Wednesday Briefing: U.S. will resume aid to Ukraine

Plus, a tale of two Rwandas.

View in browser|nytimes.com March 12, 2025 By Justin Porter Good morning. We're covering the U.S. resumption of military assistance to Ukraine and a whirlwind day for tariffs. Plus: A tale of two Rwandas. The U.S. and Ukrainian delegations met in Jeddah yesterday. Pool photo by Saul Loeb The U.S. agreed to resume military aid to Ukraine The U.S. said it would immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume military assistance to Ukraine after hours of meetings in Saudi Arabia. Kyiv said it would support the Trump administration's proposal for a 30-day cease-fire with Russia. In a joint statement, the U.S. and Ukraine acknowledged that the terms of any cease-fire would be subject to Russia's approval. They also agreed to conclude a deal to develop Ukraine's critical mineral resources "as soon as possible." There was no immediate comment from Russia, which did not have officials at the talks. President Trump told reporters that he might speak this week with Russia's leader, Vladimir Putin, and that he hoped a lasting cease-fire would be negotiated in the coming days. What's next: After the meetings, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the agreement now put the pressure on Russia to end the war. "The ball is now in their court," he said. Defense: President Emmanuel Macron of France gathered the chiefs of staff of more than 30 armed forces yesterday to discuss the formation of a multinational peacekeeping force to monitor any cease-fire in Ukraine. Combat: Russia began assaulting the town of Sudzha, in the Kursk region, which was captured by Ukraine last year. The advance puts Moscow on the verge of ending the first invasion of Russian territory since World War II. A steel production facility in Ontario, Canada. Carlos Osorio/Reuters Trump threatened Canada and then walked it back It was a day for confusion and threats. After spending the first half of yesterday threatening Canada with a doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminum, President Trump pulled back when Ontario dropped the surcharges it had imposed on electricity it exports to the U.S. The previously planned 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada — and from any other foreign country — took effect this morning, as scheduled. Here's the latest. Markets whipsawed yesterday as investors tried to puzzle through Trump's commitment to tariffs. Stocks dropped in early trading before recovering late in the day. Context: Trump's latest tariff salvo was in response to Ontario's plan to add a 25 percent surcharge to the electricity it exports to Michigan, Minnesota and New York. The 51st state: Trump repeated his desire to annex Canada. He said that "the only thing that makes sense" was for the U.S.'s northern neighbor to become its 51st state. He laid out in the clearest terms yet how he envisions that happening, saying it would "make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear." More on Trump Trump's foreign aid cuts gutted tuberculosis funding. Hundreds of thousands of sick patients can't find tests or drugs, and risk spreading the disease. A federal judge barred the Trump administration from "unlawfully impounding congressionally appropriated foreign aid funds" owed to contractors and grant recipients. The U.S. Education Department announced that it was firing more than 1,300 workers, effectively gutting the agency. Elon Musk signaled that he wants to put $100 million directly into the Trump political operation, an unheard-of move for a White House staffer. Trump has spent years bashing electric vehicles. But he hosted a Tesla show at the White House to give Musk a boost. A group of Republicans called on the organizers of the Olympics to bar transgender women and girls from competing in women's sports. Track Trump's actions since he took office. Former President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines in Hong Kong on Sunday.  Anthony Kwan/Getty Images Duterte, the former Philippine president, was arrested The Philippine authorities yesterday arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte at Manila's main airport as he returned from a trip to Hong Kong, acting on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The court has accused Duterte of crimes against humanity for the antidrug campaigns he carried out, which rights groups say killed roughly 30,000 people, many of whom were not involved with the drug trade. What's next: Duterte was on a plane bound for The Hague, where the court is based. The case will test the legal reach of the I.C.C., which draws its jurisdiction from the Rome Statute, a treaty currently signed by 125 countries. Here's what else to know. MORE TOP NEWS A U.N. vehicle in southern Lebanon last month. Fadel Itani/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Middle East: Israel and Lebanon have agreed to start negotiations on disputes over the land border between them, officials said. Portugal: Parliament ousted the center-right government in a vote of no confidence on Tuesday, forcing the third national election in a little more than three years. Pakistan: Militants hijacked a train and said they had scores of security personnel as hostages, demanding that the government agree to a prisoner exchange. Business: Nissan said that its chief executive, Makoto Uchida, would step down following a period of declining sales and profit. Syria: Facing violence in the country's coastal region, hundreds of civilians have taken shelter at a Russian air base. China: Xi Jinping, the country's leader, has made it clear at Beijing's annual legislative meeting that he wants nothing to hold back his plans for technological supremacy. Trade: Japan's trade minister failed to win assurances from the Trump administration that the country would be exempt from new tariffs on metals and cars. Space: Astronomers found 128 new moons around Saturn. SPORTS NEWS Premier League: Manchester United announced plans for a 100,000-seat stadium. Take a look. Soccer: The Athletic did a nine-month investigation into the industry of fake soccer shirts. Sailing: Australia will try to catch Britain in back-to-back U.S. races in the SailGP Championship. MORNING READ A race near the town of Gisenyi, Rwanda, last month. Guerchom Ndebo for The New York Times Kigali, Rwanda's capital, has presented itself as an orderly city with ample attractions and premier sporting events. But that image, and Rwanda's position as a security partner in Africa, are increasingly at odds with the war that has killed thousands in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Rwanda backs M23, a rebel group. Tourism brought Rwanda $620 million in 2023, but sanctions are piling up. Lives lived: Joey Molland, a guitarist and songwriter who was the last surviving member of the band Badfinger, died at 77. CONVERSATION STARTERS Art underworld: Ai Weiwei works in a 30,000-square-foot studio that he renovated out of the underground levels of a former 19th-century brewery. Go inside. In sync: Dance is a wordless art, but sometimes choreographers have to use sound effects (like "bookie bookie boo" or "fwoops") to convey what they want. Adaptation: Netflix is gobbling up world literature. What could go wrong? ARTS AND IDEAS Sara Krulwich/The New York Times Sharing a laugh, an ocean apart As the producers of the hit West End musical "Operation Mincemeat" prepared to go to New York, they asked a question: "Are we too British for Broadway?" The answer, they hoped, would come from Americans before opening night, later this month. The show, a comedy about a World War II spy operation, went across the pond armed with an Olivier Award for best new musical and a request for preview audiences to email feedback to the director. Tweaks were made for Broadway palates. "American audiences are quick and sophisticated, but they also love the dumb stuff, like the slapstick," the director said. "Almost more than the British." We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Cook: Pav bhaji — mashed vegetable curry with buns — is a popular street food originally from Mumbai. Move: These explosive exercises can help you age well. Pack: Some airlines in Asia are changing their rules about carrying portable batteries. Here's what to know. Read: "The Human Scale" is a gripping mystery novel that pairs an Arab American F.B.I. agent with an Israeli cop. 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. — Justin 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