Russia President Vladimir Putin agreed in principle on Thursday with the US proposal for a ceasefire in its war against Ukraine. President Donald Trump prepared to host NATO secretary general Mark Rutte amid deep concerns by members of the 32-member transatlantic military alliance that Trump’s apparent pivot toward Russia makes him untrustworthy.

President Donald Trump expressed optimism that US negotiators could secure a ceasefire in the Ukraine war, even as Kyiv and Moscow launched fresh aerial attacks early Thursday.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D, N.Y.) spoke from the Senate floor a day after he said Democrats were prepared to shut down the federal government. Photo: Kayla Bartkowski/ WASHINGTON—Senate Democrats took the threat of a government shutdown off the table,

Democrats are peering into the abyss of forcing a government shutdown. They may be badly overestimating their leverage.

The House of Representatives passed legislation Tuesday to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September. The bill now needs support from eight Democrats in the Senate to get it to Trump’s desk.