Wednesday Briefing – New York Times

The US has agreed to resume military aid to Ukraine

The US said it would soon lift the suspension of intelligence news sharing after a few hours of meetings in Saudi Arabia and resume military aid to Ukraine. Kiev said he supports the Trump administration's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia.

In a joint statement, the US and Ukraine confirmed that the conditions for the ceasefire are subject to Russian approval. They also agreed to enter into a contract to develop Ukraine's important mineral resources “as soon as possible.”

There were no immediate comments from Russia. Russia had no officials in consultations.

President Trump told reporters that he might talk to Russian leader Vladimir Putin this week, and hoped that a ceasefire will be negotiated in the coming days.

The following: After the meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the agreement put pressure on Russia to end the war. “The ball is on their court now,” he said.

Defense: French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday gathered more than 30 military chiefs to discuss the formation of a multinational peacekeeping force to monitor the Ukraine ceasefire.

Battle: Russia began assaulting the town of Skascha in the Kursk region, which was captured by Ukraine last year. This advancement brings Moscow on the verge of ending its first invasion of Russian territory since World War II.

Trump returned it after threatening Canada

It was a day of confusion and threat. After threatening Canada for threatening steel and aluminum tariffs during the first half of yesterday, President Trump pulled back when Ontario imposed the US the additional charges imposed on electricity, exporting previously planned 25% tariffs to steel and aluminum from Canada and other foreign countries. This is the latest.

The market was whipped yesterday as investors tried to be confused through Trump's commitment to tariffs. Stocks fell in early trading before recovering late in the day.

Context: Trump's latest tariff Salvo was in response to Ontario's plan to add a 25% extra charge to electricity exported to Michigan, Minnesota and New York.

51st State: Trump has repeated his desire to annexate himself to Canada. He said the “only thing that makes sense” would be that our Northern neighbors in the United States become the 51st state. He laid out on the clearest terms, but how he imagined the event, saying, “We'll make all the tariffs and everything else will disappear forever.”

Details of Trump

Duterte, former Philippine president, has been arrested

Philippine authorities arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte at a major Manila airport yesterday and returned from a trip to Hong Kong that acted on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The court accused him of a crime against humanity because of the gas campaign he undertook, and the rights group said it killed around 30,000 people. Many of them are not involved in drug trafficking.

Next: Duterte was on a plane tied up towards the Hague, where the court is based. The case tests the legal scope of the ICC, which draws jurisdiction from Roman law, a treaty currently signed by 125 countries. This is something else you need to know.

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Laughter, the ocean is far away

When the producers of the hit West End musical “Operation Mincy” prepared to go to New York, they asked the question: “Are we too British for Broadway?” They hoped they would come from the Americans before the night late this month.

The show, a comedy about the World War II spy business, crossed a pond armed with Olivier Awards for the best new musicals and requests that preview audiences send feedback to the directors via email. Tweaks have been made for the Broadway palate.

“American audiences are quick and refined, but I also love slapstick stupid things,” the director said. “It's more than a British person.”