After a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, President Donald Trump announced that ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine would begin immediately.
In a statement following the call, Trump said he believes the call &#8220;went very well&#8221; and that the &#8220;tone and spirit of the conversation was excellent.&#8221;
&#8220;Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114535693441367601">said</a>. &#8220;The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.&#8221;
Trump added that once the &#8220;bloodbath&#8221; ends, there will be opportunities for Russia to do &#8220;largescale&#8221; trade with the United States and have &#8220;tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth.&#8221;
Trump said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, of Germany, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb immediately after his call with Putin.
Trump said that the Vatican, &#8220;as represented by&#8221; Pope Leo XIV, &#8220;has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations.&#8221;
After the call, Putin spoke to reporters on-camera and described the call as “very frank” and very useful.”
“The US president expressed his position on the cessation of hostilities, ceasefire, and from my end, I have emphasized that Russia stands for peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis,&#8221; Putin said. &#8220;We just need to outline the most effective routes of moving towards peace.&#8221;
Ahead of the call, Russia launched a massive drone attack on Ukraine with exploding drones and decoys, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-call-putin-bid-end-russias-bloodbath-war-ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News reported</a>. Eighty-eight drones were reportedly intercepted, and 128 were lost in the attack on the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions.
Trump has supported a ceasefire between the two sides, though Russia has pushed for an agreement to end the war with Ukraine making concessions. Trump has grown frustrated with both Putin and Zelensky in his efforts to bring the war to an end.
“He’s grown weary and frustrated with both sides of the conflict,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday before the call. “He has made it clear to both sides that he wants to see a peaceful resolution and ceasefire as soon as possible.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-shapiro-confronts-zelensky-on-christian-persecution-and-conscription-in-exclusive-interview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BEN SHAPIRO CONFRONTS ZELENSKY ON CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION AND CONSCRIPTION IN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW</a>
Vice President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-and-vance-clash-with-zelensky-in-fiery-white-house-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JD Vance</a> said there has been “a bit of an impasse” in the talks and that the United States is “more than willing to walk away.”
“President Putin…he doesn’t quite know how to get out of the war,” Vance said. “There is fundamental mistrust between Russia and the West. It’s one of the things that the president thinks is frankly stupid that we should be able to move beyond the stakes that have been made in the past. But it takes two to tango. I know the president is willing to do that but if Russia is not willing to do that, then eventually we will have to say ‘this is not our war.’”
Trump announced the call on Saturday, stating that he planned to talk about “stopping the ‘bloodbath’ that is on average, more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week.”
“Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war, a war that should have never happened, will end,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;God bless us all!!!&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-trump-and-rubio-put-america-first-in-100-days?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=How+Trump+And+Rubio+Put+America+First+In+100+Days" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HOW TRUMP AND RUBIO PUT AMERICA FIRST IN 100 DAYS</a>
Last week, Zelensky <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/zelensky-lands-in-turkey-as-putin-skips-meeting-russia-calls-him-a-clown-and-loser?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Zelensky+Lands+In+Turkey+As+Putin+Skips+Meeting%2C+Russia+Calls+Him+A+%E2%80%98Clown+and+Loser%E2%80%99" target="_blank" rel="noopener">traveled to Turkey</a> in the hopes of having a face-to-face conversation with Putin. When Putin did not show up, the two leaders&#8217; underlings met and successfully negotiated a prisoner swap of 1,000 people from each side, though no agreement on peace was made, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/19/trump-putin-call-ceasefire-agreement?utm_campaign=editorial&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Axios</a>. The meeting was the first direct negotiations between the two sides since March 2022.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/zelensky-tells-ben-shapiro-hes-open-to-an-audit-on-how-ukraine-spends-u-s-taxpayer-dollars?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Zelensky+Tells+Ben+Shapiro+He%E2%80%99s+Open+To+An+Audit+On+How+Ukraine+Spends+U.S.+Taxpayer+Dollars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ZELENSKY TELLS BEN SHAPIRO HE’S OPEN TO AN AUDIT ON HOW UKRAINE SPENDS U.S. TAXPAYER DOLLARS</a>
On Sunday, leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy urged Trump to sanction Putin if he doesn’t agree to an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, Axios reported.
Trump has said that the war “has to stop.”
“We spent <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/zelensky-lands-in-turkey-as-putin-skips-meeting-russia-calls-him-a-clown-and-loser">$350 billion there</a> — just handed,” he said. “Nobody even knows where the money is. There’s no accounting.”
Trump added that Zelensky is the “greatest salesman, maybe in history” because “every time he came to the United States, he’d walk away with $100 billion.”
“That’s a good salesman, right?” Trump added. “Last time he didn’t do as well. He only got $60 billion.”

Argentina G20 Leaders’ Summit 2018 – Day 1 Of Sessions

Trump Makes Big Announcement Following  ‘Very Frank’ Two-Hour Call With Putin

Donald Trump

Russia

Ukraine

Ukraine-Russia War

Vladimir Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky

President Donald Trump said Friday that he would like to set up a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin &#8220;as soon&#8221; as possible.
Trump made the comments in Abu Dhabi as he prepared to return home to the United States at the end of his Middle East tour. He had previously floated a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin in Turkey, but the Russian president refused to attend.
&#8220;They all said Putin was going and Zelensky was going. And I said, If I don&#8217;t go, I guarantee Putin is not going, and he didn&#8217;t go,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;And I understand that, but we&#8217;re going to get it we&#8217;re going to get it done. We&#8217;ve got to get it done. Five thousand young people are being killed every single week on average, and we&#8217;re going to get it done.&#8221;
While Ukrainian and Russian officials are meeting in Turkey on Friday, Trump said he believed he would have to meet with Putin to make real progress toward ending the war.
Trump said that he plans to meet Putin &#8220;as soon as we can get it set up,&#8221; noting that he had planned to meet with Putin and Zelensky after wrapping up his visit to the United Arab Emirates. He added that he wanted to go back to America to see his new grandson, whom his daughter, Tiffany, gave birth to on Thursday.
&#8220;I do want to see my beautiful grandson, a son, and we&#8217;ll be doing that, but I will, I will tell you that the world is a much safer place right now,&#8221; Trump told reporters. &#8220;And I think in two or three weeks we could have it be a much, much safer place. We&#8217;re going to handle a couple of situations that you have here. We have some very serious situations.”
Zelensky and Ukrainian negotiators are meeting in Istanbul with Putin&#8217;s representatives for talks supervised by Turkish Defense Minister Hakan Fidan. While it will be the first talks between the warring nations since 2022, American officials don&#8217;t expect much to come from the meeting.
&#8220;We don&#8217;t have high expectations of what will happen tomorrow. And frankly, at this point, I think it&#8217;s abundantly clear that the only way we&#8217;re going to have a breakthrough here is between President Trump and President Putin,&#8221; Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

U.S. President Donald Trump in Abu Dhabi

After Putin Blows Off Peace Talks, Trump Gives Timeline For Meeting With Russian Prez

Turkey

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky landed in Turkey today for what he hoped would be face-to-face negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Instead, he was met with Putin&#8217;s underlings.
On Sunday, Putin first proposed direct talks with Ukraine to bring the three-year war to a close during a televised address.
“We are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions,&#8221; Putin said. &#8220;We offer the Kyiv authorities to resume negotiations already on Thursday, in Istanbul.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-trump-and-rubio-put-america-first-in-100-days?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=How+Trump+And+Rubio+Put+America+First+In+100+Days" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HOW TRUMP AND RUBIO PUT AMERICA FIRST IN 100 DAYS</a>
Zelensky <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/zelensky-offers-meet-putin-after-trump-pushes-historic-peace-talks?author=Daniel+Chaitin&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Zelensky+Agrees+To+Meet+Putin+After+Trump+Pushes+For+Historic+Peace+Talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded by challenging</a> Putin to come to Istanbul himself for a face-to-face meeting.
“We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy,” Zelensky <a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1921611690891940116" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X. “There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses.”
Instead, Russia sent aides to negotiate with the Ukrainian leader, who described them as “stand-in props,” <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c74nxrr7mwkt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported the BBC</a>.
In response, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said “A clown and a loser is talking about respected people.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-shapiro-confronts-zelensky-on-christian-persecution-and-conscription-in-exclusive-interview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BEN SHAPIRO CONFRONTS ZELENSKY ON CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION AND CONSCRIPTION IN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW</a>
Russia&#8217;s delegation will be headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, but meetings are still not officially scheduled, according to the BBC.
So far, Zelensky has met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara.
President Donald Trump also said he was skipping the meetings because of scheduling conflicts, despite <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-trumps-middle-east-trip?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=6&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Here%E2%80%99s+What+You+Need+To+Know+About+Trump%E2%80%99s+Middle+East+Trip" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floating the possibility</a> of attending earlier this week.
Trump said he doesn’t think it “was possible for Putin to go” if he himself wasn’t there.
&#8220;I actually said, why would he go if I’m not going?&#8221; Trump said, speaking at a business roundtable in Doha, Qatar during his four-day Gulf tour.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-trumps-middle-east-trip?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Here%E2%80%99s+What+You+Need+To+Know+About+Trump%E2%80%99s+Middle+East+Trip" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST TRIP</a>
The President added that the war “has to stop.”
&#8220;We spent <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/zelensky-tells-ben-shapiro-hes-open-to-an-audit-on-how-ukraine-spends-u-s-taxpayer-dollars?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Zelensky+Tells+Ben+Shapiro+He%E2%80%99s+Open+To+An+Audit+On+How+Ukraine+Spends+U.S.+Taxpayer+Dollars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$350 billion there</a> — just handed,” he said. “Nobody even knows where the money is. There’s no accounting.”
Trump added that Zelensky is the “greatest salesman, maybe in history” because “every time he came to the United States, he’d walk away with $100 billion.”
“That’s a good salesman, right?&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;Last time he didn’t do as well. He only got $60 billion.&#8221;
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is already in Istanbul for meetings with his NATO counterparts and he and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff were planning to be present for the Russia-Ukraine talks.

COMBO-RUSSIA-UKRAINE-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-CONFLICT-WAR

Zelensky Lands In Turkey As Putin Skips Meeting, Russia Calls Him A ‘Clown and Loser’

Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited President Donald Trump to join in peace talks with Russia later this week.
Officials from Ukraine and Russia are expected to meet in Turkey on Thursday to begin peace talks to end the war in Ukraine. Ahead of the summit, Zelensky posted on social media that Russian President Vladimir Putin had rejected offers of a ceasefire.
“Ukraine has always supported diplomacy. I am ready to come to Türkiye. Unfortunately, the world still has not received a clear response from Russia to the numerous proposals for a ceasefire,” Zelensky wrote in a post on X. “[Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] has expressed full readiness to host the meeting. It is important that President Trump fully supports the meeting, and we would like him to find an opportunity to come to Türkiye.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Ukraine has always supported diplomacy. I am ready to come to Türkiye. Unfortunately, the world still has not received a clear response from Russia to the numerous proposals for a ceasefire.
Russian shelling and assaults continue. Moscow has remained silent all day regarding the… <a href="https://t.co/4AGiLX5Sdf">pic.twitter.com/4AGiLX5Sdf</a>
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1921997432231231499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
Asked earlier on Monday about whether he would attend the peace talks, Trump said he might attend if his presence is needed to move the negotiations forward.
“I think you may have a good result out of the Thursday meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump said. “I was thinking about flying over. I don’t know where I’m going to be on Thursday – I’ve got so many meetings. But I was actually thinking about flying over there. There’s a possibility if I think things can happen. But we got to get it done.”
Putin and Zelensky agreed to meet in Turkey for peace talks after Putin rejected another offer from Ukraine for a 30-day ceasefire over the weekend. Putin countered the offer with a restart to peace talks, with Turkey’s Erdoğan as host. Trump took to Truth Social to push Zelensky to accept the offer.
“Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114490093180275292" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a>. “At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!”
Trump appeared to warn Putin in the message, as well.
“I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who’s too busy celebrating the Victory of World War II, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America,” Trump said. The president has previously expressed frustration at Moscow for appearing recalcitrant in making progress toward peace.
Last week, Trump <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/09/ukraine-war-briefing-trump-calls-for-ideally-a-30-day-ceasefire-backed-with-sanctions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushed</a> for a 30-day ceasefire in fighting and suggested that the United States and its allies may punish the offending party with sanctions if no ceasefire is agreed to.

Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky

Zelensky Asks Trump To Join Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks In Turkey

Executive

Global Politics

Politics

President Donald Trump appears to be on the cusp of bringing the leaders of Ukraine and Russia together for a historic meeting to negotiate the end of the years-long war between their countries.
In a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114490093180275292" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> to Truth Social on Sunday, Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree on a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey next week.
&#8220;President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY,&#8221; Trump said.
&#8220;At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!&#8221; he added. &#8220;I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who’s too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!&#8221;
Soon after, Zelensky said he was ready to meet Putin.
&#8220;We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy,&#8221; Zelensky <a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1921611690891940116" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X. &#8220;There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses.&#8221;
The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/10/ukraine-ceasefire-demand-russia-trump/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Saturday the United States and its Western allies demanded Putin agree to a 30-day ceasefire starting on Monday or face more sanctions on Russia&#8217;s energy and banking sectors. Putin proposed a meeting in Istanbul.
<div class="wpds-c-PJLV article-body type-text" data-qa="article-body">
<p class="wpds-c-heFNVF wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy" dir="null" data-apitype="text" data-contentid="AJORFT4SHNGFZIDWVIKJJTMH5I" data-el="text" data-scroll-pos="3" data-scroll-measured="true">“We are committed to serious negotiations with Ukraine … to remove the root causes of the conflict,” Putin said at a news conference, according to the newspaper. “I do not exclude that during these negotiations it will be possible to agree on some new ceasefire.”
Earlier on Sunday, Trump signaled that a breakthrough was imminent.
&#8220;A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine! Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never ending &#8216;bloodbath&#8217; hopefully comes to an end,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114487210304050642" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Truth Social. &#8220;It will be a whole new, and much better, WORLD. I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens. The USA wants to focus, instead, on Rebuilding and Trade. A BIG week upcoming!&#8221;
</div>

US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky

Zelensky Agrees To Meet Putin After Trump Pushes For Historic Peace Talks

World

On Thursday, Vice President JD Vance brought back one of his signature lines when dismissing former President Joe Biden&#8217;s criticism of the Trump administration&#8217;s approach to the Ukraine-Russia war.
Vance responded to Biden <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0m9mvemxrwo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">telling</a> the BBC that the infamous White House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-explodes-on-zelensky-for-making-the-worst-statement-on-the-ukraine-russia-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener">meeting</a> in which President Donald Trump and the vice president clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over ending the conflict was &#8220;beneath America.&#8221; Biden also claimed that Trump&#8217;s approach to Russia was &#8220;modern-day appeasement&#8221; during the interview.
&#8220;I think it&#8217;s rich for Joe Biden to comment on anything we&#8217;re doing when it comes to Russia and Ukraine because of course under Biden&#8217;s administration, Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine,&#8221; Vance said to &#8220;The Story&#8221; anchor Martha MacCallum on Fox News.
&#8220;If we wanted to take advice from anybody on foreign policy, especially foreign policy in Europe, it would not be Joe Biden,&#8221; Vance continued. &#8220;So I wish Joe Biden the best. I don&#8217;t really care what he has to say about American foreign policy because so much of what he actually did was a total disaster.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
JD Vance on Joe Biden: &#8220;He can spend his time on the beach&#8230;we&#8217;ll continue trying to fix the problems he created.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/IisC5epnAh">pic.twitter.com/IisC5epnAh</a>
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliespiering/status/1920563735128658425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
He added: &#8220;If we just did the opposite of what Joe Biden did, I think we&#8217;d have one of the most successful foreign policy administrations in a very long time. So he can spend his time on the beach or doing whatever Joe Biden does. We&#8217;ll continue trying to fix the problems that he created.&#8221;
Vance has used the &#8220;I really don&#8217;t care&#8221; line before to shrug off a topic of discussion. He notably <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jd-vance-blasts-margaret-brennan-over-claim-afghan-refugees-let-into-u-s-are-vetted" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, “I don’t really care, Margaret,” in January during an exchange over Afghan refugees with “Face The Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan on CBS.
Trump, who recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-ready-to-sign-minerals-deal-with-ukraine-as-soon-as-this-afternoon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">closed</a> a minerals agreement with Ukraine, provided an update earlier in the day on his administration&#8217;s efforts to end the years-long war.
&#8220;Talks with Russia/Ukraine continue. The U.S. calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations. If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114474136794655068" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Truth Social.
&#8220;Thousands of young soldiers are dying on a weekly basis, and everybody should want it to STOP. I do, and the United States of America does, also,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;As President, I will stay committed to securing Peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans, and a Lasting Peace it will be! This ceasefire must ultimately build toward a Peace Agreement. It can all be done very quickly, and I will be available on a moment’s notice if my services are needed. Thank you for your attention to this matter!&#8221;

US Vice President JD Vance

‘I Don’t Really Care,’ Biden: Vance Shuts Down Former President’s Ukraine Critique

JD Vance

Joe Biden

Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that the Trump administration thinks Russia is pushing for &#8220;too much&#8221; in the peace talks with Ukraine.
Vance spoke at a Munich Security Conference Q&amp;A, where he addressed numerous foreign policy issues, including the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the effort to negotiate a peace deal between the two countries. The vice president said that to end the war, President Donald Trump has been trying &#8220;to understand where the other side is coming from.&#8221; As peace talks have hit multiple roadblocks in Trump&#8217;s first 100 days in office, Vance said he isn&#8217;t giving up hope that the two countries can come to some sort of agreement.
&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t say that the Russians are uninterested in bringing this thing to a resolution. What I would say is right now, the Russians are asking for a certain set of requirements, a certain set of concessions in order to end the conflict. We think they&#8217;re asking for too much,&#8221; the vice president said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
JD Vance says Russia is &quot;asking for too much&quot; in peace talks with Ukraine. <a href="https://t.co/zyIIsW61Ta">pic.twitter.com/zyIIsW61Ta</a>
&mdash; Zach Jewell (@zach_d_jewell) <a href="https://twitter.com/zach_d_jewell/status/1920137276190846991?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Trump administration is hoping to take a step back from mediating negotiations.
&#8220;We would like both the Russians and the Ukrainians to actually agree on some basic guidelines for sitting down and talking to one another,&#8221; Vance continued. &#8220;Obviously, the United States is happy to participate in those conversations, but it&#8217;s very important for the Russians and Ukrainians to start talking to one another.&#8221;
“We think it’s probably impossible for us to mediate this entirely without at least some direct negotiation between the two, and so that’s what we focus on,” Vance added.
The Trump administration has been talking to both Russian and Ukrainian leaders for months, seeking a way to end the war. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff recently spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for the third time. Some of Russia&#8217;s demands include ensuring that Ukraine will never be admitted into NATO and the recognition of its occupation of Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula it invaded and annexed in 2014. Ukraine, meanwhile, continues to push for NATO membership, a request Trump said in February that Ukraine should &#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgShN8V5dW0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forget about</a>.&#8221;
Vance said that the Trump administration has &#8220;moved beyond&#8221; pushing for a 30-day ceasefire after those talks went nowhere with Russia.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve tried to move beyond the obsession with a 30-day ceasefire and more on what the long-term settlement would look like,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And we&#8217;ve tried to consistently advance the ball.&#8221;
The United States took a major step forward in talks with Ukraine last week, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-ready-to-sign-minerals-deal-with-ukraine-as-soon-as-this-afternoon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signing</a> a minerals agreement with Kyiv. The agreement provides Ukraine with continued military assistance in exchange for the United States getting access to some of Ukraine’s vital natural resources, including aluminum, graphite, oil, and natural gas.
Russia <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/russia-hits-u-s-over-minerals-deal-says-ukraine-is-about-to-disappear" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blasted</a> the minerals deal shortly after it was made, mocking President Trump and saying that Ukraine “is about to disappear.”

Vance Says Russia ‘Asking For Too Much’ In Ukraine Peace Talks

Foreign Policy

Trump Administration

The president cut a very good deal with Ukraine the other day.
The rare earth minerals deal between the United States and Ukraine is a deal Ukraine should have signed back in February. Well, they finally came around and signed it on Wednesday.
According to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/01/world-news/heres-how-trump-made-ukraine-pay-for-military-aid-with-long-awaited-minerals-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a>:
<blockquote>The agreement, inked on Wednesday after months of negotiations, created a shared investment fund to which both nations will contribute — including through oil, gas and mineral rights licenses sold in Ukraine — with the profits split 50/50.</blockquote>
So the United States is not taking money and just throwing it into this fund. We will basically earn credit toward our total contribution equal to the cost of military equipment, technology, or training that we send across the Atlantic. The additional military aid we provide to Ukraine is going to be counted against whatever we would have had to pay into this fund. In some ways, we&#8217;re trading military aid for the development of rare earth minerals in Ukraine. Again, we need rare earth minerals because we&#8217;re presumably not going to get them from China anymore. Ukraine, on the other hand, requires military aid to stand up against the Russian onslaught. It is a good thing, full stop.
President Trump is now showing support for a free and independent Ukraine, and that is an important step. From the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/01/world-news/heres-how-trump-made-ukraine-pay-for-military-aid-with-long-awaited-minerals-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NY Post</a>:
<blockquote>The agreement does not preclude the US from dispatching remaining military aid approved by Congress under former President Joe Biden — which is expected to run out by next month — nor does it require the US to sell any military aid to Kyiv.</blockquote>
It&#8217;s not clear how much money is supposed to go into the fund, but the bottom line is that instead of just providing pure military aid, we are now getting something significant in return.
The Ukrainians see this as a way of ensuring continued American support.
<h3><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/bss-ep-2191-member-exclusive?elementPosition=0&amp;row=2&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH: The Ben Shapiro Show</a></h3>
One source familiar with the strategy originally thought maybe they could leverage the president into a better deal for Ukraine. That did not happen. However, the Ukrainian representative said this is a good deal for both sides.
The Kremlin also recognizes the significance of the deal, albeit through sarcasm.
The deal was mocked by Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev (everybody in the Russian government is a cut-out for Putin), who said the U.S. leader made a deal with a nation that will soon “disappear.”
From the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/01/world-news/heres-how-trump-made-ukraine-pay-for-military-aid-with-long-awaited-minerals-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NY Post</a>:
<blockquote>Trump has finally pressured the Kyiv regime to pay for US aid with mineral resources,” he posted to Telegram. “Now, the country that is about to disappear will have to use its national wealth to pay for military supplies.</blockquote>
That does not sound like a Russia that is ready to come to the table again.
Though the White House itself, in its <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/05/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-secures-agreement-to-establish-united-states-ukraine-reconstruction-investment-fund/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explanation</a> of the minerals deal, suggested:
<blockquote>This partnership represents the United States taking an economic stake in securing a free, peaceful, and sovereign future for Ukraine.
This agreement will also strengthen the strategic partnership between the United States and Ukraine for long-term reconstruction and modernization, in response to the large-scale destruction caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion.</blockquote>
The language of this agreement is some of the most pro-Ukrainian language to come from the Trump administration. This is a positive and necessary shift. If you want Russia to come to the table, the United States can’t threaten to walk away from Ukraine.
According to the White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/05/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-secures-agreement-to-establish-united-states-ukraine-reconstruction-investment-fund/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fact Sheet</a>:
<blockquote>President Trump envisioned this partnership between the Americans and the Ukrainians to show both sides’ commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine.</blockquote>
And by the way:
<blockquote>No state, company, or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine, including participation in projects supported by fund resources.</blockquote>
So, good for Ukraine, good for the United States, and good for President Trump.

President Trump Meets Norwegian Prime Minister Store At White House

What Trump’s Mineral Deal Means For The U.S. And Ukraine

Ben Shapiro

Minerals

Opinion

President Trump

Scott Bessent

Russia responded on Thursday to the United States striking a minerals agreement with Ukraine, mocking President Donald Trump and saying that Ukraine &#8220;is about to disappear.&#8221;
The Trump administration lauded the deal as a significant step forward in pushing back against Russian aggression. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev responded, <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/01/us-news/russia-blasts-trump-over-mineral-deal-says-ukraine-will-soon-disappear/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writing</a> on Telegram, “Trump has finally pressured the Kiev regime to pay for US aid with mineral resources. Now, the country that is about to disappear will have to use its national wealth to pay for military supplies.”
The United States and Ukraine finally agreed to the minerals deal on Wednesday after a months-long negotiation process that hit multiple roadblocks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the &#8220;agreement signals clearly to Russian leadership that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term.&#8221;
Unlike the United States&#8217; previous military aid for Ukraine, the minerals deal will ensure that Ukraine continues to receive military support while the United States will gain access to some of Ukraine’s vital natural resources in return. The agreement sets up an investment fund managed by the United States and Ukraine, which will allow the United States to collect revenue from Ukraine&#8217;s natural resources, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/ukraine-mineral-deal-us-trump.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
The minerals agreement will also make the United States responsible for ensuring that countries “that have acted adversely to Ukraine in the conflict do not benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine.” The deal does not appear to prohibit Ukraine from seeking membership in the European Union, which was a major point for Kyiv during negotiations.
Shortly after the deal was signed, Trump <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-minerals-deal-ukraine-rare-earths-military-aid-50-million-2066533" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> $50 million in military aid for Ukraine, the first military package for Ukraine that Trump has approved since taking office in January.
The minerals agreement marks a major step for the Trump administration, which has been pushing hard for both Ukraine and Russia to come to terms on a peace deal to end the war.

Russia Hits U.S. Over Minerals Deal, Says Ukraine ‘Is About To Disappear’

Ukraine and the United States signed a rare earth minerals deal on Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Treasury confirmed, establishing what they named the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the deal had been finalized in a video posted to social media, saying, &#8220;Today&#8217;s agreement signals clearly to Russian leadership that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term.&#8221;
&#8220;Thanks to President Trump’s tireless efforts to secure a lasting peace, I am glad to announce the signing of today’s historic economic partnership agreement between the United States and Ukraine establishing the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund to help accelerate Ukraine’s economic recovery,&#8221; Bessent said. &#8220;Economic security is national security.&#8221;
The Treasury Secretary added that the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation will establish the investment fund with the Ukrainian government.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>’s tireless efforts to secure a lasting peace, I am glad to announce the signing of today’s historic economic partnership agreement between the United States and Ukraine establishing the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund to help… <a href="https://t.co/N1jPa35DYh">pic.twitter.com/N1jPa35DYh</a>
&mdash; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent/status/1917697018551754802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bessent revealed earlier in the day that Ukraine was ready to agree to the deal after requesting some last-minute changes.
During a cabinet meeting at the White House, Bessent told reporters that the United States was &#8220;ready to sign&#8221; the deal &#8220;this afternoon&#8221; if Ukraine was on board. Ukrainian officials were in Washington, D.C., to hash out the final technicalities of the agreement, and after some last-minute minor changes to the deal on Tuesday night, Bessent was hopeful that the deal will finally be signed.
&#8220;The Ukrainians decided last night to make some last-minute changes. We&#8217;re sure that they will reconsider that, and we are ready to sign this afternoon if they are,&#8221; the Treasury Secretary said.
He added that Ukraine&#8217;s changes don&#8217;t have any major effect on the overall minerals agreement.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecScottBessent</a> on the minerals deal with Ukraine: &quot;Our side is ready to sign. The Ukrainians decided last night to make some last-minute changes. We&#39;re sure that they will reconsider that and we are ready to sign this afternoon if they are.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/U4Pp0i0Dzn">pic.twitter.com/U4Pp0i0Dzn</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1917632594021134598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Both sides had already agreed to the main part of the deal but were working through &#8220;some technical elements,&#8221; according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-30/ukraine-and-us-working-on-last-details-of-critical-minerals-deal?srnd=homepage-americas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg</a>, which cited sources familiar with the discussion. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said earlier on Wednesday that the agreement “will be signed in the near future, hopefully within 24 hours.” Shmyhal added that Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko is traveling to D.C. to sign the deal.
The minerals agreement will give the United States access to some of Ukraine&#8217;s vital natural resources, including aluminum, graphite, oil, and natural gas, Bloomberg reported. In return, Ukraine will receive continued military assistance and guarantees from the United States to help &#8220;the long-term reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine, in response to the large-scale destruction caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion,&#8221; according to a draft of the agreement. According to Shmyhal, the latest draft of the agreement ties the United States and Ukraine together for 10 years, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-putin-trump-peace-ce025ba11929ceff0c90f94c25a47624" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
The deal has been months in the making after hitting a roadblock when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was chided by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office in late February. Following heated discussion, Zelensky was asked to leave the White House without signing the minerals deal.
Trump has been pushing Ukraine and Russia to come to terms on a peace deal to end the war, but he has grown increasingly frustrated with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin over the lack of progress. A signed minerals deal, however, is a major step forward for the Trump administration in its foreign policy talks with Ukraine and would come as Trump celebrates his first 100 days back in office.

Done Deal: U.S. Signs Minerals Agreement With Ukraine

Even before taking office, President Donald Trump began one of the most aggressive foreign policy overhauls in modern history.
Facing two major wars, Trump immediately set out to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Hamas. His administration wasted no time. Even prior to taking office, efforts were underway to bring American hostages and detainees home. So far, the administration has secured the release of 47 unjustly detained Americans.
But Trump’s most dramatic move came through his partnership with Secretary of State Marco Rubio — a sweeping reorganization of the State Department aimed at restoring diplomatic strength and economic leverage.
Here’s what the president has done so far to redefine America’s role on the world stage and counter its global adversaries.
<h3>State Department Restructuring</h3>
CUTTING BLOAT: Under Rubio’s leadership, the State Department initiated <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sweeping-changes-state-dept-shuttering-more-than-130-offices-slashing-staff?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98Sweeping+Changes%E2%80%99%3A+State+Dept+Shuttering+More+Than+130+Offices%2C+Slashing+Staff" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sweeping changes</a> to cut bureaucratic bloat, including plans to close 132 of its 734 offices and a directive giving undersecretaries 30 days to present plans to slash its personnel in individual departments by 15%.
USAID: After being intensely overhauled following an audit by DOGE, USAID was set to be <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/usaid-informs-congress-that-state-department-will-assume-its-responsibilities?author=Mary+Margaret+Olohan&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=USAID+To+Lay+Off+4%2C600+Employees%2C+Will+Merge+With+State+Department+By+Fall" target="_blank" rel="noopener">merged into</a> the State Department. Rubio was named acting deputy administrator and began the task of downsizing the $80 billion office. According to the State Department, Rubio oversaw an 85% cut to USAID programs.
CENSORSHIP AGENCY: In April, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/marco-rubio-tells-ben-shapiro-why-he-nuked-state-departments-censorship-agency?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Marco+Rubio+Tells+Ben+Shapiro+Why+He+Nuked+State+Department%E2%80%99s+Censorship+Agency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rubio announced</a> that the State Department would be closing its Global Engagement Center (GEC), which he claimed “was labeling American speech by Americans as foreign interference.” Originally established in 2011 to counter terrorist propaganda, GEC shifted to focusing on combatting domestic “misinformation” after the 2016 election. According to Rubio, the GEC will also be investigated for being “used as a weapon against the American people.”
<h3>Returning Hostages And Wrongfully Detained Americans</h3>
ISRAELI HOSTAGES: Just days before taking office, Trump’s incoming administration — working alongside the outgoing Biden administration — successfully negotiated a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire, along with a separate deal for Thai nationals, led to the release of 38 hostages before the agreement <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/israel-eliminates-dozens-of-top-hamas-leaders-following-ceasefire-collapse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">collapsed</a> in March. Released American hostage Keith Siegel <a href="https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1897442370720841993" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visited Trump</a> at the White House in March and credited his administration’s efforts with saving him.
AFGHANISTAN RELEASE: Just hours after Trump was sworn into office, the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/overwhelming-gratitude-american-ryan-corbett-released-from-taliban-captivity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Taliban released</a> American hostage Ryan Corbett, who spent 894 days in captivity in Afghanistan. Corbett and William Wallace McKenty were exchanged in a prisoner swap for terrorist Khan Muhammad, who was serving a life sentence in California. Corbett’s family <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/her-husband-is-being-held-prisoner-by-the-taliban-an-interview-with-anna-corbett" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fought tirelessly</a> to secure the release of their loved one. 
VENEZUELA RELEASE: Trump’s envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-envoy-richard-grenell-gets-6-american-hostages-released-from-venezuela" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secured the release</a> of six Americans from socialist-run Venezuela in February. In an interview with <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/world/americas/americans-hostages-venezuela-prison.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a>, three of the prisoners said they were confined to cement cells, beaten, psychologically tortured, and pepper-sprayed. All three were kidnapped as tourists visiting the country.
RUSSIA RELEASE: The Trump Administration secured the release of American <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/president-trump-is-a-hero-marc-fogel-welcomed-at-white-house-after-release-from-russian-prison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">schoolteacher Marc Fogel</a> in February and Russian-American amateur ballerina Ksenia Karelina in April. Fogel, sentenced to 14 years in 2021 for possessing medical marijuana, was welcomed at the White House upon his return and called Trump “a hero.” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-administration-secures-release-american-ballet-dancer-wrongfully-detained-russia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Karelina was arrested</a> in 2024 while visiting her grandmother and sentenced to 12 years for treason after donating $51.80 to Razom, a U.S. charity providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
<h3>Peace Push</h3>
UKRAINE RUSSIA: Trump’s team has made significant efforts toward ending the war in Ukraine, successfully reestablishing diplomatic contact for the first time in three years. Trump has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-where-we-stand-after-trump-met-with-zelensky-at-the-vatican" target="_blank" rel="noopener">met twice</a> with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and dispatched Special Envoy to the Middle East <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/steve-witkoff-says-hes-optimistic-about-ending-russia-ukraine-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steve Witkoff</a> to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Rubio and other senior officials have also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ukraine-russia-ceasefire-rubio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">engaged directly</a> with their Russian counterparts. Though Trump has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-and-vance-clash-with-zelensky-in-fiery-white-house-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expressed frustration</a> with both sides during the negotiations, talks remain active and ongoing.
ISRAEL-HAMAS: Despite the collapse of the previous ceasefire, the Trump administration continues to push for an end to the conflict and the release of the 59 remaining hostages in Hamas captivity. Trump has floated <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/united-states-will-take-over-gaza-strip-trump-says-during-netanyahu-press-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unconventional plans</a> to bring long-term stability to the Gaza Strip — including relocating Gazans elsewhere in the region and placing the area under the control of the United States. With the area rid of terrorists, Trump says Gaza could transform into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
IRANIAN NUCLEAR DEAL: President Trump’s team is preparing for a third round of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-saturdays-nuclear-talks-between-the-u-s-and-iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">negotiations with Iran</a> in an effort to prevent the regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Trump, a loud opponent of  President Barack Obama’s 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, exited the deal in 2017, calling it one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. Trump’s team is pushing a stricter deal that blocks Iran from enriching its own uranium for its civilian nuclear program. If negotiations fail, the president has repeatedly warned that military action remains on the table to disrupt Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
<h3>Taking On Adversaries And Enemies</h3>
PANAMA CANAL: The Trump administration has made it clear it will no longer tolerate growing Chinese influence over the Panama Canal. Trump has routinely escalated pressure on Panama over the Chinese companies operating at both ends of the canal and reportedly directed U.S. Southern Command to draft military options for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-orders-military-to-draw-up-plans-to-retake-panama-canal?author=Ryan+Saavedra&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Orders+Military+To+Draw+Up+Plans+To+Retake+Panama+Canal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taking the canal by force</a>. Some progress was made following Secretary Rubio&#8217;s February visit, when the Panamanian government announced it would allow U.S. Navy ships to pass through for free, though Trump has since demanded that all American ships — including commercial vessels — also pass toll-free.
CHINA: Trump isolated China by imposing a 145% tariff on Chinese imports while granting a 90-day delay on tariffs for other countries, aiming to establish freer trade relationships. China responded with a 125% tariff, though Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trumps-100th-day-chinese-communist-regime-declares-never-kneel-u-s-pressure-fiery-video" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pointed ou</a>t that it’s less impactful, as China exports five times the amount of goods to the United States. The Trump administration also sanctioned Beijing and Hong Kong authorities for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy, and visa restrictions were placed on foreign officials involved in the return of Uyghurs to China and for restricting access to Tibet, according to the State Department.
IRAN: Despite ongoing negotiations, Trump has maintained his maximum pressure campaign on Iran, using sanctions to target Iranian petroleum and petrochemical entities that fund Tehran’s nuclear program, missile development, and terrorist proxies, according to the State Department. Last week, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-sanctions-iranian-petroleum-magnate-caught-trying-to-move-oil-from-texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sanctions were imposed</a> on two Iranian petroleum magnates, one of whom was caught attempting to export cargo to China off the coast of Houston last year. In total, 72 entities, 14 individuals, and 74 vessels were sanctioned.
HOUTHIS: First, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-re-designates-the-houthis-as-a-terrorist-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trump re-designated</a> the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, reversing President Biden’s earlier decision to remove them. Second, he instructed the military to launch weeks of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-orders-troops-to-middle-east-to-counter-houthi-attacks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">intensive airstrike</a>s in response to the group&#8217;s more than 100 attacks on international cargo ships, tankers, and naval vessels following Hamas’ October 7 assault on Israel. Since March, over 800 Houthi targets have been hit, resulting in the elimination of hundreds of fighters and leaders, and Houthi ballistic missile launches and suicide drone attacks are down 69% and 55% respectively, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/us-strikes-kill-hundreds-houthi-fighters-hit-over-800-red-sea-targets-central-command" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported Fox News</a>.
<h3>Foreign Visitors</h3>
GOLD CARD VISA: In a bid to attract high-net-worth immigrants to the United States, Trump unveiled his plan for a “Gold Card” visa. For $5 million, visa holders would have Green Card privileges and a potential path to citizenship. According to Trump, visa holders would contribute to the U.S. economy by spending money, paying taxes, and creating businesses.
REVOKING VISAS: Trump has cracked down on foreign visa holders participating in activities aligned with terrorist organizations, including antisemitic protests on college campuses. Several students and recent graduates have had their visas revoked and have been detained by immigration officials. The most high-profile arrest so far has been Columbia University graduate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-arrest-of-pro-hamas-activist-first-of-many-to-come" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mahmoud Khalil</a>, who is accused of being a ringleader of the anti-Israel protests at his former university. DHS has alleged that Khalil “led activities aligned to Hamas.” Controversy over the arrests has erupted in the media, and several cases are being reviewed by courts around the country.
VETTING IMMIGRANTS FOR ANTISEMITISM: The Trump administration will now begin <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/homeland-security-to-screen-immigrants-and-foreign-students-social-media-for-anti-semitism?row=0&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;title=Homeland+Security+To+Screen+Immigrants+And+Foreign+Students%E2%80%99+Social+Media+For+Anti-Semitism&amp;category=News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">screening immigrants’ social media</a> for antisemitic content and any history of physically harassing Jews. Any information found may be grounds for denying immigration benefit requests for immigrants applying for permanent residency, foreign students, and individuals affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemitic activity.
WOKE GENDER IDEOLOGY: As part of its effort to counter woke gender ideology, the State Department announced it will protect girls and women in academic and professional-level sports by refusing to issue visas for biological men entering the U.S. to compete in women&#8217;s sports. The State Department will also not provide funding for or take part in cultural exchange programs that allow biological men to participate in women&#8217;s sports. The move comes in addition to the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rubio-halts-x-gender-markers-on-passports-after-trump-order" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State Department announcing</a> it will stop issuing passports with “X” as a sex marker.

Untitled design (27)

How Trump And Rubio Put America First In 100 Days

Hamas

Israel

Marco Rubio

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday that Russia would observe a three-day ceasefire with Ukraine from the start of May 8 to the end of May 10, citing &#8220;humanitarian&#8221; reasons and to commemorate the end of World War II.
Putin&#8217;s announcement comes as the Trump administration has put increasing pressure on both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reach a deal to end the war. On Saturday, Trump met with Zelensky while in the Vatican for the funeral of Pope Francis. Meanwhile, his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Moscow on Friday to meet with Putin.
&#8220;By order of Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the Russian side, guided by humanitarian motives, announces a ceasefire for the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War,&#8221; the Kremlin announced on Monday. &#8220;Any military operations will be ceased during this period.&#8221;
&#8220;Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example. In the event of any violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian side, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will give a proportionate and efficient response,&#8221; the Kremlin added. &#8220;The Russian side reiterates its willingness to enter peace talks without preconditions, with a view to eliminating the root causes behind the Ukraine crisis and establishing constructive interaction with international partners.&#8221;
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/stop-the-bloodshed-trump-says-russia-and-ukraine-are-very-close-to-peace-deal?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=‘Stop+The+Bloodshed’%3A+Trump+Says+Russia+And+Ukraine+Are+‘Very+Close’+To+Peace+Deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Friday that Ukraine and Russia were &#8220;very close&#8221; to bringing the war to a close, calling for top leadership in the two countries to &#8220;finish off&#8221; a peace deal. He has been critical of both leaders in recent days, slamming Putin for continuing to launch air attacks into Ukraine and Zelensky for not signing a rare earth mineral deal with the United States.
&#8220;There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,&#8221; Trump posted Saturday on Truth Social. &#8220;It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through &#8216;Banking&#8217; or &#8216;Secondary Sanctions?&#8217; Too many people are dying!!!&#8221;
On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-where-we-stand-after-trump-met-with-zelensky-at-the-vatican?author=Daniel+Chaitin&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=7&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Here’s+Where+We+Stand+After+Trump+Met+With+Zelensky+At+The+Vatican" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the coming week would be &#8220;critical&#8221; for the future of the negotiations.
&#8220;This week is going to be a really important week in which we have to make a determination about whether this is an endeavor that we want to continue to be involved in, or if it’s time to sort of focus on some other issues that are equally, if not more, important in some cases, but we want to see it happen,&#8221; he said. &#8220;There are reasons to be optimistic, but there are reasons to be realistic, of course, as well. We’re close, but we’re not close enough.”

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