“Energy Truce” in a Diesel Dead End, an Ambush on the Rails, and Kremlin-Funded Fireworks: How to Dance on the NATO Flag and Sell Foreign Land for the Price of Coffee

“Why ‘almost’? What’s the hold-up?” Trump asks.

“Well, there’s just one tiny detail left. For some reason, Kyiv doesn’t want to give up territory the size of New Jersey...”

“Are they out of their minds!” Trump fumes. “I’d throw in Delaware on top of New Jersey just to get someone to take it off our hands!”

Jokes aside, in real life, Jared Kushner’s diplomacy sometimes genuinely resembles caring for withered potted tomatoes, as depicted in our artist's cartoon: the effort is there, talk of “creative formulas” fills the air, but the harvest remains very much in question.

Speaking at the Yalta European Strategy (YES) forum, Kushner stated that Washington continues to search for the “right peace formula” that would satisfy all sides. Supposedly, if Ukraine simply agreed to territorial concessions, all remaining points would have been settled long ago.

However, hunting for “creative solutions” at the expense of someone else's land is like trying to revive those same withered tomatoes: the outcome is predictable, and instead of a grand deal, you get yet another still-life fiasco.

While warm corridors host proposals for “creative formulas” of concession, global media have exploded with reports on the Russian drone strike on the Yahodyn railway station. The attack occurred on September 13, 2026, just two kilometers from the Ukrainian-Polish border right after the YES conference.

The incident drew widespread resonance as Western politicians and diplomats found themselves directly in the strike zone.

Diplomacy Under Fire on the Border: German (Der Spiegel), British (Financial Times), and international outlets reported that a drone strike struck the Kyiv–Warsaw passenger line in Yahodyn, damaging a locomotive just ahead of a special train carrying European diplomats and politicians, including Boris Johnson, Carl Bildt, and Günter Sautter. Foreign ministers and observers condemned the strike as an escalation aimed at intimidating foreign dignitaries. Boris Johnson urged the West to unfreeze €140B in Russian assets, while General David Petraeus noted future trips might require cars instead of trains.

Ukraine’s Strategic Pivot: Politico analyzed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's high-stakes gamble to force peace negotiations by bringing the war directly onto Russian soil through targeted strikes against Russian refineries, logistics hubs, and infrastructure.

Global Diesel Crisis & Broken Refineries: Reuters reports that even if a Trump-announced "energy truce" halts strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, it will not solve the global diesel shortage. Cumulative damages to key facilities—like the Moscow and Ryazan refineries—combined with Western sanctions on specialized refining equipment, mean meaningful restoration of Russian exports is impossible before next year. Coupled with ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, the global loss of 1.6M barrels per day in diesel exports will keep fuel prices painfully high well into the future.

U.S. Sanctions Battles: Axios reported on a division among House Democrats over the "Lindsey Graham" sanctions bill. While aimed at levying up to 100% tariffs on major Russian oil importers (China, India, Turkey, Singapore, UAE), Democrats fear granting Donald Trump sweeping trade power.

Undercover Investigation into Russian Agents: German reporter Angelique Geray (RTL/Stern) posed as a pro-Putin influencer named "Katya" for a year to uncover Russia's network of "disposable agents" (Wegwerfagenten) tasked with espionage across Germany, resulting in death threats following her public reveal.

Scrutiny Over Trump Jr.’s Kremlin Ties: Axios and ProPublica revealed a House Oversight investigation into Donald Trump Jr.’s Bahamas wedding party, allegedly funded in part by Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev, bringing renewed focus to his historical financial ties with Russian investors.

Read more in the Ukrainian edition....