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Trump impatient for peace Administration calms tariff turmoil Democrats in Congress eye exits Young people: U.S. headed in wrong directionAt the outset of his second term, President Trump vowed to end Russia’s war in Ukraine within 24 hours. Then, his administration promised a peace deal within the first 100 days.
Now, with the 100-day deadline fast approaching, talks with Kyiv and Moscow are at a standstill, and U.S. officials have threatened to walk away from negotiations if no progress is made.
Trump on Wednesday lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying he was harming peace talks with Russia after the Ukrainian leader said Kyiv would never recognize Russia’s occupation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. In a post on Truth Social, Trump rejected Zelensky’s red line on Crimea and said the territory was “lost years ago” and “and is not even a point of discussion.”
Trump is reportedly offering U.S. recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea as part of a peace plan that was separately delivered to Ukrainian and Russian officials last week.
Zelensky said Tuesday in a press conference in Kyiv that “Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. … There’s nothing to talk about here. This is against our constitution.”
Meanwhile, Russian forces launched a major missile and drone attack on Kyiv today, killing at least nine people in the city, and injuring more than 60. It marked the largest Russian attack in months.
Relations between Kyiv and Washington have been rocky ever since a heated exchange during Zelensky’s visit to the Oval Office in February, where tensions boiled over when Zelensky noted that Russia has broken agreements with Ukraine in the past.
Trump then raised his voice and pointed his finger at Zelensky, accusing him of "gambling with World War III" and being "disrespectful" to the U.S. The president ordered a pause on military and intelligence aid and stepped back from a planned rare minerals deal.
Since then, U.S. officials have held separate talks with their Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in an aim to end the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The latest U.S. ceasefire plan would freeze territory along the current front lines of the war and renege on international sanctions imposed on Moscow following the invasion. Ukraine has long refused to accept Russia’s claims on its lands, particularly in Crimea.
Trump’s Wednesday pressure came as European allies met in London to discuss a peace proposal to end the war. Both Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff opted to skip the summit after being slated to attend.
To agree to a peace plan, Ukraine and European countries want assurances that Russia is willing to agree to a ceasefire to provide space to negotiate a final agreement, Bloomberg News reports, and they want to ensure Moscow is willing to accept an agreement that would include security guarantees from Ukraine’s Western partners.
The main winner of the drawn-out negotiations: Russia. Since retaking office, Trump has sought to normalize relations with Moscow and spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Two months ago — after speaking with Putin by phone — Trump said Ukraine was unlikely to get all its land back from Russia or to join NATO.
Separately, the White House has undertaken a concerted effort to undo measures aimed at holding Russia and its leaders and allies accountable for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Witkoff, meanwhile, is in Moscow this week for another round of peace talks with Russian officials.
Speaking on Friday during a trip to India, Vice President Vance made the administration’s stance clear.
“We’ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it’s time for them to either say yes or for the United States to walk away from this process,” Vance told reporters. “The only way to really stop the killing is for the armies to both put down their weapons, to freeze this thing and to get on with the business of actually building a better Russia and a better Ukraine.”
The Atlantic analysis: Trump’s proposal to end the war in Ukraine isn’t a peace plan — it’s a reward for aggression.
Beyond peace talks with Russia and Ukraine, the clock is ticking on Trump’s two-month timeline to reach a deal with Iran over its nuclear program. Trump has signaled optimism ahead of a third round of talks later this week.
But it’s still unclear whether Washington and Tehran can find common ground between eliminating Iran’s nuclear program and returning to something more like the Obama-era nuclear agreement that restricted Tehran’s ability to create a weapon, but left much of its nuclear infrastructure intact. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters on Wednesday both Iran and the Trump administration appear committed to reaching a deal.
“I think these are negotiations that are very, very serious. Are very, very serious,” he said during a visit to Washington, following meetings in Tehran last week. “I don’t see any improvisation here, not at all.”
▪ The Free Press: Rubio warned that a potential war with Iran would be “much messier” and “more complex” than military engagements the American people have seen reported in recent years.
▪ Reuters: Iran is fortifying buried nuclear sites as talks with the U.S. continue, a report says.
SMART TAKE with NewsNation’s BLAKE BURMAN:
Are empty shelves really a possibility? President Trump was reportedly warned about that in a meeting with some of the biggest retailers earlier this week if the trade war with China continues at this level.
I spoke with Ryan Petersen, the CEO of Flexport, and he suggested that possibility would be in play.
“That’s what's going to happen if they [tariffs against China] don't get relaxed,” Petersen told me. He also said a retreat from the tariffs at this point could have harmful consequences.
“There could be this bullwhip effect of cargoes returning to the market, but there's no ships there to pick them up, and you'll see bottlenecks similar to what we saw during COVID,” he said.
While the stock market has proven to be one real-time tariff pulse, what’s happening on the water could be a harbinger of what’s to come.
Burman hosts “The Hill” weeknights, 6p/5c on NewsNation.
3 THINGS TO KNOW TODAY:
▪ Because of larger-than-anticipated crowds lined up for hours to get inside Saint Peter’s Basilica to pay respects to Pope Francis lying in state, the Vatican kept the doors open all night. World leaders plan to attend the funeral Saturday.
▪ Second lady Usha Vance, a quiet sounding board for her husband, Vice President JD Vance, described her family’s visit to India, which concluded today, as “a trip of a lifetime.”
▪ The Hill’s Gavel: How Trump is targeting international students.
LEADING THE DAY
© The Associated Press | Jacquelyn Martin
PATIENCE IS A BITTER PLANT, BUT ITS FRUIT IS SWEET: As the Chinese proverb suggests, U.S. tariffs aimed at Beijing have tested diplomacy and strategy between the two largest world economies. But the administration’s more conciliatory rhetoric Tuesday and Wednesday managed to calm financial markets and was met in China with a view to possible next steps beyond tit-for-tat tariffs.
The president and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking separately, said they recognize the risks of a prolonged trade standoff with China.
Trump — aware that his job approval has tumbled since February, sounded an upbeat note — insisting a trade deal with Beijing would be “fair,” even as he lamented, “We're not going to be a laughingstock that got taken advantage of by virtually every country in the world."
The Hill: Trouble signs emerge for Trump in the latest Decision Desk HQ/The Hill polling average.
Bessent said the U.S. and China seek mutual benefits. “I don’t think either side believes that the current tariff levels are sustainable,” he said.
Beijing on Wednesday signaled openness to trade negotiations with the U.S., although a Chinese official warned against more White House threats. No time frame for discussions has been mentioned.
“China’s attitude towards the tariff war launched by the U.S. is quite clear: We don’t want to fight, but we are not afraid of it. If we fight, we will fight to the end. If it’s negotiations, the door is wide open,” said China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun.
WITH A TARIFF RETREAT reported Wednesday, Trump plans to exempt carmakers from some U.S. levies following intense lobbying by industry executives. The changes described by the Financial Times would exempt car parts from the tariffs on imports from China to counter fentanyl production, as well as those levied on steel and aluminum. The U.S. would leave in place a 25 percent tariff on all imports of foreign-made cars. A separate 25 percent levy on parts would also remain and is due to take effect on May 3. It’s the latest signal that Trump is willing to listen to favored industries after his trade policies sparked recession worries and a sell-off in global markets this month.
The president on Wednesday told reporters the U.S. is not considering raising car tariffs on Canada now. “But at some point it could go up, because, again, we don't really want Canada to make cars for us,” he said in the Oval Office.
▪ The Hill: The Treasury Secretary said Trump’s tax cuts might get through Congress by July 4. That’s viewed on Capitol Hill as optimistic.
▪ BBC: The United Kingdom is working "flat out" to get an agreement with the U.S. that’s in Britain’s national interest, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said, adding the U.K. is “not going to rush.”
▪ The Hill: Will Trump's trade war usher in the end of dollar dominance?
POLITICS AND CONGRESS: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the No. 2 Democrat, announced Wednesday he is not seeking reelection next year, capping off a decades-long Senate career and substantial legislative record. First elected to the House in 1982 and to the upper chamber in 1996, Durbin, 80, is now among a quartet of Democrats who’ve announced Senate retirements. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, which means that Democrats, even those who say they’re eager to welcome younger members and looking for strategies to climb out of the minority, are facing headwinds in next year’s midterms.
The Hill: Who is interested in succeeding Durbin in his Democratic leadership role? Names swirling on Wednesday: Sens. Brian Schatz (Hawaii), Amy Klobucher (Minn.) and Patty Murray (Wash.).
Separately, Klobuchar is weighing the leadership ladder in the Senate while pondering a second bid for the White House, reports The Hill’s Alexander Bolton.
Politico: Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) is expected on May 5 to formally announce her retirement from the House at age 80. The Chicago Tribune notes there are other candidates in the contest.
WHERE AND WHEN
The House and Senate are out this week. The president will host Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre for lunch and a bilateral meeting at the White House. Trump will sign executive orders at 4:30 p.m. He will depart the White House for Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va., for a “MAGA Inc. dinner” at 7:30 p.m. and return to the White House by 10 p.m.ZOOM IN
© The Associated Press | Jose Luis Magana
EXITING THE DOGE HOUSE? Billionaire Elon Musk basks in kudos from the president, perhaps a contrast with Tesla investors this week. The CEO told those who finance his car company that he will soon be spending less time as a government volunteer and more time leading his business, which experienced a 71 percent plunge in earnings in the first quarter.
Musk is credentialed as a “special government employee” through May 30, tasked to help Trump identify federal savings through firings, freezes on federal contracts and erased agencies and offices, all under the aegis of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“Starting probably in [the] next month, May, my time allocation to DOGE will drop significantly,” Musk said during Tuesday’s Tesla earnings call.
Trump heaps public praise on Musk, calling him “brilliant,” but accounts of the billionaire’s testosterone-infused antics and sharp elbows with Cabinet secretaries have made their way into the press and strained patience among other VIPs in the president’s orbit.
The New York Times: Musk is backing away from Washington, leaving significant changes behind. His goal has not been met of finding $1 trillion in federal savings from waste, fraud and abuse.
Veterans Affairs Department: A new internal task force at the mammoth department wants employees to report anti-Christian bias among coworkers going back to the Biden administration.
Trump education orders: The president signed seven executive orders Wednesday dealing with education, altering civil rights rules in Title VI regulations while also impacting college accreditation, artificial intelligence used in schools, foreign gifts to colleges, backing for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and apprenticeships.
ELSEWHERE
© The Associated Press | Andrew Harnik
YOUNG VOTERS see the nation heading in the wrong direction, and they are under financial strains, according to a Harvard Youth Poll released Wednesday. More than 4 in 10 young Americans under 30 say they're "barely getting by" financially, while just 16 percent of respondents report doing well or very well. Just 15 percent believe the country is heading in the right direction, and fewer than one-third approve of Trump or either party in Congress.
Trump made inroads with young voters in the November presidential election, but the Harvard poll suggests that relatively few appear satisfied with his time in office thus far. Young people’s trust in government institutions is declining overall, the poll found, with Generation Z broadly voicing skepticism of all three branches of government to act in its best interests.
Housing shortages, student loan debt and an increased cost of living are only exacerbating the issues. College loan repayments are due.
Millions of borrowers are behind in their payments, and defaulted borrowers will need to come up with a plan in the next few weeks as the Trump administration will restart involuntary collections for those who have missed student loan payments. After five years, the Department of Education announced on Monday those in default, or those who have not paid on their loans for more than 270 days, could see their wages and Social Security benefits garnished starting May 5. The decision, impacting more than 5 million borrowers as of now, shows individuals they must figure out how to repay their student loans as the days of a president who is looking to forgive or lessen student debt is gone.
The Hill’s Lexi Lonas Cochran breaks down the changes.
▪ The New York Times’s “The Daily”: Is the era of student loan forgiveness officially over?
▪ Business Insider: Here's where Gen Zers and millennials still live with their parents.
TEXAS: Former Rep. Mayra Flores (R-Texas), 39, described to The Hill her recent campaign announcement, followed hours later by her hospital admission for a health scare.
ILLINOIS: Gov. JB Pritzker (D) ordered the state of Illinois to boycott El Salvador amid the detention fight over Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose case has become a major focus as Democrats look to criticize the Trump administration for skirting his constitutional right to due process.
OPINION
■ The Dick Durbin bellwether, by The Wall Street Journal editorial board.
■ Remote work is a new battlefield for unions, by Gleb Tsipursky, opinion contributor, The Hill.
THE CLOSER
© The Associated Press | Gregorio Borgia
Take Our Morning Report Quiz
And finally … ?️ It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for this week’s Morning Report Quiz! Inspired by Pope Francis, we’re eager for some smart guesses about papal traditions.
Be sure to email your responses to asimendinger@thehill.com and kkarisch@thehill.com — please add “Quiz” to your subject line. Winners who submit correct answers will enjoy some richly deserved newsletter fame on Friday.
Pope Francis, born and raised in Argentina, was the first Pope not to hail from Europe in how many years?
200 50 1,300 500Before becoming a priest, Francis held what job?
Nightclub bouncer Janitor Chemical lab technician All of the aboveWhat color smoke, released from the Sistine Chapel, indicates that the papal conclave has chosen a new head of the Catholic church?
Black White Red BlueFrancis was the only pope to serve while his predecessor — Pope Benedict XVI — was still alive.
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