Trump's Friday deadline arrives for Russia to agree on ceasefire
Trump warned earlier this week that if Moscow misses the deadline, he will slap sanctions, such as what he calls "secondary tariffs," on countries that buy crude oil or other products from Russia.
Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order imposing an additional 25-percent tariff on goods from India, citing its imports of Russian oil.
Trump also said on the same day that "there's a good chance that there will be a meeting very soon" with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The comment followed a meeting between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin in Moscow on Wednesday.
A senior Kremlin official also announced on Thursday that "at the suggestion of the American side, an agreement was in principle reached to hold" a Russia-US summit meeting "in the coming days."
However, a Russian diplomatic source said officials in Moscow need to see what sorts of sanctions Washington will impose.
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NHK
2 hours ago
- NHK
Azerbaijan, Armenia sign declaration for peace, brokered by Trump
The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia have signed a joint declaration for peace brokered by US President Donald Trump, aiming to end decades of tensions between the two former Soviet republics over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Trump hosted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House on Friday, for the signing of the declaration. The declaration reportedly includes an agreement to establish the "Trump route," a transit corridor connecting Azerbaijan and its autonomous Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia. Aliyev expressed gratitude to Trump, describing the day as historic. Pashinyan also said the declaration would open the door to peace. Trump welcomed the signing of the declaration as a "great thrill" for him, noting that Russian leaders worked hard to find a resolution, but it never happened. The US-brokered move toward peace between the two countries could be seen as signaling a decline in the influence of Moscow, which views former Soviet republics as inside its sphere of influence. The Trump administration is believed to be aiming to demonstrate that the president is making achievements as a peacemaker to end conflicts across the world.
Japan Times
4 hours ago
- Japan Times
Trump says Armenia and Azerbaijan commit to end fighting 'forever'
Armenia and Azerbaijan have committed to a lasting peace after decades of conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday as he hosted the leaders of the South Caucasus rivals at a White House signing event. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and longtime Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Trump's mediation should earn him a Nobel Peace Prize — an award the U.S. leader has been vocal about seeking. The two former Soviet republics "are committing to stop all fighting forever, open up commerce, travel and diplomatic relations and respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Trump said at the event. However, the fine print and binding nature of the deal between the longtime foes remained unclear. The two leaders would have a "great relationship," Trump said. "But if there's conflict ... they're going to call me and we're going to get it straightened out," he added. Christian-majority Armenia and Muslim-majority Azerbaijan have feuded for decades over their border and the status of ethnic enclaves within each other's territories. The nations went to war twice over the disputed Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan recaptured from Armenian forces in a lightning 2023 offensive, sparking the exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians. The Azerbaijan and Armenian leaders shook hands under the satisfied gaze of Trump, before all three signed a document the White House called a "joint declaration." Aliyev hailed the "historic signature" between two "countries which were at war for more than three decades." "We are today establishing peace in the Caucasuses," he added. Aliyev offered to send a joint appeal, along with Pashinyan, to the Nobel committee recommending Trump receive the Peace Prize. "Who, if not President Trump, deserves a Nobel Peace Prize?" he asked. Aliyev also thanked Trump for lifting restrictions on U.S. military cooperation with Azerbaijan, which was announced on Friday. Pashinyan said the "initialing of (the) peace agreement will pave the way to end decades of conflict between our countries and open a new era." The Armenian leader said the "breakthrough" would not have been possible without "peacemaker" Trump, adding that the U.S. president deserved the Nobel. The agreement also includes establishing a transit corridor passing through Armenia to connect Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan, a longstanding demand of Baku. The United States will have development rights for the corridor — dubbed the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP) — in the strategic and resource-rich region. The foreign ministry of Turkey, a longtime supporter of Azerbaijan, hailed the "progress achieved towards establishing a lasting peace" between the two nations. Trump has repeatedly praised his own diplomatic efforts to help halt deadly conflicts, notably between Cambodia and Thailand, as well as arch-foes India and Pakistan. However, months of efforts have yet to solve the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the hunger plaguing Gaza during Israel's offensive. Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed on the text of a comprehensive peace deal in March. But Azerbaijan had later outlined a host of demands — including amendments to Armenia's constitution to drop territorial claims for Karabakh — before signing the document. Pashinyan has announced plans for a constitutional referendum in 2027, but the issue remains deeply divisive among Armenians. Asked what Armenia stood to gain from Friday's deal, a White House official said it was "an enormous strategic commercial partner, probably the most enormous and strategic in the history of the world: the United States of America." "The losers here are China, Russia, and Iran," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The disputed mountainous enclave of Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but was controlled by pro-Armenian separatists for nearly three decades after a war following the break-up of the Soviet Union. Azerbaijan captured part of the territory during a 2020 war, then took all of it with a lightning offensive three years later. Almost the entire local population of around 100,000 ethnic Armenians left for Armenia.
Yomiuri Shimbun
5 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Smithsonian Restores Trump to Impeachment Display in American History Museum
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History on Friday unveiled an updated impeachment display that now includes context about President Donald Trump's historic cases – a change the institution made a week after The Washington Post reported that a temporary placard containing his name had been removed from the exhibit as part of a Smithsonian content review prompted by White House pressure to oust a museum director. The new text makes minor changes to – and offers slightly fewer details than – the temporary signage. 'The National Museum of American History has completed its update to the Impeachment case within 'The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden' exhibition,' the Smithsonian said in a statement on Friday. 'The updated display now reflects all presidential impeachments. Adhering to principles foundational to our role as the nation's museum, we take great care to ensure that what we present to the public reflects both intellectual integrity and thoughtful design.' The statement said that the interim sign, which had been in place from September 2021 until this July, was removed because it was not consistent with other sections of the exhibit and blocked the display case. 'We removed it to make way for a more permanent update to the content inside the case,' the Smithsonian said. The removal drew swift outcry from some members of the public as well as several Democratic leaders. The Smithsonian Institution has faced growing concerns about political interference at the education and research complex amid the Trump administration's efforts to exert more control over its work. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer called the removal 'pathetic' during Senate floor remarks last week. 'You can't make this up,' he said. 'This is a man rewriting history – or thinking he can rewrite history. He can't, but he thinks he can.' The Smithsonian said last week that no government official asked them to remove content from the exhibit. It also said that no other changes had been made at the museum. In a statement, Lindsey Halligan, a White House official charged with scrutinizing 'improper ideology' at the Smithsonian, reiterated that the White House wasn't involved with the revision. 'That said, it's encouraging to see the institution taking steps that align with President Trump's Executive Order to restore truth to American History. As part of that truth, it's important to note that President Trump was acquitted twice by Senate, fully and on every count – a fact that belongs in the historical record.' Some edits to the display's text are evident, including the addition of the word 'alleged' in the placard's description of the conduct that led to Trump's first impeachment. The display's main panel was also updated to reflect include Trump's name alongside Andrew Johnson, Richard M. Nixon and Bill Clinton. Of Trump's first impeachment, the impeachment display now reads: 'On December 18, 2019, the House impeached Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The charges focused on the president's alleged solicitation of foreign interference in the 2020 presidential election and defiance of Congressional subpoenas. Trump was acquitted in January 2020.' The temporary placard had read: 'On December 18, 2019, the House impeached Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The charges focused on the president's solicitation of foreign interference in the 2020 presidential election and his defiance of Congressional subpoenas. President Trump was acquitted in January 2020.' Trump is the only president to have been impeached twice. In 2019, he was charged by the House with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress for his attempts to withhold military aid meant for Ukraine and pressure its government to investigate his political rival Biden. He was acquitted by the Senate in 2020. Then, just over a year later, Trump was impeached again, on a charge of incitement of insurrection following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. He was acquitted a second time, after leaving office. Of his second impeachment, the display reads: 'On January 13, 2021, Donald Trump became the first president to be impeached twice. The charge was incitement of insurrection based on his challenge of the 2020 election results and on his speech on January 6. Because Trump's term ended on January 20, he became the first former president tried by the Senate. He was acquitted on February 13, 2021.' The temporary placard had read: 'On January 13, 2021, Donald Trump became the first president to be impeached twice. The charge was incitement of insurrection, based on repeated 'false statements' challenging the 2020 election results and his January 6 speech that 'encouraged – and foreseeably resulted in – imminent lawless action at the Capitol.' Because Trump's term ended on January 20, his acquittal on February 13 made him the first former president tried by the Senate.' Since returning to the White House in January for his second term, Trump has attempted to exert influence over prominent cultural institutions, including by taking over the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, making drastic changes at the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities and imposing budget cuts on the National Park Service. In March, Trump signed an executive order to eliminate 'divisive narratives' across the Smithsonian museums and 'restore the Smithsonian Institution to its rightful place as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness.' Months later, he attempted to fire Kim Sajet, the director of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, for being a 'highly partisan' person – though he had no authority to do so. The White House provided a list of 17 instances it said supported the president's claims about her, including the caption for the museum's presidential portrait of Trump mentioning his two impeachments and 'incitement of insurrection.' Early Friday afternoon in the 'American Presidency' exhibition, visitors milled about the display case. Some had been aware of the Trump text's removal. 'I heard it was taken out, and I came here to see it,' said Jodi Lindstrom, 49, visiting from Minneapolis. 'I don't think it's a good idea for the president to have a say over what is history. … You can't erase it. It's what happened. So I'm very happy to see it back in.' Following The Post's reporting about the change, the Smithsonian said it would restore Trump to the impeachment display 'in the coming weeks.' 'It does say four now,' said Ed Burk, 75, of Washington, D.C., leaning in to examine the display. But he wasn't satisfied by the alterations. 'Clinton gets a little more attention. Why not something as big for Donald Trump?' Mindy Kiser, 52, visiting from Wichita, had not previously heard about the exhibition's alterations. 'It's disappointing to know that the museum may have caved to outside influences but also reassuring to know that they did the right thing and restored whatever they took away,' Kiser said. Her eyes lingered on the other items in the display case, and then the Trump text, displayed low with two small artifacts: admission to the Senate gallery for impeachment proceedings. 'The fact that he's been impeached twice, it does seem to be a little bit smaller, in my opinion,' she said. But 'in these days, we should just be happy that it's represented at all.'
