US Presidential Administration
The White House Office, commonly called the Administration of the President of the United States, is the executive office that supports the U.S. President in governing. It coordinates the work of the president's senior advisors, policy councils, communications staff and the agencies that make up the Executive Office of the President. The Chief of Staff manages its day-to-day operations. The office also supports former presidents through the Office of Former Presidents.
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Trump administration weighs easing sanctions on Russian 'shadow fleet' tankers to cut freight rates
The Trump administration is considering easing US sanctions on vessels of the so-called Russian "shadow fleet" so they can carry non-sanctioned oil and petroleum products, aiming to lower record-high global tanker freight rates and boost Persian Gulf exports. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright raised the issue in a video address to the World Petroleum Congress in Riyadh this week. The move comes days after Trump temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian diesel, a step that drew sharp criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European countries, and some Republican senators.
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Trump announces "energy ceasefire" with Russia; Kremlin declines to confirm, Ukraine says it wasn't told
On 11 October, US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine was taking effect immediately, claiming both sides had agreed. The White House later told Axios that the proposal referred specifically to mutual cessation of strikes on oil refineries, described as "refinery for refinery." The Kremlin declined to confirm any deal, and within hours Russian forces struck energy infrastructure in Ukraine, including the TEC-5 thermal power plant in Kharkiv. Speaking by video link at the Warsaw Security Forum on 12 October, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the announcement was news to him, that Ukraine has only one oil refinery while Russia has an extensive network, and that if Russia does not agree to an energy ceasefire this winter, Ukraine will respond.
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Zelensky announces preliminary dates for US envoy visits to Kyiv and Moscow
On September 3, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said preliminary dates have been agreed for meetings between representatives of US President Donald Trump and the warring sides, with visits planned for both Kyiv and Moscow. Zelensky said Ukraine expects the Kyiv meeting "in the coming days."