Trump schedules peace talks with Russia and Ukraine after Middle East return
President Donald Trump has returned from his eventful four-day trip to the Middle East, where he visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The President received a warm welcome in each country and secured a number of lucrative deals, such as a purchasing agreement with Qatar for Boeing aircraft and a strategic economic partnership with Saudi Arabia amounting to $600 billion.
Upon his return to the United States, President Trump wasted no time in diving back into negotiations, particularly in Eastern Europe. He announced plans to hold phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday morning in an effort to broker a potential ceasefire between the two nations.
The Russian and Ukrainian officials recently held direct peace talks in Istanbul, but unfortunately, they were unable to reach a ceasefire agreement. Despite this setback, a large prisoner swap was agreed upon during the meeting. Following these talks, a Russian drone strike targeted a passenger bus in northeastern Ukraine, further escalating tensions in the region.
President Trump’s upcoming phone calls with Putin and Zelenskyy are highly anticipated, with hopes of ending the violence and securing lasting peace in the region. Additionally, the President plans to speak with NATO leaders to discuss the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire.
In a separate meeting in Rome, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with President Zelenskyy to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for American support and emphasized the importance of sanctions against Russia until the conflict is resolved.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also warned that nations failing to negotiate trade deals with the U.S. in good faith could face tariff hikes. President Trump’s reciprocal tariff plan, initially announced on April 2, aims to address the trade deficit and bring parity to international trade agreements.
Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans are working to pass President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” through the budget reconciliation process. This legislation, which aims to fund the President’s agenda, has faced challenges from conservative House Freedom Caucus members and Democrats. Despite these obstacles, Republicans are determined to push the bill through before the Memorial Day deadline.
As President Trump gears up for a busy week of negotiations and legislative efforts, the world watches closely to see if he can make progress in brokering peace in Eastern Europe and advancing his economic and foreign policy goals.
