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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday proposed a new framework for a partial ceasefire with Russia. In a post on X, Zelenskyy said Kyiv would be willing to release prisoners and agree to a truce that would prohibit attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure. Siobhán O’Grady, Leo Sands, Catherine Belton, and Ellen Francis report for the Washington Post.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
During yesterday’s address to a joint session of Congress, President Trump said that Ukraine is ready to begin peace negotiations “as soon as possible,” adding that Russia is ready for a deal. Trump read aloud a letter he had received from Zelenskyy, hinting at a possible easing of hostilities between the two leaders. The Kremlin said it viewed Trump’s statement “positively.” Vitaliy Shevchenko reports; BBC News reports.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
The EU yesterday proposed a $158 billion fund to boost military spending and support Kyiv, a significant change in the bloc’s approach to defense spending that came hours after the United States suspended military aid for Ukraine. Laurence Norman and Edith Hancock report for the Wall Street Journal.
France is becoming more open to the idea of seizing Russian assets to aid Ukraine, an official told POLITICO. French President Emmanuel Macron is due to address the nation this evening, and is reportedly considering returning to Washington with Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Giorgio Leali and Nette Nöstlinger report; BBC News reports.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
Arab leaders yesterday adopted a $53 billion Egyptian reconstruction plan for Gaza that would avoid displacing Palestinians. Hamas subsequently stated that it welcomed the plan. Meanwhile, White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said the plan “does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable,” adding that Trump “stands by his vision” of transforming Gaza into a “riviera” owned by the United States. Andrew Mills, Yomna Ehab, Nafisa Eltahir, and Nidal Al-Mughrabi report for Reuters; Samantha Waldenberg and Lucas Lillieholm report for CNN.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Israel’s domestic security service, Shin Bet, yesterday took responsibility for disregarding intelligence from Gaza about a planned Hamas raid before Oct. 7. The agency also faulted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for policies that it said had allowed Hamas to amass weapons and funds, among other failures. Ephrat Livni reports for the New York Times.
Israel said yesterday it was ready to proceed to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire providing Hamas was ready to release more of the 59 hostages it is still holding. Hamas said it wants second-phase negotiations to pave the way for a permanent end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal. James Mackenzie reports for Reuters.
Israeli forces killed a Hamas commander and another Hamas operative in a raid on the occupied West Bank’s city of Jenin yesterday, the Israeli military said, adding that three other Hamas members were also arrested. Hamas has confirmed the death of the commander. Reuters reports.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS
The Defense Department is moving to dismantle initiatives aimed at reducing civilian harm and collateral damage in U.S. military operations, according to three defense officials. The move is part of a Trump administration shift that prioritizes “lethality” in military strikes over civilian protection. Alex Horton, Meg Kelly, and Dan Lamothe report for the Washington Post.
The Trump administration has effectively shut down a long-running global air quality monitoring program “due to budget constraints,” the State Department said, bringing to a close reporting from 80 international embassies and consulates. Lisa Friedman and Brad Plumer report for the New York Times.
Hundreds of key federally owned properties are now available for sale, including the headquarters of the Justice Department, Labor Department, and U.S. Census Bureau, the Trump administration announced yesterday, in its bid to reduce the size of the federal government. Aaron Weiner, Joe Heim, and Rachel Weiner report for the Washington Post.
The Internal Revenue Service is preparing to slash as much as 50 percent of its staff, sources say. Andrew Duehren reports for the New York Times.
U.S. FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Trump yesterday announced the capture of a top leader of the self-styled Islamic State in Afghanistan and Pakistan who assisted in planning the 2021 attack on the Kabul airport that killed 13 U.S. service members and dozens of Afghans. Julian E. Barnes and Zia ur-Rehman report for the New York Times.
The United States yesterday re-designated Yemen’s Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, reversing a decision made by former President Biden in 2021. Dan Lamothe and Missy Ryan report for the Washington Post.
The State Department is unfreezing $95 million in military assistance to the Lebanese armed forces, two U.S. officials told Axios. Barak Ravid reports.
Trump could announce a trade deal with Mexico and Canada as soon as today, just one day after Washington imposed punitive tariffs on both nations which sparked countermeasures, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said. Bryan Mena, Elijah Shama, and Vanessa Yurkevich report for CNN.
OTHER U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
Business leaders are paying as much as $5 million to meet one-on-one with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Florida residence, sources told WIRED, while others are paying $1 million to dine with the President in a group setting. Leigh Feiger, Louise Matsakis, and Jake Lahut report.
Democrats yesterday lodged protests throughout Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress, with one representative, Rep Al Green (D-Texas), being forcibly escorted out. Matt Viser reports for the Washington Post; Andrew Solender reports for Axios.
Trump yesterday threatened to remove federal funds from universities that allow what he termed “illegal protests,” a move legal experts say would violate the First Amendment. Alyssa Lukpat and Ken Thomas report for the Wall Street Journal.
Interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin has dropped plans to investigate Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer over a statement he made about two conservative Supreme Court justices in 2020, concluding that an investigation is unfounded, sources said yesterday. Spencer S. Hsu reports for the Washington Post.
The Supreme Court yesterday seemed likely to block Mexico’s $10 billion lawsuit alleging U.S. gun makers have fueled cartel gun violence. Lindsay Whitehurst reports for AP News.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin today in a trial of two former tech executives accused of foreign bribery, despite Trump’s halt on initiating investigation or enforcement proceedings under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Richard Vanderford reports for the Wall Street Journal.
OTHER GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
At least three Serbian lawmakers were injured yesterday after smoke bombs and flares were thrown in Serbia’s parliament. Lawmakers were set to vote on a bill to boost education funding, but opposition parties argued the session was illegal and should first address the January resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic. AP News reports.
The Sahel region of Africa is the “epicenter of global terrorism” and, for the first time, accounts for “over half of all terrorism-related deaths,” according to a new report by the Global Terrorism Index. Harriet Orrell reports for BBC News.
A British arms consultant detained in India for six years without trial over a high-profile $44.7 million corruption case linked to India’s former ruling Congress party must be released on bail, the Delhi High Court has ruled. Neyaz Farooquee reports for BBC News.
Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo went on trial yesterday charged with rebellion, grave abuse of authority, and disturbing public order in a case stemming from Castillo’s attempt to declare a state of emergency and dissolve Congress in December 2022. Franklin Briceño reports for AP News.
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