‘I don’t care how it’s done’: Trump pressures Ukraine to cut peace deal

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reach a peace deal with Russia, blaming Zelenskyy for delaying the end of the conflict and warning of worsening consequences if no agreement is made.
• Zelenskyy met with US envoy Steve Witkoff and European leaders in Oslo to discuss peace efforts, expressing optimism about potential trilateral talks involving Russia, with Witkoff scheduled to visit Moscow to continue discussions.
• Controversy surrounds restrictions on Ukraine's access to Starshield, a military-grade satellite system by SpaceX critical for Ukrainian defense, with conflicting reports blaming either the White House or SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for the slowdown.
• Trump has pursued closer ties with Russia, inviting Vladimir Putin to Alaska in 2025 and recently securing a diesel supply deal from Russia, while also waiving new sanctions under the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, citing national security concerns.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Trump's sanction waivers as a necessary "balancing act" to mitigate negative global impacts, emphasizing the complexity of applying economic pressure on Russia without harming other countries.