Take Care LedgerA dated, sourced record of the second Trump administration

Russia and Ukraine

Updated2026-11-09 Covers2025-02-04 to 2026-11-05

Summary

In March 2025, the administration paused weapons deliveries and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.1,83 It set several sanctions deadlines for Russia, and they passed without sanctions on Russia. Later it backed a 28-point plan drafted with a Russian envoy. Under that plan, Ukraine would withdraw from the parts of Donbas it still held.2 In October 2025, it put sanctions on Russia’s oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil. Then in October 2026 it waived, or switched off, nearly all of a sanctions law Congress had passed.3,4 The talks ran mainly through two envoys. One was Steve Witkoff. His son co-founded a crypto company that handled a $2 billion deal for an Emirati state-backed investment firm. The other was Jared Kushner. His investment fund manages money from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).5,6 The New START treaty capped U.S. and Russian strategic (long-range) nuclear warheads. It expired on Feb 5, 2026 with no treaty to replace it.65 As of Nov 8, 2026 there is no peace agreement. New talks are set for Nov 10–11 in Abu Dhabi.7

Background

Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The U.S. then led Western aid and sanctions. It also backed United Nations (UN) resolutions naming Russia the aggressor.8 Under the Constitution, a binding U.S. promise to defend another country would normally be a treaty. The Treaty Clause says a treaty needs the approval of two-thirds of the senators present (Art. II §2 cl. 2).53 Sanctions laws passed by Congress may let the President waive, or set aside, their terms.29,36 On Feb 18, 2025 Trump said Ukraine “should have never started it.”9 The Justice Department (DOJ) shut down Task Force KleptoCapture, which went after Russian oligarchs’ assets (Feb 5, 2025).10

Trump gave the negotiations to Witkoff, a real-estate developer who had not held a diplomatic post. Later he also gave them to Kushner, his son-in-law, who holds no post confirmed by the Senate.11,12 Their main Russian contact was Kirill Dmitriev. He heads Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, a state investment fund that is under U.S. sanctions.13

What happened

Peace talks and diplomacy

On Feb 18, 2025 U.S. and Russian officials met in Riyadh. No Ukrainians or Europeans were there.9 The next day Trump called Zelenskyy “a Dictator without Elections” (Feb 19, 2025).14 On Feb 24 the UN General Assembly voted on a resolution naming Russia the aggressor. The U.S. voted against it, along with Russia, Belarus and North Korea. It passed 93–18–65.8 On Feb 28, Trump and Vance met Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. They told him “you don’t have the cards” and that he was being “disrespectful,” and a planned minerals deal was called off.15 Witkoff met Putin using Kremlin interpreters rather than a U.S. interpreter (Apr 11, 2025).11

At the Anchorage summit (Aug 15, 2025) Putin was greeted with a red carpet. The summit produced no ceasefire and no agreement.21 The next day Trump posted that the best path was “to go directly to a Peace Agreement… and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement,” a position Putin had held. European officials said Trump passed on Putin’s proposal that Kyiv give up all of Donbas. A U.S. official confirmed that Trump urged Zelenskyy to accept it (Aug 16).22 Seven European leaders joined Zelenskyy at the White House (Aug 18).23 Trump then said Ukraine could “WIN all of Ukraine back” (Sept 23).24 He shelved a planned summit in Budapest, saying “I don’t want to have a wasted meeting” (Oct 16–21). His refusal to send Tomahawk missiles in the same period is covered under Weapons and aid below.25,87

Axios then reported on a 28-point plan (Nov 18, 2025). Witkoff, Kushner and Dmitriev drafted it in Miami.2 It would have had Ukraine give up the rest of Donbas. It would also cap Ukraine’s army at 600,000 and grant amnesty, meaning legal forgiveness, for war crimes.2 Two senators said Rubio told them the plan was a Russian “wish list.”27 Rubio and the State Department deny this. Rubio said the plan was “authored by the US.”27 Bloomberg published a leaked recording of an Oct 14 call (Nov 25). On the call, Witkoff advised Putin aide Yuri Ushakov that Putin should congratulate Trump on Gaza. He said Putin should say he respects Trump “as a man of peace.” Trump called Witkoff’s approach “a very standard form of negotiation.”28 Witkoff stayed on as envoy and met Putin a week later (Dec 2).28,12 The National Security Strategy released Dec 4, 2025 did not name Russia as a threat.42

In Berlin the U.S. offered Ukraine “Article 5-like” guarantees (Dec 14–15, 2025).29 They were modeled on NATO’s mutual-defense clause, under which an attack on one member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is treated as an attack on all.55 Putin told Trump that Ukraine had attacked his residence with drones. Trump said he was “very angry about it.” CNN and the Wall Street Journal reported that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) judged Ukraine was not targeting any Putin residence (Dec 29–31).89,30 Three-way talks in Abu Dhabi produced no agreement on territory (Jan 23–24, 2026).31 A second Abu Dhabi round on Feb 4–5 produced a 314-prisoner exchange, 157 each. The talks were suspended when the Iran war began in late February.80,90,7 On Apr 23 the Washington Post, citing administration officials, reported a plan to invite Putin to the Dec 14–15 G20 leaders’ summit. The summit is at Trump National Doral, a resort the President owns.66 On Oct 21, 2026 Witkoff met Putin in St. Petersburg. American veteran Stephen Hubbard was freed. Putin agreed to restart three-way talks after Nov 10, with technical talks planned in Abu Dhabi.81 Trump met Dmitriev on Nov 5, 2026 and predicted a “big agreement.”7

Weapons and aid

Trump paused weapons deliveries (over $1B in arms) and intelligence sharing (Mar 3–5, 2025). National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said that if negotiations with Russia moved forward, “the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause.”1,83 Both started again after Ukraine accepted a 30-day ceasefire in Jeddah (Mar 11). Putin did not accept it (Mar 13).84,85 A minerals deal signed Apr 30 set up a 50/50 fund with no security guarantee. Trump had first demanded $500B in minerals.16

On Jul 14, 2025 Trump said NATO allies would buy U.S. weapons, including Patriots, for Ukraine under a new system called PURL.19 Separately, the Federal Register records 15 direct Foreign Military Sales notices for Ukraine sent to Congress from May 2025 to May 2026, about $3.09 billion in total. Foreign Military Sales are arms sales from one government to another. The largest was $825 million for up to 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition missiles (Aug 28, 2025).62,71 Trump declined to send Tomahawk cruise missiles. He said “we need Tomahawks and we need a lot of other weapons that we’re sending to Ukraine” (Oct 17, 2025).88

The House passed a Ukraine aid bill 226–195 over the opposition of its leaders (June 4, 2026). It used a discharge procedure, which lets a majority of members force a vote.33 On Apr 24, 2026 Reuters reported on an internal Pentagon email. A Reuters wire version said it came from Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby. The email listed ways to penalize NATO allies that had refused the U.S. access, basing and overflight rights for the Iran war. It called those rights “just the absolute baseline for NATO.”68 It listed three options. One was suspending Spain. Spain had refused U.S. use of Rota and Morón and its airspace for strikes on Iran. The email said this would carry symbolic weight but have little effect on operations. Another option was removing “difficult” countries from prestigious NATO posts. The third was rethinking U.S. diplomatic support for European “imperial possessions” such as Britain’s Falklands. The options did not include leaving NATO or closing bases.68 Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said the allies “were not there for us.” She said the department “will ensure that the President has credible options,” and gave no further comment on internal talks. “We do not work off emails. We work off official documents and government positions, in this case of the United States,” said Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said the UK’s position on the Falklands had not changed (see The 2026 Iran War).68 At the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said he had ordered a halt to all trade and official visits with Spain. He also offered Ukraine a license to make Patriot interceptors (Jul 7–8).34 On Oct 19 the Kyiv Independent, citing unnamed Ukrainian officials, reported that Hegseth had not approved a batch of Patriot interceptors. Allies had paid for them through PURL. A U.S. official called the claims “not true,” and a NATO official said PURL deliveries were continuing.64,77

Sanctions on Russia and its oil buyers

Trump threatened sanctions on Russia in March and in May (Mar 7, May 19–25). On Jul 14, 2025, he set a 50-day deadline. On Jul 28 he cut it to “10–12 days.” None of these deadlines led to sanctions on Russia.17,18,86,19,62 A “secondary” penalty punishes a third country for doing business with the target. The only one imposed was on India. Goods from India faced a U.S. tariff, which is a tax on imports. That tariff was doubled to 50% because India bought Russian oil.20 On Feb 6, 2026, Executive Order 14384 removed the extra 25% from Feb 7, the next day. An executive order is a written order from the President to the agencies he runs. This one cited India’s commitment “to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil,” and told the Commerce Department to watch whether India starts those imports again.74 No similar penalty was imposed on China, the largest buyer (Aug 6, 2025).20 The India penalty followed the “secondary tariff” model of Executive Order 14245 (Mar 24, 2025), which targeted buyers of Venezuelan oil. EO 14389 ended that order along with the other tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) (Feb 20, 2026).51,54 IEEPA is a law that lets the President restrict trade in a declared national emergency.

Treasury put sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil (Oct 22, 2025).3 Hungary got an exemption two weeks later. The White House said it lasts one year, and Orbán said it has no end date (Nov 7).26 During a spike in oil prices, Treasury issued licenses that eased sanctions on Russian oil (Mar 5–12, 2026).32,97 It is disputed whether that helped Moscow. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the license “narrowly tailored.” He said it “will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government.”97

The Graham sanctions act passed 86–11 and 262–159. It was signed Sept 18, 2026 (one ledger entry marks the signing as unverified).35,93,36,94,99,56 In October Trump announced a diesel deal with Putin. Treasury waived sanctions on Russian energy for a limited time. Twelve senators, six of them Republicans, wrote that it was “a betrayal of the people of Ukraine” (Oct 9–13).37,98 On Oct 16, two days before the Graham act took effect, Trump certified a “national interest” and waived nearly all of it. The waiver covers the duties of up to 100% on top buyers of Russian oil and gas. It also covers the tariffs of up to 500% on Russian goods, and the sanctions on banks and the shadow fleet. It has no end date.4 Sen. Thom Tillis called it “beyond irresponsible.”4

Belarus prisoner releases

Envoy John Coale held talks with Belarus. They led to the release of 52 prisoners on Sept 11, 2025 and 123 on Dec 13, including Nobel Prize winner Ales Bialiatski. In return, the U.S. eased sanctions on the state airline Belavia. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took Belavia off its sanctions list on Nov 4.72 The U.S. also eased sanctions on the potash industry. It did this with General License 13, a written permission for Belaruskali, Belarusian Potash Company and Agrorozkvit (Dec 15).73 The rights group Viasna counted almost 1,200 political prisoners still held in September.43,48,59 After meeting Coale on Mar 19, 2026, Belarus’s president, Aliaksandr Lukashenka, pardoned 250 prisoners. He said “we do not have such a designation” of political prisoners. On Mar 26 OFAC took Belarus’s potash producers off its sanctions list. It also cancelled a directive that limited dealings with the Belarusian Finance Ministry and Development Bank.60,95 On Sept 16 Belarus freed 25 more prisoners under what Coale called “an interim deal.” OFAC took two state companies off its list the next day. Coale promised that U.S. banks would return frozen Belarusian assets. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said “Lukashenko continues supporting Russia’s war.”61,96

New START and arms control

On Feb 5, 2026 the New START treaty expired. It was the last binding cap on U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear forces, set at 1,550 deployed warheads each. On Sept 22, 2025 Putin had offered that both sides keep to its main limits for a year. The U.S. gave no formal reply.65 Trump posted that the U.S. would seek a “new, improved, and modernized Treaty.” On Feb 6 Under Secretary of State Thomas DiNanno spoke to the Conference on Disarmament. He said “President Trump wants to find a better agreement.” He also named a priority: “addressing the breakout growth of Chinese nuclear weapons stockpiles,” in his words. On Feb 11 Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia would stay within the limits only as long as the U.S. did.65,91,92

Oversight and Starlink

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) gives aid abroad. Its inspector general is an independent watchdog who looks into waste and wrongdoing. On Feb 11, 2025 USAID Inspector General Paul Martin was removed with no reason given. His office had been inspecting how USAID handled Starlink satellite-internet terminals in Ukraine. The day before, the office had warned about oversight of about $8.2 billion in unspent humanitarian aid. It said the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had taken USAID apart, leaving that oversight “largely nonoperational.”52,82 The office’s Aug 11, 2025 report found that USAID had not tracked the 5,175 Starlink terminals it supplied to Ukraine. USAID bought 1,508 of them and SpaceX donated 3,667. Nearly half of the active units were in territory Russia occupies. The report said USAID should work with SpaceX to cut service to at-risk terminals.41 Ukrainian Starlink terminals moving at high speed lost service in the middle of missions. Musk said the military network “is not under SpaceX control” (Oct 13–14, 2026).38 On Oct 15 nine senators led by Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis asked the Pentagon’s inspector general to investigate. They asked about the disruptions to Starlink, Starshield and intelligence sharing, according to The Hill.64,76 Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Betty McCollum asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for an investigation within 30 days (Oct 19–20).64,78 On Oct 28 the Pentagon’s inspector general turned the senators down, AP reported. It said the Air Force was better placed to answer their questions, and that it could revisit the decision if new information emerges. Sen. Shaheen called the decision “concerning.”100

Key dates

Why it matters

Security guarantees (Treaty Clause, Art. II §2 cl. 2). The legal question is what form a U.S. promise to protect Ukraine would take. A defense promise made by executive agreement, a deal the President makes without a Senate-approved treaty, would not bind a future president.29 U.S. officials said the “Article 5-like” offer “will not be on the table forever.” The record here does not include the legal form the administration has stated for the guarantee.29

Arms control (Treaty Clause). New START was ratified with the Senate’s advice and consent under Art. II §2.53 No law requires the President to answer an offer of informal limits. So any cap on U.S. warheads since the treaty’s Feb 5, 2026 expiry rests only on the President’s own policy.65

The G20 invitation (EO 14024; Emoluments Clauses). Putin is personally blocked under Executive Order 14024, which allows sanctions on leaders and officials of the Russian government. So his entry into the U.S. would need a waiver like the one used for the Anchorage summit. The summit would be held at a resort the President owns. That raises questions under the Emoluments Clauses, the Constitution’s rules against the President taking extra pay from the U.S. or payments from foreign governments while in office. One question is whether federal payments for the event would be an “Emolument from the United States” (Art. II §1 cl. 7). The other is whether payments by foreign governments fall under the Foreign Emoluments Clause (Art. I §9 cl. 8).66,67

North Atlantic Treaty (Art. 13; suspension of a member). The Pentagon email raises a question: could the United States have Spain suspended from NATO? The North Atlantic Treaty (1949)69 has no rule for suspending or expelling a member. Article 13 says only that a member may leave on its own: it may “cease to be a Party one year after its notice of denunciation.”69 Reuters could not determine whether NATO has any way to suspend a member. The Pentagon declined to comment on internal talks.68 No step toward suspension has been recorded.

Sanctions statutes and presidential waivers. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 required duties and sanctions within 30 days. But it lets the President waive any of them by certifying to Congress that this is in the national interest.36 Trump used that power on Oct 16, 2026, four weeks after signing. The measures were waived, not repealed. So they can be brought back without a new law.4 The India tariff was imposed under IEEPA. The Supreme Court held 6–3 in Learning Resources v. Trump (Feb 20, 2026)57 that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs. By then the extra 25% had been removed by EO 14384, effective Feb 7.20,74 The Mar 12 measure was OFAC General License 134. CNBC called the earlier Mar 5 measure a 30-day waiver. A person familiar with it described it as a general license.32,97 The Belarus delistings and the cancelled directive were made under IEEPA54 and Executive Order 14038, which let the executive branch add and remove names without review by Congress. The sources name no rule that requires telling Congress about them.95,96 Some Foreign Military Sales of major defense equipment must be reported to Congress in advance. This applies to sales above set dollar levels, under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. §2776(b)). That is how Congress was told about the 15 Ukraine cases.62,63

Conflict-of-interest law (18 U.S.C. §208).58 Section 208 is a federal criminal law. It bars executive-branch employees from taking part personally and substantially in particular matters in which they have a financial interest. It also covers special government employees, who are part-time advisers. And it counts the interests of a spouse, a minor child or certain linked organizations. Whether it reaches the envoys’ holdings depends on facts the record does not establish. Witkoff’s son co-founded World Liberty Financial (WLF). WLF handled a $2B deal for an Emirati state-backed investment firm (May 1, 2025).5 Kushner’s fund manages billions from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE (Mar 28, 2025). House Judiciary Democrats opened an investigation in April 2026.6 The record here does not include an ethics ruling for either envoy. It also does not state whether Kushner is a government employee. A book claims there are Gulf “slush” accounts tied to Kushner, but the claim is unverified. He denies it, and the White House called it “complete fiction” (Oct 22, 2026).39 Umar Kremlev is a Russian who has been decorated by Putin. He paid for Trump Jr.’s wedding celebration during the talks. Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump called it “an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend” (Sept 14, 2026).40 Musk led the DOGE team that shut USAID. That happened while USAID’s inspector general was reviewing its Starlink program in Ukraine, as The Lever reported on Feb 4, 2025.70 The inspector general’s report followed on Aug 11, 2025 (see Oversight and Starlink above). No official finding on §208 is recorded.41 See Crypto and World Liberty Financial, Cabinet Financial Disclosures and Ethics Complaints and Musk, DOGE and Conflict-of-Interest Questions.

Effects on identifiable people and institutions. A Zelenskyy adviser said the Starlink outage caused “the failure of a number of missions.”38 AP reported U.S. Patriot stocks in Europe were “beyond critical” because of the Iran war (The 2026 Iran War).34 Casualty and Belarus prisoner figures are under Outcome.

Related: On Jul 23, 2025 Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released documents on the 2016 Russia-interference assessment. FactCheck.org called her “coup” claim misleading (Prosecutions and Investigations of Trump Critics).44 The India tariffs are covered in Tariffs and Trade Policy.

Outcome

Where things stand

As of Nov 8, 2026 there is no peace agreement.7 Russia demands all of Donbas, and Ukraine refuses.31,29 Witkoff and Kushner are to help run working-level talks in Abu Dhabi Nov 10–11, the first round since February.7 Only limited ceasefires have been reported. After the envoys’ Sept 5–6 visits, the Kremlin paused strikes on Kyiv until Sept 7, and Ukraine matched it with a halt on strikes on Moscow. There was a claimed “energy ceasefire” (Oct 11). A truce in occupied Oleshky was announced Oct 23 and took effect Oct 27.45,46,47,75,79 The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published estimates on Jan 27, 2026, covering the war through December 2025. It put Russia’s losses at about 1.2 million killed, wounded and missing, including up to 325,000 dead, and Ukraine’s at 500,000–600,000, including up to 140,000 dead. The Kremlin rejects the figures.50

Sanctions pressure on Russia has moved in both directions. The Rosneft and Lukoil sanctions still stand. But oil restrictions were eased in March, and energy sanctions were waived Oct 9–13. The Graham act’s measures were waived on Oct 16, so none of its tariffs has been imposed.3,32,37,4 Gaps: there are no figures on territory gained or lost, and no confirmed casualty estimates after December 2025. No administration legal analysis is on record for the security-guarantee offer or the Oct 16 waiver, beyond the national-interest certification.

Status

Item Status Latest development (date) What would change it
Peace agreement Pending No agreement; Trump met Dmitriev (Nov 5, 2026)7 Abu Dhabi working-level talks, Nov 10–11, 20267
Rosneft and Lukoil sanctions In force Hungary exempted; for one year, says the White House, with no end date, says Orbán (Nov 7, 2025)3,26 Treasury removes them from the list or issues a new license
Russian oil and energy sanctions Reversed Oil licenses (Mar 5–12, 2026);32,97 short-term energy waiver with diesel deal (Oct 9–13, 2026)37 The licenses and waiver end or are cancelled
Graham act duties and sanctions Reversed Trump waived nearly all of it by national-interest certification, with no end date (Oct 16, 2026)4 The President decides to bring them back; no new law needed4
India secondary tariff Reversed Extra 25% removed by EO 14384 effective Feb 7, 202620,74 A new tariff under another law
Minerals fund In force Took effect (May 2025)16 —
Weapons supply (PURL and Foreign Military Sales) In force 15 sales reported to Congress May 2025–May 2026, about $3.09 billion19,62 New notices or a halt
Patriot production license Unresolved Offered at the NATO summit (Jul 7–8, 2026)34 A reported license agreement
Reported withholding of PURL Patriot interceptors Unresolved Kyiv Independent report disputed by U.S. and NATO officials (Oct 19, 2026)64,77 Delivery records or an official finding
Senators’ Starlink request to the Pentagon inspector general Concluded Inspector general declined to investigate, saying the matters were “best addressed by the Department” (Oct 28, 2026)64,76,100 New information, which the inspector general said could lead it to revisit the decision
Proposed suspension of Spain from NATO Unresolved Option listed in a reported internal Pentagon email (Apr 24, 2026); trade and visit halt announced at the summit (Jul 7–8)68,34 —
Belarus prisoner-for-sanctions deals In force 450 freed since Sept 2025 (52, 123, 250, 25); U.S. relief on Belavia, potash producers, two state companies and Directive 1; EU sanctions remain; Viasna counts more than 900 still held (Sept 2026)43,48,59,60,95,61,96 More releases under the “interim deal”61
New START limits Concluded Treaty expired (Feb 5, 2026); no agreement recorded65 Informal six-month understanding, per Axios65
Putin G20 invitation Pending Invitation reported by the Washington Post (Apr 23, 2026)66 Dec 14–15 summit at Doral; not yet known whether he will attend66

Who is affected

These events reach Ukraine’s armed forces through weapons, intelligence and satellite service that were paused and then resumed, and through arms sales to Kyiv.1,83,84,62,38 They reach Russian oil companies, and the countries that buy Russian oil, through sanctions, tariffs and waivers.3,20,4 Prisoner-for-sanctions deals touched Belarusian political prisoners and state companies.43,60,95,61,96 Soldiers on both sides remain in a war with no peace agreement.50,7 The events also touched oversight of U.S. humanitarian aid, and the treaty limits on U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear forces.52,82,65

Key players

Chronology

Sources

  1. CBS News: US pauses intel and weapons to Ukraine · Bloomberg: Can Ukraine withstand the pause on military aid and intel? · Timeline 2025-03-03 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  2. Axios: How the 28-point plan shocked the world · Kyiv Post/Reuters: Plan rooted in Russian non-paper · Timeline 2025-11-18 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩

  3. NPR: Trump sanctions Russian oil companies · Timeline 2025-10-22 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩

  4. ABC News: Trump signs order waiving Graham Act sanctions on Russia · RFE/RL: Trump waives Graham Act sanctions on Russia before they take effect · Timeline 2026-10-16 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  5. ABC News: Trump family crypto venture tapped for $2B Emirati-backed deal · CoinDesk: USD1 chosen for $2B MGX–Binance settlement · Timeline 2025-05-01 → ledger ↩↩

  6. Reuters: Kushner’s Affinity assets jump to $4.8 billion after Gulf cash injection · Timeline 2025-03-28 → ledger ↩↩↩

  7. NBC News/Reuters: Trump says he met Putin envoy, sees Ukraine deal soon · Axios: U.S., Russia and Ukraine to resume peace talks in Abu Dhabi · Timeline 2026-11-05 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  8. UN News: General Assembly passes resolution · CNN: US joins Russia to vote against Ukraine resolution · Timeline 2025-02-24 → ledger ↩↩

  9. PBS/AP: Russian and U.S. officials meet in Saudi Arabia without Ukraine · CNN: US–Russia talks that excluded Kyiv · Timeline 2025-02-18 → ledger ↩↩

  10. Guardian: Trump order on foreign bribery act · Timeline 2025-02-10 → ledger ↩

  11. NBC News: Witkoff relied on Kremlin interpreters · Timeline 2025-04-11 → ledger ↩↩↩

  12. Axios: Witkoff and Kushner met Putin for five hours · CBS News: Witkoff, Kushner peace proposal talks · Timeline 2025-12-02 → ledger ↩↩↩

  13. Kyiv Independent: Witkoff and Putin’s envoy Dmitriev meet in St. Petersburg · Timeline 2025-04-11 → ledger ↩↩

  14. CBS News: Trump calls Zelenskyy a dictator · Timeline 2025-02-19 → ledger ↩

  15. NPR: Zelenskyy leaves White House early after clash · NBC News: Oval Office meeting and minerals deal · Timeline 2025-02-28 → ledger ↩

  16. NPR: Ukraine and US sign minerals deal · CSIS: What to know about the signed US–Ukraine minerals deal · Timeline 2025-04-30 → ledger ↩↩↩

  17. NBC News: Trump threatens large-scale sanctions on Russia · Timeline 2025-03-07 → ledger ↩

  18. PBS NewsHour/AP: Russian drones attack Ukraine after Kremlin rejects 30-day ceasefire proposal · Timeline 2025-05-19 → ledger ↩

  19. WaPo: Trump on Ukraine weapons and Russia sanctions · Timeline 2025-07-14 → ledger ↩↩↩

  20. WaPo: India, Modi and Trump’s tariffs · Reuters: India pauses plans to buy US arms after Trump’s tariffs · Timeline 2025-08-06 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩

  21. NPR: No breakthrough at Trump–Putin Alaska summit · CBS News: Trump–Putin meeting live updates · Timeline 2025-08-15 → ledger ↩↩

  22. CNN: Trump shifts focus to peace deal instead of ceasefire · NBC News: Trump–Putin summit live blog · Timeline 2025-08-16 → ledger ↩↩

  23. WaPo: Trump–Zelensky meeting with European leaders · Axios: Trump calls Putin from summit · Timeline 2025-08-18 → ledger ↩

  24. NPR: Trump suggests Ukraine can win back territory · Timeline 2025-09-23 → ledger ↩

  25. AP (via WKYT): Trump doesn’t want a “wasted meeting” · CNBC: Trump shifts weight behind Putin after tense meeting with Zelenskyy · Timeline 2025-10-16 → ledger ↩

  26. Reuters: Vance to visit Hungary ahead of election · Timeline 2025-11-07 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  27. PBS/AP: U.S. senators say Rubio told them Trump’s Ukraine peace plan is Russian wish list · Timeline 2025-11-22 → ledger ↩↩↩

  28. CNN: Trump brushes off concerns over Witkoff’s Russian call · Fortune: Witkoff call with Kremlin official · NBC: Kremlin says leak attempt to disrupt talks · Timeline 2025-11-25 → ledger ↩↩

  29. Al Jazeera: Trump says deal “closer than ever” after Berlin talks · Kyiv Independent: Donbas under Russian control unacceptable · Timeline 2025-12-14 to 15 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩

  30. CNN: CIA assesses Ukraine was not targeting Putin residence · Timeline 2025-12-31 → ledger ↩

  31. Axios: Trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi made progress · Timeline 2026-01-23 to 24 → ledger ↩↩

  32. OFAC: Issuance of Russia-related General License 134 (Mar 12, 2026) · The Hill: Trump eases sanctions on Russian oil amid Iran conflict · CNBC: Democrats demand reversal of Russian oil sales into India · Timeline 2026-03-05 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  33. NBC News: House passes Ukraine aid bill in rebuke of Trump’s foreign policy · Timeline 2026-06-04 → ledger ↩

  34. Reuters: Trump says he ordered cutting off all trade with Spain · AP: US Patriot missile stocks in Europe “beyond critical” · Timeline 2026-07-07 to 08 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩

  35. House Clerk: Roll Call 308, H.R. 5334 (Sep 16, 2026) · NBC News: Senate passes sanctions bill on Russia and Iran named for late Sen. Lindsey Graham · Timeline 2026-08-07 → ledger ↩

  36. Kyiv Independent: Trump signs sweeping Russia sanctions bill into law · Timeline 2026-09-16 → ledger ↩↩↩

  37. CBS News: Senators urge Trump to rescind Russian diesel deal · The Hill: Russia will supply diesel, Trump says · Timeline 2026-10-09 → ledger ↩↩↩

  38. Guardian: Ukrainian military’s access to Starlink suddenly restricted · Timeline 2026-10-13 to 14 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  39. CBS News: Kushner pushes back on report · Timeline 2026-10-22 → ledger ↩

  40. ProPublica: Trump Jr. wedding bankrolled by Russian oligarch · AP: Trump Jr., Kremlev and the wedding · Timeline 2026-09-14 → ledger ↩

  41. USAID OIG: Inspection of USAID’s oversight of Starlink terminals delivered to Ukraine (PDF) · Reuters (via Yahoo): USAID failed to monitor uses of Musk’s Starlink terminals · Timeline 2025-08-11 → ledger ↩↩

  42. White House: 2025 National Security Strategy (PDF) · Timeline 2025-12-04 → ledger ↩

  43. NBC/AP: Belarus frees 52 political prisoners as U.S. lifts some sanctions on its national airline · Timeline 2025-09-11 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩

  44. CNN: Gabbard releases more Russia documents · FactCheck.org: Gabbard’s misleading “coup” claim · Timeline 2025-07-23 → ledger ↩

  45. Reuters: US envoys make first Kyiv visit amid peace push · CNBC: envoys’ first Kyiv visit · Timeline 2026-09-05 → ledger ↩

  46. The Hill: Trump claims energy ceasefire · Timeline 2026-10-11 → ledger ↩

  47. Reuters: Melania Trump secures Oleshky ceasefire, White House says · Timeline 2026-09-05 → ledger ↩

  48. PBS/AP: Belarus frees prominent political prisoners as U.S. lifts potash sanctions · Timeline 2025-09-11 → ledger ↩↩↩

  49. NBC News: Who is Dan Driscoll, the “drone guy” Ukraine negotiator · Axios: how the 28-point plan shocked the world · Timeline 2025-11-20 → ledger ↩

  50. AP (via Yahoo): Report warns combined war casualties could reach 2 million · Timeline 2026-01-27 → ledger ↩↩↩

  51. Federal Register: EO 14245 · Bloomberg: Trump authorizes 25% ‘secondary’ tariff on Venezuela oil buyers · Timeline 2025-03-24 → ledger ↩

  52. Public Citizen: Undoing Accountability — an update on Trump’s attacks on inspectors general · AP: White House fires USAID inspector general after warning about funding oversight · Timeline 2025-02-10 → ledger ↩↩↩

  53. LII: U.S. Constitution, Article II (§2 cl. 2, Treaty Clause) legal authority ↩↩

  54. LII: 50 U.S.C. Chapter 35, International Emergency Economic Powers (§§1701–1708) legal authority ↩↩

  55. NATO: The North Atlantic Treaty (1949), Article 5 legal authority ↩

  56. GovInfo: H.R. 5334 (enrolled), Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (waiver at §115) legal authority ↩

  57. Supreme Court: Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, No. 24-1287 (Feb 20, 2026) legal authority ↩

  58. LII: 18 U.S.C. §208, Acts affecting a personal financial interest legal authority ↩

  59. CNN/AP: Belarus frees Bialiatski, Kolesnikova as US lifts sanctions · OFAC: Belarus Designations Removals (Nov 4, 2025) · OFAC: Issuance of Belarus General License (Dec 15, 2025) · Timeline 2025-09-11 → ledger ↩↩↩

  60. Euronews: US envoy meets Belarus leader Lukashenka to push for political prisoner release · OFAC: Belarus Designations Removals; Issuance of Belarus General License; Rescission of Belarus Directive 1 (Mar 26, 2026) · Timeline 2026-03-19 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  61. The Moscow Times (Reuters): Belarus frees 25 more political prisoners in return for U.S. sanctions relief · OFAC: Belarus-related Designations Removals (Sept 17, 2026) · Timeline 2026-09-16 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  62. CBS News: Trump gives Russia 10 days to reach ceasefire agreement · Federal Register: Transmittal 25-46 (Ukraine ERAM) · Timeline 2025-07-14 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩

  63. LII: 22 U.S.C. §2776, Reports and certifications to Congress on military exports (Arms Export Control Act §36; FMS notice at (b)) legal authority ↩

  64. Oversight Matters, Oct 20 2026 (citing The Hill) · Kyiv Independent: Ukraine fears US is withholding allied-funded air defense supplies · Stars and Stripes: Lawmakers call for investigation into Starlink disruptions · Timeline 2026-10-13 to 14 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  65. Arms Control Today: New START Expires As U.S. Urges ‘Modernized’ Treaty · Timeline 2026-02-05 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  66. Global Banking & Finance/Reuters: Trump to invite Russia’s Putin to G20 summit in Miami, reports WaPo · Timeline 2026-04-23 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  67. GovInfo: Executive Order 14024, Blocking Property With Respect To Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation (Apr 15, 2021) · Cornell LII (Constitution Annotated): Art. II, § 1, cl. 7, Compensation and Emoluments · Cornell LII (Constitution Annotated): Art. I, § 9, cl. 8, Titles of Nobility and Foreign Emoluments legal authority ↩

  68. CNBC: Pentagon email floats suspending Spain from NATO, other steps over Iran rift, Reuters reports (Apr 24, 2026) · Gulf Times (Reuters wire): Pentagon email floats suspending Spain from NATO · Al Jazeera: US considers suspending Spain from NATO, reported internal email suggests · Euronews: Pentagon considers suspending Spain from NATO · Timeline 2026-04-24 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩

  69. NATO: The North Atlantic Treaty (1949), Article 13 legal authority ↩↩

  70. Gizmodo (citing The Lever): USAID was investigating Starlink’s Ukraine contracts · Timeline 2025-02-04 → ledger ↩

  71. Federal Register: Transmittal 25-46 (Ukraine ERAM) · Timeline 2025-08-28 → ledger ↩↩

  72. OFAC: Belarus Designations Removals (Nov 4, 2025) · Timeline 2025-11-04 → ledger ↩↩

  73. OFAC: Issuance of Belarus General License (Dec 15, 2025) · Timeline 2025-12-15 → ledger ↩↩

  74. White House: Modifying Duties to Address Threats to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation (EO 14384) · Federal Register: EO 14384, Modifying Duties To Address Threats to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation · Timeline 2026-02-06 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  75. The Hill: Trump claims energy ceasefire · Timeline 2026-10-11 → ledger ↩

  76. Stars and Stripes: Lawmakers call for investigation into Starlink disruptions · Oversight Matters, Oct 20 2026 (citing The Hill) · Timeline 2026-10-15 → ledger ↩↩

  77. Kyiv Independent: Ukraine fears US is withholding allied-funded air defense supplies · Timeline 2026-10-19 → ledger ↩↩↩

  78. Stars and Stripes: Lawmakers call for investigation into Starlink disruptions · Timeline 2026-10-19 → ledger ↩

  79. Reuters: Melania Trump secures Oleshky ceasefire · Moscow Times: Oleshky ceasefire · Timeline 2026-10-23 → ledger ↩

  80. Kyiv Independent: Ukraine, Russia agree on exchange of 314 prisoners · Timeline 2026-02-04 to 05 → ledger ↩

  81. AP: Putin agrees to resume three-way talks · Timeline 2026-10-21 → ledger ↩

  82. Public Citizen: Undoing Accountability — an update on Trump’s attacks on inspectors general · AP: White House fires USAID inspector general after warning about funding oversight · Timeline 2025-02-11 → ledger ↩↩↩

  83. Bloomberg · Axios: WH on pause · CBS News · Defense News: Trump administration pauses flow of intelligence to Ukraine · Timeline 2025-03-05 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  84. CBS News: Ukraine willing to accept 30-day ceasefire as U.S. lifts freeze on aid and intelligence · PBS NewsHour (AP): U.S. arms begin flowing to Ukraine again · Timeline 2025-03-11 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  85. Guardian: Putin questions Ukraine ceasefire plan and sets out string of conditions (Mar 13) · Timeline 2025-03-13 → ledger ↩

  86. PBS NewsHour/AP: Russian drones attack Ukraine after Kremlin rejects 30-day ceasefire proposal · BBC: Kremlin calls Trump ‘emotional’ after US president says Putin is ‘crazy’ · CNN: Trump’s empty threats on Russia sanctions (deadlines lapse) · Timeline 2025-05-25 → ledger ↩

  87. AP via WKYT: Trump doesn’t want “wasted meeting” · ABC (Australia): summit on hold · Timeline 2025-10-21 → ledger ↩

  88. CNBC: Trump calls for Ukraine to be carved up after tense meeting · Washington Examiner: Zelensky comes seeking Tomahawks, leaves after Trump urges him to quit · Timeline 2025-10-17 → ledger ↩

  89. Axios: Putin tells Trump Ukraine attacked his residence · Timeline 2025-12-29 → ledger ↩

  90. Kyiv Post: Kremlin says next trilateral talks in limbo · Timeline 2026-03-03 → ledger ↩

  91. Arms Control Today: New START Expires As U.S. Urges ‘Modernized’ Treaty · Timeline 2026-02-06 → ledger ↩↩

  92. Arms Control Today: New START Expires As U.S. Urges ‘Modernized’ Treaty · Timeline 2026-02-11 → ledger ↩↩

  93. NBC News: House passes Russia sanctions bill named for Lindsey Graham, sending it to Trump · House Clerk: Roll Call 308, H.R. 5334 (Sep 16, 2026) · Timeline 2026-09-16 → ledger ↩

  94. Kyiv Independent: Trump signs Russia sanctions bill · Timeline 2026-09-18 → ledger ↩

  95. OFAC: Belarus Designations Removals; Issuance of Belarus General License; Rescission of Belarus Directive 1 (Mar 26, 2026) · Timeline 2026-03-26 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩

  96. OFAC: Iran-related Designations; Cuba Designations; Belarus-related Designations Removals (Sept 17, 2026) · Timeline 2026-09-17 → ledger ↩↩↩↩↩

  97. OFAC: Issuance of Russia-related General License 134 (Mar 12, 2026) · The Hill: Trump eases sanctions on Russian oil amid Iran conflict · Timeline 2026-03-12 → ledger ↩↩↩↩

  98. CBS News: senators urge Trump to rescind Russian diesel deal · Timeline 2026-10-13 → ledger ↩

  99. Kyiv Independent: Trump signs Russia sanctions bill · Timeline 2026-09-18 → ledger ↩

  100. Ukrainska Pravda/AP (via Yahoo): Pentagon watchdog refuses to investigate Starlink restrictions for Ukraine · Timeline 2026-10-28 → ledger ↩↩↩