Trump Rejects Russia Nuclear Arms Treaty Extension; Ukraine Talks Continue

Nuclear Arms Treaty Expiration

• ❌ President Trump rejected Russia's offer to temporarily extend caps on strategic nuclear weapons as the New START treaty expired.
• 🗣️ Trump called the deal "badly negotiated" and stated a need for a "new, improved and modernized treaty" developed by U.S. experts.
• 🌍 The Kremlin expressed regret over the expiration of the last nuclear arms pact, and the U.N. secretary-general's spokesman called it a "grave moment."
• 🇨🇳 Trump's desire to involve China in a new treaty has been met with resistance from Beijing.

U.S.-Russia and Ukraine Talks

• 🤝 The U.S. and Russia agreed to restart high-level military contacts, suspended since 2021, to increase transparency and de-escalation.
• 🇺🇦 Ukraine and Russia concluded a second day of U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi, described as constructive, with plans for future meetings.
• 🕊️ Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expressed hope that the ongoing dialogue would lead to the end of the war.
• 🤝 A prisoner exchange resulted in the release of 150 Ukrainian soldiers and seven civilians, with an equal number of Russians also freed.

U.S. Federal Workers and Epstein Fallout

• 📉 The Trump administration is removing job protections for up to 50,000 federal employees, making it easier to discipline or remove them.
• ⚖️ Britain's Prime Minister apologized for appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S. due to his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
• 🔍 The World Economic Forum is investigating its CEO, Borge Brende, for alleged ties to Epstein, though Brende claims ignorance of Epstein's activities.
• 💼 Brad Karp is stepping down as chairman of Paul, Weiss law firm due to his appearance in Epstein documents.

Global Security and Economic News

• 🇳🇬 Nigeria is launching a new military operation against Islamic militants after an attack that killed over 160 people.
• 🕊️ Separately, 183 Christians abducted from churches in Nigeria's Kaduna state have been released.
• 📉 U.S. stock markets struggled, with the Dow Jones industrial average falling nearly 600 points amid weakness in tech shares.
• 🇺🇸 Vice President J.D. Vance cheered on U.S. Olympic athletes in Milan, emphasizing national unity around the Games.