Chapter 1: What is President Trump's meeting with Zelensky about?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. President Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this afternoon in Florida. Zelensky has said they'll discuss trying to find an end to the Russian war in Ukraine. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more.
In a Friday interview with Politico, Trump cast himself as a top decision maker with any peace agreement. He said that Zelenskyy, quote, doesn't have anything until I approve it, so we'll see what he's got. Among the major sticking points is the question of territory. Russia wants to take some parts of eastern Ukraine, and Zelenskyy has been adamantly opposed.
Russia attacked Kiev again on Saturday, killing at least one person and injuring 27. It's unclear how Russia will respond to any agreements that Trump and Zelensky might come to.
Chapter 2: What are the sticking points in the peace talks regarding Ukraine?
Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.
President Trump posted on social media today that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by telephone in advance of his meeting with Zelensky. He called it a good and very productive call. The president is to meet tomorrow at Mar-a-Lago with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They're to discuss the next step in the war with Hamas in Gaza.
Trump's 20-point peace plan is still in its first phase. President Trump wants to move to the next step. Nimrod Novik served as an advisor to the late Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres. He doubts Netanyahu shares that view.
The mood in the prime minister's office is cynical about the statement coming from Washington that phase two is imminent. What I hear from Jerusalem, from those circles, It's not happening. And the bottom line is, quote, if we don't disarm Hamas, no one will, which is code word for we are ready to resume fighting.
Also, he says, 2026 is an election year in Israel. The Census Bureau is looking for temporary workers in six states to help carry out a that will be used to redistribute political representation and federal spending. NPR's Hansi Luang reports.
The Census Bureau says it needs about 1,500 workers for the 2026 census test, and it's looking for U.S. citizens who live in parts of Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. Many of these temporary workers will be knocking on doors to help develop better ways of getting a count of every person living in the states in 2030 ā
Those numbers determine each state's share of congressional seats, electoral college votes, and federal funding for public services. The 2026 census test will also involve selected households from around the country. Starting in March, the Bureau says it plans to mail out invitations to take part in the test.
Some census advocates are concerned, though, that growing distrust in the federal government may discourage many people from participating. Anzila Wong, NPR News.
This is NPR News in Washington. In Syria, thousands of members of the Alawite religious minority post-protested today, two days after a bombing at an Alawite mosque that killed eight people. They're demanding the government do more to stop violence against them. Most Syrians are Sunni Muslims, and the Alawite faith stems from Shia Islam.
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