Thursday Briefing: A call between Putin and Trump

Plus, "The White Lotus" heads to Thailand

View in browser|nytimes.com February 13, 2025 By Natasha Frost Good morning. We're covering President Trump's call with Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi's White House visit. Plus: The "White Lotus" effect. President Vladimir Putin of Russia at the Kremlin earlier this month. Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik Trump and Putin held a call on peace in Ukraine President Trump said that he had a "lengthy and highly productive phone call" with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, which he characterized as the beginning of a negotiation to end the war in Ukraine. Afterward, Trump said he had spoken with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. "We each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together," Trump wrote on social media of his call with Putin. "But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths" — in fact, an estimated several hundred thousand — "taking place in the war." The call signifies the collapse of Western efforts to isolate Putin diplomatically. Trump did not say how Ukraine's interests would factor into the negotiations. But Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said earlier at a NATO meeting in Brussels that a peace deal restoring Ukraine's borders to those of 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, was "unrealistic." Russia now occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine. Trump, Hegseth added, does not support Ukraine's membership in NATO as part of a peace plan. Minerals deal: Ukraine's valuable mineral resources have become a prominent component in the maneuvering over the country's future after Trump pushed the idea of trading U.S. aid for Ukrainian minerals. The U.S. Treasury secretary was in Kyiv for talks about a possible deal. At the front: Our reporters interviewed Russian soldiers who said they were facing a brutal battle to dislodge Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region inside Russia. Trapped civilians fear catastrophe. Prisoners: The Trump administration is preparing to release Alexander Vinnik, a Russian cybercriminal, as part of an exchange, and Belarus released a U.S. prisoner and two others from jail, following what diplomats said was a secret visit by a senior U.S. official. More on the Trump administration The Senate confirmed Tulsi Gabbard, who has shown a pro-Russia stance, to be the next director of national intelligence. Mitch McConnell broke ranks to vote against her confirmation. In a victory for the Trump administration, a federal judge said a deferred resignation program for federal workers could proceed. The Kennedy Center's board members, all Trump appointees, elected Trump chairman of the performing arts organization and fired its longtime president. Republican lawmakers have cheered for Trump's spending cuts, even as they quietly moved to get exemptions for their own states. When will China's leader speak to Trump? Xi Jinping seems to be in no rush. Trump's order that the U.S. exit the W.H.O. may have daunting implications for the management of smallpox. This is where Trump, Elon Musk and the government efficiency effort have cut federal workers. Track Trump's actions since taking office. President Trump with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India at Hyderabad House in New Delhi in 2020. Doug Mills/The New York Times Modi hopes to keep India off Trump's target list Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India is expected to try to ease any potential friction between his country and the U.S. when he meets with President Trump today in Washington. Modi has spoken of a warm relationship with the president, but Trump can be a fickle friend. Two glaring issues could complicate Modi's goals: trade and immigration. Modi "will be trying to show Trump that he is cooperating on his fixation on tariffs and illegal immigration," Mujib Mashal, our South Asia bureau chief, said. "Trump has singled out India as one of the main abusers of tariffs that enjoys a trade deficit with the U.S., mentioning India in the same breath as China." India's trade surplus with the U.S. is growing, and Modi could offer lower duties on U.S. goods like bourbon and pecans, which are produced mainly in Republican states. Deportations: India is also the largest source of illegal immigration to the U.S. after Latin America. Modi's government has made it clear that it will cooperate with Trump's deportation effort, even as it caused an uproar in India last week. Trucks carrying humanitarian aid entering Gaza from Egypt yesterday. Abdel Kareem Hana/Associated Press Jordan and Egypt attempt diversion on Gaza Jordan and Egypt are moving with speed to try to dissuade President Trump from forcing them to take in two million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. The two Arab nations view the proposal as an existential threat. The strategy appears to be to placate Trump with offers to work together to rebuild Gaza, bring peace to the region and expand humanitarian aid efforts. That could help them buy time, analysts say — perhaps enough for the idea to be jettisoned altogether, or for its strategic and security drawbacks to become apparent. And with Trump, flattery can be highly effective. Related: As the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is under threat of collapse, the fate of Israeli hostages in Gaza who were to be released has become ever more precarious. Our video journalists reported on the escalating violence in the West Bank that has left Palestinian civilians caught in the fighting. MORE TOP NEWS Elisabeth Mandl/Reuters Austria: An effort by the head of the Freedom Party, above, to lead what would have been the country's first far-right government since World War II has collapsed. Colombia: A rebel group from Venezuela has waged devastating violence, setting off troubling regional tensions. An estimated 80 people died in a matter of days, with the toll expected to climb. Bangladesh: A U.N. report said the death toll from the crackdown on student protesters last year was as many as 1,400, much higher than previously estimated. U.S.: A snowstorm in Virginia left 180,000 customers without power. More than 900 traffic accidents were reported. Economics: Inflation in the U.S. rose to 3 percent in January, strengthening the case for the Fed to extend a pause on interest rate cuts. Energy: Chevron, the second-largest U.S. oil company, said that it would cut as many as 9,000 workers worldwide in an effort to reduce costs. A.I.: The Chinese start-up DeepSeek used several technological tricks to build its system with less money. Czech Republic: A dam project south of Prague was stalled by bureaucracy. Local beavers built their own. Health: New research found that taking drugs like Ozempic can help curb alcohol cravings. Science: An undersea telescope that looks like something from a sci-fi film detected an elusive particle that could help explain a mystery of space. SPORTS NEWS Soccer: Aston Villa's Austin MacPhee has been appointed the assistant coach of Portugal. Tennis: Iga Swiatek talks about her vision for her future in the sport and says she's getting back to her roots. Formula 1: Why the race for U.S. streaming rights could change the sport. MORNING READ Tanveer Badal for The New York Times The new season of "The White Lotus" takes place on the resort island of Koh Samui in Thailand. Its roughly 68,000 residents may be in for a shock, if a tidal wave of tourists decides to check it out for themselves. CONVERSATION STARTERS Graham Dickie/The New York Times Best in show: Monty, a giant schnauzer, took the top prize at the Westminster Dog Show. See other unforgettable canine looks from the contest. Oscars chaos: The last two tumultuous weeks have upended the awards race, leaving the favorite hobbled and long shots looking like bull's eyes. Cerebral cool: The writer Janet Malcolm is remembered for her ruthlessness. The reality is much more complicated. ARTS AND IDEAS Brian Rea How we fall, and stay, in love For Valentine's Day, the "Modern Love" podcast asked readers to share the moments when they knew they were falling in love. Their stories spanned decades and regions. The team also revisited one of the most memorable stories they have ever published: Mandy Len Catron's piece about the 36 questions that can help us fall in love. Mandy joined the podcast to provide an update on her romance and to read her essay, which starts on a bridge at midnight, "staring into a man's eyes for exactly four minutes." Listen to the podcast and read Mandy's original essay here. For more: For decades, these heart-shaped bathtubs drew love-struck couples to a honeymoon getaway in Eastern Pennsylvania. What happened to them when it closed? We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Linda Xiao for The New York Times Cook: This easy chicken sheet-pan supper brings bold flavors with minimal fuss. Sleep: Working the night shift? Here's how to take care of yourself. Watch: "I Have Nothing" is a wacky — yet moving — docu-comedy. Gift: Last-minute Valentine's presents don't have to be supermarket flowers. Style: For the perfect bun, don't forget the details. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. Thanks for starting your day with The New York Times. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018