The Trump administration has expressed openness to recognizing Crimea as Russian territory in exchange for a ceasefire agreement. Russia seeks a comprehensive peace deal that addresses its core security concerns, including Ukraine remaining neutral, the annexed regions being formally recognized as part of the Russian Federation, and Western sanctions being lifted. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is unwilling to concede on these terms, seeking credible security guarantees from the West instead. European countries, including France and the UK, share this position, preferring Ukraine to continue fighting or retaining its right to arm itself in the event of a ceasefire.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/news-analysis-why-ukraine-ceasefire-remains-elusive/article69467736.eceIran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is set to meet with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Rome on Saturday as part of a new round of nuclear talks between the two countries. The negotiations come after a first round in Muscat, Oman, which both sides described as constructive. Iran has expressed "serious doubts" over US intentions, while President Donald Trump has stated his goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remains cautious, saying he is neither optimistic nor pessimistic about the outcome. The talks aim to resolve decades-long standoff over Tehran's atomic aims, with Washington seeking Iran to halt production of highly enriched uranium and Iran willing to negotiate curbs in return for sanctions relief.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40358485/iran-us-to-hold-talks-in-rome-in-bid-to-reach-nuclear-dealIran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff agreed to task experts with drawing up a framework for a potential nuclear deal after a second round of talks in Rome. The talks, facilitated by an Omani official, came after President Donald Trump threatened military action unless Iran reaches a new deal preventing the development of a nuclear weapon. Iran is willing to discuss limited curbs on its atomic work in exchange for lifting international sanctions. Experts will meet in Oman starting Wednesday to design a framework for an agreement, with top negotiators set to review their work next Saturday.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/600821-iran-us-task-experts-to-design-framework-for-a-nuclear-deal-tehran-saysU.S. President Donald Trump's administration is rushing to reach a deal in tariff negotiations with Japan, as Japanese economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa stated after his return from a U.S. trip. Akazawa, Japan's top tariff negotiator, met with the U.S. to discuss tariffs, and Trump's participation was seen as a sign that the U.S. wants to speed up negotiations.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/04/19/economy/us-japan-tariffs-no-quick-deal/Israel has not ruled out an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, despite US President Donald Trump telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US would not support such a move at this time. Israeli officials aim to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, with Netanyahu insisting any negotiations with Iran must lead to its complete nuclear program dismantling. US and Iranian negotiators held preliminary nuclear talks in Rome on Saturday.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/19/world/israel-limited-iran-strike/US policymakers' reliance on flawed statistics leads to overreactions such as tariffs and reshoring industries, distorting global trade flows and putting ASEAN in a difficult position. Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is seeking balanced ties with both the US and China, urging the US to modernize its trade narratives to reflect its real strengths, particularly in services and digital flows. Professor Phar Kim Beng argues that the US' exclusion of services misreads its position and risks alienating key partners in Asia, suggesting a more honest trade dialogue is needed.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2025/04/19/why-america-excludes-sales-services-from-its-trade-deficits-strategic-blind-spot-in-asia-phar-kim-beng/173656Russian President Putin has demanded that Ukraine drop its NATO ambitions and withdraw from four regions claimed by Moscow, which Kyiv has rejected as a form of surrender. However, Putin welcomed efforts from the US, China, and BRICS countries to find a peaceful settlement. Russia has given instructions for a ceasefire in the conflict zone, but will adhere to it only if Ukraine respects it. A prisoner swap of 246 Russian POWs with 246 Ukrainian prisoners was conducted on Saturday, mediated by the UAE, with the Russian prisoners being provided medical and psychological care in Belarus.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/600809-russias-putin-declares-unilateral-easter-ceasefire-in-ukraineUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged European countries to trigger a UN sanctions mechanism against Iran due to its uranium enrichment exceeding the 3.67 limit. US real estate magnate Donald Trump's counterpart, Robert Witkoff, is involved in talks with Iranian officials in Rome and Tehran. Iranian officials, including Araghchi, have insisted that nuclear programme discussions only and lifting of sanctions are on the table, while emphasizing Iran's right to enrich uranium as "non-negotiable". The US has pushed for discussions on Iran's ballistic missile programme and support for militants in the Middle East.
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/nation/iran-us-hold-second-round-of-high-stakes-nuclear-talks-in-rome/article_06a793c8-3a3f-5631-a8af-6791a3e4b77a.htmlUS President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the country will abandon efforts to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal if there are no clear signs of progress soon. The warning came after a Russian missile strike hit a residential area in Kharkiv, Ukraine on April 18.
https://www.asiaone.com/world/us-will-abandon-ukraine-peace-push-if-no-progress-soon-trump-and-rubio-say