Wednesday Briefing: A reset of Russia-U.S. ties

Plus, the legacy of the Vietnam War

View in browser|nytimes.com February 19, 2025 By Natasha Frost 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. The U.S. delegation, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, seated second from left, meeting with the envoys from Moscow in Saudi Arabia yesterday. Pool photo by Evelyn Hockstein Discussions on Ukraine and U.S.-Russia ties Senior 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." More on the Trump administration A federal judge in Washington ruled against 14 Democratic-led states who had sought to bar Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency from accessing data and ordering personnel changes at several federal agencies. In related news, a White House official said that Musk was not the head of DOGE. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Health and Human Services workers that nothing would be off limits in his agenda, including childhood vaccines and psychiatric medicines. The chief of the Social Security Administration resigned after Musk's efficiency team had sought access to millions of Americans' personal data, people familiar with the matter said. The C.I.A. stepped up secret drone flights over Mexico to hunt for fentanyl labs, according to U.S. officials. Experts say that Trump's cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services could expose Americans to greater risk if another pandemic erupts. The White House warned U.S. schools that they could lose federal funding if they considered race in scholarships, hiring and an array of other activities. Hundreds of American artists called on the National Endowment for the Arts to roll back Trump's restrictions on diversity or "gender ideology." Some tech companies are delaying going public in the middle of market volatility created by the Trump administration's tariff announcements. Supported by Mormon voters' distaste for MAGA politics, Utah's center-right politicians are trying to reassert a gentler and more civil kind of Republicanism. Steve Bannon, Trump's former White House chief strategist, called Musk a "parasitic illegal immigrant," renewing their feud. Track Trump's actions since he took office. A rally in Tel Aviv this month calling for the release of the remaining hostages. Amit Elkayam for The New York Times Israel grieves two of the youngest hostages Hamas 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. Jair Bolsonaro during an interview last month. He has been charged with trying to overturn the 2022 election. Victor Moriyama for The New York Times Brazil charged Bolsonaro with attempting a coup Jair 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. MORE TOP NEWS Remo Casilli/Reuters Vatican: Pope Francis, 88, has pneumonia in both lungs and will not participate in activities through the weekend because of his health issues, the Vatican said. Panama: Days after the U.S. sent 300 migrants from Asia and the Middle East to Panama, more than half agreed to be deported to their countries of origin, an official said. Sudan: The Rapid Support Forces, the paramilitary group battling for power in the nation's ruinous civil war, announced plans to form a breakaway government. Canada: The authorities are investigating what caused a plane to crash-land and flip over on the runway in Toronto yesterday. All 80 people aboard survived. Aviation: The family of one of the 67 victims of a fatal plane crash last month near Washington filed two legal claims against the federal government. U.S.: Brutally frigid temperatures descended on the central and eastern parts of the country, delivering record-breaking cold. Health: A safe, affordable supply of medical oxygen is severely lacking around the world, according to a new report. Space: An asteroid designated 2024 YR4 has become the most likely sizable space rock ever forecast to impact planet Earth. It is expected to brush past the planet in Dec. 2032. Entertainment: ASAP Rocky, the Grammy nominated hip-hop artist, was found not guilty of shooting a former collaborator. SPORTS NEWS Soccer: Tottenham Hotspur raced to sign Mason Melia, a 17-year-old striker, even though he can't play in Britain until 2026 because of Brexit. Tennis: Inside the "relationship of dependence" that developed between a barred coach and a Wimbledon champion. Hockey: Canada's "mind-boggling" goalie crisis has been a decades-long descent. MORNING READ Linh Pham for The New York Times 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. CONVERSATION STARTERS Glad rags: Our top fashion critic explains why people don't dress up to go out anymore. An inside job: Once America's leading art consultant, she stole millions from her clients. Is she ready to repent? Letter of recommendation: A writer makes the case that London's Euston Road is, in fact, the most generous of thoroughfares. ARTS AND IDEAS Photograph by D'Angelo Lovell Williams R&B's new sound grows from its roots Women 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. RECOMMENDATIONS Christopher Simpson for 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. 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