Category: Politics

Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former Pentagon adviser, has strongly criticized the Trump administration’s silence following the International Monetary Fund’s decision to release a $1 billion bailout package to Pakistan. In a fiery op-ed for the Washington Examiner, Rubin lambasted the move, calling it a direct insult to the U.S. and a reward for what he described as a “terror-addled, pro-China regime.” Rubin’s comments followed the IMF’s announcement on Friday to disburse funds to Pakistan, a country he labeled as one of the most corrupt globally. “Its move came after Pakistan-based terrorists infiltrated India and executed non-Muslims in front of their families,” Rubin said. He further noted that Pakistani military officials attended the funerals of the attackers in uniform and subsequently carried out strikes against India—actions he believes should have disqualified Pakistan from receiving any international financial assistance. The timing of the IMF’s decision, according to Rubin, couldn’t be worse. With the U.S. attempting to de-escalate tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan, he argued the funding only serves to embolden Islamabad and complicate diplomatic efforts. Rubin also raised alarm over the geopolitical implications, accusing the IMF of effectively bailing out China via Pakistan. With Islamabad already $40 billion in debt through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the IMF loan, Rubin argued, indirectly benefits Beijing. “Pakistan is a satrapy of China,” he said, warning that U.S. taxpayers are essentially footing the bill for China’s strategic gains. Urging a policy reset, Rubin called on the Trump administration to leverage America’s financial clout. “Trump should not tolerate such waste, fraud, or disrespect,” he declared, highlighting that the U.S. contributes more than $150 billion to the IMF. He cited a recent executive order signed by Trump on February 4, which requires a review of all U.S. participation and funding in international organizations within 180 days. Rubin suggested this order should be used to challenge the IMF’s decision and reconsider future commitments. Rubin ended his critique with a broader condemnation of the Pakistani state. “Terrorist sponsors seldom prioritise their own citizenry’s well-being,” he wrote. Operation Sindoor and Pakistan’s Military Defeat In a separate interview with ANI, Rubin praised India’s swift military action—Operation Sindoor—for shifting global perception and exposing Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism. He said India’s decisive response shattered Islamabad’s long-standing narrative and revealed its vulnerability. “Militarily, Pakistan is shocked,” Rubin said. “Pakistan has started every single war with India and yet convinced itself that somehow it has won. It’s going to be very difficult for Pakistan to convince itself that it won this 4-day war.” He described the Pakistani military’s performance as “disorganised and ineffective,” asserting that Islamabad rushed to seek a ceasefire out of desperation. “They went running like a scared dog with its tail between its legs,” Rubin remarked, adding, “There is absolutely no spin that the Pakistani military can put on what occurred… they not only lost, they lost very, very badly.” Rubin’s remarks reflect a broader sentiment among some U.S. policymakers and analysts who believe international financial institutions must align more closely with strategic and moral imperatives—especially when dealing with states accused of supporting terrorism.

Ukraine and Russia are poised to enter their first direct negotiations in over three years on Thursday in Istanbul, marking a potentially significant moment in the ongoing conflict. However, the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin from the talks has cast doubt over their potential impact. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had publicly invited Putin to engage in face-to-face dialogue in Istanbul, stressing that peace talks should involve the man who started the war. “This is his war… Therefore, the negotiations should be with him,” Zelensky said earlier this week. Despite this, the Kremlin has instead appointed a lower-level delegation, suggesting reluctance to engage at the highest level. The Russian team will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, a former culture minister and a staunch advocate of Russia’s historical claims over Ukrainian territory. Also included are Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, and GRU intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov. High-profile figures such as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and top Kremlin aides were notably absent from the delegation. The Istanbul talks follow a failed round of negotiations shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Since then, the war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and led to Russia occupying roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, making it Europe’s most devastating conflict since World War II. Putin had previously suggested May 15 as the date for talks, after Ukraine and European nations proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Zelensky accepted the date but made clear that meaningful dialogue required Putin’s direct involvement. “I am waiting to see who will arrive from Russia. Then I will decide what steps Ukraine should take,” he said on the eve of the summit. Moscow continues to demand that the talks address what it describes as the “root causes” of the war, including the demilitarisation and “denazification” of Ukraine—terms widely viewed as pretexts for aggression. Russia is also insisting that Ukraine cede territory currently under Russian control, a position Kyiv has repeatedly rejected. European leaders have warned that failure to make tangible progress at the Istanbul summit could trigger a fresh round of sanctions against Russia. With Putin absent and Ukraine’s stance firm, the outcome of the talks remains uncertain, and expectations of a breakthrough are low.

As the Victory Day ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin enters its third and final day, reports of continued Russian attacks in Ukraine highlight the fragility of the truce. In the northern Sumy region, an 85-year-old woman lost her life, and three others were injured as 19 residential homes and 10 additional buildings were damaged or destroyed, according to Ukrainian police. In the eastern Donetsk region, the town of Kostyantynivka was hit, injuring one person and setting two apartment blocks ablaze. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (DSNS) reported that rescue workers who arrived at the scene were targeted by subsequent “double tap” strikes—deliberate secondary attacks aimed at first responders. In the southern city of Kherson, a 58-year-old man was injured by an explosive-laden Russian drone, according to local authorities. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude toward the United Kingdom for its newly announced sanctions targeting Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”—a network of oil tankers used to circumvent energy export restrictions. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled the sanctions on Thursday, drawing praise from Zelensky, who said in a social media post that every measure to curb the Kremlin’s war financing brings peace closer. A high-level meeting between European leaders took place today at the Mariyinsky Palace in Kyiv. Attending were France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Alongside Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska, they paid tribute at Kyiv’s Independence Square to honor victims of the war. In a joint statement, the leaders reaffirmed their readiness to support potential peace talks. Meanwhile, the Kremlin reiterated its position through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, stating that arms deliveries to Ukraine must cease before any ceasefire agreement can be genuinely discussed. Speaking to ABC News, Peskov claimed that Ukraine continues full-scale mobilization and is not prepared for negotiations, while Putin remains open to a “peaceful and diplomatic” resolution. As Kyiv welcomed European solidarity, Moscow celebrated Victory Day with a grand parade in Red Square. The presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping was the highlight, emphasizing deepening Russia-China ties in the face of what they call the “collective West.” Putin and Xi held two rounds of talks before the event and discussed the Ukraine war informally. Also attending were leaders from Brazil, Venezuela, and Serbia, with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico being the only EU head of state present in Moscow.