Trump Backs off Meeting With Putin, Calls for Direct Ukraine-Russia Talks

President Donald Trump spoke with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other leaders in separate calls Monday, in an attempt to stop the “bloodbath” of the war in Ukraine, as NBC reports.

Britain and EU Strike Landmark Post-Brexit ‘Reset’ Deal

Britain and the European Union on Monday struck a landmark deal to remove some post-Brexit trade barriers and to bolster cooperation on security and defense as they reduce their reliance on an unpredictable United States, as the NYT reports.

Netanyahu Says Israel Will Take Over Gaza as it Allows Food Into Enclave

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country’s forces would take control of the entire Gaza Strip, after his government agreed to end a monthslong blockade by allowing limited aid to enter the enclave, as the WSJ reports.

Executive Education

A confrontation with China could reshape the global order. Analyze China’s military rise and test U.S. response strategies in Meeting China’s Military Challenge. Join CSIS experts from June 3 to 4, 2025, for expert briefings and an interactive wargame. Register by May 28.

Audio Briefs

CSIS now offers audio versions of our latest analysis. Listen to the latest report by CSIS's Daniel Byman, Riley McCabe, Alexander Palmer, and Iselin Brady, "Can Ukraine Fight Without U.S. Aid? Seven Questions to Ask."

In That Number

400

Ahead of a highly anticipated Monday phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, Russia bombarded the country with nearly 400 drones over the weekend in an apparent sign of Russia’s hard-line approach.
Source: The Washington Post

Critical Quote

“Pressure on Russia will push it toward real peace—this is obvious to everyone around the world.”

—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

iDeas Lab

U.S military equipment deliveries to Ukraine are projected to see a short-term increase followed by a sharp decline by the end of 2028. Read full analysis here.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.

Optics

(Photo credit: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/Getty Images). U.S. Vice President JD Vance meets with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Chigi Palace on May 18, 2025, in Rome, Italy.

This Town Tomorrow

At 11 :30 a.m., the Atlantic Council hosts a conversation on Russia’s wartime cyber operations.

Then, at 12:00 p.m., AEI discusses changing immigration policy landscape and its implications for the US labor market and macroeconomy.

Later, at 1:00 p.m., the Council on Foreign Relations unpacks alliances amid shifts in U.S. policy,

Video

Dr. Gracelin Baskaran sits down with 10 experts from the edited volume "Critical Minerals and the Future of the U.S. Economy" to discuss U.S. critical mineral security challenges and policy solutions to address mineral needs for national security, economic competitiveness, and energy resilience. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

CSIS's Tom Karako, director of the CSIS Missile Defense Project and senior fellow in the CSIS Defense and Security Department, joins the podcast to discuss the development of the Golden Dome and how missile defense has evolved over the last decade.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

The Grateful Dead established their indefatigable fan base by sharing their music far and wide for free. They continue that practice to this day. In ten days, the band will release its 60th anniversary album “The Music Never Stopped.” To get fans excited they have been previewing some of the superb tracks that make up the record. Here’s the latest.

I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz

The Evening is my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day. It is composed by Lauren Adler, Ava Rose, and the External Relations team.