US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and French President Emmanuel Macron met with Ukrainian officials, German officials, and Steve Witkoff in Paris to discuss a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire. The meeting was seen as a sign of greater European involvement in US efforts to secure a ceasefire. However, Russia has delayed agreement on the proposals, leading Rubio to say that if no progress is made, the US will "move on" within days. This comes after President Donald Trump threatened to impose sanctions on Russia if they refuse to end their invasion of Ukraine, including secondary tariffs on oil imports from Russia.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/trump-says-us-take-pass-ukraine-peace-efforts-russia-refuses-play-ballUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the US will end its role as a mediator in Russia-Ukraine peace talks within days if no short-term solutions are reached, following Russian President Putin's rejection of all US ceasefire proposals. The US is prepared to withdraw from negotiations if either side finds it too difficult to reach an agreement, with President Trump confirming Rubio's position.
https://www.deseret.com/u-s-world/2025/04/18/marco-rubio-says-us-will-move-on-from-peace-negotiations-if-agreement-is-not-reached-within-days/Indonesia's House speaker Maharani condemned Israel's indiscriminate attacks in Gaza and the West Bank, calling for an end to the aggression and immediate restoration of peace. She reiterated Indonesia's support for Palestine's struggle for freedom and justice, referencing Soekarno, the country's founding father. Maharani expressed regret over the failed ceasefire agreement and urged parliaments worldwide to collectively advocate for a stronger stance against Israel, mobilizing resources and public support for aid delivery to Gaza.
https://en.antaranews.com/news/352249/ri-house-speaker-demands-israel-end-gaza-invasion-at-turkish-forum?utm_source=antaranews&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=top_newsThe US is willing to accept Russian control of Crimea as part of a peace deal with Ukraine. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed a proposal for an immediate ceasefire with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a phone conversation, which was shared with Ukrainian and European officials in Paris. The plan's details still need to be finalized, with further talks scheduled in London next week.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/us-may-recognise-crimea-putin-annexed-in-2014-as-part-of-russia-under-ukraine-peace-plan-report-13881151.htmlEconomists disagree with President Trump's estimate of $2 billion per day from tariffs, citing a flawed calculation that ignores behavioral changes and the impact on supply and demand. The US imported $3.3 trillion worth of goods in fiscal year 2024, but applying a 20% tariff rate would yield only $660 trillion, or $1.8 billion per day. Experts like Robert Johnson at Notre Dame and Felix Tintelnot at Duke University argue that this calculation assumes unchanged purchases, which is unlikely. Instead, tariffs may lead to reduced imports, higher prices for consumers, and lower profits for US companies, ultimately affecting foreign countries as well.
https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-revenue-billions-fact-focus-a74e9640e4f0976121a2f43cf3f9ca05US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on nearly all countries, including China, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, and the European Union, on April 2. The move caused significant disruption to global financial markets, resulting in a $6.6 trillion loss in US stock value over two days. Treasury yields surged, while the US dollar plummeted against the euro, leading to concerns about a potential slowdown in the US economy.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/04/20/opinion/columns/where-nations-stand-in-the-us-economic-world-war/2095339Aid groups have sounded the alarm over widespread malnutrition among children in Gaza, with many people struggling to access basic necessities due to dwindling supplies. Dr. Hanan Balkhy, head of the World Health Organization's eastern Mediterranean office, has urged US Ambassador Mike Huckabee to pressure Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza, allowing aid and medicine to enter the strip. The Israeli Defence Minister has stated that troops will remain in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria indefinitely. Amidst the ongoing conflict, Hamas claims it is willing to release remaining hostages if a ceasefire is reached, while the war has resulted in over 51,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and destroyed much of Gaza's infrastructure.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/israeli-strikes-on-gaza-kill-more-than-90-people-in-the-last-48-hours-palestinians-say/article69467943.eceIran and the US are in talks to revive their 2015 nuclear deal, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) potentially playing a key role in verifying Iran's compliance. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi and US envoy Robert Witkoff have been traveling extensively, including a recent visit by Witkoff to Paris to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine. The talks are taking place amid tensions over Iran's uranium enrichment program, with the US seeking to limit it to 3.67% purity. Iran has refused to accept such limits, citing its right to enrich uranium as part of its nuclear program. The negotiations have been facilitated by Oman, which has served as a mediator between Iran and the West for years. Recently, two Airbus planes, previously owned by China's Hainan Airlines, arrived in Tehran after being tracked by flight data. The planes, with Rolls-Royce engines that include US components, require US approval to operate due to sanctions.
https://apnews.com/article/iran-eeuu-nuclear-negociacion-pacto-roma-oman-6778dc167fc8b0439041039f02baf1fbRussian President Vladimir Putin has expressed readiness for negotiations on a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. He criticized Ukraine for violating an agreement to refrain from attacking energy facilities, stating that Kiev has done so over 100 times. The criticism came during a meeting with Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and is seen as a response to US President Donald Trump's desire for negotiations.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/965382-putin-russia-has-always-been-ready-for-negotiations