Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS
Ultimatums, conditions and non-starters: The first direct peace talks between the warring countries lasted less than two hours and made no progress. A Ukrainian source described Moscow’s demands, including ceding territory, as “detached from reality.” The head of Russia’s delegation said they were satisfied with the talks and are ready to continue. A Russian drone struck a bus in Sumy hours later, killing nine people.
New offensive: Israel’s air force killed 58 Palestinians overnight into Saturday, bringing the death count to more than 146 in 24 hours. President Trump acknowledged the need for aid. The U.N. said considering the U.S. proposal to deliver that aid was a waste of time. Israel's government maintained a diplomatic silence on Trump's big visit to the Middle East despite his announcements that have shaken Israeli assumption's about its standing with the U.S.
No endorsement: The court in a brief and unsigned opinion faulted the Trump administration for seeking to remove Venezuelan migrants without adequate legal process. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas publicly dissented. The justices have not signaled any endorsement of Trump’s order to restrict birthright citizenship. Employees and customers criticized Avelo Airlines for contracting with the Trump administration to operate deportation flights.
8647: Trump accused former FBI Director James Comey of calling for his assassination in a coded social-media post. Comey said he did not know some people associated those numbers with violence. Trump is twinning his birthday celebration with the Army’s 250th anniversary, and is bringing as many as 25 Abrams tanks to the streets of Washington to celebrate.
CEO out: The maker of Wegovy ousted Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen over concerns that it’s losing its first-mover advantage in the obesity-drug market. Novo cut its sales and profit forecasts for the first time since launching Wegovy. Analysts and investors said Jorgensen should have stayed on. In other big business news, Walmart said tariffs will force it to raise prices. And we set the scene for what other major retailers expect to report next week in their quarterly results.
Germany arrested four members of a banned radical group that is part of a broader movement that considers the modern state a façade and whose adherents say they are citizens of a monarchy that has been defunct for more than 100 years.
