President Trump defended his recent moves to ease sanctions and tariffs against Russia, saying on Sunday he is making "great progress" on a peace deal with the Kremlin and suggesting the process includes "hostage negotiations."
He did not specify whose release he was seeking, but the only American currently categorized by the State Department as "wrongfully detained" in Russia is Stephen Hubbard, a Michigan teacher seized from his home in Ukraine in February 2022 and sentenced to more than six years in a penal colony on charges the U.S. says are fabricated.
Mr. Trump wrote on social media that his decision was simple: he is negotiating peace between Russia and Ukraine and does not want to do anything that will "foolishly" drive Russia away from the bargaining table. Over the past 10 days, he has reversed nearly five years of sanctions following Putin's invasion of Ukraine, announced U.S. purchases of Russian diesel fuel, and waived tariffs under a law championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
These steps have drawn criticism from U.S. lawmakers, including Republicans like Senator Darline Graham, who said she would prefer to keep pressure on Russia. Mr. Trump has also declared that Ukraine needs a new leader, marking the first time he has called for replacing President Volodymyr Zelensky, with whom he has had a contentious relationship.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing