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US First Lady Melania Trump, right, watches as President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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President Donald Trump has accused Russia of stealing U.S. plans for a hypersonic missile during the administration of President Barack Obama, telling Fox News's Sean Hannity on Jan.23 that "some bad person gave them the design."

"Russia stole the design, they got it from us," Trump said, adding the U.S. is developing "super hypersonic missiles... which is even a step better."

Trump offered no evidence to back up his claim, but he previously raised the accusation in 2023, saying Russia had stolen plans for what he described as "super-duper missiles."

The U.S., China, India, and Russia are the only countries to have developed hypersonic missiles, of which Russia's Zircon is reported to be the fastest.

Moscow has previously said the Zircon hypersonic missile entered the arsenal of the Russian army in early 2023, claiming that it has a range of 600–1,500 kilometers, can travel at Mach 9, and has a warhead weighing about 300-400 kilograms.

Russia has used Zircon missiles — originally designed as an anti-ship missile — to attack Ukrainian cities, with the first recorded case being in February 2024.

The Kremlin has previously denied accusations it stole hypersonic missile technology, insisting they have developed their own.

Elsewhere, Trump said that he wanted to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as possible to end the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported on Jan. 23.

Trump also said that he wanted to explore reductions in nuclear arms.

"I really would like to be able to meet with President Putin soon to get that war ended," Trump said via video link, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "It’s a carnage. And we really have to stop that war."

Later, speaking at the White House, Trump reiterated his readiness to meet Putin immediately.

"Every day we don’t meet, soldiers are being killed on the battlefield," he said.

Trump also claimed that President Volodymyr Zelensky had told him he was open to considering a deal to end the war.

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5:14 PM

Lithuanian FM on Europe's role in ending Russia's war.

The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell sat down with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys during his visit to Kyiv on April 1 to discuss the future of Europe during U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, whether European sanctions remain an effective instrument to stop Russia’s war against Ukraine, and Lithuania's contribution to the "coalition of the willing."
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Russian Railways hit by major cyberattack.

The state-owned Russian railway operator described the incident as a "massive DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attack," saying that efforts to restore operations are underway.
11:07 AM

Rubio to discuss Ukraine, NATO in Brussels this week.

"In Brussels, Secretary Rubio will attend the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting to discuss security priorities for the Alliance, including increased Allied defense investment and securing lasting peace in Ukraine," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
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