Washington
Washington reacts to Putin’s idea of US-led transition government in Kyiv
A White House National Security Council spokesperson reasserted U.S. commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal that the country be placed under a temporary U.S.-backed administration.
The Kremlin leader pushed for this idea to allow for new elections and the signature of key accords to reach a settlement in the war, according to Reuters.
The U.S. conducted separate peace talks with Moscow and Kyiv in Saudi Arabia, which led to a partial ceasefire in the Black Sea and an agreement to halt strikes on energy infrastructure.
Newsweek reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for comment via email.
Kirill Zykov/Associated Press
Why It Matters
A new presidential election in Ukraine has been a core demand from Russia in the Trump-brokered negotiations. Kyiv has pushed back, asserting Ukraine’s constitutional provision that states no election can be held while the country is at war.
The prospective election would likely exclude parts of Ukraine annexed by Russia, and would raise fears that Moscow could interfere and install a pro-Kremlin leader who would be more amenable to Russia’s terms to end the war.
What To Know
During a visit to the northern port of Murmansk on March 27, Putin said: “In principle, of course, a temporary administration could be introduced in Ukraine under the auspices of the U.N, the United States, European countries and our partners. This would be in order to hold democratic elections and bring to power a capable government enjoying the trust of the people and then to start talks with them about a peace treaty.”
Putin added that, in his opinion, “the newly elected president of the United States sincerely wants an end to the conflict for a number of reasons,” in contrast to former President Joe Biden.
In response, the unidentified White House National Security Council spokesperson said that Ukraine’s constitution and citizens determine its governance.
These comments echo Putin’s previous unevidenced statements that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not a legitimate president, and that Kyiv should hold elections.
By law, Ukraine cannot hold elections during periods in which martial law is being upheld, as it has been since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Zelensky was elected as president in 2019, and Ukraine’s presidential election was originally set for 2024 but was ultimately postponed due to the war.
President Donald Trump also reiterated these sentiments and pushed for Ukraine to hold elections in late February, leading to Zelensky’s response that the U.S. leader was living in “a disinformation space.” Trump fired back by calling Ukraine’s leader a “dictator without elections.”
Zelensky has repeatedly rejected demands for a new election, asserting his presidential mandate and highlighting the challenges of conducting a national vote during the war and occupation.
Ukraine’s Parliament affirmed his legitimacy and mandated that Kyiv would hold elections “after comprehensive, just and sustainable peace is ensured on its territory.”
While Putin and Trump have tried to question Zelensky’s legitimacy, the Russian president is widely considered as an authoritarian leader, and some critics on social media pushed for Moscow to hold elections.
What People Are Saying
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Daniel Szeligowski, the head of Eastern Europe program at the Polish Institute of International Affairs, wrote: “Here is, yet again, result of our indolence, of giving Russia a free hand in the information sphere. It is we who should be questioning Putin’s legitimacy and his dealmaking ability. Meanwhile, Putin feels much more confident now after talks with the US.”
In response to Putin’s comments, Helga Salemon, a Russia researcher, wrote on X: “Stalin: ‘No person, no problem.’ Putin: ‘No independent Ukraine, no problem.’”
Janis Kluge, the Deputy Head of Eastern Europe & Eurasia Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, wrote on X: “This ‘temporary administration’ is Russia’s plan for regime change in Kyiv. At the least, Putin wants to further undermine Zelenskyy’s legitimacy. Any external meddling in Ukrainian politics would open up opportunities for Russia to destabilize Ukraine and destroy its democracy.”
Inna Sovsun, a member of Ukraine’s Parliament, wrote on X: “Putin suggests placing Ukraine under a UN-led interim government to hold ‘elections.’ This is nothing but a pathetic attempt by Russia to discredit Ukraine and portray it as a failed state. The only country that has desperately needed real elections for decades is Russia. Maybe then, the world could finally negotiate with a legitimate government instead of a dictator clinging to power.”
What Happens Next
Ukraine has not yet responded to Putin’s comments.
From October 2019 to May 2024, the companies brought in as much as $19.7 million with the deceptive deals, Washington Attorney General Brown said
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Washington Attorney General Nick Brown filed a lawsuit against Albertsons, Safeway and Haggen on Monday, alleging the grocery chains are deceiving shoppers with “buy one get one free” deals.
According to the lawsuit, the corporate owner of Albertsons, Safeway and Haggen has overcharged customers in more than three million transactions within a five-year period by using deceptive “buy one get one free deals.”
Albertsons Companies – which is the parent company of Safeway and Haggen – is among the largest grocery chains in the United States, Brown said, explaining the company operates all Safeway, Albertsons and Haggen stores in Washington, totaling 225 stores in the state.
Brown argues that the stores entice shoppers with the BOGO promotions on everyday items such as bread, cereal, fresh produce and olive oil.
The lawsuit, filed in King County, says the stores artificially increase prices of products slated for the deals in the weeks and months before the BOGO promotion is introduced. Brown says this overcharges customers in the interim.
According to the lawsuit, the stores then lower prices around 30 days after the deal is over. “The net result is that consumers think they’re getting a second item free, but in practice, they’re just paying an inflated price for the first item,” the Washington Attorney General’s Office said.
The lawsuit details one incident at a Gig Harbor Albertsons, which hiked the price of a bottle of olive oil to $10.99 for the BOGO promotion, after the oil was previously $6.99 a week before, marking a 57% increase.
After the BOGO deal ended, however, Brown’s office says the price went back to $6.99.
“We’re not going to stand for people getting fleeced by these deceptive practices,” Brown said. “That’s why we’ve filed this case. We want to make sure we’re protecting people’s pocketbooks, and we all know that affordability is a major issue these days. We’ve got to push back when companies are misleading their customers.”
Brown’s office said from October 2019 to May 2024, the company brought in as much as $19.7 million with the deceptive deals.
This isn’t the first time the defendants have been accused of deceptive BOGO deals, officials note.
Brown’s office said Albertsons previously paid $107 million to settle a 2016 class action lawsuit for misleading BOGO deals in Oregon.
The companies also settled a proposed class action lawsuit filed in 2023 in federal court in another case involving BOGO deals in Washington.
The lawsuit accused the company of violating Washington’s Consumer Protection Act by engaging in unfair and deceptive practices by artificially inflating the pre-BOGO price, then lowering the price after the deal ends. The Attorney General’s Office also alleges the company misrepresented prices and therefore engaged in unfair competition.
Attorney General Brown is seeking a court ruling that the stores violated state law and end the company’s use of these practices. Brown is also seeking restitution for Washington consumers and is asking the defendants to pay civil penalties for every violation of state law, along with pre-judgement interest.
In a statement shared with KOIN 6 News, Albertsons Companies — which is the parent company of Safeway and Haggen — said, “We are aware that the Washington Attorney General has filed a lawsuit related to certain buy‑one‑get‑one promotions. We engaged in good‑faith discussions with the Attorney General’s Office and strongly disagree with its claims, which are based on flawed analysis and data errors that we identified and raised.”
“Albertsons Companies is committed to complying with the law and to offering customers clear value through our promotions,” Albertsons Companies continued. “As this is pending litigation, we will address the matter through the legal process and cannot comment further.”
(WGXA) — 12 inmates are facing additional felony charges in January’s “gang-affiliated disturbance” at Washington State Prison that left four inmates dead and over a dozen injured.
The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) confirmed that the 12 male offenders have been charged with Felony murder, aggravated assualt, gang participation and unlawful acts of violence in a penal institution in connection to the investigation of the deadly incident at Davisboro prison.
42-year-old Jimmy Trammell, 23-year-old Ahmod Hatcher and 27-year-old Teddy Jackson died in the altercation, while Silas Westbrook, who was injured in the fight, later died following a “medical emergency” while being transferred from of Washington State Prison, the GDC says.
READ MORE | Search for 2 of 13 suspects underway in Macon-Bibb County RICO investigation, BSO says
The following inmates have been charged in the case and the sentences they are currently serving, per the GDC:
- Bryce Sims – Serving 35 years for Voluntary Manslaughter out of Fulton County.
- Versache Evans – Serving 20 years for aggravated assault out of Spalding County.
- Willie Beckham III – Serving 15 years for involuntary manslaughter out of Spalding County.
- Kadeem Blenman – Serving life in prison for armed robbery out of Richmond County.
- Aquinas Bush– Serving 10 years for obstruction of law enforcement officers out of Richmond County.
- Christopher Bonner – Serving 20 plus years for armed robbery out of Rockdale County.
- Jacorey Streeter – Serving 10 years for theft by taking out of Irwin County.
- Paul White – Serving 40 years for robbery by force in Tift County.
- Eric Howard – Serving nine years for trafficking narcotics in Clayton County.
- Brandon Drummond – Serving 25 years for aggravated assault out of Gwinnett County.
- Christian Brown – Serving 30 years for aggravated assault out of Sumter County.
- Javarius Spaulding – Serving 55 years for aggravated assault out of Bulloch County.
The GDC says the investigation remains active.
Stick with WGXA as we learn more and keep you ready for what’s next.
The man accused of opening fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner while President Donald Trump was in attendance on Saturday is expected to appear in federal court in D.C. for the first time on Monday.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of California, faces two charges: assaulting a federal officer and using a firearm in a crime of violence. Additional charges are expected as investigators’ work continues.
It was unclear if Allen had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.
Ten minutes before the shooting, Allen sent a long message to his family characterizing himself as a “friendly federal assassin,” investigators said. He described his targets as “administration officials” and alluded to grievances over a range of Trump administration actions.
His family said they alerted police when they saw his writings. They said Allen had a tendency to make radical statements and often referred to a plan to do something.
The guns Allen had were legally purchased a few years ago.
FBI Director Kash Patel said he and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will share additional details at a news conference later Monday.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.
The suspect in a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner may have been a guest at the hotel the event was being held at. News4’s Mark Segraves and Dominique Moody reports.
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