Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump aide says Putin is suffering ‘staggering’ losses of 5,000 troops a week

Key Points:

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Russia is losing a "staggering number" of troops, estimated at 5,000 to 6,000 per week, in the war against Ukraine, with combat deaths exceeding injuries—a rare occurrence in warfare history.
• Rubio emphasized the US commitment to ending the conflict, expressing readiness to play a constructive diplomatic role despite acknowledging no quick resolution is imminent, following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the EU for its 21st sanctions package against Russia, which includes bans on additional Russian banks and firms, underlining the importance of sustained pressure on Russia.
• The dismissal of Ukraine’s defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov sparked significant public protests and highlighted internal military leadership tensions, with calls for his reinstatement amid demands for reform.
• Laura Loomer, previously a skeptic of the Ukraine war, visited Ukraine, experienced an air raid, and publicly changed her stance, urging moral clarity regarding the conflict.