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Since Donald Trump took office in January, a lot has happened. The White House Budget Office ordered a pause on all federal grants and loans. The impact of the Trump administration's tariffs is already being felt in President Trump's efforts to radically remake the federal government. The NPR Politics Podcast covers it all.
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. Vice President Vance says he's optimistic about the U.S.-led negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. He made the comments in Rome as he met with Italian Prime Minister Maloney. Megan Williams has more from Rome.
Just hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned President Trump may soon abandon Russia-Ukraine peace efforts without signs of progress, Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters the administration is still holding out hope.
So the negotiations, I won't prejudge them, but we do feel optimistic that we can hopefully bring this war, this very brutal war, to a close.
The vice president and Maloney also discussed trade, including Trump's recent 25% EU tariff, now paused for 90 days. Vance, a Catholic convert, is scheduled to meet with Vatican officials Saturday, though not with the Pope. For NPR News, I'm Megan Williams in Rome.
President Trump says the U.S. plans to finalize a rare earth minerals agreement with Ukraine next week. But as NPR's Greg Myhre reports, Trump and his advisers are sending mixed messages about what the U.S. 's role will be in the Ukraine war.
The deal on valuable minerals was supposed to be signed when Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House in February. But that meeting descended into a shouting match and the agreement was postponed. Trump now says it will be signed next week. Still, Trump says this about Zelensky. I wouldn't say he's done the greatest job. Okay. I'm not a big fan. I really am.
I'm not a big fan. Separately, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated the U.S. was growing frustrated with efforts to broker a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war. He said, quote, if it is not possible to end the war in Ukraine, we need to move on. Greg Myhre, NPR News, Washington.
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