whole lives ahead of them — and they would still be alive today if it weren’t for Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila — a criminal illegal alien from Honduras,” said Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. She added, “Despite this sanctuary jurisdiction giving ICE less than an hour notice to make the arrest, ICE arrested Martinez-Avila and ensured this public safety threat is not released on U.S. streets.”

Martinez-Avila remains in ICE custody and is scheduled for her next court hearing on September 22.

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August 19, 2025
Corruption
News

Ousted DOJ Official Warns of ‘MAGA-in-Name-Only’ Types, And Names Names…

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Roger P. Alford, a former Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) official, has outlined concerns about antitrust enforcement and influence-peddling within the department.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Roger P. Alford, Assistant Attorney General, Gail Slater, Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and other DOJ officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Events discussed occurred during Alford’s recent but brief tenure in the DOJ.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I experienced nothing remotely like this when I served at the DOJ in the first Trump administration.” – Roger P. Alford

🎯IMPACT: Allegations of influence-peddling and favoritism raise concerns about the integrity of antitrust enforcement, with broader implications for justice and governance.

IN FULL

Roger P. Alford, who served as a deputy assistant attorney general in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the first Trump administration and, until recently, as its principal deputy assistant attorney general in the second Trump administration, has expressed deep concerns about the DOJ’s susceptibility to influence-peddling. In an article published by UnHerd, Alford warned that while some DOJ officials like his former superior Gail Slater uphold MAGA values and the rule of law, there are also “MAGA-in-name-only lobbyists and… DOJ officials enabling them… pursuing a different agenda.”

Alford alleged that senior DOJ officials sidestepped the Antitrust Division to broker a settlement swayed by lobbyists during the Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)-Juniper merger. He referenced a “literal backroom meeting over cocktails,” describing such actions as betraying President Donald J. Trump’s populist agenda and the ideal of equal justice under the law.

The National Pulse previously reported that Alford was one of two Antitrust officials pushed out of their roles amid the merger, with Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam commenting, “What if I told you this was happening because greedy, fake-MAGA world grifters and lobbyists are upset that the antitrust team was actually doing their job instead of taking cash from big corporates to turn a blind eye to monopolistic practices?”

“To be clear, I have absolutely no reason to think the White House or other departments are involved in the current HPE-Juniper merger scandal. Nor do I think Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is involved,” Alford wrote.

“But I can’t say the same about a small set of actors in senior leadership within the DOJ. I met with the most senior officials of the DOJ regularly, and my concerns aren’t based on conjecture,” he continued, singling out Attorney General Pam Bondi‘s chief of staff, Chad Mizelle, and Associate Attorney General-Designee Stanley Woodward for particular criticism.

“I believe that in the HPE-Juniper merger scandal, Mizelle and Woodward acted inconsistent with the populist values of the Trump administration,” he added.

Read the whole article, here.

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August 19, 2025
Immigration
UK

London Officials Are Tearing Down English Flags.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Tower Hamlets Council in London, England, has been removing English St. George’s Cross flags put up as part of the ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ initiative. The municipal government previously allowed Palestinian flags to fly in the borough.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tower Hamlets Council, led by Bangladesh-born Mayor Lutfur Rahman, and patriotic activists participating in ‘Operation Raise the Colours’.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tower Hamlets, East London, in recent days.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Where flags are attached to council-owned infrastructure without permission, they may be removed as part of routine maintenance.” – Tower Hamlets Council spokesman.

🎯IMPACT: The removal of England flags has sparked accusations of hypocrisy and intensified a nationwide debate over the treatment of national symbols.

IN FULL

English St George’s Cross flags placed on lampposts and other public infrastructure as part of the grassroots ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ movement in Tower Hamlets, East London, are being torn down by the municipal government. This campaign, which started on Facebook, has seen British and English flags put up in many British cities and towns, including London, Bradford, Newcastle, Norwich, and Swindon.

Tower Hamlets Council, led by Bangladesh-born Mayor Lutfur Rahman, of the pro-Palestinian Aspire Party, has drawn criticism for moving quickly to remove the English national flag, despite previously allowing Palestinian flags to be flown from public infrastructure in the wake of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas.

Notably, Rahman—formerly of Britain’s governing Labour Party—was ejected from the mayoralty in 2015 for electoral fraud. Still, the Bangladeshi community, which dominates the borough demographically, voted him back into office once his ban from holding elected office expired.

He resisted removing numerous Palestinian flags just last year, citing “community cohesion,” only relenting under threat of legal action by Jewish residents.

‘Operation Raise the Colours’ began as a response to illegal immigrants, largely unvetted, being placed into a hotel in London’s Canary Wharf en masse. The migrants soon caused tension with locals, with one entering a woman’s home but being protected by police from locals who assembled in response, with law enforcement insisting he had not committed a crime. Similar migrant hotels are present across the country.

Activists elsewhere in England have been painting roundabouts with the St. George’s Cross, after their local councils began pulling down flags. However, as in London, Palestinian flags have been removed with much less alacrity, with Birmingham City Council, for instance, claiming that taking the foreign banners down would require additional security.

The controversy in Birmingham only deepened when the city’s library was illuminated in the colors of the Pakistani and Indian flags to celebrate their independence anniversaries shortly after the English flags had been taken down.

Image by Adamkash.

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August 19, 2025
Crime
Politics

WATCH: Drunken Democrat AG Threatens Cops, Resists Arrest.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Rhode Island Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan was arrested for alleged trespassing outside a Newport restaurant.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Devon Flanagan, Newport police, and Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Thursday night outside the Clarke Cooke House on Bannister’s Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Office immediately began a review of the incident, which we anticipate will conclude within the next few days.” – Tim Rondeau, Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

🎯IMPACT: The incident has raised questions about accountability and conduct among public officials.

IN FULL

Law enforcement camera footage captured Rhode Island Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan (D) being arrested by Newport police last Thursday night. Flanagan was allegedly trespassing outside the Clarke Cooke House, a restaurant on Bannister’s Wharf in Newport.

The arrest video shows her appearing to be in a drunken state and repeatedly shouting, at least eleven times, “I’m an AG!” in an apparent attempt to avoid being detained.

Tim Rondeau, Director of Communications for Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, issued a statement confirming that the office is reviewing the incident. “The Office immediately began a review of the incident, which we anticipate will conclude within the next few days. At this time, we are unable to comment further on this matter as it relates to personnel issues,” the statement read.

Flanagan, a Democrat who has worked in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office for seven years, serves in the Appellate Unit of the Criminal Division. During the arrest, Flanagan can be heard saying, “You’re going to regret this,” and requesting officers to turn off their body cameras, claiming it was her right as a citizen to demand this. Officers disregarded her request, as no such policy exists in Rhode Island.

In addition to Flanagan, her friend Veronica Hannan—a senior manager at PepsiCo who calls herself a “champion of diversity in STEM”—was also arrested. The body camera footage shows Hannan screaming and hissing at officers, and at one point twisting out of the officers’ grasp as they attempted to handcuff her.

Flanagan and Hannan are facing charges of willful trespass, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

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August 19, 2025
News
World

Lawmaker Commits Suicide in Parliament.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Eemeli Peltonen, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP), was found dead, reportedly from suicide, at the parliamentary building in Helsinki.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Eemeli Peltonen and fellow lawmakers, including Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday morning, at the Finnish Parliamentary building in Helsinki.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is truly sad news… we wish strength to his family, loved ones, and colleagues. This deeply touches all of us.” – Prime Minister Petteri Orpo

🎯IMPACT: The Finnish government suspended political discussions for the day out of respect.

IN FULL

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has spearheaded tributes to Eemeli Peltonen, a 30-year-old Member of Parliament (MP) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who was found dead on Tuesday morning in Helsinki’s parliamentary building. Authorities suspect suicide as the cause of death.

Emergency services responded at 11:06 local time. Officials currently believe no criminal activity was involved.

Despite his young age, Peltonen had a lengthy political pedigree, having engaged in local government since his teens. Elected to Parliament in 2023, he previously edited the SDP’s party newspaper and chaired a city council. He had been on sick leave for much of 2025 due to kidney disease.

The Finnish Parliament, deviating from its usual policy of not publicizing suicides, announced Peltonen’s death on Tuesday afternoon. The parliamentary security director verified the cause when pressed. With Parliament on summer recess, many of Peltonen’s colleagues were absent from the building.

Prime Minister Orpo offered condolences, saying, “Some time ago, we received truly shocking news from Parliament, our common workplace. That one of our colleagues has passed away on Parliament premises. This is truly sad news… we wish strength to his family, loved ones, and colleagues. This deeply touches all of us.”

Out of respect, the government paused political discussions at its summer retreat for the day.

Image by Hteink.min.

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August 19, 2025
News
TECH

Trump Admin Defeats British Demands for Access to Apple Customers’ Encrypted Data.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The British government has dropped its demand for Apple to provide “backdoor” access to encrypted customer data, according to U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The British government, Apple, President Donald J. Trump, Tulsi Gabbard, and U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The dispute has unfolded over the past several months across the United States and the United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Over the past few months, I’ve been working closely with our partners in the UK, alongside President Trump and Vice-President Vance, to ensure Americans’ private data remains private and our constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected.” – Tulsi Gabbard

🎯IMPACT: The decision should prevent unauthorized access to encrypted data, but questions remain about British customers’ data protection options.

IN FULL

The British government has reportedly abandoned its demands for Apple to provide law enforcement with “backdoor” access to encrypted data belonging to users in the United States. U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard shared the update on X (formerly Twitter), signaling a potential end to the prolonged standoff involving Apple, British authorities, and the U.S. government.

The dispute began when the British Home Office issued a technical capability notice under the Investigatory Powers Act, demanding Apple’s cooperation in decrypting user data. Apple challenged the order in court, prompting a legal battle. Although the Home Office attempted to keep the case out of the public eye, judges later ruled that the proceedings must be made public.

“Over the past few months, I’ve been working closely with our partners in the UK, alongside President Trump and Vice-President Vance, to ensure Americans’ private data remains private and our constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected,” Gabbard said.

President Donald J. Trump condemned the UK’s approach, likening it to surveillance tactics used by China. Vice-President JD Vance also voiced disapproval, saying, “I don’t want American citizens to be spied on,” and dismissed the notion of a backdoor as “crazy.”

In February, in response to the UK’s demands, Apple scaled back its advanced data protection features for new customers in the country. The company cited its firm stance on not weakening encryption, which meant UK users were excluded from end-to-end encryption features for iCloud Drive, photos, and notes, potentially exposing their data to greater risk. Civil liberties advocates warned that creating backdoor access could disproportionately impact vulnerable groups, including activists, politicians, and minorities.

While Gabbard has stated that the UK has now abandoned the request, the Home Office has neither confirmed nor denied the claim. “We do not comment on operational matters,” a spokesman said. The department reiterated its dedication to working with the U.S. on security threats, while upholding privacy and national sovereignty. Apple has not yet said whether UK users will regain access to its full suite of encrypted services.

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August 19, 2025
War

Trump Pledges No U.S. Troops in Ukraine.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President J. Donald Trump stated that no U.S. troops would be deployed to Ukraine’s border under any security guarantee in a peace deal to halt the country’s war with Russia.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and European leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump made the remarks on Fox & Friends on August 19, 2025, following a meeting at the White House on August 18.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There’ll be some kind of security… but it can’t be NATO,” Trump said, referencing Ukraine’s aspirations to join the alliance.

🎯IMPACT: Discussions center on territorial disputes and ensuring Ukraine’s security against future Russian aggression.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump clarified on Tuesday that no U.S. troops would be sent to Ukraine’s border under any security guarantee emerging from a peace deal to end Russia’s invasion. The remarks came during an interview with Fox, following Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House on Monday.

“There’ll be some form of security,” President Trump said, continuing: “It can’t be NATO, because that’s just not something that could ever, ever happen.”

The America First leader reiterated that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky will need to be flexible and open to concessions. “I hope President Putin is going to be good. If he’s not, that’s going to be a rough situation,” Trump said, adding: “And I hope Zelensky, President Zelensky, will do what he has to do. He has to show some flexibility, also. The thing is a mess.”

President Trump noted that European allies were willing to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a security guarantee, with the U.S. potentially providing air support. While a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine has remained elusive, Monday’s White House summit, following Trump’s bilateral meeting with Putin last week, appears to have created new movement on the possibility.

President Trump has indicated he is now working to arrange a meeting between himself, Zelensky, and Putin in the hopes of furthering peace talks.

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