ACTUAL NEWS Briefing: May 19th 2025
- Olga Nesterova
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
QUICK HITS
Putin spoke to journalists after his phone call with President Trump.
He said that the conversation lasted over two hours and was "meaningful, sincere and very useful."
Putin claimed that Trump acknowledged Russia’s support for a peaceful resolution to the “Ukrainian crisis.” He added that a ceasefire could be achievable if certain agreements are reached, and that the recent revival of talks in Istanbul suggests both sides are moving in the right direction.
Putin added: “We support halting combat but need to find the most effective paths toward peace ... The main thing is to eliminate the initial causes of this crisis.”
NOTE: These “initial causes” are no NATO for Ukraine, surrender of territories, and “denazification of Ukraine.”
Trump's position is neutral, and he is really engaged in settlement issues, while the position of European politicians is openly pro-Ukrainian, - Peskov
President Trump posted the following tweet:
In short, America takes a neutral stance in the negotiations but is interested in trade with Russia. There are also no concessions made on Russia's end nor they agree to the unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed by Ukraine, EU and the U.S.
Trump and Putin haven't discussed the ceasefire deadline, says adviser to Russian dictator Ushakov.
Later, while speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, President Trump said that the U.S. will not impose new sanctions on Russia. “Because I think there’s a chance of getting something done, and if you do that, you could also make it much worse."
From finishing the war in 24 hours, to 100 days, to — "the deadline is not even worth discussion, but let’s talk about “major trade deals".”
And yet, Ursula von der Leyen thanked President Trump for his tireless efforts.
Vice President JD Vance stated that this war is not "our war", but rather "Biden's war".
Zelenskyy asked Trump not to make any decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine.
The President of Ukraine made this statement during a briefing following his conversation with the American leader. He said that he had two calls with Trump today: one one-on-one, and the second — a joint call with the President of the European Commission, the President of France, the Prime Minister of Italy, the Chancellor of Germany, and the President of Finland.
Zelenskyy: "If Russia sets conditions that we must withdraw our troops from our own land, then it does not want peace and does not want the war to end. Because it knows that this will not happen. Trump believes that Russia is ready for negotiations and compromises. We’ll see."
"Ukraine will not withdraw its troops from its own territory and will not yield to Russian ultimatums."
In an interview Putin gave after his talk with Trump, he thanked Trump, lied about being interested in peace talks, and most importantly mentioned that Trump agreed for the peace talks to “resume based on the document presented by Russia in 2022.”
NOTE: That document states that occupied territories are Russian, no NATO, no arms.
Both sides, U.S. and Russia, are also reportedly working on a new prisoner swap.
Ushakov added: "The presidents of Russia and the United States addressed each other by name: Donald and Vladimir, and neither of them wanted to hang up first during the telephone conversation."
Meanwhile, Coalition of the Willing is indeed hesitating, says former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
Eleven weeks ago, the "Coalition of the Willing" met to discuss what it was willing to do.
However, the key findings now look like this:
President Macron had to remind his colleagues that sovereign countries do not need Putin's permission to station troops in Ukraine.
Poland continued to oppose the deployment.
Chancellor Merz said he was willing to send Taurus long-range missiles and then stopped talking about it.
It was decided to issue an ultimatum regarding a ceasefire — then decided not to implement it.
Putin's threats of "destructive" sanctions morphed into a threat to begin preparing "destructive" sanctions, and then into a regular round of soft sanctions against the Russian Federation.
China unleashes a "swarm of death" — Flying drone carrier ready for launch
Next month, China will launch its first-ever airborne drone carrier — the Jiutian SS-UAV. This 15-ton giant with a 25-meter wingspan can carry over a hundred FPV drones, capable of launching synchronized swarm attacks powered by artificial intelligence.
Military experts are calling it a breakthrough in the tactics of future warfare. With a range of up to 7,000 km and flight altitude of up to 15 km, the “hive attack” scenario is no longer sci-fi — it's a real, deployable weapon system.
I have discussed this drone carrier with Carl Larson, a drone expert who works with the Ukrainian Army and has co-founded Ukraine Defense Support, a few months ago.
Here is our interview (the conversation on "mothership drone" starts at 1:05:39 timestamp):
In a White House briefing earlier today, Karoline Leavitt stated: "The reality is, as the president has always maintained, the Chinese producers will be absorbing the cost of these tariffs."
This article from HuffPost does a sufficient job documenting the rise in pricing across a variety of sectors and includes the actual receipts.
TODAY IN HISTORY
1536: Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII of England, was executed at the Tower of London on charges of adultery, incest, and treason.
1780: An unusual darkening of the daytime sky, known as "New England's Dark Day," was observed over parts of New England and Canada, likely due to a combination of smoke from forest fires, thick fog, and cloud cover.
1883: Buffalo Bill Cody's first Wild West show opened in Omaha, Nebraska, bringing the American frontier experience to audiences across the United States and Europe.
1911: Parks Canada, the world's first national park service, was established as the Dominion Parks Branch under the Department of the Interior.
1925: Malcolm X, American civil rights activist and minister, was born in Omaha, Nebraska.
1962: Marilyn Monroe performed her iconic rendition of "Happy Birthday" for U.S. President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden.
2018: Prince Harry married Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in a ceremony that blended British royal traditions with modern elements.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
Fuel Economy Rules Overreach: The U.S. Transportation Department is expected to declare that fuel economy standards set during President Joe Biden's administration exceeded legal authority by factoring electric vehicles into the calculations, according to automakers.
Coinbase Breach Investigation: The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a probe into a recent cybersecurity breach at Coinbase, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal confirmed the company is cooperating with U.S. and international law enforcement to pursue criminal charges against those responsible.
G7 Trade Expectations: The U.S. Treasury Department does not expect any new trade deal announcements at this week’s G7 finance leaders meeting in Canada. A source familiar with U.S. involvement said the U.S. will not endorse a joint communiqué unless it aligns with national interests.
Air Force One Protection Bill: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced a bill that would prohibit foreign-made aircraft from being used as Air Force One, the official plane of the U.S. president.
Trump Overstepped at U.S. Institute of Peace: A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration acted unlawfully by removing five board members from the U.S. Institute of Peace without cause. Judge Beryl Howell called the move a “gross usurpation of power.”
Bipartisan Nuclear Energy Bill: Senators from both parties introduced legislation aimed at countering Chinese and Russian influence over global nuclear energy development. While the U.S. leads in nuclear power capacity, China is rapidly expanding its reactors, and Russia is securing energy deals in Southeast Asia and beyond.
TPS for Venezuelans Rescinded: The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end temporary protected status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, reversing protections granted under President Biden. This is part of Trump’s broader push to increase deportations.
Trump Tax Bill Push: The White House on Monday called on all Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate to support President Trump’s sweeping tax reform bill, which advanced out of a key congressional committee on Sunday.
Fed Officials Respond to Credit Downgrade: Federal Reserve officials expressed cautious concern on Monday over the implications of the recent downgrade of the U.S. government’s credit rating. They noted the uncertainty in financial markets as they continue to assess the economic outlook.
Wishing Former President Biden Strength and a Speedy Recovery
On May 18th, former President Joe Biden's personal office sent out the following update:
Later the same day, former President Biden shared the following message across the social media platforms:
We send our heartfelt wishes to former President Joe Biden following news of his medical diagnosis. At moments like this, politics fall away, and what remains is our shared humanity.
May he recover swiftly, surrounded by the care of his family, doctors, and staff. We are keeping the President and his loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.
Around the world, messages of support and solidarity have been pouring in:
Barack Obama: "Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family. Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery."
Donald Trump: "Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden's recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery."
Kamala Harris: "We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time. Joe is a fighter—and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery."
Bill Clinton: "My friend Joe Biden's always been a fighter. Hillary and I are rooting for him and are keeping him, Jill, and the entire family in our thoughts."
Mark Carney: "President Biden, I'm thinking of you, the former First Lady, and your family today.
You've always had a deep commitment to family and faith, and I'm hopeful that both will carry you through this.
Keir Starmer: "I am very sorry to hear President Biden has prostate cancer. All the very best to Joe, his wife Jill and their family, and wishing the President swift and successful treatment."
We send light and care to President Biden and his family.
GLOBAL
U.S. credit rating downgraded. On Friday, Moody’s became the third major credit agency to downgrade the United States from its top-tier status. Fitch made a similar move in 2023, and S&P Global did so in 2011. Moody’s cited a decade-long rise in public debt. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the move a “lagging indicator,” while the White House said it was focused on “cleaning up Biden’s mess.”
EU–UK reset. The EU and UK announced new agreements today marking the most significant reset in ties since Brexit. These include joint defense procurement, streamlined travel and goods flow between the UK and EU, and extended EU access to UK fishing waters.
Bird flu hits Brazil. China, the EU, and South Korea imposed a 60-day ban on Brazilian poultry imports after avian flu was discovered at a commercial farm—the first such case in Brazil. The farm is under quarantine, and nearby farms are being monitored. The U.S. recently faced an egg shortage due to bird flu; Brazil’s egg exports to the U.S. had risen as a result.
Romania’s political roller coaster. The presidential election was a rerun after a court annulled the November vote due to allegations of Russian interference. Pro-Russia candidate Călin Georgescu had won the now-invalidated race but was barred from participating in the redo. His ally, George Simion, led the first round. Turnout for Sunday’s runoff hit a 25-year high. Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan, a pro-European centrist, won with roughly 54% of the vote against Simion’s 46%.
Round one in Poland. Liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski narrowly led the first round of Poland’s presidential vote with around 31%, followed closely by populist candidate Karol Nawrocki at roughly 30%. The runoff is scheduled for June 1. While the presidency is a less powerful role than the prime ministership, it plays a significant part in shaping foreign policy. Current nationalist President Andrzej Duda has repeatedly clashed with pro-EU Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Portugal’s parliamentary math. In Sunday’s legislative elections, the center-right Democratic Alliance (DA) won the most seats. The center-left Socialists and far-right Chega party were nearly tied for second. The DA ruled out any coalition with Chega. While final vote counts are still being tallied, Chega appears to have jumped from one seat in 2019 to at least 58 in this election.
Aid and ground operations in Gaza. Israel said Sunday it would allow a “basic amount of food” into Gaza to avert starvation, ending a nearly three-month aid blockade. Just hours earlier, the Israeli military launched “extensive ground operations” in the region. More than 100 people were killed overnight, according to hospitals and medical personnel.
China’s support to Pakistan. China reportedly helped Pakistan recalibrate satellite surveillance and organize air defenses during recent cross-border tensions with India, according to an Indian defense research group speaking to Bloomberg. Neither Indian nor Pakistani officials commented. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson declined to address the report directly.
Journalists flee El Salvador. Three journalists from El Faro, El Salvador’s leading independent investigative outlet, fled the country amid reports the government was preparing arrest warrants. El Faro has reported on alleged secret deals between President Nayib Bukele and criminal gangs. A presidential spokesperson said he was unaware of any warrants and insisted that journalists can “say whatever they want” as long as they do not break the law.
Nigeria conflict displaces thousands. Renewed militant attacks in Borno state forced at least 20,000 residents to flee the town of Marte, the state governor said. While Nigeria’s military had previously repelled Boko Haram, 2025 has seen a rise in attacks from both Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province militants.
ICYMI
Today:
The World Health Assembly opened in Geneva, bringing together global health leaders to discuss pressing public health issues.
President Trump signed "Take it Down Act," revenge porn bill backed by First Lady Melania Trump.
Evan Vucci/AP Photo Trump also attended the Kennedy Center Board Dinner.
COMING UP
Tomorrow:
The COMPUTEX information technology fair kicks off in Taiwan, showcasing the latest in tech innovation.
The International Booker Prize winner will be announced in London, celebrating the finest in translated fiction.
The Qatar Economic Forum opens in Doha, gathering global business and policy leaders for high-level economic discussions.
That's all from me for now. Thank you for reading.
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