Donald Trump gives way to questions about the phone call with Vladimir Putin

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Lerato Khumalo

US journalists Löchern Trump with questions about a possible phone call with Putin. Denmark’s Foreign Minister delivers a replica to US Secretary of State Rubio. All developments in the news blog.

9.38 p.m.: According to a guideline by the new US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, there should be no pentagon funds for special months in the future, which are celebrated by people from different ethnic origin and various social groups. In the future, the ministry areas and the military departments would “do not use official resources” for such events, according to Hegseth’s statement entitled “Identity Months Dead At Dod”. This included “working hours, celebrations or events related to the months for cultural awareness”.

Among other things, events such as the “Black History Month”, the “Women’s History Month”, the “Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month” and the “National Hispanic Heritage Month” are mentioned. As a reason, it says: “Our unity and our goal are crucial for the fulfillment of the ministry of war”. Efforts to split the armed forces and put one group over another “undermine the camaraderie and threaten the execution of the mission”.

Belonging and civilians are still allowed to “unofficially attend these events outside of service”. At the same time, however, it was recommended to appreciate the “courage and success of military heroes of all ethnic groups, genders and origins”.

8.38 a.m.: US President Donald Trump reacts strikingly to ask whether he has been on the phone with Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin since taking office. “I don’t want to say that,” says Trump when asked by reporters in the White House. “We will speak,” says the Republican elsewhere with a view of Putin and the Russian attack war against Ukraine. “We want to end this war.” Killing and destruction are pointless and have to stop. “We have very serious discussions about it,” he says with a view of contacts with Russia, leaving further inquiries about a personal exchange with Putin unanswered.

In the past few days, Trump had not wanted to comment explicitly whether he had already telephoned with the Russian president. In Russia, a statement about a serious aircraft accident in Washington, in which several Russian citizens were also killed, was noticed. When Trump was asked in this context whether he had personally talked to Putin about it, the 78-year-old replied: “No, I didn’t.” He pushed after: “Not about it.”

After a conversation by the US President, the White House usually publicly informs about the exchange with another head of state and government- if only.

8.22 a.m.: The government of President Donald Trump announces on Friday evening (local time) to want to remove four US media organizations from the office rooms assigned to them in the Pentagon. The reason for this is to want to create space for other media representatives. The “New York Times”, National Public Radio (NPR), NBC News and the online newspaper “Politico” are affected by the decision. In a memo about a “New Annual Media Rotation Program” it says that the media representatives would have to clear their rooms by February 14th.

In their place, New York Post, One America News Network, Breitbart News Network and Huffpost News would receive the office space. As the Deputy Minister of Defense Assistant for Public Affairs, John Ullyot, explains, the four media organizations still remain full-fledged members of the Pentagon Pressing Corps. Every year, a media company in the field of print, online, TV or radio should now clear his office so that a new medium can move in and thus get the opportunity to report as a resident of the Pentagon press corps.