International

Ceasefire negotiations: Trump ‘very angry’ with Putin

Published

2 years ago

March 31, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S President Donald Trump

Ceasefire negotiations: Trump ‘very angry’ with Putin

Donald Trump has said he is “very angry” and “pissed off” with Russian President Vladimir Putin after weeks of attempting to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine.

In an NBC News interview, the US president criticised Putin for attacking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s credibility, and threatened to impose a 50% tariff on countries buying Russian oil if he did not agree to a ceasefire.

Last week, Putin suggested the possibility of a UN-run government in Ukraine to organise new elections and then begin peace talks.

Trump’s comments mark a change in tone towards Putin. Over the past six weeks, Trump has publicly harangued Zelensky and demanded numerous concessions from Ukraine’s president.

In turn, he has flattered Putin and largely given in to the Russian president’s demands.

European leaders had worried that Trump was cosying up to Putin.

But Trump’s comments on Sunday appeared to be a departure from that dynamic. It is the first time the US has seriously threatened Russia with consequences for dragging its feet in ceasefire negotiations, which would seem to put the diplomatic ball back in Moscow’s court.

NBC News reported that, in a 10-minute phone interview, Trump said he was very angry and “pissed off” when Putin criticised the credibility of Zelensky’s leadership, although the president has himself called Ukraine’s leader a dictator and demanded that he hold elections.

“You could say that I was very angry, pissed off, when… Putin started getting into Zelensky’s credibility, because that’s not going in the right location,” Trump said.

“New leadership means you’re not gonna have a deal for a long time,” he added.

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When speaking about Putin, Trump said that the Kremlin knew of his anger, but noted that he had “a very good relationship” with the Russian leader and “the anger dissipates quickly… if he does the right thing”.

If Russia does not follow through with a ceasefire, Trump threatened to target its economy further if he thought it was Putin’s fault.

“If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault – which it might not be… I am going to put secondary tariffs… on all oil coming out of Russia,” he said.

“There will be a 25% tariff on oil and other products sold in the United States, secondary tariffs,” Trump said, noting that the tariffs on Russia would come in a month without a ceasefire deal.

Secondary tariffs are sanctions on countries that do business with another country. They could constitute up to 50% on goods entering the US from countries still buying oil from Russia. The biggest such buyers by a long margin are China and India.

Zelensky wrote on social media following the interview that “Russia continues looking for excuses to drag this war out even further”.

He said that “Putin is playing the same game he has since 2014”, when Russia unilaterally annexed the Crimean peninsula.

“This is dangerous for everyone – and there should be an appropriate response from the United States, Europe, and all our global partners who seek peace.”

Trump said he would speak to Putin later in the week.

Moscow says the current Ukrainian authorities are illegitimate as President Zelensky has stayed in power beyond the end of his term and is therefore not a valid negotiating partner.

But Zelensky has stayed because elections have been put on hold, legally by martial law and practically by the chaos of war.

It would be almost impossible to hold a valid election with more than five million Ukrainian citizens displaced overseas and many hundreds of thousands away from home fighting on the front line.

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Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour, Ukraine, in February 2022. It currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

More than 100,000 people fighting for Russia’s military have now died as the war in Ukraine enters the fourth year, according to data analysed by BBC Russian, independent media group Mediazona and volunteers who have been counting deaths since the war began.

Ukraine last updated its casualty figures in December 2024, when President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged 43,000 Ukrainian deaths among soldiers and officers. Western analysts believe this figure to be an under-estimate.

Also in the NBC interview on Sunday, Trump said he was “not joking” when he said he would not rule out seeking a third term in the White House, despite it being prohibited by the US Constitution.

“A lot of people want me to do it,” Trump said. “But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go.”

During the call with NBC, he also again threatened to bomb Iran if it did not agree to a nuclear deal. Trump earlier this month sent a letter to the regime demanding negotiations.

“It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before,” he said, noting he would also impose secondary tariffs.

On Sunday, Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian said the country would not enter into direct negotiations with Washington concerning their nuclear programme, but indirect talks were possible.

“We don’t avoid talks; it’s the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far,” he said. “They must prove that they can build trust.”

Ceasefire negotiations: Trump ‘very angry’ with Putin

BBC

Related Topics:ceasefire Putin Trump Ukraine

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Israeli Forces Reportedly Destroy School, Burn Homes in Southern Lebanon

Published

2 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Israeli Forces Reportedly Destroy School, Burn Homes in Southern Lebanon

Israeli forces reportedly destroyed a school and set fire to several homes in southern Lebanon as military operations, including airstrikes, artillery fire and demolitions, continued across the region.

The reported incident occurred in Houla, in the Marjayoun district, where Lebanese media said Israeli troops placed explosives inside the Jabal Amel Intermediate School before detonating them.

Local reports said the school was destroyed in an early-morning blast, while further demolitions were reportedly followed by fires in residential buildings in the town.

The reports could not be independently verified, and the Israeli military had not immediately provided a specific response to the allegations concerning the school and homes.

The reported destruction in Houla came amid wider Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported artillery fire around Khiam, while Tallouseh and Bani Hayyan were also reportedly targeted. Airstrikes were reported in Bani Hayyan and Kfar Tibnit, while artillery fire affected areas around Mayfadoun and Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.

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Further demolitions and explosions were also reported in parts of southern Lebanon, including Beit Yahoun, Qantara and Mansouri.

The latest developments have renewed concerns over damage to civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon, particularly schools and residential buildings.

The reported destruction of the Houla school comes against a wider backdrop of disruption to education in the region. Previous reporting has indicated that dozens of schools in Lebanon have been damaged or destroyed during the conflict, while thousands of students have been displaced from their communities.

The latest military activity is also occurring amid continuing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, despite diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing hostilities.

Israel has previously said its military operations in southern Lebanon are intended to counter Hezbollah infrastructure and security threats near the border. Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah have disputed aspects of Israel’s military activities and their justification.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continues to monitor developments and maintain contact with the parties as part of efforts to prevent further escalation.

The renewed violence has added to concerns over the safety of civilians in southern Lebanon, where communities have already experienced displacement and extensive damage to homes and public infrastructure.

As tensions persist, the situation remains volatile, with further military activity potentially threatening efforts to maintain calm along the border.

Israeli Forces Reportedly Destroy School, Burn Homes in Southern Lebanon

International

Over 70 Killed as Fighting Intensifies Around Yemen’s Taiz

Published

3 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Over 70 Killed as Fighting Intensifies Around Yemen’s Taiz

More than 70 people have been killed in fighting in and around Yemen’s southwestern Taiz province over the past 24 hours, as clashes between Houthi fighters and forces aligned with the internationally recognised government intensify.

Sources from both sides cited by AFP reported that 34 government troops were killed, including 20 in neighbouring Lahj province, while Houthi military sources said 39 of their fighters were killed in clashes across Taiz and areas bordering Lahj. The figures could not be independently verified.

The escalation comes after Houthi forces reportedly cut a key supply route linking Taiz with Aden, the interim seat of Yemen’s internationally recognised government. Security and military sources said the Houthis took control of the Al-Safiya area and a police station there, bringing traffic along the route to a halt and effectively tightening their encirclement of Taiz city.

Taiz city itself remains under the control of government-aligned forces, but the city has been surrounded from several directions by Houthi forces for years. The latest advances have increased pressure on the city’s remaining supply lines and raised concerns about access to food, medicine and other essential goods.

The renewed fighting has also focused attention on the strategic importance of Taiz. The city sits between Yemen’s northern and southern regions and provides important links to the Red Sea coast, making control of the area significant for military movements and supply routes.

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The escalation comes as Yemen’s internationally recognised government launches a broader military offensive against the Houthis.

President of the Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi announced the start of military operations aimed at retaking territory held by the Houthis and extending government authority across the country.

The announcement followed recent Houthi gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

The latest escalation marks a major deterioration after several years of relative calm. Yemen’s conflict began in its current form after the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention the following year.

The renewed fighting has already worsened the country’s humanitarian crisis. More than 145,000 people have reportedly been displaced amid the latest escalation, while food insecurity and limited access to healthcare remain major concerns. The World Food Programme has also warned of severe food needs in Taiz, with a large proportion of households in accessible areas struggling to meet basic food requirements.

The conflict has also taken on a wider regional dimension, with Saudi Arabia backing Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the Houthis aligned with Iran.

The latest battlefield developments around Taiz could therefore have wider implications for Yemen’s civil war, humanitarian access and security around the Bab el-Mandeb shipping corridor.

For now, Taiz remains a major flashpoint as government forces seek to reopen supply routes and push back the Houthi advance, while the Houthis attempt to consolidate their positions around the strategically important city.

Over 70 Killed as Fighting Intensifies Around Yemen’s Taiz

International

Trump launches ‘Super Intelligence Force’ to keep US ahead in AI race

Published

20 hours ago

October 4, 2026

Trends Admin

US President Donald Trump

Trump launches ‘Super Intelligence Force’ to keep US ahead in AI race

US President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a new Super Intelligence Force (SIF) to coordinate the federal government’s efforts to strengthen the country’s position in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race.

Trump appointed Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to lead the new force, making him the administration’s central figure for coordinating its AI strategy and efforts to maintain US technological leadership.

The announcement followed a meeting between Trump and executives from some of the world’s leading technology companies as his administration seeks to accelerate the development of advanced AI while addressing growing concerns about its potential risks.

The Super Intelligence Force will bring together senior government officials and engage AI companies, consumers, public-interest groups, religious organisations and critical-infrastructure providers as the United States develops its approach to increasingly powerful AI systems.

Other senior officials named in connection with the initiative include Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Pentagon Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor.

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The force will report to President Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

One of its immediate tasks will be to assess the risks and opportunities associated with advanced AI, including the role the federal government should play in the sector. The group is expected to submit a comprehensive report to the president within 120 days.

The review is also expected to examine the US government’s ability to respond to potential AI security breaches and other threats linked to rapidly advancing technology, as well as identify areas where federal capabilities may need to be strengthened.

Trump’s latest initiative comes shortly after he signed an executive order directing federal agencies, where legally permissible, to use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” instead of “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI” in official communications, websites, reports and policy documents.

The September 29 executive order also directed the administration to develop a proposed federal definition of Super Intelligence within 60 days and consider changes that could establish the terminology in federal law.

The administration has increasingly presented advanced AI as a strategic issue involving national security, economic competitiveness and technological leadership, particularly as the US competes with China for dominance in the sector.

Trump has repeatedly warned against excessive regulation of AI, arguing that burdensome rules could slow American innovation and give rival countries an advantage.

At the same time, concerns about the technology’s potential impact have intensified, including risks involving cybersecurity, privacy, employment, misinformation, misuse and AI safety.

The White House has therefore sought greater cooperation with the technology industry. Major AI companies recently agreed to voluntary safety measures following discussions with the administration, reflecting Trump’s preference for industry-led safeguards alongside government coordination.

The new Super Intelligence Force is a federal task force and does not represent the creation of a new military branch. It also differs from an earlier proposal by Trump for an “AI Force” modelled on the US Space Force.

With Clayton at its helm, the initiative places AI development, national security and US technological competitiveness at the centre of Trump’s latest technology policy push.

Its 120-day review could provide the administration with a framework for determining how Washington will manage the opportunities and risks created by increasingly advanced AI while seeking to keep the United States ahead in the global technology race.