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Trump admin updates: Vance meets with Zelenskyy in Rome

PHOTO: Pope Leo XIV talks to U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha after a Holy mass for the beginning of his pontificate, in St Peter's basilica in The Vatican, May 18, 2025.
2:45
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images
Prisoner exchange agreed upon, Ukraine requests Putin-Zelenskyy meeting
By Meredith Deliso, Ivan Pereira, Emily Chang, Sarah Beth Hensley
Last Updated: May 17, 2025, 3:54 PM

Vice President JD Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome on Sunday before a later meeting with the Italian and European Union prime ministers.

President Donald Trump announced he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday before speaking with Zelenskyy on the war in Ukraine next week. Representatives from Ukraine and Russia held discussions on Friday.

The conversation follows Trump's first foreign trip of his second administration, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates throughout the week.

Latest headlines:

  • Vance discusses trade and NATO with allies in Rome
  • White House hasn't offered official statement on tragic weekend
  • Vance meets with Zelenskyy in Rome
Here's how the news is developing.

May 17, 2025 3:54 PM

Trump says he will speak with Putin, Zelenskyy separately on Monday

Trump announced on Truth Social that he has a phone call scheduled with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday at 10 a.m.

"THE SUBJECTS OF THE CALL WILL BE, STOPPING THE 'BLOODBATH' THAT IS KILLING, ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 5000 RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS A WEEK, AND TRADE," he wrote in all-caps.

PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks on the phone, during a meeting at the 6th European Political Community summit, in Tirana, Albania, May 16, 2025.
Leon Neal/Pool via Reuters
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks on the phone, during a meeting at the 6th European Political Community summit, in Tirana, Albania, May 16, 2025.
Leon Neal/Pool via Reuters

Trump said he will talk to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO leaders afterward.

"HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A PRODUCTIVE DAY," he wrote.

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh


May 16, 2025 2:56 PM

Trump sends direct message to Republican hardliners calling on them to unite

President Donald Trump weighed in on Friday on Truth Social to help House Speaker Mike Johnson in the budget negotiations, calling on his party to unite behind the proposed legislation.

The president had a direct message to hardliners who have threatened to tank the bill as they call for larger spending cuts, writing, "We don't need 'GRANDSTANDERS' in the Republican Party. STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE!"

PHOTO: President Donald Trump attends a business forum at Qasr Al Watan during the final stop of his Gulf visit, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 16, 2025.
Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump attends a business forum at Qasr Al Watan during the final stop of his Gulf visit, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 16, 2025.
Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh


May 16, 2025 2:56 PM

Consumer confidence dips again, down 30% since January

Consumer confidence dipped again, down almost 30% since January. But this survey was conducted between April 22 and May 13, closing two days after President Donald Trump announced a significant reduction in tariffs on imports from China.

Stocks, which are having a good week following that tariff pause announcement, are not reacting much to this news right now.

PHOTO: A family shops in a Walmart Supercenter, May 15, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
A family shops in a Walmart Supercenter, May 15, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Friday's release shows a big jump in consumer inflation expectations, rising from 6.5% to 7.3% for the month. Walmart announced impending price increases Thursday, so consumers will have to wait and see how much those price rises permeate through the economy.

--ABC News' Zunaira Zaki



May 16, 2025 1:18 PM

Trump says Iran wants to trade with US

In a new clip released by Fox News on Friday, President Donald Trump said Iran is interested in trading with the United States. While emphasizing that he is open to that, he also noted that he's using trade "to settle scores."

The United States has imposed various sanctions on Iran, and trade is still significantly restricted.

"Iran wants to trade with us. Okay, if you can believe that," Trump told FOX News' Bret Baier. "And I'm okay with it. I'm using trade to settle scores and to make peace. But I've told Iran we'll make a deal. You're going to be really you're going to be very happy."

Trump continued to convey a sense of urgency in nuclear negotiations, stating that there is not much time left before Iran potentially obtains a nuclear weapon.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump attends a business forum in Abu Dhabi, May 16, 2025.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump attends a business forum in Abu Dhabi, May 16, 2025.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

"Well, they're not going to have a nuclear weapon, and eventually they'll have a nuclear weapon. And then the discussion becomes a much different one," Trump said.

--ABC News' Kelsey Walsh


May 13, 2025 3:58 PM

Trump to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa

Trump has agreed to say hello to the Syrian president while in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, according to a White House official.

The meeting appears to have been added to the president's schedule as he embarks on his first day in the region.

While Trump exited the Royal Court, he was asked about the meeting, but reporters could not hear the president's response.

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh


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