SOFREP Daily: Trump and Putin Plan Negotiations to End Ukraine War, Sudan Clears Path for Russian Naval Base on Red Sea

Good morning! It’s Thursday, February 13, 2025, and we’re back with your daily briefing on defense and global affairs. Here’s what’s making headlines today.

Trump, Putin Plan Negotiations to End Ukraine War

In a surprising turn, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a “lengthy and highly productive” call on Wednesday, agreeing to immediately start negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump shared on Truth Social that both leaders even discussed visiting each other’s countries, and he planned to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky right away to update him.

I just had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects. We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and…

— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 12, 2025

The Kremlin confirmed the 90-minute call, stating that both sides agreed “the time has come to work together” on a long-term settlement.

Putin reportedly invited Trump to Moscow and expressed optimism about ending the war sparked by Russia’s 2022 invasion.

This major diplomatic move follows a prisoner swap earlier this week, in which the US secured the release of American teacher Marc Fogel while Russia got cryptocurrency tycoon Alexander Vinnik.

Trump, never shy about his admiration for Putin, praised the Russian leader for using his “COMMON SENSE” campaign slogan.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a call lasting nearly 90 minutes. The Kremlin had earlier confirmed the conversation as well.

According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the two leaders discussed a potential prisoner… pic.twitter.com/skSI5hrpCy

— CGTN Europe (@CGTNEurope) February 12, 2025

Trump has tasked key officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, with leading the negotiations, saying he is “strongly confident” they will succeed.

Whether this marks real progress or just political posturing remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear—Washington and Moscow just took a big step toward the negotiating table.

Israel Strikes Gaza Drone Smugglers in Air Raid

Israel carried out an airstrike in southern Gaza on Wednesday, targeting two people trying to recover a drone that had crossed into Palestinian territory from Israel.

According to the Israeli military, the drone was destroyed by a warplane, along with the two suspects retrieving it—though their condition wasn’t specified.

Israel SitRep | February 12, 2025

On Wednesday, the Israeli Air Force carried out a drone strike in the southern Gaza Strip targeting a weapons-smuggling drone and the two individuals who were collecting it.

Latest updates👉 https://t.co/tJfnmP7O3x pic.twitter.com/cRGY8ngF1M

— FDD (@FDD) February 12, 2025

Israel has been on high alert for drone-based weapons smuggling, saying several attempts have been intercepted recently.

Just days ago, a drone carrying weapons entered Israeli airspace from Egypt, but security forces shut it down before it could deliver its cargo.

The timing of this strike is significant. Gaza has been under a ceasefire for the past 42 days, following an Israel-Hamas truce brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the US Since then, both sides have exchanged hostages and prisoners five times, with Hamas releasing 16 Israeli hostages in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

However, tensions are escalating fast. Israel has warned that if Hamas doesn’t release more hostages by this weekend, fighting could resume. Hamas, meanwhile, insists it’s committed to the truce but accuses Israel of violating it.

Sudan Clears Path for Russian Naval Base on Red Sea

Russia just got a major boost in its bid to set up a naval base on Sudan’s Red Sea coast.

Sudan’s foreign minister, Ali Youssef, announced during a visit to Moscow on Wednesday that there are “no obstacles whatsoever” to the deal. However, he didn’t go into details, and Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, stayed silent on the matter.

⚓️🌊Strategic Maritime Access: Russia’s naval base in Port Sudan offers a strategic foothold along the Red Sea, gaining access to the Indian Ocean and enhancing Russia’s naval presence in the region

🧵2/5 pic.twitter.com/FY7vZpHR13

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) February 12, 2025

Moscow has had its eyes on Port Sudan for years, striking a deal under former Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019.

After his fall, Sudan’s military put the agreement on hold, and the country’s ongoing civil war since 2023 has only added to the uncertainty.

But Youssef’s comments suggest Sudan is now ready to move forward, signaling yet another move by Russia to expand its influence in Africa.

🇷🇺🇸🇩🚨| Sudan and Russia agree “on everything” concerning the creation of a Russian naval base, said the head of the republic’s foreign ministry.

An interesting map of the potential naval base have been released on telegram presenting the project. https://t.co/dvzu7Du7kg pic.twitter.com/hjIzzPylwK

— Casus Belli (@casusbellii) February 12, 2025

Somali Troops Kill Dozens of IS Militants in Heavy Clashes

Security forces in Somalia’s Puntland region just dealt a major blow to ISIS-linked militants after a brutal 24-hour battle in the Cal Miskaad mountains.

The regional military reported killing up to 65 fighters after repelling a two-pronged attack on one of their bases.

The battle was intense—fighters armed with explosives and suicide vests stormed the base, while two attackers tried (and failed) to breach it with a car bomb.

Puntland’s forces held their ground and continued pushing back the militants hiding in nearby caves. However, the fight came at a cost, with more than 20 Puntland soldiers reportedly killed.

Puntland has been cracking down on IS-linked militias since launching an offensive in December, sometimes with US military support.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump confirmed that US airstrikes had taken out key IS figures in the region. While Al-Shabaab remains Somalia’s dominant extremist group, experts warn that IS’s growing footprint in Puntland is something to watch.

Malian Rebels Claim Drone Strike Took Down Army Helicopter

Mali’s Tuareg rebel group, the Front for the Liberation of Azawad (FLA), said Wednesday that it used a drone to take down a Malian Army helicopter in the Kidal region.

The country’s military, however, is reportedly not having it. Officials confirmed they intercepted a “terrorist” drone near an airport in Tessalit but insisted their helicopter refueled and safely returned to base.

FLA spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane doubled down on the claim, calling the army’s version “false” and stating, “We did shoot down the army helicopter with our drones.”

No independent confirmation of the claim.

This latest clash is part of a bigger fight between Mali’s ruling military junta—backed by Russian Wagner mercenaries—and separatist rebels.

More scenes from the delegation from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – Central Governorate and the Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades visiting the mourning house of the martyred national leader “Marwan Issa /Abu Al-Baraa” of the Martyr Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades pic.twitter.com/mxZfIFwesb

— Twig ☭ 🔻 (@holy_twig3) February 10, 2025

The FLA, a coalition of Tuareg groups, formed last year and has been carrying out attacks from bases near the Algerian border.

Last July, the FLA ambushed Malian forces, killing dozens of soldiers and Wagner fighters. That attack stirred speculation that Ukraine provided intelligence or even drones to the rebels—something Kyiv has denied.

Mali’s government has shifted its alliances away from France and Europe, instead turning to Russia for military and political support—a move that has reshaped the country’s long-running conflict.

Sources: News Agencies