The U.S. will resume military aid to Ukraine

Following hours of discussions in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. will lift the pause on intelligence sharing and reinstate military support for Ukraine. Ukraine has agreed to support a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the Trump administration.

The U.S. and Ukraine, in a joint statement, recognized that any ceasefire will depend on Russia’s approval. They also agreed to finalize a deal for the development of Ukraine’s critical mineral resources “as soon as possible.”

Russia has not made any immediate comment, as no officials represented them at the talks.

President Trump stated that he may speak with Vladimir Putin of Russia this week and hopes that a lasting ceasefire can be negotiated in the coming days.

What’s next: Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the agreement now puts pressure on Russia to end the conflict. “The ball is now in their court,” he said.

Defense: French President Emmanuel Macron met with the military chiefs from more than 30 countries to discuss the establishment of a multinational peacekeeping force to monitor any ceasefire in Ukraine.

Combat: Russia has begun attacking the town of Sudzha, located in the Kursk region, which was captured by Ukraine last year. This advance could signify the first invasion of Russian territory since World War II.

Trump’s threatened tariffs against Canada revised

The day was marked by confusion and threats. After threatening to double tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada, President Trump reversed his decision when Ontario dropped surcharges on electricity exports to the U.S. Tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada and other countries still went into effect as scheduled.

Stock markets fluctuated as investors tried to understand Trump’s commitment to tariffs. Stocks initially dropped before recovering later in the day.

Context: Trump’s new tariffs were in response to Ontario’s plan to add a 25 percent surcharge to electricity exports to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York.

The 51st state: Trump reiterated his interest in annexing Canada, stating that it would be the best solution, making all tariffs and other issues “totally disappear.”

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Duterte arrested after return from Hong Kong

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested at Manila’s main airport upon his return from Hong Kong, following a warrant from the International Criminal Court. Duterte is accused of crimes against humanity for his antidrug campaigns, which rights groups claim led to the deaths of about 30,000 people, many of whom were not involved with drug trafficking.

What’s next: Duterte was on a plane heading to The Hague, where the court is based. This case will test the legal reach of the I.C.C., which derives its jurisdiction from the Rome Statute, a treaty currently signed by 125 countries. Details of his arrest and the court’s case.

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