INTERNACIONAL
Trump insists Ukraine-Russia peace deal is close, but mistrust in Putin leaves experts skeptical
President Donald Trump this week said he is «very» optimistic that Ukraine and Russia will enter into some sort of deal in the coming days, but security experts are still sounding the alarm that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want peace.
A feeling of geopolitical whiplash is surrounding Washington after the Trump administration last week said it would abandon peace efforts if a ceasefire cannot be secured, though days later Trump said there is a «very good chance» a deal will be reached this week.
The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital’s questions about what it would mean should the U.S. walk away from one of Trump’s top campaign trail issues: ending the war in Ukraine.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt refuses to say what Trump means when he says he will walk away from peace negotiations, but she told reporters that «he has grown frustrated with both sides of this war, and he’s made that very known.» (Getty Images)
TRUMP HOPEFUL RUSSIA AND UKRAINE CAN MAKE A DEAL AFTER TEMPORARY EASTER CEASEFIRE ENDS
The administration also has not clarified if Washington would take retaliatory measures against Putin, as Trump threatened to do last month.
«Simply because Trump hasn’t announced any consequences yet does not mean that he doesn’t plan on taking some anti-Russia measures,» former DIA intelligence officer and Russia expert Rebekah Koffler told Fox News Digital. «Trump almost certainly intends for his economic warfare against China to serve as an example to Putin how far Trump is willing to go to compel his adversaries to his will.»
«But unlike the China case, there’s no similar dependence between the U.S. and Russia. Trump’s decision on Russia is much more complicated, more risky and requires more thought,» she added. «He may or may not take draconian economic steps against Russia, as Putin may take devastating, non-kinetic actions against the U.S.
«It’s Trump’s risk tolerance vs. Putin’s now,» Koffler said. «And both like to win and both have risk tolerance way above average.»
The White House did not respond to questions by Fox News Digital on whether the U.S. would still aid Ukraine in some capacity, particularly given recent restrictions on military aid Trump has implemented on Kyiv, like refusing to sell Patriot missiles previously used to defend civilian populations from Russian strikes and that cost $1.5 billion a piece.
«If we want to be a global superpower, and we want to deter aggression, not with U.S. troops on the ground, but in general, to deter aggression because it is good for our national security, then we should continue to support Ukraine,» former CIA Moscow Station Chief Dan Hoffman told Fox News Digital. «It’s a tiny percentage of the Department of Defense budget.»
Women and children view a memorial of flowers and toys at the site of a Russian missile attack in Sumy, Ukraine, on April 14, 2025. (Vlada Liberova/Libkos/Getty Images)
TRUMP SAYS US WILL ‘TAKE A PASS’ ON UKRAINE PEACE EFFORTS IF RUSSIA REFUSES TO PLAY BALL
«The return on investment is pretty high,» he added, referring to the $66.5 billion in military assistance Washington has provided Kyiv since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, compared to the $841.4 billion defense budget congressionally approved for 2024 alone, a figure which Trump has pushed to increase.
A Ukrainian delegation was set to meet with Trump administration officials in London on Wednesday alongside other European partners, including representatives from the U.K., France and Germany.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff is reportedly set to return to Moscow this week to continue negotiations with Russian officials, though the Kremlin has not indicated they are anywhere near agreeing to ceasefire terms, let alone a peace deal.
A spokesperson for Putin, Dmitry Peskov, on Tuesday reportedly said the issue of Russia’s invasion was too «complex» to achieve a quick fix and warned against rushing into a deal.
«It is not worth setting any rigid time frames and trying to get a settlement, a viable settlement, in a short time frame,» he said.
The Kremlin’s position has given credence to repeated warnings from security experts that Putin is not interested in securing a peace deal with Ukraine.
«There’s no indication that Putin wants to stop the war,» Hoffman said. «That isn’t surprising. Because for a war to end, somebody has to win or both sides have to be so tired they can’t continue to fight.
«Russia is the invader, so you have to stop them in order to have an end of the war,» he added. «The one consistent thing here is Putin is continuing to fight. His objective is to overthrow the government in Ukraine. He’s going to keep fighting until he feels like he has accomplished that goal or he can’t fight anymore.»
Damage from a Russian drone strike is seen in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on April 22, 2025. (Pavlo Pakhomenko/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Koffler echoed Hoffman’s position: «Putin will be pursuing the same strategy regardless of Trump’s actions; that is continuing the war of attrition until Ukraine capitulates or is completely destroyed and the government collapses.»
«Putin would like to string Trump along and will continue to try doing so,» she added.
A report by the Moscow Times on Tuesday cited sources close to Putin and said the Kremlin chief is looking to reorder the global «spheres of influence» by negotiating leverage points between the U.S. and adversaries like Iran and North Korea.
The article claimed that Putin would attempt to get Trump to either force a less-than-desirable deal for Ukraine or potentially stop the U.S. from aiding Kyiv by proposing personally enticing deals, like allowing Trump to build a hotel in Moscow, and geopolitical wins, like securing a nuclear agreement with Iran and a «peace deal» in Ukraine.
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Ukrainian soldiers are seen on March 8, 2025. (Roman Chop/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Fox News Digital could not verify the report’s claims, but Koffler agreed it could be a strategy that Putin is looking to employ as the U.S. pushes deals across Europe and the Middle East.
«He could promise Trump not to share certain sensitive technologies to these two [nations],» Koffler said. «And he could convince Iran not to operationalize and weaponize its nuclear program in exchange for Trump’s promise not to target Iran’s nuclear facilities in a kinetic strike and to lift sanctions from Russia.
«The important aspect of all of this is to give these adversaries face-saving opportunities, which is not a strong point for the U.S. style of diplomacy,» Koffler said. «But Putin’s ability to convince Trump and Trump’s decision calculus are two different things.»
INTERNACIONAL
El funeral del papa Francisco: Roma se prepara con una gigantesca movilización de fuerzas de seguridad para recibir a una multitud y 170 mandatarios extranjeros
Roma se prepara a una populosa celebración y al más numeroso encuentro que se recuerda y que podría llegar a 170 gobernantes de los países del mundo, según dijo el ministro del Interior italiano, Matteo Piantedosi. El objetivo es rendir homenaje al Papa argentino Jorge Bergoglio de 88 años, que murió el lunes de un ACV tras doce años de pontificado por el que recibe tantas muestras de dolor y afecto que superan todas las expectativas.
Miles de personas se juntaron hoy en la Basílica de San Pedro y desfilaron frente al féretro abierto frente al Altar de la Confesión para dar el último saludo al Papa Francisco. Los fieles desfilaron rápidamente y se les indicó la salid. Algunos prefirieron dirigirse a los rincones para llorar y rezar en silencio.
Por la mañana una procesión que partió desde la Casa de Santa Marta, donde residía el Papa, recorrió por las callejuelas vaticanas unos 500 metros. Alrededor de cincuenta cardenales formaron parte del cortejo en el que participaron amigos y los principales colaboradores de Francisco. El grupo entró en la plaza de San Pedro por el Arco de las Campanas y se dirigió al ingreso de la basílica.
Se estima que entre 200 y 300 mil fieles, entre ellos muchos argentinos venidos de otros países europeos y desde nuestro país, estarán presentes el sábado cuando después de cerrar el féretro parta la caravana fúnebre hacia la basílica de Santa María la Mayor, donde el pontífice nacido en Flores será sepultado. Algunos especialistas creen que le cifra será superada.
El gobierno italiano ha puesto en marcha un Comité de Operaciones que coordina las operaciones de seguridad “más arduas que nunca” por la cantidad de gente en movimiento, sin que hasta ahora se haya registrado ningún hecho de violencia.
El jefe de la Protección Civil, Fabio Ciciliana dijo que “estamos analizando los flujos de gente por carretera, en tren, en barco y en tren, especialmente desde Argentina y otros países sudamericanos”.
Cientos de voluntarios de la muy bien organizada Protección Civil Italiana, especializados en los casos de catástrofes naturales, han sido convocados a Roma para que ayuden a mantener el orden, porque no bastan los miles de policías que están actuando.
El comisario Ciciliana dijo que “para encontrar otros casos así hay que remontarse al pasado y con números más bajos” de los que se esperan.
Según los especialistas de seguridad, el momento más delicado será el traslado el sábado del féretro del Papa desde la San Pedro a la basílica de San Pedro, donde será sepultado. “Hay que organizar bien el cortejo fúnebre porque serán muchos miles las personas que querrán el último adiós al Papa tan querido”.
Se están fortaleciendo las redes telefónicas y de datos, además del despliegue de seguridad que será necesario para la recepción de las delegaciones extranjeras.
El operativo militar que se despliega en estos casos sobre todo para garantizar los espacios aéreos de Roma, está también siendo reforzado. Incluso habrá drones para ser utilizados en las emergencias.
Los viajes de Francisco
Todos los destinos que visitó fuera de Italia, en sus 47 viajes apostólicos. Recorrió 60 países.
Tocá para explorar el contenido
El maestro de las Celebraciones litúrgicas, Diego Ravelli, informó que el viernes a las 20 (las 15 en Argentina) el cardenal Kevin Farreell, Camarlengo de la Santa Iglesia Romana y administrador de ella durante la sede vacante, presidirá el rito de cierre del féretro del Papa en presencia de otros dignatarios.
Hoy el dispositivo de máxima seguridad funcionó bien en la basílica de San Pedro donde ya han sido desplegadas muchas fuerzas de seguridad, que cuidan también los techos armados para hacer frente a cualquier evento.
Ya mañana el número de efectivos será aumentado a cuatro o cinco mil efectos de carabineros (policía militarizada), policías y guardias de finanzas. En los alrededores y en los accesos de Roma han sido desplegados otros tres mil efectivos que serán muchos más desde mañana, cuando comenzarán a llegar las delegaciones extranjeras a la ceremonia en honor del Papa Francisco.
El ministro del Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, dijo que ya está preparada la infraestructura para acoger a un máximo de 170 delegaciones extranjeras.
El ministro explicó que el cuadro de seguridad ha sido activado con mecanismos de nueva generación que incluyen un sistema de Tercera Dimensión para garantizar una visión de 360 grados de las áreas que rodean a la plaza de San Pedro.
El ministro del Interior dijo que “dada la gran participación que esperamos hemos decidido hacer público el recorrido del cortejo que irá el sábado desde San Pedro a la Basílicta de Santa María la Mayor, donde el Papa será sepultado.
También el río Tiber, cercano al Vaticano, será patrullado intensamente en estos días . Además habrá vigilancia especial en los barrios donde se alojarán las embajadas extranjeras. Especialmente el barrio Parioli, donde se encuentra Villa Taverna, residencia del embajador de EE.UU. en Italia, donde se alojará el presidente norteamericano Donald Trump.
Papa Francisco
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas demanded Hamas disarm, relinquish power and release the hostages.
The Palestinian leader said that by letting the hostages go, Hamas would «shut down» Israel’s «excuses» to continue the war that began after the terror group’s massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.
«The first priority is to stop the war of extermination in Gaza. It must be stopped – hundreds are being killed every day,» Abbas said, according to the Times of Israel. «Why don’t you hand over the hostages?»
The Palestinian Authority president also apparently called Hamas «sons of dogs» during his address.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas holds a leadership meeting in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 23, 2025. (Reuters/Mohammed Torokman)
HAMAS TERROR OUTLET QUIETLY CUTS GAZA DEATH COUNT, REVEALS MOST KILLED WERE COMBAT-AGE MEN
Abbas was speaking at a meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council, which is expected to select a deputy who could be a successor to the 89-year-old PA president.
This marks the first time since the start of the war in Gaza that Abbas has called on Hamas to transfer its authority to the PA, according to Reuters, but he has done so in the past.
Palestinians walk through the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip on Feb. 12, 2025. (Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
HAMAS FACES FINANCIAL SQUEEZE AMID ONGOING WAR IN GAZA
It is unclear whether Hamas will comply with Abbas’ demand, despite his assertion that it could help end the war and save Palestinian lives in Gaza. Hamas and the PA have been at odds for nearly two decades, since the terror organization seized power in 2006 and pushed the PA out of Gaza.
The international community has pushed for the PA to play a role in a «day after» plan for Gaza, but Israel has not been receptive to this idea.
President Donald Trump and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Fox News | Saudi Press Agency via AP)
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The Israeli government and the Trump administration have long criticized the PA’s «pay for slay» policy, which Abbas reformed in February of this year. The policy saw payments go to family members of Palestinians who were imprisoned, killed or injured in connection with attacks against Israelis.
«This is a new fraudulent trick by the Palestinian Authority, which intends to continue making payments to terrorists and their families through other payment channels,» the Israeli Foreign Ministry said at the time, according to Axios.
FIRST ON FOX: GOP Montana Governor Greg Gianforte is launching a video campaign to remind gun manufacturers in Colorado that if they move just a few hundred miles to the north, they can be free of one of the nation’s most restrictive gun control bills signed into law earlier this month in their state.
«Do you want to move back to America?» Gianforte is asking Colorado gunmakers, after Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed S.B. 25-003 into law earlier this month. The new law, which is slated to go into effect in August 2026, effectively bans the manufacture, sale or purchase of semi-automatic firearms that accept detachable magazines, which include most AR-15s and AK-47 rifles sold in the United States. Some tactical shotguns and a few select handguns will also be impacted.
«Our Second Amendment is very clear. It says the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,» Gianforte told Fox News Digital. «This bill outlaws some of the most popular firearms used for sporting and self defense. It’s a violation of the Second Amendment.»
BLUE STATE GOP REP FORCED TO REMOVE 2A STICKER FROM LAPTOP: ‘OFFENSIVE’
Gianforte has helped spearhead greater protections for gun owners and sellers in his state, including through making Montana a constitutional carry state and through the passage of a law that prohibits law enforcement from enforcing federal firearm bans or regulations that infringe on Americans’ Second Amendment rights to posses, transfer or use any firearm, magazine or firearm accessory.
The GOP Montana Governor also spearheaded an effort to ban liberal environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards that served as a basis for private institutions, such as banks, to refuse to work with gun manufacturers and sellers.
However, Gianforte pointed to not only his state’s defense of Second Amendment rights, but also its pro-business policies and comparatively low tax burden for reasons why his state is ideal for law-abiding gun makers and sellers.
EXCESSIVE STATE TAXES ON GUNS, AMMUNITION SALES ARE TARGET OF NEW GOP CRACKDOWN EFFORT
«We have more firearms and ammunition manufacturers today than any other state in the country per capita,» Gov. Gianforte (RIGHT) told Fox News Digital. (Tom Williams (CQ Roll Call)/Getty Images)
«When this [Colorado bill] came out – this announcement – I personally cold called six Colorado firearms companies. Five of them, the five I’ve spoken to so far, are all planning visits to Montana,» Gianforte recounted to Fox News Digital. The governor said that from his conversation with the companies, he deduced they were all «throwing in the towel on Colorado.»
«My message to them was pretty simple,» he said. «‘See what’s going on in Colorado? Do you want to move back to America? Because Montana is open for business, and we would welcome you here.’»
Gianforte also pointed out how officials from the state of Montana attend what the governor described as «the largest» firearms and gun trade show in the world, which the officials frequently return from with multiple leads on manufacturers looking to potentially move to Montana every year.
TRUMP HAILED FOR RESTORING GUN RIGHTS AS GOP FIGHTS BIDEN-ERA POLICIES
Colorado’s new law, which is slated to go into effect next year, effectively bans the manufacture, sale or purchase of semi-automatic firearms that accept detachable magazines. This includes most AR-15s and AK-47 rifles sold in the United States. Some tactical shotguns and a few select handguns will also be impacted. (GETTY IMAGES/REUTERS/FOX NEWS)
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Gianforte estimated that officials walked away from the convention last year with about 10 potential new firearm businesses seriously interested in moving to Montana, while he said this year it was closer to 30.
«We have more firearms and ammunition manufacturers today than any other state in the country per capita,» touted Gianforte. «We proudly defend the Second Amendment, not just for our firearms owners, but also for firearms manufacturers and ammunition manufacturers.»
Fox News Digital has reached out to Gov. Polis’ office for comment.
Second Amendment,Colorado,Montana,State And Local,Law
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