Washington delivered another busy run of political and economic headlines, with President Donald Trump facing criticism from Democrats and former allies. Here are five stories that shaped the week’s conversation.

Trump’s announcement a betrayal of Ukraine, Democrats say; Ukraine strikes major datacentre in Russia. What we know on day 1,690

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday waiving new sanctions and tariffs on Russia required under the law named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, just two days before they were set to take effect.

Ukraine signaled openness to U.S.-led peace talks on Saturday, a day after President Donald Trump waived Russia sanctions days before they were set to take effect. In a long post on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv is ready to negotiate "anywhere" and in "any format.

The amount is small compared with U.S. demand, but the deal aligns the U.S. with Russia and against Ukraine's efforts to bomb Russian refineries.

The move upends years of sanctions and comes as the White House seeks to tame soaring fuel prices Read more at The Business Times.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky labeled U.S. President Donald Trump as "weak" following a deal with the Kremlin that allows for the export of

A Russian glide bomb strike on Zaporizhzhia early Saturday killed seven people, including children, and wounded at least 10 others, according to Mykhailo Semikin, head of the regional military administration — landing just hours after President Donald Trump announced a deal to buy Russian diesel fuel in a move Kyiv says will help bankroll Moscow's war.

Ukraine says it targeted a Russian oil refinery in response to Moscow's ballistic missile and drone attacks on a gas facility that violated Donald Trump's so-called energy ceasefire. Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of violating the truce.