Cabot Phillips

For their part, the White House stood by Israel Tuesday, saying the two countries were, quote, in lockstep. And the Netanyahu had consulted with the White House before launching those strikes. A continued solidarity between the White House and Israel.

For their part, the White House stood by Israel Tuesday, saying the two countries were, quote, in lockstep. And the Netanyahu had consulted with the White House before launching those strikes. A continued solidarity between the White House and Israel.

So today's conversation will likely center on a potential ceasefire. At the moment, it seems that Putin will only agree to a ceasefire if he has assurances that the U.S. would pause new weapons shipments to Ukraine in the meantime and that Ukraine would not be allowed to mobilize new forces during that 30-day period.

So today's conversation will likely center on a potential ceasefire. At the moment, it seems that Putin will only agree to a ceasefire if he has assurances that the U.S. would pause new weapons shipments to Ukraine in the meantime and that Ukraine would not be allowed to mobilize new forces during that 30-day period.

But there are plenty of folks, including Vladimir Zelensky, who say Putin is exaggerating his openness to a ceasefire.

But there are plenty of folks, including Vladimir Zelensky, who say Putin is exaggerating his openness to a ceasefire.

So over the weekend, he told reporters that, quote, the Russians say we support a ceasefire, but, and then after the but, they start coming with various details to delay the process. He says Putin is well aware that Western support for Ukraine is starting to dwindle and he wants to drag out the ceasefire process.

So over the weekend, he told reporters that, quote, the Russians say we support a ceasefire, but, and then after the but, they start coming with various details to delay the process. He says Putin is well aware that Western support for Ukraine is starting to dwindle and he wants to drag out the ceasefire process.

to allow his side to gain as much territory as possible ahead of negotiations so that, you know, he'll have more leverage. And to that point, Moscow has recently launched a counteroffensive in the Kursk region, territory in Russia that had fallen into Ukrainian hands last summer after a surprise incursion. Putin says thousands of Ukrainian troops there are currently surrounded.

to allow his side to gain as much territory as possible ahead of negotiations so that, you know, he'll have more leverage. And to that point, Moscow has recently launched a counteroffensive in the Kursk region, territory in Russia that had fallen into Ukrainian hands last summer after a surprise incursion. Putin says thousands of Ukrainian troops there are currently surrounded.

He called on them to, quote, lay down their arms and surrender in exchange for their lives. So the longer a ceasefire is delayed, the more time Putin will have to close in on those troops. and the more leverage that he would likely have once talks begin. For that reason, among others, Zelensky is calling on Trump to exert pressure on Moscow to accept a ceasefire now.

He called on them to, quote, lay down their arms and surrender in exchange for their lives. So the longer a ceasefire is delayed, the more time Putin will have to close in on those troops. and the more leverage that he would likely have once talks begin. For that reason, among others, Zelensky is calling on Trump to exert pressure on Moscow to accept a ceasefire now.

Over the weekend, he issued a plea for, quote, maximum additional sanctions on Russia if they continue to stall. For his part, Trump said, quote, Speaking from the Kennedy Center, President Trump addressed his looming call with Vladimir Putin.

Over the weekend, he issued a plea for, quote, maximum additional sanctions on Russia if they continue to stall. For his part, Trump said, quote, Speaking from the Kennedy Center, President Trump addressed his looming call with Vladimir Putin.

Well, the biggest debate will be over territorial concessions. At this point, it's pretty clear that Ukraine will need to cede land to the Russians in order for this war to end. The question is really just how much. Putin has shown a clear willingness to continually throw young and old Russians into the front lines and is unlikely to end the war if it means coming back empty-handed.

Well, the biggest debate will be over territorial concessions. At this point, it's pretty clear that Ukraine will need to cede land to the Russians in order for this war to end. The question is really just how much. Putin has shown a clear willingness to continually throw young and old Russians into the front lines and is unlikely to end the war if it means coming back empty-handed.

Specifically, he wants to formally retain control of Crimea as well as the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine. For his part, Zelensky had insisted that he would never cede land to Putin. This week, he said, quote, we do not recognize the occupied territories as territories of Russia, and we will never recognize them.

Specifically, he wants to formally retain control of Crimea as well as the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine. For his part, Zelensky had insisted that he would never cede land to Putin. This week, he said, quote, we do not recognize the occupied territories as territories of Russia, and we will never recognize them.

But at this stage, it's all but guaranteed that he'll have to agree to some land being lost in order to end the war. As the Trump White House sees it, the cost of retaking that land is just too high, even if it is unfair. Here's Trump National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speaking to CBS about that difficult reality.

But at this stage, it's all but guaranteed that he'll have to agree to some land being lost in order to end the war. As the Trump White House sees it, the cost of retaking that land is just too high, even if it is unfair. Here's Trump National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speaking to CBS about that difficult reality.