President Donald Trump says negotiations aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine are advancing, while sharply criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over attacks on Russian oil facilities that he says are disrupting diesel markets worldwide.

In an extended Truth Social post on Sunday afternoon, Trump claimed he was making meaningful progress toward ending the four-and-a-half-year conflict. He warned that imposing new sanctions on Moscow could undermine those efforts.

His most pointed remarks, however, were directed at Zelenskyy. Trump accused the Ukrainian president of fueling the conflict while contributing to higher energy costs and placing additional pressure on American farmers, ranchers and businesses.

“I am in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don’t want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table,” Trump wrote.

“Great progress is being made, and that includes current hostage negotiations!”

Trump’s remarks came after Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks of the war, sending more than 1,000 drones toward targets inside Russia and setting oil infrastructure in St. Petersburg on fire.

The statement also represented Trump’s strongest defense so far of his decision Friday to delay the immediate rollout of additional sanctions against Russia, a move that has drawn criticism from members of both parties.

“My decision on Russia is a very simple one,” Trump wrote, arguing that increased economic pressure could push Russian President Vladimir Putin away from negotiations.

“Signing that document at this time will do that, and I can sign it later, or any time that I want!”

Trump also connected his Russia policy to the intensifying standoff with Iran. He argued that Moscow was providing Tehran with considerably less support than it could offer.

“Russia is doing very little, if anything, to help the Islamic Republic of Iran, compared to what they could be doing, and I want to keep it that way, and will, unless stupid people get in the way,” he wrote.

Zelenskyy, though, became the central target of Trump’s anger.

The president said Ukraine was knowingly striking Russian diesel refineries despite the potential consequences for fuel supplies around the world.

“Zelenskyy is using Diesel Refineries in Russia as a target, knowing that these attacks are seriously hurting the world diesel markets, including those in the United States,” Trump wrote.

“Farmers, ranchers, and businesses of all kinds are suffering greatly from this.”

Trump added that Russia was still sending millions of barrels of diesel into international markets at reduced prices.

He did not provide evidence or specific figures to substantiate his claims about the effect of Ukraine’s strikes on the economy.

Trump then escalated his criticism into a deeply personal broadside against Zelensky, accusing him of having little interest in securing peace.

‘Zelensky doesn’t care, and frankly, with all of the money that Europe is famously giving him, and that Crooked Joe Biden gave him in the past, he doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did,’ Trump declared.

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‘He could have made a better deal two years ago than he can now.’

The president painted a devastating picture of Ukraine’s position, describing its territory as shattered and its population decimated by years of fighting.

‘His country is in shambles, a large portion of his land is lost, his oceans and seas are gone, and his male population is low, wounded, and/or dead,’ Trump wrote.

He ended his post with an emphatic declaration: ‘I WANT THIS WAR END!’

The extraordinary attack came just hours after Zelensky appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press, where he warned that Trump’s decision to waive sanctions could hand Putin a dangerous advantage.

The Ukrainian president argued that Washington siding with Moscow would amount to a ‘historic mistake.’

‘We can’t compare me and Putin. He’s (an) aggressor. He occupied us. He killed adults and children, his soldiers,’ Zelensky said.

‘He’s a terrorist. And that’s why I hope that President Trump will be very clear with this position.’

Zelensky also revealed that intelligence sharing between Washington and Kyiv had resumed following a temporary interruption.

The diplomatic confrontation unfolded against a backdrop of escalating violence.

Russian authorities said Ukraine launched 1,015 drones across 15 Russian regions, occupied Crimea and the Black Sea on Sunday.

In St. Petersburg, strikes ignited fires at the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchi oil depot, killing one person and injuring five others, according to regional governor Alexander Beglov.

A logistics facility belonging to Russian retailer Ozon and a data center operated by technology company VK were also targeted.

Meanwhile, Russian attacks on Ukraine continued, with a woman killed and a six-year-old girl among those injured in strikes on Zaporizhzhia.

The latest bloodshed has raised fresh questions about an ‘energy ceasefire’ Trump announced on October 11, claiming both countries had agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.

Kyiv initially said it was observing the arrangement, but subsequently reported continued Russian attacks and resumed its own strikes after a three-day pause.

On Sunday, Zelensky claimed that Russia had attacked Ukrainian energy, oil and gas facilities 76 times over the last week, leaving tens of thousands of families without electricity.

‘America should see that Russia is not taking any reciprocal steps in response to sanctions relief or agreements,’ he warned.

Despite the increasingly bitter public confrontation, diplomatic contacts continued with Zelensky revealing that he had spoken to Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about negotiations held in Miami on October 9 and the next steps toward peace.

The exchanges underscore the difficult balancing act facing Washington as Trump seeks a diplomatic breakthrough while the two warring nations continue pounding each other’s infrastructure.

A racism scandal that sparked a fierce revolt inside a prominent California sorority house has intensified, with angry members staging walkouts and potential recruits urging others to stay away.

The turmoil at the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Alpha Phi chapter has also spilled online, where criticism surged soon after last month’s recruitment process ended.

In late September, Alpha Phi’s page on the popular fraternity and sorority review platform GreekRank was flooded with one-star ratings accusing the chapter of pervasive racism.

Anonymous reviewers cautioned prospective members about what they described as a hostile chapter culture. Several posts specifically referenced walkouts by current members protesting the treatment of women of color.

One late-September review, which has received 269 upvotes, issued a stark warning to incoming freshmen: “We’re literally having walk outs and other major issues because of racism during and before recruitment… NOT a good place for people of color or anyone who cares about them or their treatment.”

Another review posted around the same time and backed by 213 upvotes delivered a similar message: “The racism is crazy. do not recommend if ur a poc. needs to be held accountable. going against everything that greek life stands for here.” 

The online backlash has followed a chaotic fall recruitment season at a university widely known for its party culture. Active members reportedly became concerned after prospective minority candidates were systematically removed from consideration, while current members of color were pushed away from key recruitment responsibilities.

The internal rebellion began after an outside volunteer recruitment adviser working with representatives from Alpha Phi International was accused of taking control of the chapter’s selection decisions without members’ knowledge.

Following the first cut on September 26, the number of potential recruits fell from approximately 1,200 to 250. Active members then noticed that numerous highly rated candidates from diverse backgrounds had disappeared from the process without an explanation. 

At the same time, active sisters of color were excluded from recruitment rounds. Sky Achola, a Black Alpha Phi member, said nearly every woman of color in her family group had been removed from recruitment duties.

“Honestly, I felt sick to my stomach,” Alpha Phi President Alana Nielsen said, describing the pattern. “I couldn’t imagine letting the day end without giving our members an opportunity to speak.”

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When national representatives reportedly proposed ending recruitment with a dance party to leave the chapter on a “happy note,” Nielsen rejected the idea and called for a meeting of the entire chapter.

The gathering quickly turned into a confrontation.

Inside the sorority house, members cried, shouted and demanded answers from visiting corporate representatives, pressing them to explain why diverse candidates had been removed from consideration.

Emerson Novosel, the chapter’s recruitment director, said the scene felt “like a revolution happening right now.”

“Once one woman stood up, it empowered others to do the same,” Nielsen said. “That was incredibly powerful to witness.” The volunteer adviser at the center of the dispute left her position shortly afterward.

Although national officials offered basic emotional support, Nielsen said the chapter would not accept public-relations gestures in place of meaningful action. 

“Moving forward doesn’t mean moving on without accountability,” she said.

The events at the UCSB Alpha Phi house stand in sharp contrast to the national organization’s stated commitments.

Alpha Phi International’s website prominently features its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or DEI, initiatives, including mandatory programs titled “Stand Together” and “Understanding Self and Others.” 

According to the national organization, these initiatives are designed to guide advisers and shape recruitment toward an inclusive, anti-racist environment. 

However, active members in Santa Barbara say those corporate policies failed on the ground when rush got underway.

UCSB has since condemned discrimination in a statement to The Post.

“Discrimination is not tolerated at the university. Reports of discrimination are investigated by the university’s Office of Discrimination and Harassment Prevention and referred to Student Conduct as appropriate,” a university spokesperson said.

A leading French newspaper has issued a fierce rebuke of the country’s political leadership after nationwide protests spiraled into riots, looting and arson.

The editorial, written by Vincent Trémolet de Villers for the conservative newspaper Le Figaro and published Sunday afternoon local time, attributed the unrest to years of political failures, directing particular criticism at President Emmanuel Macron.

The commentary condemned what it characterized as a justice system that is “lenient toward criminals,” accused far-left groups of committing violence without facing meaningful consequences, and criticized France’s immigration and security policies.

“A judiciary that is lenient toward criminals but unrelenting toward decent citizens. The incomprehensible privilege of these far-left militias, who destroy, set fires, and kill with impunity,” the editorial said, according to a translation.

“An uncontrolled immigration, in which a portion of the immigrants rebels against the country that took them in.”

Macron’s earlier calls for greater empathy from police were another focus of the criticism.

“Emmanuel Macron’s reprimands toward a police force he deemed insufficiently ‘empathetic’ — directed at officers under attack by bolts, cobblestones, and mortar fireworks — will remain an indelible stain,” it stated.

The writer said the violence exposed broader shortcomings within France’s political establishment.

“If the far-left, criminals, and looters can turn France upside down in a matter of hours, it is primarily because a technocratic monarchy — intoxicated by its own self-importance — has methodically dismantled all the moral, security, cultural, and economic safeguards that allow a society to remain standing.”

The blistering commentary came after a day of unrest across France. According to The Associated Press, masked groups fought with police, looted shops, started fires and attacked public buildings.

Macron addressed the nation Sunday, denouncing the violence and promising that those responsible would be held accountable.

“Nothing will excuse their actions. We all tonight feel angry. We feel shame as well,” Macron said, according to a translation of his televised remarks.

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“There needs to be a response. Those people who looted need to pay for their crimes,” he added.

The French president also recognized the economic anxiety and uncertainty voiced by young people about their future.

“The youth of our nation are expressing great anguish and concern about the future, the conditions of where their careers will take them, what role they will be able to play in society,” Macron said. “… I hear what they are saying, for the past ten years I’ve been fighting for them, so we need to pay heed to what they are saying.”

Macron said he had instructed officials to bolster security around public buildings and businesses, while acknowledging that protests could be restricted in certain areas.

At least 2,400 people were arrested across the country, including 855 in the Paris region, the AP reported.

More than 500 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were injured, according to the AP, which cited Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.

Authorities estimated roughly 550,000 people took part in Saturday’s demonstrations, while organizers put turnout at 800,000, according to the AP. 

Hundreds of businesses were looted nationwide, and unrest continued Sunday in Paris, where police used tear gas as tensions flared around Place de la République.

The criticism also comes as Macron faces scrutiny over his decision to attend a Celine Dion concert with his wife, Brigitte, on Friday night, on the eve of the nationwide demonstrations.

The protests, fueled in part by anger over rising living costs, school conditions and public services, erupted into violence Saturday.

Macron’s office and Le Figaro could not immediately be reached by News Media for comment.

The Republican nominee for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts has suspended his campaign after allegedly driving under the influence and crashing into five vehicles Saturday night.

Shawn Oliver, 42, who is running alongside Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue, was arrested around 11:40 p.m. near his New Bedford home. His car allegedly crashed, overturned and struck several parked vehicles, MassLive reported.

Photos from the scene showed Oliver’s vehicle upside down, with multiple nearby cars suffering extensive damage.

According to New Bedford Live, Oliver is believed to have crossed into the wrong lane and hit a parked car head-on, causing his own vehicle to flip.

Oliver, a current New Bedford city councilor, was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries after the crash. Police said he was later arrested on drunken-driving charges shortly before 7 a.m. Sunday.

He was released from jail at about 9:30 a.m. and is scheduled to be arraigned in New Bedford court Monday morning.

When a reporter visited the Oliver family home, his wife said he was asleep and “very hurt” by what had happened. She declined to provide additional comment, the Boston Herald reported.

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In a statement issued shortly after 2:15 p.m. Sunday, Oliver said, “After careful reflection, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for Lieutenant Governor.

“This election is too important to be overshadowed by personal matters. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me throughout this journey and ask that my family’s privacy be respected during this difficult time.”

Oliver released the statement less than three hours after Minogue said he had asked his running mate to leave the campaign.

“I am extremely disappointed. Shawn is lucky to be alive and lucky that no one innocent was hurt. There is no excuse for driving under the influence,” Minogue wrote on X.

“After speaking with Shawn, I am asking him to suspend his campaign immediately, and when elected, I will formally ask for his resignation,” he added.

“Shawn is a father and grandfather, and he needs to put his family first. He needs to do the work to ensure this never happens again. If he needs help with that, I will help him.”

Oliver’s arrest came less than three weeks before the Nov. 3 general election. Recent 270ToWin polling showed Minogue trailing Democratic incumbent Maura Healey by an average of 19 percentage points.

The driver of a pickup truck that crashed onto a Kansas soccer field, killing a 6-year-old boy and a man, has been released without charges as investigators work to determine what caused the tragedy during a Saturday youth sports event.

Wichita police said Sunday that the 34-year-old woman was released while authorities await toxicology results and complete a mechanical inspection of her Chevrolet pickup. Police identified the victims as Cole Adrian, 6, and Nicholas Schafer, 35, both of McPherson, Kansas. The two were not related.

Police said 10 people were injured, including five children, when the truck left a parking space and drove onto a field at the Stryker Sports Complex at approximately 3:25 p.m. Saturday.

The woman, who was initially taken into custody, had two of her children in the pickup. A third child was playing soccer on another field at the complex.

Her release came after police interviewed more than 30 witnesses, including the children who were inside the truck, and consulted with the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Investigators have not yet established what led to the fatal crash. Authorities have not said whether it was intentional or linked to a medical emergency, impairment or another factor.

The district attorney’s office told News Media that police are expected to present an initial case review to District Attorney Marc Bennett early this week.

“Following that initial case review, our office will share information as appropriate,” the office said.

The crash brought emergency crews to the sports complex in northeast Wichita, where bystanders had already begun helping the injured. Adrian and Schafer died on the field despite lifesaving efforts.

Ten people were transported to Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center. Police said Sunday that their injuries were noncritical. The injured children were a 5-year-old girl, a 5-year-old boy, two 8-year-old boys and a 9-year-old girl.

The five injured adults ranged in age from 28 to 68. Another 61-year-old woman was hospitalized for medical complications unrelated to traumatic injuries, bringing the total number transported to 11.

Sporting Wichita Academy said the incident had deeply affected a soccer community centered on families and teammates. The organization thanked first responders, health care workers and bystanders who helped at the scene.

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“Soccer is more than a game. It is a community. It is families in the stands, teammates standing beside one another, and people who come together through a shared love of the game,” the academy wrote on Facebook. “Today, that community is hurting, and we must lean on one another more than ever.”

As the investigation continues, a restaurant is helping support grieving families and relatives of those who remain hospitalized.

Meddys pledged to donate 20% of the revenue generated at its Wichita and Salina locations from Oct. 18 through Oct. 24 to families affected by the tragedy.

The restaurant also said it would provide free meals to the immediate families of those injured for the duration of their loved ones’ hospital stays.

“With so much to carry right now, figuring out your next meal should not have to be one more worry,” Meddys wrote on Facebook.

The restaurant partnered with local nonprofit Kingdom Athletics Mission to receive and distribute donations to the affected McPherson families after people outside the area asked how they could help. Meddys said the nonprofit would manage both GoFundMe donations and the business’ contributions.

“Wichita is our home. These are our neighbors. In moments like this, we take care of one another,” the business wrote.

Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan also offered condolences to the families Sunday.

“What should have been a day of children playing soccer and families spending time together ended in tragedy,” he said. “We are also thinking about those who were injured, their loved ones and everyone who witnessed what happened. We know this tragedy has affected many people throughout our community, and we want those families to know they are not alone.”

The deadly crash also halted the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s inaugural girls flag football state championship, which was taking place on an adjacent field. The association suspended play and said games would not resume that weekend.

At Saturday’s news conference, Wichita Police Capt. Aaron Moses said the driver had a valid license, no outstanding arrest warrants and was cooperating with investigators.

Sullivan underscored the unanswered question confronting investigators.

“We know what happened, but now we’re working very hard to find out why it happened,” he said Saturday.

Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to call investigators at 316-268-4407. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.