Good morning. We're covering relations between Russia and the U.S., and charges against Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil. Plus: The legacy of the Vietnam War.
Discussions on Ukraine and U.S.-Russia tiesSenior U.S. and Russian officials agreed yesterday not only to work together on ending the war in Ukraine, but also to cooperate on financial investment and re-establishing normal relations. The negotiations were the most extensive in years between the two global powers. The meeting, which took place in Saudi Arabia, was a head-spinning reset of the Russia-U.S. relationship after three years of Western efforts to isolate Moscow for invading Ukraine in 2022, an approach that has included sanctions and weapon deliveries to Ukraine. President Trump also showed his willingness to cast aside the worries of European allies. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, U.S. officials did not dwell on Russia's violation of international law in attacking Ukraine, on the war crimes Moscow has been accused of or on the three years of devastation caused by Russian shelling and bombardment. Instead, U.S. officials repeatedly praised Trump for trying to stop the fighting by talking to Russia in a way that former President Biden had not. What's next: Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, said that the U.S. would engage with Russia about what the end of the war with Ukraine would look like, as well as how to remove restrictions on their embassies in Moscow and Washington and would also explore new partnerships in geopolitics and in business. What else is on the table: Russia appeared to use the talks to cater to Trump's interest in profits and natural resources, arguing that U.S. oil companies and others stood to gain hundreds of billions of dollars by doing business in Russia again. Ukraine: In response, President Volodymyr Zelensky canceled his own visit to Saudi Arabia, which was planned for today. "Decisions on how to end the war in Ukraine cannot be made without Ukraine, nor can any conditions be imposed," he said. "We were not invited to this Russian-American meeting in Saudi Arabia. It was a surprise for us, I think for many others as well."
Israel grieves two of the youngest hostagesHamas plans to hand over the remains of four Israeli hostages tomorrow in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, according to the group's chief negotiator. Members of the Bibas family — Shiri Bibas and her two children — are among the dead, he said. The number of living hostages scheduled to be released on Saturday was increased to six from three. Ariel Bibas, who was 4, and his baby brother, Kfir, have for Israelis become a powerful symbol of the hostage crisis, and the news of their deaths has devastated many in the country. The family's capture became a rallying cry both for those who supported a deal to end the war and to release the hostages, and for those who believed that Israel should continue fighting until Hamas is destroyed. Lebanon: Israeli forces retained control over strategic border points in southern Lebanon, as a deadline passed yesterday for both Israel and Hezbollah to leave the region. Displacement: Thousands uprooted by the war in Lebanon have been unable to reach towns occupied by Israel, but some have tried anyway. For one man, the journey was deadly.
Brazil charged Bolsonaro with attempting a coupJair Bolsonaro, Brazil's former president, was charged with overseeing a vast scheme to hold on to power after he lost the 2022 election. A total of 34 people, including Bolsonaro, were indicted over crimes against democracy. The charges essentially accepted recommendations from Brazil's federal police in November. The case will now go before Brazil's Supreme Court, which will analyze the charges and decide whether to order Bolsonaro's arrest and have him face trial.
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diem was born with significant disabilities, most likely because her father was exposed to Agent Orange, the toxic chemical used by the U.S. during the Vietnam War. In recent years, the U.S. has offered support to her and others affected by the country's wartime legacy — but President Trump's gutting of foreign aid may bring that to a halt. "A little support for people like us means a lot," she said, on learning the news, "but at the same time, it's the U.S.'s responsibility." Lives lived: Paquita la del Barrio, the prolific Mexican vocalist and songwriter known for her powerful feminist ballads, died at 77.
R&B's new sound grows from its rootsWomen are leading the way in a new R&B era. Some artists are reviving the genre's gospel roots, while others are hybridizing the genre with hip-hop. Roughly defined, the new R&B has shorter songs, embraces pop (which has borrowed a lot from R&B) and boasts slick lyrics that appeal to modern appetites. A few of the women at the vanguard of this new sound told us what it means to them. Listen: Get to know this new sound in nine songs. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.
Cook: Make a hearty weeknight pasta studded with chickpeas, sausages and broccoli rabe. Plan: Heading to New York City this spring? Here's what's happening around town. Listen: Hear Sabrina Carpenter flirt with country in a duet with Dolly Parton, and 12 more new songs. Wear: Take inspiration from our fashion photographer's look of the week. 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. See you tomorrow. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.
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