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NBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
The stakes of a potential Trump-Putin summit: From the Politics Desk
Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team's latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. Happy Friday! In today's edition, we dig into a tentatively scheduled summit next week between President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Plus, Kristen Welker previews her interview this weekend with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. And Aria Bendix answers this week's reader question on the Trump administration's latest vaccine moves. — Adam Wollner Trump appears to hand Putin a diplomatic win with a tentatively scheduled summit By Alexander Smith Just when Ukraine and its European allies thought President Donald Trump was coming around to their view of the war, he appeared to give a huge win to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. For Kyiv, this was Trump's deadline to Putin: stop the fighting by Friday or face tough new economic sanctions. Instead, Trump has handed Moscow a diplomatic coup by agreeing to meet Putin face-to-face in a matter of days, their first encounter since the invasion of Ukraine. Trump had initially suggested that such a summit would only go ahead if Putin agreed to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, something the Ukrainian president's administration has long called for but has been resisted by Russia. On Thursday, Trump dispelled the idea that they would have to get together — raising the specter of a bilateral negotiation that freezes out Kyiv. The latest: Gabe Gutierrez and Monica Alba report that the meeting between Trump and Putin is tentatively scheduled for the end of next week. The location is still being discussed, a senior White House official said, but possibilities include the United Arab Emirates, Hungary, Switzerland and Rome. Further details and logistics of the meeting are still unclear and remain very fluid, including whether Zelenskyy will be involved. The stakes: 'The danger for Ukraine is actually quite grave,' said Jonathan Eyal, international director at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank. 'There will be a sense of alarm in European capitals.' For Eyal and others, Ukraine's nightmare is now one step closer to reality: 'Trump will be so pleased by what he perceives as the great achievement of getting Putin to the negotiating table that he grabs any kind of offer that is made,' Eyal said. 'The danger of half-baked compromise, which Trump can claim as his main achievement, is very high.' That compromise could be a temporary ceasefire that would allow Russia to restock its army and give its economy a break from international sanctions, according to Hope for Ukraine, a nonprofit organization based in Roseland, New Jersey. Even if there is no truce agreement, 'a meeting with Trump — no matter the outcome — would be a big diplomatic victory for Putin,' Gabriella Ramirez, Hope for Ukraine's executive assistant, said in an email. 'Putin wants to break his diplomatic isolation,' and such a meeting 'will stroke his ego.' Analysis by Kristen Welker The redistricting fight has boiled over. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vowed Thursday in an interview with NBC News to call 'special session after special session after special session' until state Republicans can pass new maps to pad the party's majority in Congress, as Republicans ramp up their legal threats against the Democrats who fled the state to block their progress. Democrats are vowing to push back. Governors like Illinois' JB Pritzker, California's Gavin Newsom and New York's Kathy Hochul are warning they may move forward on efforts to redraw their own states' districts to boost Democrats if Texas enacts new congressional lines. This push by national Democrats to go 'nuclear' puts them in line with the fight that their voters have said they want to see from their leaders, at a time where poll after poll shows the party at its lowest marks with the American public in decades. But it's a risky bet — potentially more so for Democrats than Republicans. Democrats are up against a significant time crunch to get a special election onto the ballot this fall that could allow them to redraw maps in California. Hochul's tough talk in New York is chastened by the laws there, which require a lengthy legislative process that wouldn't likely lead to new maps until the 2028 elections. And Pritzker's float of a redraw in Illinois runs up against more practical concerns — can Democrats squeeze any more juice out of a congressional map that has 14 Democrats and three Republicans? And if all these efforts are successful, creating a new world where America redraws its congressional districts constantly for short-term political gain, will that be the final nail in the coffin for the already endangered species of political moderates on Capitol Hill? We'll discuss this issue and many more on Sunday's 'Meet the Press,' which includes exclusive interviews with Pritzker, former Attorney General Eric Holder and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. ✉️ Mailbag: The impact of RFK's latest vaccine policies Thanks to everyone who emailed us! This week's reader question is about Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s recent moves on vaccine funding: 'Will there be enough Covid and flu shots available this fall?' To answer this, we turned to health reporter Aria Bendix:We're not anticipating any major supply issues right now. Kennedy's decision this week to cut $500 million in mRNA vaccine contracts doesn't apply to the current shots. Rather, he's slashing federal funds for research projects intended to develop new vaccines, such as inhaled Covid or flu vaccines or shots that protect against bird flu. mRNA vaccines are seen as a critical tool for the next pandemic, since they can be produced and updated quickly. As far as this fall and winter are concerned, flu vaccine manufacturers have already begun shipping doses to health care providers and pharmacies in anticipation of flu season starting around October. And the FDA approved new formulations of the Covid vaccine to be rolled out later this year. However, there may still be a few impediments to getting vaccinated: It's not clear whether insurers will cover Covid vaccines for healthy children or pregnant people after Kennedy said the CDC was no longer recommending them for these groups. And flu vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal — which made up a very small portion of last year's shots — won't be available, per a decision from a Kennedy-appointed vaccine advisory panel.
NBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
With Zelenskyy sidelined from Ukraine war talks, Trump appears to hand Putin a diplomatic win
Just when Ukraine and its European allies thought President Donald Trump was coming round to their view of the war, he appeared to give a huge win to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. For Kyiv, this was Trump's deadline to Putin: stop the fighting by Friday or face tough new economic sanctions. Instead, Trump has handed Moscow a diplomatic coup by agreeing to meet Putin face-to-face in a matter of days, their first encounter since the invasion of Ukraine. Trump had initially suggested that such a summit would only go ahead if Putin agreed to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, something the Ukrainian president's administration has long called for but has been resisted by Russia. On Thursday, Trump dispelled the idea that they would have to get together — raising the specter of a bilateral negotiation that freezes out Kyiv. 'The danger for Ukraine is actually quite grave,' said Jonathan Eyal, international director at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank. 'There will be a sense of alarm in European capitals.' For Eyal and others, Ukraine's nightmare is now one step closer to reality: 'Trump will be so pleased by what he perceives as the great achievement of getting Putin to the negotiating table, that he grabs any kind of offer that is made,', Eyal said. 'The danger of half-baked compromise, which Trump can claim as his main achievement, is very high.' That compromise could be a temporary ceasefire that would allow Russia to restock its army and give its economy a break from international sanctions, according to Hope for Ukraine, a nonprofit organization based in Roseland, New Jersey. Even if there is no truce agreement, 'a meeting with Trump — no matter the outcome — would be a big diplomatic victory for Putin,' Gabriella Ramirez, Hope for Ukraine's executive assistant, said in an email. 'Putin wants to break his diplomatic isolation' and such a meeting 'will stroke his ego.' The 'meeting with Putin is a trap; President Trump must not fall for it,' Ramirez added. Ukraine now finds itself in a bind. 'Zelenskyy cannot appear to be torpedoing what is a Trump initiative,' Eyal said. After his catastrophic fallout with Trump in the White House in February, Zelenskyy has 'just managed to repair his relationship with Trump over the last two months in a very gingerly fashion, and it would be the worst possible thing for him to appear now to be pooh-poohing this summit.' Many Ukrainians were already skeptical. Before the summit was even announced, Artem Bidenko, a political scientist and former deputy minister in Ukraine's government, predicted that Putin 'will most likely offer some kind of bone' to Trump, who 'will say that 'you see, I'm doing well, I'm already achieving peace, and people will stop dying,'' Bidenko said. The White House did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment on these criticisms. Others in Kyiv have more faith in the American leader. 'Trump seems to be irritated enough by the Russians' actions to dare to strike really strong blows at Russia,' said Danylo Vereitin, 31, a sports journalist based in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. 'People with this type of mentality really don't like to look weak or vulnerable.' During the presidential campaign last year, Trump said it would take him just 24 hours to solve the conflict, later updated that to six months and then seemingly forgot about it. Previous warm words about Putin have recently turned stern, and Trump appeared to be losing patience with Russia's 'disgusting' and 'disgraceful' nightly missile attacks on Ukrainian civilians while the White House was attempting to broker peace talks. This culminated in Trump's deadline, first set at 50 days on July 14, then shortened to 10 days on July 29, for Putin to agree a ceasefire or face tariffs against importers of Russian oil and gas products like China, India, Brazil and Turkey. Asked whether this deadline was still active, Trump told reporters Thursday, 'It's going to be up to him' — meaning Putin — 'and we're going to see what he has to say,' adding that he was 'very disappointed' at the situation. The ultimatum has not prompted the Kremlin to move one inch on its war in Ukraine, other than to give Trump a meeting. 'Nothing has changed since, frankly, December 2021, when Putin offered his ultimatum and said, 'Give me what I want or else Ukraine gets it,' said James Nixey, a U.K.-based consultant specializing on Russia. 'Trump has done everything to pressure Russia, short of actually doing anything to pressure Russia,' he added. 'He's made all sorts of pronouncements, threats and Truth Social posts, but not actually undertaken any specific act which harms Russia.' In 2021, Russia's eight-point draft treaty looks much the same as today : a ban on Ukraine ever joining NATO and a withdrawal of NATO forces on Russia's eastern flank. Today, Russia has merely added the additional demand of even more Ukrainian territory. Ukraine has rejected the idea of a ceasefire that would have Russia maintain control over Ukrainian territory in its control, and insisted that any agreement must include 'security guarantees' from its allies so that Moscow is not able to launch future aggression. 'Putin wants Ukraine, Ukraine wants to exist, Trump wants an end to the war and to be able to deal with Russia,' Nixey said. 'All of the major players have different agendas and none of them are aligned on anything.'
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Trump's Envoy Steve Witkoff To Visit Russia This Week: What We Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Russia in the coming days for further talks on the war in Ukraine, according to U.S. President Donald Trump. On Sunday, Trump teased a meeting with Witkoff and Russian officials in the follow-up to previous talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which have not yielded progress. As Russia's bombardments of Ukraine continue unabated, Yuriy Boyechko—the CEO of Hope for Ukraine, a charity that helps communities on the front line of the war—told Newsweek that based on Putin's rhetoric, Witkoff's trip "appears to be a complete waste of time and resources." Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff arrives for his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 25. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff arrives for his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April It Matters Trump has expressed growing impatience at Moscow's intransigence in ending the war it began three and a half years ago, threatening secondary sanctions on Russia if it did not agree to a ceasefire within 50 days. This has since been shortened to less than two weeks, and Trump's announcement of further talks involving his envoy is likely meant to add pressure on Moscow, although the Kremlin's rhetoric since the U.S. president's threats of sanctions suggests no shift in its war aims. What To Know Trump told reporters on Sunday that Witkoff would soon go to Moscow. "I think next week, Wednesday or Thursday," the U.S. president said, and the envoy would convey the message to Russia to stop the killing. Ukrainian media reported this meeting as taking place on August 6 or 7, which would be before a deadline of "10 or 12 days"—down from a previous warning of 50 days—which Trump set for Moscow to agree to a deal or face tough tariffs. Neither the markets nor the Kremlin have responded with concern to either time frame, the latest one falling on August 8. Witkoff, a real estate magnate, has already met Putin several times in Moscow in his role as a White House special envoy, but the Russian leader has repeatedly rejected American ceasefire plans. Trump has stepped up his criticism of Putin in recent weeks, condemning Russia's actions as "disgusting" after a Russian attack on an apartment block in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, killed 31 people on Thursday. Boyechko said Putin was not ready to stop the war and would not back down in his demands that Ukraine hand over the remaining parts of the Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions still under Ukrainian control. He said the focus for the U.S. should be closing loopholes that allow Russia to generate revenue from oil sales and that frozen Russian assets should be used to fund military aid for Ukraine. What People Are Saying U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his special envoy would be in Moscow "next week, Wednesday or Thursday," and that he wanted to "get a deal where people stop getting killed." He added: "We need a lasting and stable peace on solid foundations that would satisfy both Russia and Ukraine, and would ensure the security of both countries." Hope for Ukraine CEO Yuriy Boyechko told Newsweek that based on Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent comments, Witkoff's trip "appears to be a complete waste of time and resources. It is clear that Putin has made up his mind and will continue fighting as long as he has the funds to do so." He added: "For Putin, occupying Ukraine is a life mission. He intends to use Ukrainians under Russian rule to eventually attack NATO countries." What Happens Next Given Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine, the chances of any breakthrough in diplomatic talks appear remote. The Institute for the Study of War said in an assessment that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's comments on Friday, in which he blamed Kyiv for the slowing of negotiations, showed that Moscow was not backing down on its long-standing demands of, in essence, the complete capitulation of Ukraine.
Newsweek
27-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Russia Racing to Make Major Ukraine Gains Before Trump's 50-Day Deadline
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump has teased shortening a 50-day ceasefire deadline he gave Vladimir Putin, whose forces show no signs of easing their efforts to capture a logistics hub in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. Trump suggested on Friday that secondary sanctions against Russia could be imposed earlier than the seven-week deadline he announced this month which was criticized by some as giving Putin too much leeway in continuing his summer offensive. When asked Friday about whether the U.S. might impose secondary sanctions on Russia before the 50-day deadline, Trump replied, "maybe." Yuriy Boyechko, CEO of Hope for Ukraine, told Newsweek that Putin is trying to gain as much territory as he can before the deadline. Other analysts have said that neither Russia nor the financial markets are concerned about Trump's timeline. Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Associated Press/Canva/Getty Why It Matters Trump said on July 14 that if Putin refused to end the war within 50 days, or by September 2, Russia would face "severe" secondary tariffs which could hurt revenues supporting its war machine, particularly regarding oil exports to India and China. But since those comments, Russia has not relented in its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, nor has it stopped its battlefield push, raising questions that Trump has given Putin a seven-week window to continue the summer offensive. What To Know During a White House meeting with NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte in mid-July, Trump expressed his unhappiness with Moscow and warned of tariffs of 100 percent on countries doing business with Russia if no deal was done in 50 days. The U.S. president also announced Ukraine would get more Patriot air defense missiles and other weapons paid for by NATO allies in Europe, in what looked like his toughest stance against Putin. But since that announcement, Russia's attacks on Ukrainian cities and its battlefield push continued unabated. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Friday Russian forces had likely captured Novoekonomichne, northeast of Pokrovsk in efforts to envelop the logistics hub in the Donetsk region which could allow it to push further west toward Dnipro. The think tank said that Russian forces had also advanced into and northwest of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region—also with the aim of enveloping the city and complicating Ukraine's ability to supply positions there. Boyechko, founder of Hope for Ukraine, which aids communities caught up on the front line of the war, told Newsweek that Putin is trying to gain as much territory as he can before Trump's deadline. The Russian president is focusing now on occupying part of the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv and Dnipro which via fake referendums he can later claim should be part of Russia, he said. Boyechko predicted that next few weeks will be very difficult for Ukraine as Putin will use everything he can to make gains before September. "The Russians are attacking civilians' targets with intensity that we have not seen since the start of war," he said. Retired U.S. Vice Admiral Robert Murrett said since Trump's announcement, there is scant evidence that Putin and the Kremlin had modified their maximalist demands—for Ukrainian territory, disarmament and an absence of security guarantees. But neither Russia nor the financial markets seemed to be overly concerned about the 50-day timeline for additional U.S. sanctions, Murrett, deputy director of the Institute for Security Policy and Law at Syracuse University, told Newsweek. Despite the U.S. announcing additional arms to Ukraine mostly via European allies, the Kremlin is still convinced that conditions on the ground are working in their favor and is not interested in even a cease fire, regardless of Kyiv's willingness for this, Murrett added. President Donald Trump arrives at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on July 25, 2025 in Prestwick, Scotland. President Donald Trump arrives at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on July 25, 2025 in Prestwick, Scotland. Andrew Harnik A third round of Ukraine-Russia peace talks held in Istanbul on July 23 saw Moscow again reject a full ceasefire. Ukraine proposed a summit between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin before the end of August which the Kremlin has yet to accept. Aurélien Colson, academic co-director of the ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business, told Newsweek that Trump had given Putin a green light to continue waging war in Ukraine for 50 more days. Trump has already threatened Russia with sanctions or tariffs if Putin does not end the Ukraine war. "Putin ignored him every time, and Trump did nothing in response, every time. There is a pattern here, and it will be repeated," Colsen added. Pushan Dutt, professor of economics and political Science, at INSEAD said given Trump's previous pledges to end the war within 24 hours of taking office, "these deadlines are not only fungible but also highly unreliable." However, even if Russia makes a concerted effort, success is hardly guaranteed given the small gains made since January 2024 at a high cost in troops and equipment. This image taken June 19, 2025 of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, shows burnt cars as civilians are evacuated from the city by Ukrainian forces. This image taken June 19, 2025 of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, shows burnt cars as civilians are evacuated from the city by Ukrainian People Are Saying Yuriy Boychehko, CEO of Hope for Ukraine: "Unfortunately, Putin got a 50-day pass to kill as many people as he can and do whatever he wants in Ukraine. He is happy use this 50 day kill pass to inflict as much pain as he can on Ukrainian people." Aurélien Colson, academic co-director of the ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business: "Trump gave Putin the green light to continue waging war in Ukraine for 50 more days. It will take more pressure against Putin and more support to Ukraine to bring this war to an end." What Happens Next Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that a Zelensky-Putin summit is unlikely to take place within 30 days. Meanwhile Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would speak with both Trump and Putin about convening them for talks in Turkey although eyes will be on Trump over whether he shortens the 50-day deadline.
Newsweek
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
'Dangerous' US Halt to Ukraine Aid Could See Russian Battlefield Gains
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Ukrainian aid group told Newsweek the White House's recent move to pause weapons deliveries to Kyiv was "dangerous and irresponsible." On Tuesday, the U.S. confirmed it had paused the delivery of some of Ukraine's most in-demand equipment and supplies. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the decision was made "to put America's interests first" following a review of U.S. military support to other countries. But it has prompted bipartisan criticism in the U.S. and Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and founder of Hope for Ukraine, predicted it would mean an increase in Ukrainian civilian casualties. The D.C.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War said the U.S. halt of weaponry on air defense interceptors, artillery shells, missiles and rockets would lead to Russian gains as previous American aid suspensions have in the past. Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment. This image from March 6, 2025 shows a Patriot air defense system installed at the military hub for Ukraine at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in Jasionka, southeast Poland. This image from March 6, 2025 shows a Patriot air defense system installed at the military hub for Ukraine at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in Jasionka, southeast It Matters The U.S. has provided about $67 billion in military aid to Ukraine over the full-scale invasion. Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, there have been concerns from Kyiv and its allies about the U.S.'s continuing commitment to this aid. Critics of the U.S. aid suspension say the move is likely to help Russia's military operations against Ukraine only weeks after Moscow launched a summer offensive across multiple parts of the front line. The U.S. move is feared to degrade Ukraine's ability to defend against long-range missile and drone strike capabilities that kill civilians. What To Know Politico first reported that a review of U.S. munitions stockpiles had raised concerns over a dip in the Department of Defense's stockpiles, and that an initial decision to hold back some military aid pledged during the previous administration was made almost a month ago. Aid halted had come through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and donations pulled from U.S. military stocks, which have dwindled due to heavy involvement in the Middle East. The ISW, citing Western media reports, said the U.S. pause on weapons will affect PAC-3 interceptors for Patriot air defense systems, Stinger man-portable air defense systems, 155mm high explosive howitzer munitions and Hellfire air-to-ground missiles. Also impacted will be the supply of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets, grenade launchers and AIM air-to-air missiles. Like previous U.S. aid suspensions to Kyiv, Russia is likely to exploit the halt to push for battlefield gains, the ISW said. This has happened near Avdiivka, in the Donetsk region in mid-January 2024 and in the Kursk region following the suspension of U.S. intelligence-sharing in early March 2025. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed the U.S. move Wednesday saying the fewer weapons Ukraine receives, the sooner the war ends. The ISW said the suspension will consolidate Vladimir Putin's theory he can win a war of attrition with slow advances by outlasting Western support for Ukraine. Boyechko, from Hope for Ukraine, a group helping communities near the front line, told Newsweek Ukrainian civilians will bear the brunt of the U.S. aid freeze. Ukraine needed air defense weapons more than ever as Moscow steps up its daily attacks on civilian targets, he added. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), the co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, posting on X, he will be "demanding accountability" for the move and sent a letter to the White House. Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX) said the freeze comes "at the wrong time" and will look into whether it breaches 2024 legislation on aid to Ukraine, Politico reported. And Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the decision, "fallacious and maybe even disingenuous." What People Are Saying White House spokesperson Anna Kelly: "This decision was made to put America's interests first following a review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the globe." Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and founder of Hope for Ukraine: "The decision by the White House to freeze shipments of air defense and precision-guided weapons to Ukraine is dangerous and irresponsible." "These are defensive weapons that the Ukrainian military uses to protect civilians from daily attacks by Russian missiles and drones." Representative Brian Fitzpatrick wrote on X: "Ukraine's courage must continue to be met with action, and the United States must continue to lead with clarity and purpose." What Happens Next Fitzpatrick has called on the White House and the Department of Defense to hold an emergency briefing but as of Wednesday, it was unclear when the pause would start after Ukraine's Defense Ministry said it has not received formal notification of delays or cancellations.
