Thailand Moves Toward Early Elections After Parliament Dissolution 
Democrats Face Uphill Battle in Midterm Elections Despite Recent Victories, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Shows 
Trump Signals Conditional Push for Ukraine Peace Talks as Frustration Mounts 
Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Sparks Global Debate and Early Challenges 
Environmental Group Sues to Block Trump Image on U.S. National Park Passes 
U.S. Intelligence Briefly Curtailed Information Sharing With Israel Amid Gaza War Concerns 
Trump Claims Pardon for Tina Peters Despite No Legal Authority 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Amid Shift in Brazil Relations 
International Stabilization Force for Gaza Nears Deployment as U.S.-Led Planning Advances 
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 
U.S. Expands Sanctions on Venezuela, Targeting Maduro Family and Oil Tankers 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
California, 18 States Sue to Block Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Air Force One Delivery Delayed to 2028 as Boeing Faces Rising Costs 
Brazil Arrests Former Peruvian Foreign Minister Augusto Blacker Miller in International Fraud Case 
Trump Signs Executive Order to Establish National AI Regulation Standard 
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko on Wednesday, pushing for the swift finalization of a long-anticipated economic partnership. The U.S. Treasury emphasized Washington’s commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty and a lasting peace, highlighting the urgency of completing technical negotiations and signing the deal.
The push comes as the Biden administration signals waning patience with stalled peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. U.S. officials have warned they may abandon mediation efforts if meaningful progress is not seen soon.
On Thursday, the U.S. and Ukraine reached a memorandum of understanding, and President Donald Trump stated he expects to sign a minerals agreement with Kyiv within the week. A similar deal collapsed in February after a tense Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
In a Treasury statement, Bessent reaffirmed support for Ukraine, calling for immediate action to cement the bilateral economic framework. The statement comes amid continued geopolitical friction, as Russia demands Ukraine abandon its NATO aspirations, surrender four occupied regions, and downsize its military — demands Kyiv views as unacceptable.
Tensions between Trump and Zelenskiy flared again this week, with Trump criticizing Ukraine’s stance on Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. The full-scale invasion launched by Moscow in 2022 continues to disrupt peace efforts and complicate diplomatic progress.
As global pressure mounts, the proposed economic partnership between Washington and Kyiv is seen as a strategic move to deepen ties and stabilize Ukraine’s economy. Analysts say such a pact would also signal U.S. commitment to countering Russian influence in the region through economic and political support.
