U.S. foreign policy

Vance says Russia ‘asking for too much’ to end war with Ukraine
The vice president told the Munich Leaders Meeting that the U.S. wants to see Ukraine and Russia speak directly.

Israeli spyware giant NSO Group ordered to pay nearly $170M to WhatsApp for hacking accounts

Romania taken off US visa-free travel list

Trump team clashes with Berlin over AfD designation as right-wing extremist

JD Vance admits Putin’s war in Ukraine won’t end ‘anytime soon’

Trump-Ukraine minerals deal hits yet another late snag
Von der Leyen slams Trump: We don’t punish neighbors
Commission president criticizes the American leader’s trade war, approach to other countries and targeting of universities.
Von der Leyen hopes for Trump meeting at pope’s funeral
The U.S. president has snubbed the EU since coming to power earlier this year.
Europe shows withdrawal symptoms after 75 years of addiction to US troops
European capitals are divided on how to respond to a probable reduction of America’s military presence.
Russia launches huge attack on Kyiv while Trump squeezes Zelenskyy
At least 8 die as Vladimir Putin’s forces hit Ukrainian capital with missiles and drones.
Rubio and Witkoff bail on crucial Ukraine talks amid Crimea split
Donald Trump’s peace proposal involves a potential lifting of sanctions and informal U.S. recognition of Russia’s control over Crimea. That’s a nonstarter for Kyiv.
Ukraine ready to negotiate with Russia — if it agrees to ceasefire first
The change of tone came the day before Ukrainian officials were to meet U.S. representatives in London to discuss a ceasefire plan, with Putin also reportedly open to a deal.
Putin’s Easter pseudo-ceasefire was a publicity stunt to woo Trump, France says
Russia’s Ukraine move was “aimed at preventing President Trump from becoming impatient and angry,” French foreign minister says.
American diplomats shaken by reports of possible cuts
Purported executive order calls for slashing State Department offices and bureaus and overhauling how diplomatic postings work.
Macron invited to UK state visit in May — ahead of Trump
With a relaunch of Britain-EU relations on the horizon, the French leader’s visit will take place months before the U.S. president.
Ukraine and US ink memorandum on rare earths
This is a precursor to a full minerals deal and clarifies U.S. support for a “free, sovereign, and secure Ukraine.”
Ukrainians roll eyes at Witkoff, reject border changes
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff has conveyed Moscow’s desire for peace in exchange for five regions in Ukraine.
US lifts sanctions against key Orbán ally accused of corruption
Penalties against Antal Rogan were “inconsistent with U.S. foreign policy interests,” says a spokesperson for top American diplomat Marco Rubio.
JD Vance: Europe can’t be a ‘permanent security vassal’ of the US
The American vice president concurs with French sentiment that the continent needs to be militarily independent.
Russia frees ballerina in prisoner swap with US
Top American diplomat Marco Rubio praises President Donald Trump for getting the deal done.
Von der Leyen welcomes Trump’s tariff U-turn
Europe exhales as U.S. president hits pause button on most severe tariff regime.
China condemns JD Vance’s ‘peasants’ jibe
Beijing hammers US vice president as lacking “knowledge and respect” in escalating feud.
Ukraine is stuck with Musk’s Starlink for now
Key competitor Eutelsat won’t break Starlink’s grip on Kyiv’s wartime communications overnight.
How Kyiv’s effort to lure Trump with rare earths backfired
Ukraine potentially has large deposits of crucial minerals, but it will take peace and billions of dollars to unlock them.
World trade war escalates as China strikes all US imports with 34 percent tariff
Beijing’s counterattack against Donald Trump comes after Wednesday’s wide-ranging measures.
Russia open to security guarantees for Ukraine ‘in some form,’ Putin’s envoy says after White House talks
Russia’s negotiator insisted there was a “positive outcome” after two days of talks with Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Washington.
National security newbie Matthew Whitaker becomes US NATO envoy
His selection had surprised U.S. allies because the lawyer had no significant foreign policy experience.
Trump promises ‘big, big problems’ if Zelenskyy backs out of minerals deal
U.S. president accuses Kyiv of wanting to renegotiate the proposed agreement on Ukraine’s “rare earths.”
Vance jets in as Greenland’s leader calls for unity against Trump’s coercion
“It is very important that we put aside our disagreements and differences,” says Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Ukraine and Russia do the Trump dance to shift blame for peace-talk problems
But there’s fear in Kyiv that the U.S. president doesn’t care and will lean toward Moscow.