Trump Targets Ukraine-Russia Peace Deal, Trade Wins in Week 18

President Donald Trump is diving into his 18th week in office with a bold mission to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, fresh off a Middle East tour that secured major economic deals. On Monday, he’ll hold critical phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, aiming to halt the devastating war that’s claimed thousands of lives weekly since 2022.

Trump’s diplomatic push follows a weekend in Washington, D.C., after inking a $600 billion economic pact with Saudi Arabia and a Boeing deal with Qatar. His Monday agenda includes separate talks with Zelenskyy and NATO leaders, signaling a relentless focus on ending the Eastern European conflict. Last week’s Istanbul peace talks between Russia and Ukraine fizzled, though a prisoner swap offered a glimmer of progress. Yet, a Russian drone strike on a Ukrainian bus underscored the war’s relentless toll.

In Rome, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Zelenskyy during Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass, discussing ceasefire efforts. Zelenskyy criticized Russia’s low-level delegation in Istanbul, urging stronger diplomacy and sanctions to force Moscow’s hand. Trump, meanwhile, remains optimistic, posting on Truth Social that a ceasefire could end a war that ‘should have never happened.’

Domestically, Trump’s team is navigating trade and fiscal battles. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned nations resisting fair trade deals could face renewed tariffs, tied to Trump’s April ‘Liberation Day’ plan. He also called out Walmart for price hikes, demanding they absorb tariff costs. In Congress, Republicans are racing to pass Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ by Memorial Day, despite conservative pushback over Medicaid and green-energy policies.