Faint signs of life appear in effort to halt Ukraine war
'The Russian side must stop hiding from decisions,' Zelensky said in a video address Saturday evening. Ukraine, he said, has offered a meeting in the coming week in Istanbul, where two previous rounds of talks took place in May and June.
Advertisement
Zelensky said his national security adviser, Rustem Umerov, had conveyed the proposal to the Russian negotiating team.
Russia did not immediately respond directly to Ukraine's offer. The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitri S. Peskov, told Russian state television Sunday that Putin wanted a peace agreement but that 'the main thing for us is to achieve our goals' in the war.
Advertisement
'President Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible,' Peskov said. 'This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy.' Tass, a Russian state news agency, confirmed that the Kremlin had received the offer.
Russia is seeking additional territory, a declaration that Ukraine will not join NATO and will remain a neutral state, limits on the future size of Ukraine's army, and recognition of Russian as an official language in Ukraine, among other demands.
The Trump administration has pushed for an unconditional cease-fire before substantive talks on a final settlement. Ukraine agreed to that condition in March.
In Kyiv, members of Parliament and analysts have held out little hope for a quick resolution in the talks mediated by President Trump, who had said during his election campaign last year that he would end the war, the most lethal in Europe since World War II, within 24 hours of his election. Even as talks began in May, Russia intensified missile and drone bombardments of Ukrainian cities and opened an offensive along the eastern front line.
But by agreeing to talks and another request from the Trump administration to share profits from future natural resources deals, Ukraine succeeded in winning support for the weapons agreement and the threat of sanctions on the Kremlin's trading partners. Under the agreement Trump first announced July 7, allies of Ukraine will donate air defense and other weapons to Ukraine and purchase replacements from the United States. A week later, Trump said he would move to hasten those weapons deliveries, and threatened to impose sanctions on Russia's trading partners to pressure the Kremlin.
Advertisement
'We in Ukraine did everything we could,' Halyna Yanchenko, an independent lawmaker who caucuses with Zelensky's political party, said in an interview. 'Our goal was to show the US that you cannot believe Putin.'
Some success came in the announcements earlier this month from Trump, though the president has flip-flopped on Ukraine policy before and the sanctions deadline that expires in September will do little to curb Russia's offensive underway in the east.
Ukraine is expecting a first delivery of additional Patriot air defense missiles from Germany, which will then replenish its own arsenal from new purchases from the United States. Seven other NATO countries are expected to follow suit.
Ensuring a longer-term supply of air defenses could hasten talks: It would remove an incentive for Russia to delay talks until Ukraine's air defenses run out, when the Russians could threaten ballistic missile attacks on undefended cities and military sites.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
White House takes Powell battle to Fed HQ with tour of $2.5 billion refurb
Renovations at the Federal Reserve are set to get a probing today when a group of Trump allies make a visit to the central bank's headquarters on the National Mall after weeks of mounting criticisms over the $2.5 billion renovation. The high-profile construction site tour is also just one of numerous political pressure points being put before Chair Jerome Powell by President Trump's team and his allies — even as the latest rhetoric from the president and Treasury Secretary Bessent have downplayed the chances of any imminent attempt to fire the central banker. "In eight months, he'll be out," Trump noted on Tuesday, with Bessent adding Wednesday "we're in no rush" to change leadership as both men also showed no signs of making Powell's life simpler anytime soon. In short, Powell's job is looking slightly more secure this week — but the central bank chief's problems clearly aren't going away. Up first is today's visit from Trump allies, some of whom sit on the National Capital Planning Commission, which could go so far as attempting to stop ongoing construction pending further review. Then in the coming weeks, Powell will wrestle with calls for an "exhaustive internal review" of how the Fed operates as well as pressure from Republicans on Capitol Hill that could ramp up in the fall. There's even a long-shot call for the Department of Justice to get involved and look at Powell personally. And it comes as Powell is set to gather the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) next week for another interest rate decision that markets and many analysts say is pushing all of Trump's actions as the president continues a daily pressure campaign to press the central banker and his colleagues to cut interest rates. Read more: How the Fed rate decision affects your bank accounts, loans, credit cards, and investments Up first: A high profile site tour Up first is a tour of the Federal Reserve headquarters at the behest of Trump allies recently appointed to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). James Blair, one of Trump's deputy chiefs of staff, is a new member of the NCPC and has leveled a series of attacks on Powell for weeks now over the building cost overruns, even charging at one point, "What do they not want us to see?" The charges are ones that the central bank has repeatedly defended itself against, even going so far as publishing a page on its website devoted to the renovations, saying the increased costs came because of increased material cost and "unforeseen conditions" like asbestos, toxic contamination in the soil, and a higher-than-expected water table. The costs of the project have grown from around $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion after the Fed submitted designs to the NCPC and received approval from that agency in 2020 and 2021. The two buildings, Powell added in a recent note, were in need of "significant structural repairs" after they had not had a comprehensive renovation since they were built in the 1930s. The changes, argue Trump allies like White House budget director Russell Vought, could mean the project is out of compliance with the approved plan — leading to a possible standoff as to whether the central bank needs to resubmit to the NCPC. Powell is clearly looking to avoid that scenario, writing that the bank "does not regard any of these changes as warranting further review," but White House officials are sending a different message. "We want to see it for ourselves," Blair recently told reporters, adding he is also looking to obtain "all of the revised plans since 2021." In addition to Blair and Vought, today's tour is also expected to include Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, who has emerged as another vocal Powell critic. Pulte has even gone so far as to travel to the site already to film a video as he called the construction costs "very disturbing." Other key pressure points This week's site visit comes as Powell is also weathering an array of pressure points, with many lines of inquiry ongoing from Capitol Hill. Rep. Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania is a subcommittee chair on the House Financial Services Committee and told Semafor this week that he is weighing a congressional investigation of the Fed — even as his Senate colleagues have shied away from that idea. And Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, another Trump ally, even formally requested that the DOJ investigate Powell for perjury over comments in June around the renovations. That is seen as a long shot at best. Perhaps more pressing is that House Speaker Mike Johnson said in an interview with Bloomberg reporters and editors this week that he is "disenchanted" with Powell and even open to modifying the 1913 act that created the Fed. That would be a major change but is not expected to be before Congress in the near term, as the House of Representatives went home Wednesday evening for a recess that is scheduled to last for the rest of the summer. Treasury Secretary Bessent has also called for an "exhaustive internal review" of the Fed, saying it could be Powell's "legacy" as he accused the central bank of mission creep in its non-monetary policy activities. Trump has signaled his support for the effort, and some observers say this could be the most consequential change — if the idea gains steam and looks to reshape how the central bank operates. A recent note from Signum Global Advisors called this potentially "an even more holistic reshaping of the Fed than a 'mere' dismissal of Chair Jerome Powell," adding it's an effort that could extend even beyond the end of Powell's chairmanship. Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Newsweek
27 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Trump Gets Silver Lining in New Poll As More Voters Approve of Economy
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 can take heart from a new Fox News poll that shows rating for the economy improving and feelings on the economic direction inching up even though a majority of voters disapprove of the job he is doing, dislike his new budget law, and doubt his dealings with Iran are making the U.S. safer. The poll was conducted from July 18-21 and is based on interviews with a sample of 1,000 randomly selected voters. Why It Matters The poll is a wide-ranging survey of voter feelings six months after Trump began his second term and comes as his administration is engulfed in a political crisis over the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The poll found that only 13 percent of respondents think the government has been open and transparent about the case. President Donald Trump bangs a gavel after signing the "Big Beautiful Bill Act" at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 4, 2025. President Donald Trump bangs a gavel after signing the "Big Beautiful Bill Act" at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 4, 2025. Brendan SMIALOWSKI / POOL / AFP/Getty Images What To Know Thirty-two percent of voters rate economic conditions positively, the Fox poll shows. That is the highest number, by one percentage point, in about a year. On a personal level, 44 percent rate their financial situation positively, up from 39 percent in March and 38 percent in December. The poll found that 71 percent of respondents said inflation caused them financial hardship in the last six months but that is the lowest number since 2021, and down from a high of 78 percent in 2022, Fox said. The hardship is evenly distributed with large shares of Democrats (79 percent), independents (74 percent), and Republicans (62 percent) saying they felt it. "Overall, 56 percent are dissatisfied with the direction the country is taking. The silver lining is that's an improvement: 68 percent were dissatisfied at the end of last year, and it was 66 percent last summer," Fox said. On the president's key budget legislation, the "The One Big Beautiful Bill," or OBBB, Fox said "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." More respondents disapprove (58 percent) of the legislation than approve (39 percent) and more than twice as many think the law will hurt rather than help their family. Unsurprisingly, opposition to the budget comes from a large majority of Democrats, (89 percent) and independents (70 percent), but also one in five Republicans (21 percent). The poll found that significant shares of Trump's base oppose the bill, including 52 percent of rural voters, 46 percent of white men without a college degree, and 37 percent of white evangelical Christians, Fox said. The elements of the law that voters most dislike are increasing the debt ceiling (74 percent), reducing food stamp funding (65 percent), and making tax cuts permanent for those with higher incomes (64 percent). The most popular elements include removing taxes on tips (70 percent), making tax cuts permanent for those with yearly income of less than $250,000 (68 percent), and increasing military spending (61 percent), Fox said. "The survey reveals the greatest ideological agreement is on ending taxes on tips and making tax cuts to lower-income individuals permanent, as majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents approve—as well as on increasing the debt limit, as majorities of each disapprove," Fox said. Trump gets his best marks on border security with 56 percent approval compared with 44 percent disapproval. Voters are more disapproving of the job he is doing on other top issues such as immigration (48 percent approve and 51 percent disapprove), foreign policy (45 percent approve and 54 percent disapprove), the economy (44 percent approval, 55 percent disapproval), and inflation and tariffs (36 approve while 62 percent disapprove on both). "Currently, 46 percent of voters approve of Trump's performance, while 54 percent disapprove. That's exactly where things stood last month, and better than at this point eight years ago when 41 percent approved," Fox said. Attitudes on the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities were mixed, with 47 percent approving and 50 percent disapproving. On whether the strikes were mostly successful or mostly a failure, 31 percent thought the former and 27 percent the latter with the highest share, 42 percent, saying it was too soon to say. On the Epstein case, only 13 percent think the government has been open and transparent about it, with more than five times as many, 67 percent disagreeing with that, including 60 percent of Republicans and 56 percent of MAGA supporters. One voter in five says they haven't been following the case, Fox said. What People Are Saying Fox News said: "Six months into Donald Trump's second presidency, the political tea leaves are muddled." On Iran, Fox said: "Bottom line, 43 percent think Trump's dealings with Iran have made the U.S. less safe, which is 15 points higher than the 28 percent who say the country is safer," Fox said. What Happens Next The poll indicates that the Epstein case could sap Trump's support but sustained perceptions of an improving economy should help him.
CNBC
27 minutes ago
- CNBC
With no guarantee of an EU-U.S. trade deal, Europe keeps its options open
A trade agreement between the European Union and U.S. could be imminent, however with no guarantees Brussels continues to prepare retaliatory measures. A 15% baseline tariff rate, which includes an around 4.8% duty currently in place, is currently the base-case scenario for EU imports to the U.S., an EU diplomat told CNBC on Wednesday. However, there could also be some exemptions that are still being worked out, they added. The EU may in turn reduce its own levies on the U.S., according to the diplomat. Negotiations between the U.S. and EU have been tough going with pressure mounting ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline which would see imports from the EU to the U.S. hit with a 30% tariff. While this is lower than the 50% rate Trump had previously threatened, it would likely still heavily impact businesses and economies in both the EU and the U.S. "Relative to the risk of much higher extra tariffs such as 30% or even 50% that Trump had occasionally muted before, that would be a positive outcome," Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, commented in a note. But the deal is by no means done yet, with an EU diplomat telling CNBC the "final decision [is] in hands of President Trump." A second EU official also appeared hesitant, telling CNBC that media reports that the EU and the U.S. are closing in on a deal are "too optimistic." "Contacts between both sides continue, but until President Trump speaks his mind we don't have anything concrete. Everything still remains in the open," they said. Trump's administration appeared to strike a similar tone Wednesday. When asked about the potential for a 15% tariff rate, White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai said discussions about any potential trade deals should be considered "speculation," according to a report from Reuters. Trump is notorious for last minute changes of heart and making quick decisions, the latest example of which took place earlier this week on the U.S.-Japan trade deal. During a meeting between Trump and the Japanese delegation, discrepancies and edits were seen on a card outlining the deal on Trump's desk, according to a photo posted on X by Dan Scavino, the White House deputy chief of staff. Despite European markets on Thursday being buoyed by the prospect of a deal, the uncertainty surrounding what a EU-U.S. agreement could look like remains. In the meantime the EU is still working on countermeasures it could impose if U.S. tariffs do come into effect next week. Primarily, these are set to include retaliatory tariffs which could come into force just days after the U.S.' duties. Under the EU's new plan, previously prepared lists of countermeasures targeting goods, will be combined in one list, totalling 93 billion euros ($109.4 billion). There has also been widespread talk about the EU deploying its so-called "Anti-Coercion Instrument," which has been described as the "nuclear option." If enforced, U.S. suppliers could face restricted access to the EU market. For example they would be unable to participate in public tenders in the bloc, there could be curbs on exports and imports, and foreign direct investment could be limited. While France has so far been the only country to call "for immediate establishment of coercion," if no agreement is struck, "there seems to be a broad qualified majority voting for establishing coercion," the EU diplomat told CNBC.
