President Trump has intensified pressure on Russia to end the Ukraine war while advancing domestic priorities like eliminating DEI initiatives in the military.
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Trump warned Putin to “put up or shut up” and end the “ridiculous” war, threatening if Russia refuses to negotiate. Despite a U.S.-mediated 30-day ceasefire agreement with Ukraine in March 2025, Russia continues attacks on cities like Sumy, where a recent missile strike killed 32 civilians. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin for four-hour talks but faced Russian demands for control of four eastern Ukrainian regions, which Kyiv rejects. The Kremlin has dismissed U.S. proposals, with Putin insisting on terms that would leave Ukraine disarmed and vulnerable.
Critics argue Russia is , while Trump’s threats of secondary sanctions on Russian oil buyers and energy sectors aim to force Moscow’s hand. European allies, meanwhile, have proposed a ceasefire backed by a military “coalition of the willing” to protect Ukraine.
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The Naval Academy removed from its library, including works by Ibram X. Kendi and Stacey Abrams, under Trump’s executive order “Restoring America’s Fighting Force”. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled DEI initiatives “un-American” and “divisive,” appointing Trump loyalists like Sean Spicer to the Academy’s oversight board. The purge aligns with broader efforts to eliminate DEI from military education, emphasizing traditional readiness over what the administration calls “radical” ideologies.
These actions reflect Trump’s dual focus on and , prioritizing geopolitical leverage and conservative cultural priorities.
