ISTANBUL (Reuters) — Russian and Ukrainian negotiators will meet in Istanbul on Wednesday for their first peace talks in more than seven weeks, with Moscow under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to strike a deal or face tough new sanctions.
The Kremlin played down expectations of any breakthrough at the meeting, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this week should focus in part on preparing a summit between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
&#8220;Naturally, no one expects an easy road. Naturally, this will be a very difficult conversation. The projects (of the two sides) are diametrically opposed,&#8221; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
A Ukrainian diplomatic source said Kyiv saw a Putin-Zelensky meeting as the key requirement for a breakthrough.
&#8220;The Ukrainian delegation has come to Turkey prepared to take significant steps toward peace and a full ceasefire, but everything will depend on whether the Russian side is willing to take a constructive approach,&#8221; the source said.
A Turkish foreign ministry source said the meeting at the Ciragan Palace was expected to start at 1600 GMT with opening remarks to the two delegations by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
Previous talks on May 16 and June 2 led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers. But those meetings lasted less than three hours in total and made no breakthrough towards ending the war that started with Russia&#8217;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Trump has patched up relations with Zelensky after a public row with him at the White House in February, and has lately expressed growing frustration with Putin.
Last week, he threatened heavy new sanctions on Russia and countries that buy its exports unless a peace deal was reached within 50 days, though reaction on financial markets suggested investors were skeptical that he would follow through.
Three sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters last week that Putin, unfazed by Trump&#8217;s ultimatum, would keep on fighting in Ukraine until the West engaged on his terms for peace, and that his territorial demands may widen as Russian forces advance.
On Wednesday, Russia said its forces had captured the settlement of Varachyne in Ukraine&#8217;s Sumy region, where Putin has ordered his troops to create a buffer zone after Ukraine mounted a shock incursion into Russia last year and held onto a chunk of its territory for months. Reuters could not independently confirm the battlefield report.
In recent weeks, Russian forces have launched some of their heaviest air attacks of the war, focusing especially on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
Ukraine has hit back with attacks of its own, and last month inflicted serious damage on Russia&#8217;s nuclear-capable strategic bomber fleet by smuggling drones close to air bases deep inside the country.
Zelensky said earlier this week that the agenda for talks was clear: the return of prisoners of war and of children abducted by Russia, and the preparation of a meeting between himself and Putin.
Putin turned down a previous challenge from Zelensky to meet him in person and has said he does not see him as a legitimate leader because Ukraine, which is under martial law, did not hold new elections when Zelensky&#8217;s five-year mandate expired last year. Russia also denies abducting children.
The Kremlin said this week it was unrealistic to expect &#8220;miracles&#8221; from the talks.
At the last meeting on June 2, Russia handed Ukraine a memorandum setting out its key demands, including: full withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from four regions of the country that Russia has claimed as its own; limits on the size of Ukraine&#8217;s military; enhanced rights for Russian-speakers in Ukraine; and acceptance by Kyiv of neutral status, outside NATO or any other alliance.
Ukraine sees those terms as tantamount to surrender, and Zelensky described the Russian stance as an ultimatum.
Ukraine wants an immediate ceasefire, reparations, international security guarantees, and no restrictions on its military strength.
(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov, Tom Balmforth and Tuvan Gumrukcu; writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Toby Chopra)

Donald Trump/ Vladimir Putin/Volodymyr Zelensky

Russia And Ukraine To Hold First Peace Talks In Seven Weeks As Clock Ticks On Trump Ultimatum

Donald Trump

Russia

Ukraine

Ukraine-Russia War

Vladimir Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky

At least two people were killed and 15 injured after Russia launched another massive assault on Ukraine overnight into Monday, as hundreds of missiles and drone attacks rained down on the capital of Kyiv and other cities.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched roughly 450 missiles and drones, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/ukraine-drones-moscow-airport-disruptions-intl-hnk">reported</a>. The strikes occurred just hours before NATO officials were expected to meet to discuss President Donald Trump&#8217;s plan to provide more weapons to Ukraine.
“Rescue and emergency efforts are underway in our cities and communities following the Russian attack. Damage has been reported in Kyiv and the region, as well as in the Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. Attack drones were also intercepted over the Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Poltava, and Kherson regions,” Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky posted on X. “Russian strikes are always an assault on humanity — in Kyiv, a kindergarten caught fire, along with residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure. Ordinary apartment buildings were damaged in Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and the region.”
Zelensky said a 12-year-old child was among those killed in the strikes. The entrance to a subway station was hit, and officials say a kindergarten caught fire due to falling debris or a direct hit.
“I am grateful to everyone working in Ukraine and with Ukraine to defend lives — to expand weapons production, strengthen our air defense, and continue work on sanctions,” he continued. “Only real pressure on Russia can stop this aggression.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Rescue and emergency efforts are underway in our cities and communities following the Russian attack. Damage has been reported in Kyiv and the region, as well as in the Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. Attack drones were also intercepted over the Sumy, Khmelnytskyi,… <a href="https://t.co/wuNfaMwWk8">pic.twitter.com/wuNfaMwWk8</a>
&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1947193015874805776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
In early June, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated that Ukraine has suffered between 60,000 and 100,000 deaths since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. “The Kremlin has enlisted convicts from its prisons and welcomed more than 10,000 troops from its ally North Korea, but it has left the children of Moscow and St. Petersburg elites largely untouched,” CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/04/europe/russia-war-casualties-1-million-ukraine-intl">noted</a>, adding:
<blockquote>
Instead, Moscow has recruited in the far north and far east of the country, where men have been lured by pay packages that are life-changing among poorer communities in those regions. “Putin likely considers these types of soldiers more expendable and less likely to undermine his domestic support base,” the study noted.
</blockquote>
CSIS <a href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/assessing-russian-firepower-strikes-ukraine">reported</a> in October 2024, “From September 28, 2022, to September 1, 2024, Russia launched a total of 11,466 missiles. &#8230; there were 17 days during the study period when missile launches exceeded 82 missiles in a single day. &#8230; Maintaining an average of over 23 missiles launched daily over nearly two years demonstrates a high level of sustained military capability in Moscow and logistical support from countries like Iran, North Korea, and China.”

UKRAINE-RUSSIA-CONFLICT-WAR

Russia Pounds Ukraine In Overnight Strike, School And Homes Hit

Drones

Global Politics

Missiles

World

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are on the cusp of striking a &#8220;mega deal&#8221; that would send battle-tested Ukrainian drones to the United States in exchange for Kyiv receiving another batch of weapons from Washington, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/07/17/us-news/trump-zelensky-discuss-drone-mega-deal-for-us-to-buy-battle-ready-ukraine-uavs/">reported</a> on Thursday.
Zelensky revealed the potential deal in a discussion with the Post, saying, &#8220;The people of America need this [drone] technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal.&#8221; If a deal is struck, Ukraine also promised to share information with the United States on what it has learned about modern warfare during the conflict with Russia, according to Zelensky.
“I think this is really a mega deal, a win-win, as they say,” he said.
The White House did not respond to The Daily Wire&#8217;s request to comment.
Throughout the war, Ukraine&#8217;s drone fleet has proved to be vital in defending the country from Russia&#8217;s aerial assaults. Kyiv&#8217;s drones have also been used to launch attacks on Russia. Last month, Ukraine smuggled 117 drones into Russia, which were used for a massive assault on Russian air bases, taking out 41 Russian aircraft, including roughly one-third of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-ukraine-pulled-off-its-massive-drone-strike-inside-russia">reported</a>.
The United States military has fallen behind its adversaries, including Russia and China, in producing drones and training troops to use them in battle, according to a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/business/drones-us-military-manufacturing-lags.html">report</a> earlier this week from The New York Times. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged that the United States must catch up on drone warfare technology and <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2025/Jul/10/2003752117/-1/-1/1/UNLEASHING-U.S.-MILITARY-DRONE-DOMINANCE.PDF">moved</a> last week to rescind “restrictive policies” and &#8220;red tape&#8221; getting in the way &#8220;of American manufacturing and warfighter ingenuity.&#8221;
“So while our adversaries have produced millions of cheap drones before us, we were mired in bureaucratic red tape. Not anymore,” Hegseth said in a video filmed alongside U.S. military members outside the Pentagon.
&#8220;In June, President Trump issued an executive order unleashing American drone dominance to bolster our drone industry and arm our warfighters because that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re all about,&#8221; he added.
Hegseth said that the move includes bolstering &#8220;the nascent U.S. drone manufacturing base by approving hundreds of American products for purchase by our military.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance <a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DOGE</a> <a href="https://t.co/esaQtswwDb">pic.twitter.com/esaQtswwDb</a>
&mdash; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1943748870993064004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump&#8217;s relationship with Zelensky has grown warmer in recent weeks after the Ukrainian president was blasted in the Oval Office in February for his continued requests for American assistance. Earlier this month, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-have-to-trump-to-send-ukraine-more-defensive-weapons?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98We+Have+To%E2%80%99%3A+Trump+To+Send+Ukraine+More+Defensive+Weapons">vowed</a> to send Ukraine more defensive weapons as Moscow ratchets up attacks on Ukrainian cities.
“They are getting hit very hard. … We’re gonna have to send more weapons,&#8221; Trump said, adding, “I’m disappointed, frankly, that President Putin hasn’t stopped.”

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky

Trump Considering ‘Mega Deal’ To Exchange Drones, Weapons With Zelensky

Military

Pete Hegseth

Politics

U.S. Military

KYIV (Reuters) — Russia attacked cities across Ukraine overnight with hundreds of drones and a missile strike, hitting energy infrastructure and wounding at least 15 people, authorities said on Wednesday.
Ukraine&#8217;s air force said Russia launched 400 drones and one ballistic missile, primarily targeting Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, and Vinnytsia &#8211; three cities in different parts of Ukraine.
The large-scale long-range attacks targeted energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X.
Power was cut for 80,000 families in Kryvyi Rih and other locations in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine&#8217;s largest private energy company DTEK said on the Telegram app.
The air force said it had shot down most of the drones, but that 12 targets were hit by 57 drones and the missile.
Russia has stepped up attacks on cities across Ukraine this summer, regularly sending several hundred drones accompanied by ballistic missiles. The attacks were cited by U.S. President Donald Trump this week as a reason for his decision to approve more weapons for Ukraine, including air defenses.
&#8220;Russia does not change its strategy, and to effectively counter this terror we need a systemic strengthening of defences: more air defences, more interceptor (drones), more determination to make Russia feel our response,&#8221; Zelensky wrote.
In Vinnytsia and the surrounding region, eight people were wounded, according to Ukraine&#8217;s interior ministry.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on X that drones had hit a factory of the Polish wood flooring producer Barlinek Group in Vinnytsia, which is in the western part of central Ukraine.
&#8220;The plant manager told me just now that it was deliberate, from three directions&#8230; Putin&#8217;s criminal war is getting closer to our borders,&#8221; he added.
The head of the military administration in Kryvyi Rih, Oleksandr Vilkul, said Russian forces conducted an extended attack with a missile and 28 drones. He said water supplies had also been disrupted in some areas.
A 17-year-old boy had been severely injured in the attack and was fighting for his life in the hospital, Vilkul added.
In Kharkiv, a frequent target of Russian attacks, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said at least 17 explosions were recorded in a 20-minute drone attack in which three people were injured.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said air defence units had gone into action for a time in the capital, but there were no reports of casualties or damage there.
Russia has killed thousands of civilians in attacks on Ukrainian cities since launching its full-scale invasion more than three years ago. Moscow says civilian infrastructure, such as energy systems are legitimate targets because they help Ukraine&#8217;s war effort. Ukraine also launches long-range strikes on targets in Russia, although on a more limited scale.
(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Max Hunder, additional reporting Anns Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Leslie Adler, Saad Sayeed, Peter Graff)

Aftermath of what authorities said was Ukrainian drone attack, in Voronezh

Russia Attacks Ukraine With Hundreds Of Drones, Energy Infrastructure Hit

Kyiv

On Monday, President Trump reportedly asked Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky if Ukraine could strike Moscow and St. Petersburg if Trump offered the necessary weapons. He also revealed a plan in which European nations would buy American weapons and transfer them to Ukraine.
Reports in The Financial Times and The Washington Post cited anonymous sources saying that Trump had encouraged Zelensky to strike deeper into Russia, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted those reports, telling <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/trump-zelensky-moscow-st-petersburg-putin-russia-strikes-2099034">Newsweek</a>, &#8220;The Financial Times is notorious for taking words wildly out of context to get clicks because their paper is dying. President Trump was merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing. He&#8217;s working tirelessly to stop the killing and end this war.&#8221;
In a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump set a deadline for Russia: If no peace deal is reached with Ukraine in 90 days, he will be “doing very severe tariffs &#8230; Tariffs at about 100%, you’d call them secondary tariffs. You know what that means.” A White House official told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/14/politics/us-ukraine-weapons-trump">CNN</a> that “secondary tariffs” meant secondary sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil.
“I am grateful to President Trump for his readiness to help protect our people’s lives,” Zelensky wrote on X. “This war continues solely because of Russia, because of Putin’s desire to drag it out. Russia is trying to make the war seem like the ‘new normal.’ We must never put up with this. Everything humanly possible must be done to force Russia to stop the killings, to achieve real peace, and to ensure security. Peace is only possible through strength. Russia’s war financing must be cut off. Its ties with Iran and North Korea must be cut off. Any supply of components and equipment for Russia’s military industry must be cut off.”
“I’m grateful to our team and to the United States, Germany, and Norway for preparing a new decision on Patriots for Ukraine,” he continued. “We are also working on major defense agreements with America.  Ukraine is absolutely ready for all honest and effective steps toward peace – lasting peace – and real security. It is Russia that isn’t ready. It is Russia that must be forced. And this is whatʼs happening.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I am grateful to President Trump for his readiness to help protect our people’s lives. This war continues solely because of Russia, because of Putin’s desire to drag it out. Russia is trying to make the war seem like the “new normal.” We must never put up with this. Everything… <a href="https://t.co/i16GSeTSqZ">pic.twitter.com/i16GSeTSqZ</a>
&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1944833457622016479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“I spoke with @POTUS,&#8221; Zelensky said. “It was a very good conversation. Thank you for the willingness to support Ukraine and to continue working together to stop the killings and establish a lasting and just peace.  President Trump shared details about his meeting with the @SecGenNATO. It’s important that we have such a good relationship, and that the Alliance countries are working to increase defense spending. We discussed the necessary means and solutions with the President to provide better protection for people from Russian attacks and to strengthen our positions. We are ready to work as productively as possible to achieve peace. We agreed to catch up more often by phone and coordinate our steps in the future as well. Thank you, Mr. President! Thank you, America!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I spoke with <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>. It was a very good conversation. Thank you for the willingness to support Ukraine and to continue working together to stop the killings and establish a lasting and just peace.
President Trump shared details about his meeting with the <a href="https://twitter.com/SecGenNATO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecGenNATO</a>. It’s…
&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1944844682493653138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
On Monday, President Trump also spoke of sending weapons to help Ukraine and placing sanctions on Russia.
“My conversations with him [Putin] are very pleasant, and then the missiles go off at night,” Trump said. “He fooled Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden — he didn’t fool me.”
“Europe has a lot of spirit for this war,” Trump continued. “When I first got involved I really didn’t think they did, but they do. The level of esprit de corps they have is amazing,” CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/14/politics/us-ukraine-weapons-trump">reported</a>.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker spoke of Trump’s comments about sending a “full complement” of weapons to Ukraine, saying, “All weapons are both offensive and defensive. Obviously an air defense system is important and critical for the situation, but at the same time we’re not taking anything off the table.”

President Trump Returns To White House From New Jersey

Trump To Sell Weapons To Europe For Transfer To Ukraine

Europe

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that his administration would sell the &#8220;best equipment&#8221; and &#8220;best missiles&#8221; to NATO for Ukraine&#8217;s defense and threatened to impose 100% &#8220;secondary tariffs&#8221; on Russia as it continues to wage war on Ukraine.
During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House, Trump said, &#8220;We&#8217;ve made a deal today where we&#8217;re going to be sending them weapons and they&#8217;re going to be paying for them.&#8221;
&#8220;The United States will not be having any payment made,&#8221; he added. &#8220;We&#8217;re not buying it, but we will manufacture it, and they&#8217;re going to be paying for it.&#8221;
&#8220;We have an ocean separating us,&#8221; the president <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1944783154327204286">continued</a>. &#8220;We make the best stuff, but we can&#8217;t keep doing this — and Biden should&#8217;ve done this years ago.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;We make the best equipment, the best missiles&#8230; the European nations know that&#8230; We&#39;ve made a deal today where we&#39;re going to be sending them weapons and they&#39;re going to be paying for them. The United States will NOT be having any payment made.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/TG2URSC3Ya">pic.twitter.com/TG2URSC3Ya</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1944780326531698861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Rutte agreed that &#8220;it&#8217;s totally logical&#8221; for Trump to want European countries to pay for Ukraine&#8217;s defense.
&#8220;This is again Europeans stepping up,&#8221; Rutte said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been in contact with many countries. I can tell you at this moment Germany, massively, but also Finland and Denmark and Sweden and Norway, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, Canada — they all want to be part of this, and this is only the first wave. There will be more,&#8221; Rutte added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecGenNATO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecGenNATO</a>: &quot;You want Ukraine [to have] what it needs &#8230; but you want the Europeans to pay for it — which is totally logical.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/k2tSUfCGJ4">pic.twitter.com/k2tSUfCGJ4</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1944779973316792809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The 100% tariffs on Russia would go into effect if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not reach a peace agreement with Ukraine within 50 days, according to Trump. The &#8220;secondary tariffs&#8221; would penalize countries that do business with Russia, such as those purchasing Russian oil and gas. Trump&#8217;s 100% tariff rate on Russia is lower than what some GOP lawmakers are pushing for. A bill introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) proposes 500% tariffs on nations that deal with Russia.
&#8220;We are very, very unhappy with [Russia], and we&#8217;re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don&#8217;t have a deal in 50 days,&#8221; Trump said. He added that his talks with Putin have become meaningless.
&#8220;I speak to him a lot about getting this thing done, and I always hang up and say, &#8216;Well, that was a nice phone call,'&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;And then missiles launched into Kyiv or some other city, and I said, &#8216;strange.'&#8221;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;We are very, very unhappy with [Russia], and we&#39;re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don&#39;t have a deal in 50 days.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/hQSTIng1zj">pic.twitter.com/hQSTIng1zj</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1944778508669943868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Last week, Russia launched two major drone and missile attacks on Ukraine after Trump publicly expressed disappointment with Putin. The strikes included a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/clear-escalation-of-terror-russia-hits-kyiv-with-another-major-missile-and-drone-attack">barrage</a> on Kyiv that killed at least two people and wounded 16 more.
Trump praised Ukraine and other European nations for their &#8220;spirit&#8221; during the war, a major change in tune from just a few months ago, when the president blasted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for requesting more U.S. assistance in the fight against Russia.
&#8220;I think this is a chance at getting peace,&#8221; Trump said of the new deal with NATO and Ukraine. &#8220;Europe has a lot of spirit for this war. When I first got involved, I really didn&#8217;t think they did, but they do &#8230; they really think it&#8217;s a very, very important thing to do or they wouldn&#8217;t be doing it.&#8221;

President Trump Meets NATO Secretary General

Trump Strikes Deal With NATO To Send Weapons To Ukraine On Europe’s Dime

NATO

Trump Administration

President Donald Trump is prepared to take a much harsher approach toward Russia to bring the war in Ukraine to an end, according to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
Graham on Sunday said to “stay tuned” for presidential announcements on sanctions, asset seizures, and other levers that the Trump administration could pull to increase pressure on Russia to negotiate for an end to the war.
“The idea of America selling weapons to help Ukraine is very much in play,” Graham said in an interview on CBS’s “Face The Nation.”
“I don&#8217;t want to get ahead of the president, but stay tuned about seized assets,” he continued. “The Europeans want to limit the interest on the assets to go to Ukraine. Secretary Bessent wants to go further. Stay tuned about a plan to go after the seized assets more aggressively. Stay tuned for a plan where America will begin to sell to our European allies a tremendous amount of weapons that can benefit Ukraine.”
Trump in recent weeks has grown more disillusioned with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 
“We get a lot of bulls*** thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He&#8217;s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless,” the president said at a cabinet meeting last week.
Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut introduced a bill that would authorize Trump to levy up to 500% tariffs on countries that purchase Russian uranium, oil, and gas. Graham said the bill would be a “literal sledgehammer” to Russia and its economic allies.
“The big offenders here are China, India, and Brazil. India buys oil from Russia cheap and resells it. That&#8217;s despicable,” said Graham. “The only way you&#8217;re going to end this war is to get people who prop up Putin; make them choose between the American economy and helping Putin.
“You can only have one negotiator, and that&#8217;s going to be President Trump with maximum flexibility to end this war. China, India, and Brazil, you&#8217;re about to get hurt big time if you keep helping Putin,” the South Carolina senator warned.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said during an interview today with CBS News that people should “stay tuned” for tomorrow’s announcement from President Trump regarding Russia, with him adding, “The game, regarding Putin&#39;s invasion of Russia, is about to change. I expect,… <a href="https://t.co/i9wafmCMc1">pic.twitter.com/i9wafmCMc1</a>
&mdash; OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) <a href="https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1944468651928592584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The president has not voiced public support for the bill. The president has said he is willing to sign it with a caveat: the bill be modified to give him more flexibility over the sanctions. Graham said last week that he would revise the bill to give the president authority to waive the sanctions completely, according to <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/09/trump-is-interested-in-new-russia-sanctions-but-theres-a-catch-00445148">Politico</a>.

Lindsey Graham

‘Stay Tuned’: Lindsey Graham Says Trump Is About To Wallop Russia Over Frozen Peace Talks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Malaysia on Thursday, seeking to push Russia toward peace with Ukraine through “a new and different approach.”
Following the talks, Rubio did not specify what exactly was said, but told reporters, “I think it’s a new and a different approach. I wouldn’t characterize it as something that guarantees peace, but it’s a concept that I’ll take back to the president,” the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-russia-ukraine-rubio-lavrov-tariffs-trump-asean-ca7569c363260b1a63bae12153fa7dd3">reported</a>. The meeting between the United States and Russia took place at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, where 10 nations, including Russia, China, and the United States, gather for their annual meeting.
Despite the Trump administration’s continued efforts to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine, Russia has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/clear-escalation-of-terror-russia-hits-kyiv-with-another-major-missile-and-drone-attack?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=%E2%80%98Clear+Escalation+Of+Terror%E2%80%99%3A+Russia+Hits+Kyiv+With+Another+Major+Missile+And+Drone+Attack">launched</a> two massive missile and drone <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/russia-launches-largest-drone-and-missile-attack-yet-against-ukraine?author=Jayden+Jelso&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Russia+Launches+Largest+Drone+And+Missile+Attack+Yet+Against+Ukraine">attacks</a> on Ukraine this week after President Donald Trump expressed disappointment in Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin’s escalation has frustrated President Trump, who said earlier this week, “We get a lot of bulls*** thrown at us by Putin.”
Rubio acknowledged Trump’s displeasure with Russia, telling reporters after the 50-minute meeting, “We need to see a roadmap moving forward about how this conflict can conclude. And then we shared some ideas about what that might look like. We’re going to continue to stay involved where we see opportunities to make a difference.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the discussion with Rubio a “substantive and frank exchange of views.”
“Both countries reaffirmed their mutual commitment to finding peaceful solutions to conflicts, restoring Russian-American economic and humanitarian cooperation, and unimpeded contact between the societies of the two countries, something which could be facilitated by resuming direct air traffic,” Russia added. “The importance of further work to normalize bilateral diplomatic relations was also emphasized.”
Russia’s latest attack on Kyiv included 18 missiles and 400 drones, some of which targeted residential areas. Two people were killed in the attack, a 68-year-old woman and a 22-year-old police officer. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russia’s attack “a clear escalation of terror by Russia.”
“This demands that we speed things up. Sanctions must be imposed faster, and pressure on Russia must be strong enough that they truly feel the consequences of their terror,” Zelensky added. “There’s a need for quicker action from our partners in investing in weapons production and advancing technology.”
The Trump administration said earlier this week that it would send more defensive weapons to Ukraine amid Russia’s increased aggression. Trump is also reportedly considering hitting Russia with sanctions.

TOPSHOT-MALAYSIA-US-ASEAN-DIPLOMACY

Rubio Meets With Russia, Pursues New Approach After Deadly Attacks On Ukraine

Marco Rubio

Two days after President Donald Trump expressed disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia launched another major missile and drone attack at Ukraine&#8217;s capital overnight Wednesday, killing at least two people and wounding 16 more, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukrainian police said on Thursday morning that Russian missiles struck eight different districts in Kyiv, targeting residential areas, the BBC <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3rvpe06rxo">reported</a>.
&#8220;Residential buildings, vehicles, warehouses, office and non-residential buildings are burning,&#8221; said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv Regional Administration. According to the Ukrainian government, a 68-year-old woman and a 22-year-old police officer were killed at a metro station during Russia&#8217;s bombardment.
Zelensky added that Russia fired 18 missiles and launched 400 drones targeting Kyiv. The latest Russian offensive came just one night after Putin hit Ukraine with the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/russia-launches-largest-drone-and-missile-attack-yet-against-ukraine?author=Jayden+Jelso&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Russia+Launches+Largest+Drone+And+Missile+Attack+Yet+Against+Ukraine">largest</a> drone and missile attack since the start of the war.
&#8220;This is a clear escalation of terror by Russia — hundreds of &#8216;shaheds&#8217; every night, constant strikes, and massive attacks on Ukrainian cities,&#8221; Zelensky posted on X. &#8220;This demands that we speed things up. Sanctions must be imposed faster, and pressure on Russia must be strong enough that they truly feel the consequences of their terror. There’s a need for quicker action from our partners in investing in weapons production and advancing technology.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Last night, Russia launched a massive combined strike that lasted nearly 10 hours. 18 missiles, including ballistic ones, and around 400 attack drones were used — nearly 200 of them were &quot;shaheds.&quot;
The main target of the attack was Kyiv and the region. Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava,… <a href="https://t.co/jtBo0YYQ8d">pic.twitter.com/jtBo0YYQ8d</a>
&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1943199462135824718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
As President Trump continues to seek a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, Putin has stepped up his aggression in the war. Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Putin, telling reporters on Tuesday, &#8220;We get a lot of bulls*** thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He&#8217;s very nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.&#8221;
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-have-to-trump-to-send-ukraine-more-defensive-weapons?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98We+Have+To%E2%80%99%3A+Trump+To+Send+Ukraine+More+Defensive+Weapons">said</a> earlier this week that the United States will send more defensive weapons to Ukraine, so the country can &#8220;defend themselves.&#8221;
“I’m disappointed, frankly, that President Putin hasn’t stopped,” Trump added.
Some Republicans in Congress, led by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) in the House and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the Senate, are pushing Trump to impose sanctions on Russia and punish Putin for his refusal to work with Ukraine and the United States on a peace agreement. The president is <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/09/trump-is-interested-in-new-russia-sanctions-but-theres-a-catch-00445148">reportedly</a> considering the idea of hitting Russia with new sanctions and punishing nations that trade with Putin.
“[Trump] told me he thought it would be helpful,” Graham said, referring to his bill that would place a 500% tariff on any country that imports Russian uranium, gas, or oil. “We want to be a team. We want to help the president. This is an effort to give the president leverage he doesn’t have today.”

Russian attack on Kyiv

‘Clear Escalation Of Terror’: Russia Hits Kyiv With Another Major Missile And Drone Attack

attack

Just days after President Donald Trump said he was &#8220;disappointed&#8221; with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia bombarded Ukraine with its largest drone attack of the war. 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky <a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1942835716905382384">claims</a> that 741 aerial vehicles participated in the attack on Tuesday night and into the early hours of Wednesday morning, with the Ukrainian Air Force reporting a mix of 728 attack drones and decoys, as well as 13 missiles. According to the Air Force, 711 drones and seven missiles were neutralized, with impacts recorded in at least four locations. 
The northwestern Volyn region, in which the city of Lutsk is located, was the primary target, and Zelensky stated that damage was recorded in ten other cities: Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A new massive Russian attack on our cities. It was the highest number of aerial targets in a single day: 741 targets – 728 drones of various types, including over 300 shaheds, and 13 missiles – Kinzhals and Iskanders. Most of the targets were shot down. Our interceptor drones… <a href="https://t.co/Lxa5TdYVXT">pic.twitter.com/Lxa5TdYVXT</a>
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1942835716905382384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“This is a telling attack,&#8221; Zelensky <a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1942835716905382384">wrote</a> on X. “It comes precisely at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace, to establish a ceasefire, and yet only Russia continues to rebuff them all.”
He called the assault “massive” and painted it as a sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not interested in the United States-led effort to end the war.
“This is yet another proof of the need for sanctions — biting sanctions against oil, which has been fueling Moscow&#8217;s war machine with money for over three years of the war,” he said. “Secondary sanctions on those who buy this oil and thereby sponsor killings.”
“Our partners know how to apply pressure in a way that will force Russia to think about ending the war, not launching new strikes. Everyone who wants peace must act.”
According to<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/russia-launches-largest-drone-attack-ukraine-kyiv-pushes/story?id=123599312"> ABC News</a>, June took the record for the most long-range drones and missiles launched into Ukraine — 5,438 and 239, respectively. On Monday, President Donald Trump announced plans to resume weapons shipments to Ukraine after they were paused due to concerns about U.S. stockpiles. 
“They are getting hit very hard. … We’re gonna have to send more weapons,” he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-have-to-trump-to-send-ukraine-more-defensive-weapons?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=11&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98We+Have+To%E2%80%99%3A+Trump+To+Send+Ukraine+More+Defensive+Weapons">said</a>, then later added: “I’m disappointed, frankly, that President Putin hasn’t stopped.” 
Ukraine also launched attacks on Russia throughout Tuesday night. The Defense Ministry in Moscow said they destroyed 86 Ukrainian drones, 4 of which were over the Moscow region. Flight restrictions were temporarily enforced at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. 
On Tuesday, Zelensky <a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1942661575178948872">stated</a> that he had ordered his defense officials to intensify contacts with the United States regarding continued military aid. 
“[This primarily concerns] air defense, as well as all other elements of supply from the U.S.,” he said in his nightly video address, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukraines-zelenskiy-says-he-ordered-intensified-contacts-with-us-deliveries-arms-2025-07-08/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">according to</a> Reuters. 
“These are critical deliveries that mean saving lives and protecting Ukrainian cities and villages. I expect results from these contacts very soon. And this week, we are preparing formats for meetings of our military and political teams.”

Russia Launches Largest Drone And Missile Attack Yet Against Ukraine

President Donald Trump fields questions on tariffs, Ukraine, and Jeffrey Epstein during his sixth cabinet meeting, fallout continues from the Central Texas floods, and the Trump administration rejects amnesty but hints at flexibility for some illegal immigrant workers.
It’s Wednesday, July 9, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Trump Buries Epstein &amp; Farm Labor Finds Future" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nARaSeqB5ow?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
&nbsp;
If you’d rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
&nbsp;
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trump-buries-epstein-farm-labor-finds-future-7-9-25/id1576594336?i=1000716460444" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
&nbsp;
<h2>Trump Convenes His Cabinet</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-944393" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
Topline:  President Trump provided new details on tariffs, support for Ukraine, and Jeffrey Epstein during a wide-ranging cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Cabinet meetings traditionally take place behind closed doors, but on Tuesday, President Trump spent nearly two hours taking questions from reporters. While many questions addressed the recent flash flooding in Texas, the president also spent a considerable amount of time discussing his plans for new tariffs.
In April, President Trump announced a 90-day pause on his ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs to offer countries a chance to negotiate lower rates — but warned that any country that didn’t come to the table would be hit with massive tariffs on July 9. However, despite early signs of optimism from our trading partners, the reality is that we have yet to see the “90 deals in 90 days” that the White House initially promised. 
To date, the only countries with formal, finalized trade agreements are the United Kingdom and Vietnam. 
The White House insists it is approaching the finish line with the European Union, India, and Cambodia, among others, but the administration clearly needs more time. On Monday, the president signed an executive order extending the tariff deadline to August 1. In an effort to expedite negotiations in the meantime, Trump sent letters to more than a dozen countries, stating that without a deal, they would face enormous tariffs on August 1, and if they raised rates in response, the United States would increase them even further. 
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also announced that the United States government had collected “about $100 billion in tariff income thus far this year” and projected that that figure could rise to well over $300 billion by the end of the year.&#8221;
Meanwhile, since taking office and that disastrous White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Trump administration has significantly cut its military and financial support for Ukraine. Trump said that he was worried Zelensky would avoid peace talks if he knew the United States would send an endless supply of weapons, and there were those in Washington who believed Russian President Vladimir Putin would be more willing to come to the table if support was cut off.
But with Moscow stepping up its attacks on population centers in Ukraine and Putin repeatedly backing out of peace talks, Trump has reversed himself and announced that the United States would resume weapons shipments to Ukraine. Trump later added that he’s seriously considering even harsher sanctions on Moscow.
“We want to put defensive weapons because Putin is not treating human beings right,” Trump told reporters. “We get a lot of bullsh** thrown at us by Putin — you want to know the truth. He&#8217;s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.&#8221;
President Trump also turned heads with his remarks on Jeffrey Epstein – the Trump administration essentially closed its case on Epstein this week, saying there is no evidence that he was murdered, had a client list, or blackmailed powerful individuals. 
That decision has dominated the headlines, but the president seemed irritated, even <a href="https://x.com/9mm_smg/status/1942628135263989932">exasperated</a>, when asked about it.“Are people still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable. Do you wanna waste the time… I can’t believe you’re asking a question about Epstein at a time like this.”
&nbsp;
<h2>Tensions High In Texas After Flash Floods Kill Over 100 People</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-944395" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-2-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-2.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
Topline: While rescue and recovery operations continue in Texas, some are already asking why communities were so unprepared for the natural disaster.
The tragedy that has killed more than 100 people, with many still missing, has left officials to face tough questions. Searches are underway throughout Central Texas. Rains and flash flood warnings have hindered progress, and officials have had to not only look for those missing, but also protect the emergency responders and volunteers that have joined the search crews.
“In the Kerr County area alone, there are 161 people who are known to be missing,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2yquWcGJ9g&amp;t=2938s">said</a> on Tuesday. “We will not stop until every missing person is accounted for. Know this also, there is very likely more to be added to that list.”
Press conferences have started to become testy, however, with local and national reporters pushing officials to answer increasingly pointed questions about their disaster response, including but not limited to, “Was the emergency manager awake?”
Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice defended the decision not to issue an evacuation order before the flooding, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgKRuDsTEyk&amp;t=1303s">arguing</a> that “evacuation is a delicate balance, because if you evacuate too late you then risk putting busses, or cars, or vehicles, or campers on roads into low water areas trying to get them out which then can make it even more challenging, because these flash floods happen very quickly.”
Critics have claimed that recent cuts to the National Weather Service led to the organization being understaffed and less prepared. Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz characterized those allegations as “partisan finger-pointing” and claimed that the local NWS office had surged “additional manpower” in anticipation of possible flooding. The NWS union, which has generally been very critical of the recent cuts, has also said that the reductions did not impact the response.
&nbsp;
<h2>To Deport, Or Not To Deport</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-944397" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-3-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-3-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/MRN-7.9.25-Seg-Head-3.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
Topline: The Trump administration is again signaling a shift in how it is addressing illegal immigration in the farming industry. 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been authorized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to continue worksite raids on farms to sweep for illegal immigrants. That directive was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/17/politics/homeland-security-immigration-raids-resume">issued</a> in June, shortly after the administration announced a pause on those raids, as well as raids at hotels and restaurants. Since then, the Trump administration has sent additional signals that it is attempting to balance its commitment to deporting all illegal aliens with more immediate economic concerns, including potential workforce shortages.
“We’re going to take care of our farmers and hotel workers, but we&#8217;re working on it right now,” President Trump said. “We have a lot of cases where ICE would go into the farm, and these are guys that are working there for 10 to 15 years, no problem. … The farmers know them. It’s called ‘farmer responsibility’ or ‘owner responsibility,’ but they&#8217;re going to be largely responsible for these people, and they know these people…They can be here legally. They can pay taxes and everything. They&#8217;re not getting citizenship, but they get other things. And the farmers need them to do the work.”
That approach has caused backlash among some of the president&#8217;s more ardent supporters, many of whom favor a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal aliens living and/or working in the United States.
In June, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins <a href="https://x.com/BrookeLRollins/status/1934240461717143696">expressed</a> her full commitment to the America First agenda, but said deportations were being “prioritized” in a way to avoid “severe disruptions to our food supply.” On Tuesday, after being questioned by Daily Wire White House Correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan, Rollins elaborated that the Trump administration will offer illegal immigrants working on farms “no amnesty under any circumstances. Mass deportations continue, but in a strategic and intentional way as we move our workforce toward more automation and toward a 100% American workforce.”
Some reports, mostly out of California, said illegal immigrant farm laborers stopped showing up to work out of fear of deportation, and crops had gone unharvested. One <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/01/ice-raids-crops-california-farms">report</a> cited numerous farm supervisors who stated that the number of workers dropped dramatically since raids began in California; one supervisor claimed that only 80 of 300 people showed up to work, while another saw a drop from 80 workers to 17. Recent estimates by the Department of Agriculture suggest that about <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-economy/farm-labor#:~:text=Roughly%20Half%20of%20Hired%20Crop,unauthorized%20is%20highest%20in%20California.">40-50%</a> of crop farmworkers are either in the country illegally or lack proper work authorization.

MRN 7.9.25 Thumbnail V1

Morning Brief: Trump Says No Amnesty For Illegals & Texas Flood Fallout

brooke rollins

Cabinet

California

Farming

flooding

Floods

illegal immigrants

Jeffrey Epstein

Media

Morning Wire

Tariffs

Ted Cruz

Texas

Trade War

weapons

President Donald Trump vowed on Monday to resume weapons shipments to Ukraine as Russia continues to pound the country with airstrikes and drone attacks.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-told-zelensky-he-wasnt-responsible-for-weapons-holdup-f684444b?mod=hp_lead_pos4">told</a> The Wall Street Journal that per Trump&#8217;s orders, &#8220;the Department of Defense is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops.&#8221;
“We have to, they have to be able to defend themselves,” Trump said. “They are getting hit very hard. &#8230; We’re gonna have to send more weapons.”
“I’m disappointed, frankly, that President Putin hasn’t stopped,” Trump added on Monday night.
Last week, it was reported that weapons shipments to Ukraine had been paused, surprising the administration in Kyiv, as well as officials in the State Department. Asked on Tuesday who ordered the pause in weapons shipments to Ukraine last week, Trump replied, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. Why don&#8217;t you tell me?&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kaitlancollins</a> on Ukraine weapon shipments: &#8220;So, who ordered the pause last week?&#8221;
President Trump: &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. Why don&#8217;t you tell me?&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/k2YKFkbCK7">pic.twitter.com/k2YKFkbCK7</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1942632501538705496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump, who vowed to end the war between Russia and Ukraine on his first day back in office, added that he wants to send Ukraine defensive weapons &#8220;because Putin is not treating human beings right. He&#8217;s killing too many people.&#8221;
Trump&#8217;s move to restart weapons shipments to Ukraine comes after months of negotiations with Ukraine and Russia in hopes of reaching a peace agreement, but to no avail. After publicly berating Zelensky in the Oval Office in February, Trump has appeared to become more friendly with the Ukrainian president while ramping up his criticism of Putin. Trump spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ukraines-zelensky-says-latest-call-with-trump-was-most-productive-yet">conversation</a> that Zelensky called &#8220;the most productive&#8221; talks he has had with Trump.
“We discussed air defense issues, and I’m grateful for the willingness to help. The Patriot system is precisely the key to protection against ballistic threats,&#8221; Zelensky said.
Trump also spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone last Thursday and pushed him to end the war with Ukraine, a request that Putin refused, according to the Kremlin, the WSJ reported. Trump said he was &#8220;very disappointed&#8221; after the call and said they &#8220;didn&#8217;t make any progress&#8221; on a peace deal.
Shortly after the phone call between Trump and Putin, Russia launched its largest drone and missile attack on Ukraine since the start of the war.

‘We Have To’: Trump To Send Ukraine More Defensive Weapons

Menu