Trump says 'hatred' between Putin, Zelenskyy blocking Ukraine peace deal

President Donald Trump said Saturday that the "hatred" between Russia and Ukraine is getting in the way of reaching a peace deal in that conflict, where the death toll is getting worse. 

Trump, speaking at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Doral, Fla., told world leaders assembled there that, "The hatred between Putin and his counterpart is so great." 

"It's so great that, you know, Ukraine, Russia, you'd think there would be a little bit of camaraderie, [but] there’s not. And the hatred is so great. It's very hard for them to get there. It's very, very hard to get there. So we'll see what happens," Trump said. "But we've been close a lot of times and one or the other would back out." 

"But we're losing, you know, they're losing, you know, doesn't really affect us very much because we've got an ocean separating. I'm doing it as a favor to Europe, and I'm doing it as a favor to life because they're losing 25,000 souls," Trump added. "Think of that every month. 25,000. Last month, 31,000.  Both sides, 31,000 people died, mostly soldiers." 

UKRAINE’S ZELENSKYY: RUSSIA TRYING ‘TO PLAY’ GAME WITH TRUMP, STALL PEACE TALKS 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Fox News in late February that Russia is trying "to play with the president of the United States" and stalling U.S.-brokered efforts to end the war. 

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to freeze the conflict along its current lines, proposing a ceasefire followed by negotiations. But he said he would not accept a Russian demand for Ukraine to surrender territory the Russian army has not been able to capture in four years of fighting. 

RUSSIA LOSING ‘MASSIVE’ 25,000 TROOPS MONTHLY IN UKRAINE AS WAR GRINDS ON, NATO CHIEF SAYS 

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in January that Russia is losing between 20,000 and 25,000 troops each month in its war against Ukraine as fighting drags on into a fourth year. 

Rutte told the Renew Europe Global Europe Forum in Brussels at the time that the staggering number of casualties reflects the intensity of Ukraine’s defense but warned that Russia remains NATO’s most significant long-term threat. 

Fox News’ Simon Owen, Greg Palkot and Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report. 

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Trump touts US has 'tremendous' amount of Venezuelan oil, vows to 'take care' of Cuba after Iran focus

President Donald Trump declared Saturday that the U.S. is "taking out tremendous amounts of oil" from Venezuela while vowing to "take care" of Cuba’s regime following America’s focus on Iran. 

The president, speaking at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Florida, prefaced his remarks by saying that since the January operation to capture former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, the administration has "been working closely with the new president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez," and, "she’s doing a great job working with us." 

"And we're taking out tremendous amounts of oil. They're making more money now than they've ever made, ever made. We have the big oil companies in. They are making more money, we’re getting some," Trump said. "They're getting a lot. They're making more money now than they've ever made in the history of their country." 

"And I'm pleased to say that this week we have formally recognized the Venezuelan government. We've actually legally recognized them. We have also just reached a historic gold deal that's called the gold deal with Venezuela, to allow our two countries to work together to facilitate the sale of Venezuelan gold and other minerals," Trump continued, describing a license issued by the Treasury Department Friday that prohibits people and companies from Iran, North Korea, Russia and Cuba from doing business with Minerven – Venezuela's state-owned gold mining company – among other measures.

US RESTORES DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH VENEZUELA AMID PUSH FOR DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION

"As we achieve a historic transformation in Venezuela, we're also looking forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba. Cuba's at the end of the line," Trump also said. "They're very much at the end of the line. They have no money, they have no oil. They have a bad philosophy. They have a bad regime that's been bad for a long time. And they used to get the money from Venezuela. They get the oil from Venezuela, but they don't have any money from Venezuela. They don't have any oil," Trump added. 

Trump in January had declared a national emergency via an executive order over Cuba, accusing the communist regime of aligning with hostile foreign powers and terrorist groups while moving to punish countries that supply the island nation with oil. 

MILLONS LOSE POWER ACROSS CUBA AS TRUMP SANCTIONS CONTINUE TO FUEL ONGOING ENERGY CRISIS

Trump said Saturday that Cuba is "negotiating with [Secretary of State] Marco [Rubio] and myself and some others. And I would think a deal would be made very easily with Cuba."

"But Cuba is in its last moments of life as it was. It'll have a great new life, but it's in its last moments of life, the way it is," the president added. 

The State Department described the Shield of the Americas Summit in Doral as a gathering of the "strongest likeminded allies in our hemisphere to promote freedom, security, and prosperity in our region." 

Trump said America’s "focus right now is on Iran," but "many of you have come today, and they say, ‘I hope you can take care of Cuba because you've had problems with Cuba, right? You mentioned."

"I was surprised, but, four of you said, actually, ‘could you do us a favor? Take care of Cuba.’ I'll take care of it, okay?" Trump said, garnering applause.  

Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report. 

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DOJ appeals Biden-appointed judge’s block on third-country deportations after Supreme Court steps in — twice

The Department of Justice is turning to an appeals court for relief after a Biden-appointed federal judge blocked the Trump administration from deporting illegal immigrants to countries not designated in their paperwork, arguing the judge had already twice been overruled by the Supreme Court on the issue.

DOJ lawyers urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit to quickly pause the broad order issued by Judge Brian Murphy that blocked the so-called third-country deportations, arguing Murphy’s order threatened to derail sensitive diplomatic negotiations. The DOJ said the order could affect potentially "thousands" of removals, a prospect that threatens to interfere with the Trump administration's aggressive deportation agenda.

"The Supreme Court twice stayed the district court’s sweeping nationwide, classwide preliminary injunction," DOJ lawyers wrote Thursday, accusing Murphy of trying to "evade" the high court’s prior rulings by issuing a new order that was "doubly misguided."

FEDERAL JUDGE STRIKES DOWN LARGE PARTS OF TRUMP MASS DETENTION POLICIES FOR MIGRANTS

The lawyers argued Murphy’s order created an "unworkable scheme" that "materially impairs the ability of the government to enforce the immigration laws" and would cause "massive operational disruption" in an area that often requires "tight timing and sensitive diplomatic coordination."

The high-stakes lawsuit stemmed from several immigrants with final removal orders suing in Massachusetts, alleging the Department of Homeland Security violated immigration laws by failing to provide enough notice for the immigrants to raise claims that they feared they could be tortured in the new country they were to be deported to.

The DOJ in its appeal defended its deportation policy, which allows third-country removals based on assurances the Trump administration receives from the countries. Citing court precedent, the department said the judicial branch is "not suited to second-guess such determinations" because they were a matter of foreign policy and fell strictly under the purview of the executive branch.

DOJ SAYS IT OWES DEPORTED VENEZUELANS NO DUE PROCESS, DARES COURTS TO INTERVENE

Murphy disagreed in his 81-page judgment, which the DOJ is now appealing, saying that the administration's position that it did not need to give notice to the deportees "fails to satisfy due process for a raft of reasons, not least of which is that nobody really knows anything about these purported 'assurances.'"

JUDGE ORDERS MIGRANT DEPORTED IN 'ERROR' FREE FROM ICE CUSTODY WITH CRIMINAL CASE LOOMING

"Whom do they cover? What do they cover? Why has the Government deemed them credible? How can anyone even know for certain that they exist? These are basic questions that the Constitution permits a person to ask before the Government takes away their last and only lifeline," Murphy wrote.

The judge previously issued an injunction with the same findings.

The Supreme Court stayed Murphy’s initial injunction last year without explanation in a 6-3 emergency ruling.

In a follow-up clarification, the justices found 7-2 that Murphy subsequently attempted to enforce the injunction against six detainees bound for South Sudan, which the seven justices — all six conservatives and Justice Elena Kagan — said would flout their earlier order barring him from enforcing it.

The case could once again be bound for the Supreme Court. DOJ lawyers asked the appeals court to intervene within one week and signaled that they would turn to the high court if needed.

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US government contractor accused of stealing $46M arrested on small island, FBI announces

U.S. and French authorities arrested a former U.S. government contractor accused of stealing $46 million in cryptocurrency, the FBI announced on Thursday.

FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the arrest in a statement on X, saying the arrest of John Daghita on the island of St. Martin was a joint operation between the FBI and the French Gendarmerie.

"Last night, John Daghita – a U.S. government contractor who allegedly stole more than $46 million in cryptocurrency from the U.S Marshals Service – was arrested on the island of Saint Martin by the French Gendarmerie’s premier elite tactical unit in a joint operation with the FBI," Patel wrote.

"Thanks to the International Cooperation Team Serious Crime Unit of the French Gendarmerie National in Saint Martin, and the Groupe d’intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale of Guadeloupe for the outstanding coordination," he continued.

TEXAS COUPLE LABELED FAKE ‘CHIP AND JOANNA GAINES’ ADMITS $5M DREAM HOME RENOVATION SCAM

"FBI will continue working 24/7 with our international partners to track down, apprehend, and bring to justice those who attempt to defraud American taxpayers—no matter where they try to hide," he added.

Daghita's recently-deleted LinkedIn page said he worked for Command Services & Support, a Virginia-based firm run by his father, Dean Daghita, according to the New York Post. The company held contracts with the U.S. Marshalls Service that allowed them to manage digital currency seized by the law enforcement agency.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE ASKS FOR PRAYER AS HER MOTHER REMAINS MISSING: 'WE NEED YOU'

Authorities who carried out the arrest found a briefcase full of cash as well as multiple USB drives.

Daghita's arrest comes roughly a month after authorities in Arizona arrested two California teens in an Arizona home invasion tied to an alleged $66 million cryptocurrency plot.

The teens, who are not being identified by Fox News Digital because they are both under the age of 18, allegedly posed as delivery drivers to gain access to the Scottsdale home on Jan. 31, before forcing their way inside and duct-taping and assaulting two homeowners inside.

During the home invasion, one of the victims denied having cryptocurrency, authorities said. An adult son in the home was able to call police from another room. When officers arrived, the teenagers fled but were later caught and arrested.

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13 easy backyard upgrades to refresh your outdoor space, starting at $20

As temperatures rise, your backyard can quickly become the most-used area of your home. Adding layered lighting, comfortable seating and smart storage makes the space more inviting — without a full renovation. From string lights and outdoor rugs to fire pits and lounge sets, these easy upgrades start at $20.

Add lighting and outdoor rugs for quick upgrades without committing to a full makeover.

Original price: $39.99

If a patio or deck feels unfinished, an outdoor rug can help pull the space together. This large patterned rug works well under seating areas or dining tables and cleans up easily with a sweep or hose. It also folds up and stores away in the included bag when not in use.  

Original price: $39.99

Few upgrades transform a patio faster than string lights. These solar-powered strands cast a warm glow and come with a remote and timer. With 15 sockets and 16 shatterproof bulbs, they’re built to last.

Original price: $39.99

Solar deck lights are an easy way to make outdoor spaces better lit and more inviting. They turn on automatically at dusk and off at dawn, providing light for steps and pathways. A full charge takes about four to five hours in direct sunlight.

Original price: $29.99

These large whiskey barrel planters give the look of wood without the upkeep, and the built-in drainage helps avoid overwatering. Prefer something sleeker? The all-white fiberstone planter gives a modern feel and works indoors or out.

READ MORE: 15 clever, affordable upgrades to make your home feel new again

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Add this modern black lantern to a dim or completely unlit porch or patio for a bit of extra light and style. The seeded glass casts a soft, textured glow at night, and the fixture comes with mounting hardware for simple installation.

Planters and patio sets add color and function to your backyard without overspending.

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An extra side table gives you a spot for drinks and small plates while relaxing in a lounge or Adirondack chair. This black steel version stays cooler in the sun thanks to its powder-coated finish and cleans up quickly with a hose. 

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Protect cushions, pool floats and gardening tools in this lockable deck box. It helps keep everything in one place and even doubles as extra seating when guests stop by. For bigger storage needs, this 5-by-3-foot shed has double doors and room for lawn tools or even a mower.

Original price: $173.99

Planning to grow vegetables this spring? A raised garden bed lets you control soil quality and drainage while cutting down on weeds. This galvanized steel option comes in silver, wood grain, black or green to blend in with garden decor. For even easier access, this elevated garden bed reduces bending and back strain.

Get more out of your backyard with bigger investment upgrades like a fire pit or pizza oven.

Original price: $248.99

A fire pit makes a backyard more inviting after sunset. This wood-burning steel design features a crossweave pattern for better airflow and includes a protective screen to help contain sparks. 

Original price: $674.99

Lounge chairs help you get more use out of your backyard, whether you’re reading a book or relaxing by the pool. This set is made from durable polyresin designed to handle sun and heat, and the adjustable backs fully recline. Add striped cushions for extra comfort and style.

READ MORE: 11 practical home upgrades you'll actually use – all 40% off or more on Amazon

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This sleek three-piece rattan set comes with two cushioned high-back chairs and a glass coffee table that fits comfortably in tight spaces. A quick wipe keeps it looking clean, making it practical for everyday use.

Original price: $153.99

Get more use out of your backyard with this two-person dining set. The woven rattan chairs offer a modern look and supportive design, and the cushions come in neutral tones. For larger gatherings, this six-piece set seats four and includes an umbrella.

For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals 

Original price: $169.99

Cook homemade pizza with this stainless steel oven. It offers multiple fuel options — wood pellets, electric or gas — for flexible cooking. A pizza stone is included, and the folding legs make storage simple.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

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Video shows ex-'American Idol' contestant's emotional outburst after he allegedly killed his wife

Newly released bodycam video obtained by Fox News Digital shows the husband of an Ohio teacher, who was shot and killed inside the couple's home, reacting in the immediate aftermath of her death. 

Caleb Flynn, 39, is charged with murder stemming from the death of his wife, Ashley Flynn. 

The mother, teacher and volleyball coach was shot and killed inside the family's Tipp City home on Feb. 16. Caleb Flynn was arrested later the same week after he initially called 911 to report that someone had broken into the family’s home. 

Video released by Tipp City police shows officers arriving at the home believing they were responding to a botched burglary attempt, with some clips blurred while showing the inside of the residence.

FBI JOINS PROBE IN MURDER OF CHRISTIAN TEACHER SHOT IN OHIO HOME AS 'AMERICAN IDOL' HUSBAND, CHILDREN SLEPT

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The officers subsequently encounter Caleb Flynn inside the home. 

"Oh, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus," a sobbing Caleb Flynn says in the video. 

"Is she, is she gone?" he asks. "What do I do with my daughters?" 

Caleb Flynn continues to appear frantic throughout the initial search of the home, loudly crying and hyperventilating as officers attempt to communicate with him. 

At one point, he can be heard calling his own mother to inform her of the situation. 

"Ashley’s dead," he repeats, sobbing, "Mommy, she’s gone. I don’t know what to do."

FAMILY OF OHIO TEACHER ‘CLINGING TO FAITH’ AFTER EX-'AMERICAN IDOL' CONTESTANT HUSBAND CHARGED WITH HER MURDER

Several minutes later, bodycam video captures Caleb Flynn exiting the home before stumbling and falling to the ground. 

He is later seen throwing up in the front yard of his home as he is comforted by a woman who arrived at the scene and is later identified as the children’s grandmother. 

"The girls don’t know," he adds, as the woman also breaks down in tears.

The couple shared two daughters, who were asleep inside the home when the shooting happened, according to a 911 call and the bodycam video.

FMR AMERICAN IDOL CONTESTANT, HUSBAND OF OHIO TEACHER CHARGED WITH WIFE'S MURDER AFTER SHE WAS FOUND IN HOME

In a 911 call obtained by Fox News Digital, Caleb Flynn can be heard telling authorities that someone broke into his house and killed his wife. 

"Oh my god, somebody broke into my home, somebody broke into my home and shot my wife," Caleb Flynn said. "My wife, she's got two shots to her head, there's blood everywhere. Oh my god, oh my god, oh my God."

CHRISTIAN MOTHER, TEACHER FOUND DEAD AS POLICE HUNT HOMICIDE SUSPECT IN OHIO HOME INVASION 

The dispatcher then asked if Ashley was breathing, to which he responded, "No, I don’t think so." 

"Ashley, Ashley, baby, baby please, oh my god, there's no - she's not!" he said.

LISTEN – 911 CALL: 

Caleb Flynn then added that he found the door "leading to the garage door" "wide open" at the time of the shooting.

Additionally, the individual who called 911 told dispatchers that the kids were asleep in their rooms at the home, according to News Center 7.

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"Someone broke into the RP [reporting person’s] house, unknown if they are still there. Garage door is open," the dispatcher said. "There was apparently a female shot in the head. Is not responding currently."

"Squad is en route; they aren’t staged yet. Are they good to respond in?" the dispatcher asked.

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"Yes, one person only," a first responder replied.

The two young children were reportedly asleep in their bedrooms when the shooting happened.

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"RP and juvenile daughter are locked in a bedroom," the dispatcher told police, according to the outlet.  "Just a correction — the juveniles are going to be in their own rooms asleep currently."

Three days later, Caleb Flynn was arrested in connection with his wife’s killing.

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He is charged with murder, two counts of felonious assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of tampering with evidence. 

Prosecutors allege that "Caleb Flynn murdered his wife [redacted] in the morning hours of February 16, 2026," according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. He allegedly used a 9mm handgun to kill his wife and later staged a crime scene inside the home, causing responding officers to be "led estray," documents said. 

He was later booked into the Miami County Jail and arraigned. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and had his bond set at $2 million.

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In a previous statement to Fox News Digital, Caleb Flynn's attorney, L. Patrick Mulligan, said prosecutors rushed to accuse his client of murder.

"Caleb Flynn entered a plea of Not Guilty this morning and looks forward to defending this case. We are both disappointed and concerned about the short timeline and seeming rush to judgment in this case," Mulligan said. "When the government runs out of leads or can't develop leads and looks at a surviving spouse in cases such as these, the chance of a wrongful conviction increases."

In 2013, Caleb Flynn was a contestant on "American Idol" and was filmed talking about his love for his wife and their relationship during a Hometown Interview segment. 

"I absolutely love the Lord. I love my wife more than anything. She is very, very pretty. I love her," Caleb Flynn said. "But, you know, I'm just a normal person who absolutely loves to sing more than anything in the world."

Fox News Digital has reached out to Flynn's attorney for additional comment.

Fox News Digital's Tessa Hoyos and Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report. 

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Cincinnati may be the next city to fund reparations program with marijuana tax money

The Cincinnati City Council will consider in early March a reparations housing program that would use tax revenue on marijuana to fund a portion of it. 

The city is expected to discuss the "Cincinnati Real Property Reparations Program," a proposal cosponsored by Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney and Councilman Scotty Johnson. 

The program would offer assistance to "low-to-moderate income residents" and "any individual or family member of an individual who was prevented from buying a home due to discriminatory practices," the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

The two officials want an initial investment of $5 million for the program using proceeds from marijuana tax revenue and the city’s capital budget, according to the Enquirer. The program would target residents in 15 of the city's 52 neighborhoods, and would allow recipients to use the money for a down payment, pay delinquent property taxes or emergency home repairs. 

ILLINOIS CITY'S REPARATIONS PLAN IS MISGUIDED, DIVISIVE AND LIKELY UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Supporters of the proposal point to a city housing policy from the 1920s that discriminated against Black residents from owning property. The city's Real Estate Board forbade agents from selling or renting homes to Black residents in White or suburban neighborhoods at the time. Supporters also cite federal redlining policies that prevented Black people from getting loans to purchase homes. 

"Let's repair some of the damage done to low-income communities that kept the residents from owning homes and other real estate and prevented building of generational wealth," Kearney told the Enquirer. 

SAN FRANCISCO RESIDENTS BAND TOGETHER TO SHUT DOWN REPARATIONS FUND, CLAIMING IT’S ‘DIVIDING’ THE CITY

Cincinnati NAACP President David Whitehead urged people not to be opposed to the term "reparation" and be more receptive to it.

"I think people get confused and caught up with word 'reparation,'" Whitehead said. "It’s restoring people that have been unfairly treated."

Whitehead, Kearney, nor Johnson responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

CHICAGO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON TAKES JAB AT CLARENCE THOMAS WHILE DEFENDING CITY'S REPARATIONS TASK FORCE

Reparation programs continue to be debated and introduced around the country. 

Evanston, Illinois was the first city to issue $25,000 in reparation payments to some Black residents, using marijuana tax revenue.

Proponents of Evanston's program said their city provided a model for others to follow. 

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss said his city showed how reparations could be a "tangible" reality. 

"Our job here is just to move forward and to continue being that example, to continue illustrating that a small municipality can make real tangible progress," he said.

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