The Trump-Russia Relationship

Trump suggested Ukraine should not have fought back against Russia's invasion, appearing to blame Ukraine for the conflict. The president made the remarks amid discussions about potential negotiations between Trump and Russian President Putin.

Trump stated he spoke with Putin and agreed to begin peace negotiations over Ukraine "immediately." Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth indicated Ukraine would have to cede territory as part of any deal, raising concerns among Ukrainian leadership and European allies.

Tulsi Gabbard was confirmed as Director of National Intelligence despite concerns over her pro-Russia stance. Senator Mitch McConnell was the sole Republican to vote against Trump's pick.

President Trump blamed Ukraine for the war with Russia, stating that Ukraine should have made a deal earlier without territorial losses. Trump's comments contradicted Ukraine President Zelenskyy's assertion that Trump is operating within a 'web of disinformation,' prompting Trump to call Zelenskyy a 'dictator without elections.'

Trump called Ukrainian President Zelenskyy a 'dictator' and blamed Ukraine for the war with Russia, representing a major reversal of U.S. foreign policy. Trump stated Russia 'has the card' in peace negotiations and expressed frustration that Zelenskyy has not taken an alleged U.S.-brokered peace opportunity.

The Trump administration is urging countries to back its rival UN resolution and vote against Ukraine's resolution condemning the Russian invasion on the three-year anniversary of the war. The US, Russia, Belarus, and North Korea voted against the resolution backed by 93 countries.

Trump said Zelenskyy will visit the White House on Friday to sign a minerals deal but stated there will be no significant US security guarantees for Ukraine. Trump indicated Ukraine should look to Europe for security assurances rather than relying on the US.

During a White House meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Trump said he believes Putin would keep his word on a Ukraine peace deal and refused to pledge U.S. military support for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

A tense and contentious meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House resulted in a shouting match, with Trump telling Zelenskyy that Ukraine is 'gambling with world war three.' The press conference was cancelled and no minerals deal was signed after the angry exchange.

Russia's political establishment expressed satisfaction over the Trump-Zelenskyy clash, with Russian politicians and media outlets describing it as a major diplomatic victory for Putin and Moscow's interests.

The Trump administration is no longer characterizing Russia as a cybersecurity threat, marking a significant departure from previous US policy on Russian cyber threats.

The US suspended all military aid to Ukraine after a contentious meeting between Trump and President Zelenskyy, affecting ammunition, vehicles, and other equipment in transit. European allies were not notified of the decision in advance, prompting concerns about US reliability as a partner.

The U.S. has stopped sharing intelligence on Russia with Ukraine, marking the latest blow to Kyiv after the Trump administration halted military aid. This decision occurs as France's President Macron proposed extending France's nuclear umbrella to European allies in light of reduced U.S. security commitments.

Trump suspended US intelligence sharing with Ukraine, prompting criticism from UK officials including former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace who said the decision is 'suffocating' Ukraine's hopes. Hours after Trump defended Putin's actions in Ukraine, Russia launched a devastating attack on Ukrainian forces.

A US peace proposal for Ukraine has emerged that would involve freezing the frontlines in exchange for Ukrainian territorial concessions, with Russia signalling it could halt the war in return for US recognition of its control of Crimea and sanctions relief.

Trump proposed a peace deal for Ukraine that would involve U.S. recognition of Crimea as Russian territory, representing a significant departure from decades of American policy resisting Russia's 2014 seizure of the peninsula. Zelenskyy rejected the proposal, stating Ukraine cannot accept such terms.

Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in the Kremlin hours after a Russian general, Lt Gen Yaroslav Moskalik, was killed in a car bombing near Moscow. Russian officials called the talks 'quite useful' as an investigation was launched into the suspected Ukrainian bombing.

At the G7 summit in Canada, President Trump repeated his call for Russia to be readmitted to the group, arguing that the Ukraine war would not have happened if Moscow had not been expelled in 2014 over Crimea. The statement comes as European leaders are simultaneously pressing for de-escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict.

Trump advocated for Russia's readmission to the G7, lobbying other leaders and calling the original 2014 expulsion decision a mistake following Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Declassified documents from the Durham investigation concluded that Russian spies were behind key 2016 emails, undermining claims by Trump's Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about a plot against Trump during that election cycle.

President Trump announced he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next Friday to discuss ending the Ukraine war. Trump stated that any resolution would involve 'some swapping of territories,' prompting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to reject territorial concessions and warn that Ukraine will not give up land.

U.S. and Russian officials drafted a plan to end the Ukraine war that reportedly includes terms requiring Ukraine to cede territory to Russia. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's office said he expects to negotiate with Trump in coming days, while EU officials condemned the proposal as unacceptable.

President Trump is pushing Ukraine to accept a U.S.-backed peace plan that would require Kyiv to cede territory to Russia and reduce its military. Trump reportedly set a Thanksgiving deadline for Ukraine's acceptance, while President Zelenskyy indicated the choice is difficult and could threaten Ukraine's dignity.

Leaked audio recordings reveal Trump envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly advised a Kremlin official on Ukraine peace deal strategy and offered tactical guidance on how Putin should raise the subject with Trump. Trump defended Witkoff's tactics as standard negotiating methods.

Multiple Republican and Democratic congressional representatives call for Trump envoy Steve Witkoff to be fired following leaked recordings of him advising Russian officials. They warn he 'cannot be trusted.'

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff's proposed Ukraine peace plan drew criticism from several Republicans who said the plan favors Russia. Putin praised Witkoff as 'an intelligent man' properly representing his country in negotiations.

The Kremlin praised Trump's national security strategy document as aligned with Russia's vision as negotiations to end the Ukraine war enter a critical phase.

Belarus released 123 prisoners, including Nobel Prize winner Ales Bialiatski and opposition figure Maria Kalesnikava, after the U.S. lifted sanctions and held talks with Alexander Lukashenko.

Russia announced it has moved nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles into Belarus, a move that could potentially allow Russian missiles to reach European targets faster and represents a significant escalation in military positioning near NATO borders.

A whistleblower alleged that National Security Advisor Tulsi Gabbard blocked the NSA from sharing an intelligence report about a person close to Trump and instead delivered it directly to the White House chief of staff, raising questions about proper handling of sensitive intelligence intercepts.

Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby told NATO members in Brussels that the US plans to reduce conventional forces in Europe while remaining committed to the alliance. The announcement signals shifting US military priorities in Europe.

Former FBI Director and Special Counsel Robert Mueller died at age 81. Mueller led the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and the Trump campaign's potential ties to Russia.

Trump faced outrage after posting on Truth Social that he was 'glad' Robert Mueller had died. Critics condemned the statement as inappropriate and disrespectful.

Trump responded to former FBI director Robert Mueller's death by saying 'Good, I'm Glad,' drawing criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. Mueller had led the investigation into Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump announced plans to withdraw approximately 5,000 US troops from Germany over the next 6 to 12 months, intensifying his feud with NATO allies. Pentagon stated the withdrawal is expected to be completed over six to 12 months, while NATO and German officials called for clarification on the decision.