President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to travel to Russia on Wednesday for what Ukraine is describing as Moscow's "last chance" to reach a peace deal before the U.S. imposes new economic sanctions on Russia.
It's unclear who Witkoff will meet with. A Kremlin spokesperson would not confirm or deny a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday he had a "productive conversation" with Trump and about ending the war.
"Today, we coordinated our positions – Ukraine and the United States," Zelensky posted on X. "We exchanged assessments of the situation: The Russians have intensified the brutality of their attacks. President Trump is fully informed about Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities."
NewsNation's Robert Sherman is reporting from Ukraine this week. Watch his latest dispatch from the war-torn region here.
Trump has been increasingly frustrated with Putin for continuing the war on Ukraine.
The president imposed a Friday deadline on Russia to end the fighting or face new sanctions meant to isolate Moscow economically, although he's been flexible with past deadlines.
Trump this week threatened new tariffs on India for continuing to buy Russian oil. China is another major buyer of Russian oil.
Trump has been escalating nuclear tensions with Russia, sending two U.S. submarines to the region in response to threatening rhetoric from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a top adviser to Putin.
Russia on Tuesday said it would no longer abide by a self-imposed moratorium on the deployment of nuclear-capable intermediate range missiles.
ELSEWHERE…
Trump said in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday that he's bullish on reaching a trade deal with China, although the president is emphasizing that he's not the one seeking a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
"I don't want it, he asked for a meeting and I'll end up having a meeting before the end of the year mostly likely if we make a deal," Trump said.
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter and other top officials from Switzerland are en route to Washington in search of a trade deal, as tariffs have squeezed key Swiss industries, including chocolate and watchmaking.
The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports that Republicans on Capitol Hill are growing anxious about the economy after last week's poor jobs report.
"It definitely is indicative of a weakened economy, an economy that's not acting in a robust fashion. I've all along felt like there's a lag between tariffs and actual economic downturn," Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said.
Trump on Tuesday threatened to impose tariffs of up to 250 percent on pharmaceutical imports, the highest rate he's discussed to date.
"We'll be putting a, initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals," Trump told CNBC's "Squawk Box."
"But in one year, one in a half years maximum, it's gonna go to 150 percent, and then it's gonna go to 250 percent, because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country," he added.
MEANWHILE…
Trump is mulling potential replacements for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, whose term is up early next year.
"Sometimes they're all very good and then you put them in there and then they don't do so good," Trump told CNBC, swiping at Powell, who he tapped for the role during his first term.
One name is off the list: Trump said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is happy in his role and doesn't want to leave.
During the CNBC interview, Trump also revived his claims of discrimination, saying several big banks have turned him away.
And he cheekily responded when asked if he'd seek a third term in the White House.
"Probably not," Trump said.
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