Good morning. We're covering President Trump's conversation with Vladimir Putin and a deal between the E.U. and Britain. Plus: How creatives get their heads in the game.
Trump backed off demands for a cease-fire in UkraineAfter a two-hour phone call between President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Trump, the Russian leader revealed no breakthroughs, instead telling reporters that he was ready to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine and repeating his demand for broad concessions. Putin repeated his mantra that a peace deal needed to "remove the root causes of this crisis," a reference to Russia's demand for wide-ranging influence over Ukraine. Trump offered a more optimistic take on the call, even as he backed away from threats intended to press Russia for a cease-fire. Trump instead emphasized that Russia and Ukraine should negotiate directly, a functional endorsement of Putin's position. He added that he had also spoken with Ukraine's president and with European leaders. Vice President JD Vance earlier in the day questioned Putin's position. "I'm not sure that Vladimir Putin has a strategy himself for how to unwind the war," he said. Prisoner release: Putin and Trump also discussed a potential nine-for-nine prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia, Putin's foreign policy adviser told Russian news agencies. Military buildup: Russia has been beefing up bases near the Finnish border, and analysts predict the area could become a hot spot.
Israel wavers on its Gaza strategyAfter months of cutting off aid to the Gaza Strip, Israel yesterday allowed a few trucks of food to enter the territory. And despite escalating its rhetoric and its airstrikes, the Israeli military has yet to begin a long-awaited ground offensive. The lack of strategic clarity surrounding those actions reflects disagreements within Israel's leadership about its national priorities. Here's what we know about the situation on the ground. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners oppose sending food to Gaza and are pushing for full re-occupation of the territory, even as foreign allies have feared the blockade would lead to famine. Israel's top generals believe a ground invasion would be difficult to sustain and dangerous for hostages held in Gaza. Context: Israel is waiting to see how Hamas responds to a new, intense round of negotiations over a cease-fire, amid pressure from the Trump administration for the two sides to reach a truce. More news from the region:
Britain and the E.U. struck a dealAt a "reset" summit, Britain and the E.U. agreed to increase security cooperation and lower some trade barriers introduced by Brexit as the two sides reduce their reliance on the U.S., after the Trump administration imposed global tariffs and signaled it was reducing its commitment to European defense. The immediate, hostile reaction to the deal from Prime Minister Keir Starmer's opponents illustrated the perils for almost any politician in revisiting Brexit. The two sides agreed that European boats would have access to British fishing waters until June 30, 2038, a concession that could be politically costly for Starmer. Related: Europe's economy will grow more slowly than expected this year, dragged down by trade uncertainty from Trump's tariffs, E.U. economists said.
Entertainment & Media
Miami, the third-largest U.S. school district, is embracing chatbots. School leaders say they want students to learn how to critically assess new A.I. tools and use them responsibly. The effort could remake teaching and learning. Lives lived: Jonnie Boer steered his restaurant, De Librije, in the Netherlands, to wide acclaim with ingredients plucked from nearby streams and fields. He died at 60.
Warm up like the starsYour pre-work routine might involve meditating, or maybe a coffee. But not every warm-up ritual is so conventional: Jeff Daniels says he recites a diaphragm exercise ("budda-gudda budda-gudda"), the Tony Award nominee Marjan Neshat tries to find a perfume for her character, and the "Let's Make a Deal" host Wayne Brady blows bubbles. Check out some others.
Cook: This Thai-inspired meal pairs ground turkey with sugar snap peas and fresh herbs. Watch: The Netflix mini-series "Sirens" showcases bad vibes in a stunning location. Read: Our critic recommends three nerve-shredding thrillers. Travel: Leaving your phone at home can make your trip more rewarding. Cope: Here's how exercise can help you manage your blood sugar. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.
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