Good News.

I've seen clouds from both perspectives—above and below—and yet, after watching Viktor Yushkevich create his stunning portraits of nature, with his depictions of pastoral landscapes, mountains, and rivers, I see them in a whole new way.

Yesterday and today, I found myself observing clouds more thoughtfully. I noticed the subtle variations of gray within them, the delicate shifts in color. On some occasions, when the sun peeked through, I could even spot a faint circle of soft yellow highlighting the edges. I have Viktor to thank for helping me truly appreciate these small details in the clouds.

As you might have guessed, Joan and I spent some time watching Viktor paint another breathtaking scene on YouTube. It's such a peaceful experience for us, and Joan absolutely loves it.

Meanwhile: For Ukraine,

The outcome of the Ukrainian-American negotiations in Saudi Arabia pleased skeptics and those in Ukraine who had already been disappointed with the Trump administration after perceiving it as pro-Russian.

After prolonged discussions, an agreement was reached to resume intelligence sharing and restore security assistance to Ukraine. Although this merely reinstates what was in place two weeks ago, many in the Ukrainian media and expert community welcomed it with relief.

Similarly, news of a proposed 30-day ceasefire – one that Ukraine is prepared to accept if Russia halts hostilities – was received in much the same way. The overall mood among Ukrainians, both in the public sphere and within specialist circles, was generally positive.

All the experts and sources interviewed by Kyiv Post agree: Russian propaganda is entering difficult times. Hopes for a favorable truce have collapsed, while problems within the Russian military and economy have grown so severe that they can no longer be ignored. Source-Kyiv Post