Trump's Diplomatic Efforts and Military Aid Decisions

President Trump announced that the US will send more defensive weapons to Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, days after pausing some shipments. Trump stated that Ukraine is "getting hit very hard" and that the shipments are necessary for Ukraine to defend itself. The Pentagon confirmed the decision, citing the need to ensure Ukraine can defend itself while working towards a peaceful resolution. The move comes after Trump faced criticism for halting some shipments, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying the actions "do not align" with efforts to promote a peaceful resolution. The US has provided Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars in aid since Russia's invasion in February 2022.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth authorized a pause on US weapon shipments to Ukraine without informing the White House, according to sources. The decision was later reversed by President Donald Trump, who announced that the US would continue to send defensive weapons to Ukraine. Hegseth had previously halted US weapons shipments to Ukraine in February, and the decision was quickly reversed. The pause was part of a Pentagon review of US military aid, but Trump had not directed Hegseth to halt shipments to Ukraine specifically. Trump later told Hegseth to restart some shipments, including interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems.

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House, reaffirming their alliance and shared vision for regional peace. Netanyahu nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, calling it "well-deserved" as Trump is "forging peace as we speak, in one country and one region after the other." The two leaders discussed Iran, Gaza, and regional diplomacy, with Trump confirming Iran has requested new talks following joint US-Israeli strikes on its nuclear and missile infrastructure. Netanyahu called the military operation "a historic victory" that set back Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. Trump expressed his peacemaking ambitions, saying he is "stopping wars" and praised the pilots involved in the Iran strike. The leaders also discussed Gaza, with Trump saying a ceasefire deal may be reached soon, and Netanyahu reiterating that Israel will maintain overall security. They also touched on Syria, with Netanyahu seeing an opportunity to explore arrangements with Israel to gain US support.

President Donald Trump said the US will send defensive weapons to Ukraine to help it defend against Russia's ongoing invasion, reversing a Pentagon decision to pause such deliveries. Trump's comments came as Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least 11 civilians and injured over 80 others. The Pentagon later confirmed it would send additional defensive weapons to Ukraine at Trump's direction. Ukraine has been asking the US to sell it more Patriot missiles and systems to defend against Russian air strikes. The Kremlin said it would need time to clarify the specifics of the US weapons aid to Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump is exerting "heavy pressure" on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza, according to sources close to ceasefire negotiations. Netanyahu met with Trump and other officials in Washington, and a White House dinner on Monday night was seen as a key moment in the negotiations. Trump's goal is to bring the conflict to an end and cement his legacy as a peacemaker, but the complexities of the conflict and varying comments on a potential solution have presented challenges. Netanyahu is expected to face demands to accept a ceasefire deal that may fall short of Israel's war aims, including the elimination of Hamas.

President Trump held a 104-minute cabinet meeting where he vented about various issues, including the media, Iran, Ukraine, and the Federal Reserve. He criticized CNN and The New York Times for reporting on a Defense Intelligence Agency assessment that contradicted his claims about the effectiveness of US strikes on Iran. Trump also expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin for not following his calls to end the conflict in Ukraine and with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Additionally, he dismissed questions about Jeffrey Epstein, calling them a "desecration" given the recent events in Texas. The meeting took a lighter tone when Trump began discussing White House decor, including drapes, silverware, and lighting fixtures, and gave an impromptu history lesson on the portraits in the room.

President Trump expressed frustration with President Vladimir Putin, calling his gestures towards peace "meaningless" and stating that the US would resume sending munitions to Ukraine. This marked a change in Trump's public posture towards Putin, whom he had previously praised. The decision to resume sending air defense interceptors and precision-guided bombs and missiles to Ukraine came after a pause last month due to concerns over dwindling US stockpiles. Trump had grown disenchanted with Putin, citing a lack of progress in their interactions, and had been influenced by positive interactions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The move was welcomed in Ukraine, which had suffered a major Russian air attack recently.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Donald Trump to discuss several pressing security issues, including the recent US strikes on Iran's nuclear program, the ongoing Gaza war, and the release of hostages held by Hamas. The US strikes reportedly set back Iran's nuclear program by up to two years, and experts say the meeting will focus on cementing US support for Israel and exploring ways to end the Gaza conflict. Trump is expected to pressure Netanyahu to finalize a ceasefire agreement and secure the release of the remaining hostages, including two Americans. The meeting will also touch on the normalization of diplomatic ties between Israel and Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, under the Abraham Accords. Experts say Trump will need to balance pressure on Netanyahu with incentives to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met for the second time in two days to discuss a ceasefire in the ongoing Gaza war. Netanyahu stated that Israel's military campaign was not over, but negotiators were working on a ceasefire. Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Israel and Hamas were close to a 60-day ceasefire deal, with only one issue remaining. The talks, which also involve Qatar as a mediator, aim to release hostages and negotiate a temporary ceasefire, with the Gaza war having killed over 57,500 people in Gaza and 1,200 in Israel.

Israel launched airstrikes on Houthi ports and facilities in Yemen in response to a suspected Houthi attack on a Liberian-flagged ship in the Red Sea. The Israeli military warned before the attack that the targeted ports were used by the Houthis to transfer Iranian weapons for terrorist operations. The Houthis responded with missile fire, but Israel reported no casualties. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened further strikes if Houthi aggression continues, while a Houthi military spokesman said the group is "fully prepared for a sustained and prolonged confrontation."

The US envoy to Lebanon, Thomas Barrack, expressed satisfaction with Lebanon's response to a US proposal to disarm the Hezbollah terrorist group in exchange for Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Barrack met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and said he was "unbelievably satisfied" with Beirut's timely response to the June 19 proposal, which calls for Hezbollah's disarmament within four months. Barrack believes Lebanon and Israel share the goal of peace and suggested that Lebanon could be added to the Abraham Accords, a US-backed initiative to normalize ties between Israel and other countries in the region.

The Israeli Defence Forces' (IDF) presence in Gaza is the only remaining issue to be resolved in negotiations for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire, with intense talks taking place in Qatar and Washington. The two sides have made progress on other issues, including delivering humanitarian aid and a US guarantee to prevent Israel resuming the war. However, Israel's stated aim to eliminate Hamas as a military and political organisation is at odds with a potential IDF withdrawal, which could allow Hamas to regroup. The negotiations have not yet addressed longer-term commitments for a viable future for Palestinians.