Key Takeaways
- The Department of Justice (DOJ) has reportedly requested a judge to dismiss the ongoing lawsuit concerning the Trump administration's policy impacting Harvard University's international students.
- President Donald Trump has expressed strong optimism that the Russia-Ukraine war could be settled "soon," signaling a potential breakthrough in the protracted conflict.
- A high-stakes summit between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is anticipated as early as next week, aiming to broker a peace deal.
- The developments come as a U.S. deadline for Russia to end hostilities or face severe economic sanctions, including 100% secondary tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, expired today.
- Discussions around a potential peace deal include controversial proposals for territorial concessions and a "freeze" of the current battle lines in Ukraine.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has reportedly moved to request a judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Harvard University concerning the Trump administration's policy on international students. This development suggests a potential shift or resolution in the contentious legal battle that has impacted thousands of foreign students. Harvard had previously sued the administration over a policy that threatened to revoke its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively barring the university from enrolling international students for the 2025-2026 academic year and risking the legal status of existing students.
A federal judge had previously issued and extended a temporary restraining order against the administration's policy, maintaining the status quo while the case proceeded. Harvard argued that the policy was a "blatant violation of the First Amendment, the Due Process Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act," and was seen as retaliatory. The administration had previously indicated a willingness to allow Harvard to contest the policy, marking an earlier shift in its hardline stance. This latest move by the DOJ could indicate a broader effort by the White House to resolve ongoing legal disputes with higher education institutions.
Concurrently, President Donald Trump has voiced strong confidence that the Russia-Ukraine war could be settled "soon," as high-level diplomatic efforts intensify. This optimistic outlook comes on the day a U.S. deadline for Russia to cease hostilities or face significant economic penalties expired. The threatened sanctions include 100% secondary tariffs targeting countries that continue to purchase Russian oil, such as China and India.
A critical component of the potential resolution is an anticipated summit between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, possibly as early as next week. While the White House has stated that no definitive date or location has been finalized, potential venues include the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Rome, and Turkey. Notably, President Trump has indicated his willingness to meet with President Putin one-on-one, even if the Russian leader does not first meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a departure from earlier prerequisites.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains "very cautious but optimistic" regarding a ceasefire and has emphasized the importance of Ukraine and other European nations having a voice in any peace negotiations. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk echoed this sentiment, suggesting that a "freeze" in the conflict could occur "sooner rather than later" following his discussions with Zelenskyy. Reports from Bloomberg indicate that a potential deal could involve Russia halting its offensive in exchange for territorial concessions, effectively freezing the current battle lines in regions like Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. President Trump has also alluded to the possibility of "some swapping" of territory between the two nations "to the betterment of both". These proposed territorial adjustments, however, remain a politically sensitive and challenging aspect for Ukraine.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.