{"id":376,"date":"2025-02-12T20:19:12","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T20:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/02\/12\/latest-on-trumps-presidency-putin-call-on-ukraine-war-federal-cuts-and-cabinet-pick-votes-cnn\/"},"modified":"2025-02-12T20:19:12","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T20:19:12","slug":"latest-on-trumps-presidency-putin-call-on-ukraine-war-federal-cuts-and-cabinet-pick-votes-cnn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/02\/12\/latest-on-trumps-presidency-putin-call-on-ukraine-war-federal-cuts-and-cabinet-pick-votes-cnn\/","title":{"rendered":"Latest on Trump\u2019s presidency: Putin call on Ukraine war, federal cuts and Cabinet pick votes – CNN"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Live Updates<\/p>\n

Latest on Trump\u2019s presidency: Putin call on Ukraine war, federal cuts and Cabinet pick votes <\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine and said it is \u201cunrealistic\u201d to expect Ukraine\u2019s borders to revert to their 2014 status before the annexation of Crimea.<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”02:10″ data-source-html=” – Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/pete-hegseth-nato-thumb-1.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/pete-hegseth-nato-thumb-1.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

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Updated 3:16 PM EST, Wed February 12, 2025 <\/div>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-is-vertical-video-embed data-network-id data-publish-date=”2025-02-12T14:29:32.601Z” data-video-section=”politics” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/02\/12\/politics\/video\/pete-hegseth-nato-ukraine-russia-war-digvid” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”pete-hegseth-nato-ukraine-russia-war-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”pete-hegseth-nato-ukraine-russia-war-digvid” data-video-tags data-breakpoints=”{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}” data-display-video-cover=”false” data-details data-track-zone=”live-story-lede” data-sticky-anchor-pos=”bottom”> <\/p>\n

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine and said it is \u201cunrealistic\u201d to expect Ukraine\u2019s borders to revert to their 2014 status before the annexation of Crimea.<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2025-02-12T14:29:32.601Z” data-video-section=”politics” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/02\/12\/politics\/video\/pete-hegseth-nato-ukraine-russia-war-digvid” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”pete-hegseth-nato-ukraine-russia-war-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”pete-hegseth-nato-ukraine-russia-war-digvid” data-video-tags> \"pete<\/picture> <\/div>\n

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Hegseth speaks to NATO allies about Trump’s plan for Russia and Ukraine <\/p>\n

02:10 <\/span> – Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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\u2022 Trump speaks with Putin and Zelensky: <\/strong>President Donald Trump said negotiations to end the war in Ukraine will start \u201cimmediately\u201d after a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin<\/a> Wednesday. The call, the first known conversation between them since Trump took office, came a day after Russia released an imprisoned American<\/a>. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke to Trump today, <\/a>his presidency said. <\/strong>Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ruled out Ukraine\u2019s NATO<\/a> membership and said Europe must be responsible for the country\u2019s security. <\/p>\n

\u2022 Shrinking the federal workforce:<\/strong> Trump signed an executive order Tuesday<\/a> giving Elon Musk\u2019s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) more power<\/a> to make large-scale cuts and limit hiring to no more than one employee per agency for every four who depart. The move comes as dozens of court cases<\/a> against the Trump administration seek to pause or slow the president\u2019s policy changes<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u2022 The latest on Trump\u2019s Cabinet: <\/strong>The Senate voted to confirm T<\/a>ulsi Gabbard as the top intelligence chief<\/a> today, a major win for Trump as she had been among the most controversial of his Cabinet picks. Sen. Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote against her nomination.<\/a> The Senate also voted to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.\u2019s nomination as secretary of health and human services, paving the way for his confirmation this week. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over lack of access to legal services for migrants transferred to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from the United States, requesting immediate access to those detainees. <\/p>\n

Last week, the Trump administration began transporting migrants to the naval base on US military aircraft, a move that sparked backlash from immigrant advocates<\/a> and prompted fears of prolonged detention without legal representation. Dozens of migrants who were in government custody in the US have since been sent to the facility. <\/p>\n

Wednesday\u2019s lawsuit seeks immediate in-person access to migrant detainees, as well as video, and telephone access. Plaintiffs include some family members of the detainees and legal organizations who want access to offer representation. <\/p>\n

The lawsuit, <\/strong>filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, <\/strong>argues that the detainees have a First Amendment right to counsel and similarly legal organizations have their own First Amendment right to meet with detainees who may want their representation. <\/p>\n

A federal court over the weekend temporarily blocked the administration<\/a> from sending three Venezuela immigrants to Guantanamo. The attorneys in that case argued that the Venezuelans fit the profile of those the administration was sending to the facility. <\/p>\n

The administration is also facing other lawsuits over its agenda:<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Executive order banning transgender girls and women in sports:<\/strong> Two transgender girls who attend high school in New Hampshire are challenging the administration\u2019s executive order banning transgender<\/a> girls and women from participating in sports, according to a court filing. The teens, Parker Tirrell and Iris Turmelle, previously sued New Hampshire education officials<\/a> over a state law prohibiting them from competing on girls\u2019 sports teams at their public high schools. On Wednesday, their attorneys GLAD Law and the ACLU of New Hampshire filed an amended complaint asking the court to expand the case nationally to challenge Trump\u2019s executive order. <\/p>\n

Merit Systems Protection Board chair sues after firing: <\/strong>Cathy Harris, who was chairperson of the independent Merit Systems Protection Board, is asking the court to reinstate her to her job quickly, as the types of federal workers whose complaints she would have handled are fired across the federal government. The Merit Systems Protection Board is the primary agency for federal civil servants to lodge complaints, especially about their supervisors in the federal government. Harris says she received a one-sentence email telling her she was terminated this week. But Harris alleges she can only be removed from her office by the president if she was negligent or malfeasant, and that her 7-year term should end in 2028. <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Eric Levenson and Katelyn Polantz contributed to this report. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Dr. Lawrence Tabak, longtime deputy director of the National Institutes of Health and a former acting director, retired abruptly from the agency on Tuesday. <\/p>\n

In a brief email addressed to \u201cFriends and Colleagues\u201d and obtained by CNN, Tabak, who was a dentist and biomedical scientist, said his retirement was effective immediately. He didn\u2019t give a reason for his departure, which stunned his colleagues. <\/p>\n

In a separate email, sent Wednesday and obtained by CNN, acting NIH Director Dr. Matthew Memoli thanked Tabak and praised him for his years of service in his many roles throughout the agency. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe has helped shape important policy decisions at NIH over four administrations,\u201d Memoli wrote. \u201cHe has guided NIH through complex issues and will be sorely missed.\u201d <\/p>\n

One colleague who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak with the media described Tabak as a dedicated career public servant and said it felt unsettling not to have him there to help with continuity between administrations. <\/p>\n

Another NIH source who asked not to be named said \u201cpeople are surprised and sad\u201d about the news. <\/p>\n

Insiders at the agency said Wednesday that they believed the resignation was forced and that it wouldn\u2019t have been Tabak\u2019s preference to retire. \u201cHe\u2019d want to be there to support leadership,\u201d said one source, who asked not to be identified. <\/p>\n

CNN has reached out to Tabak and the NIH. <\/p>\n

Some context: <\/strong>Tabak\u2019s resignation comes as the Trump administration planned to significantly reduce the amount<\/a> it underwrites nationally at both public and private universities for funding the overhead costs of research programs. <\/p>\n

Under the administration\u2019s plan, funding from the NIH, known as indirect cost rates, would be capped at 15% from an average of more than 27%. Some research institutions, including Harvard, have rates higher than 60%, according to the NIH, which said in a post on X that the policy would save more than $4 billion a year. <\/p>\n

A federal judge has blocked the effort<\/a> nationwide. <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Katherine Dillinger, Katelyn Polantz and Veronica Stracqualursi contributed reporting.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has terminated contracts with multiple expert witnesses it had hired in cases against companies accused of hurting consumers, CNN has learned. <\/p>\n

The decision to suddenly cancel the contracts suggests that the consumer watchdog no longer plans to pursue these enforcement actions under the Trump administration. <\/p>\n

The expert witnesses requested anonymity to avoid retaliation. Another expert witness hired to pursue a case against a debt buyer told CNN they had been working on the case for several years before the termination notice on Tuesday. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pretty ludicrous,\u201d this witness said. <\/p>\n

The CFPB did not respond to a request for comment. <\/p>\n

What is an expert witness?<\/strong> When the CFPB prepares to file a lawsuit against a company, it typically hires professors, researchers and others as experts to evaluate the evidence and testify against financial institutions. The moves come just days after CFPB leadership told employees to \u201cstand down\u201d on all work, including fighting financial abuse<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The newly-constituted board of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, just elected President Donald Trump the chair of the board, two sources familiar with the matter tell CNN. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a Great Honor to be Chairman of The Kennedy Center, especially with this amazing Board of Trustees. We will make The Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place!\u201d Trump said on Truth Social<\/a> Wednesday. <\/p>\n

CNN has reached out to the Kennedy Center for comment. <\/p>\n

Trump on Monday named Ric Grenell<\/a>, a longtime confidant already serving in multiple administration positions, to lead the performing arts center on a temporary basis after declaring himself the institution\u2019s chairman late last week. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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House Freedom Caucus member Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas, on Wednesday appeared to be not on board with the GOP budget resolution, telling reporters that he had wanted more in spending cuts but that he\u2019s open to hearing from the GOP leadership about its plans. <\/p>\n

The House plan released Wednesday morning calls for at least $ 1.5 trillion in spending cuts \u2014 with a goal of $2 trillion, which if not reached would force lawmakers to cut $500 billion from their tax plans. <\/p>\n

He was skeptical that the $2 trillion goal would be achieved and said that \u201cthere\u2019s a lot of variables in this that we still got to go work out.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, yeah, one and a half is lower than I want it to be. But it\u2019s a floor, so I\u2019m listening. But what else are they going to do?\u201d Roy added. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump\u2019s pick for deputy attorney general, told lawmakers Wednesday that he does not support the release of part of former special counsel Jack Smith\u2019s report on the classified documents case he brought against Trump<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Blanche, I understand everybody can say generically that they\u2019ll follow the law. But, I\u2019ve asked you a simple question about whether you\u2019ll preserve evidence, and you can\u2019t say \u2018yes.\u2019\u201d Schiff said. <\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I hope every single DOJ attorney, political, career, or anybody would say they would follow the rules,\u201d Blanche responded. <\/p>\n

Blanche, who represented Trump in both of the cases brought by Smith, as well as the New York hush money criminal case in which Trump was convicted, told Schiff he has \u201can attorney-client relationship with President Trump\u201d but that \u201cthere\u2019s no active matters\u201d he\u2019s currently representing Trump on. <\/p>\n

He went on say that he didn\u2019t think there would be a \u201cblatant\u201d conflict of interest at play if he was involved in the Justice Department\u2019s review of those three cases. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Democratic Sen. Chris Coons slammed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday for ruling out the possibility that Ukraine could join NATO. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think giving that away proactively as a piece of negotiations going forward is a bad idea, strategically,\u201d he told CNN. <\/p>\n

Hegseth said in remarks before a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group earlier in the day that the US \u201cdoes not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement.\u201d <\/p>\n

Coons, a top Democrat on the Foreign Relations committee, defended Ukraine for fighting \u201cbravely, persistently, effectively\u201d against Russia and pushing back \u201cthe second largest, most capable military on the planet when that war began.\u201d He also said the Ukrainians \u201cdeserve a say about their future.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she was not aware of any preconditions set for a possible meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, after the US president announced on Wednesday that both leaders agreed to visit each other\u2019s countries. <\/p>\n

She added: \u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean they don\u2019t exist.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI was just talking with the president and our national security team, I wasn\u2019t made aware of any conditions, but if they exist, I\u2019m happy to provide those,\u201d Leavitt told CNN\u2019s Kaitlan Collins. <\/p>\n

Leavitt also said that retired Gen. Keith Kellogg, the president\u2019s envoy to Ukraine and Russia, is still part of the administration \u2014 despite Trump not listing him among those leading the negotiations between the two nations. <\/p>\n

In November, Trump nominated Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, writing on Truth Social that, \u201cTogether, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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President Donald Trump spoke with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today, one day after the release of Marc Fogel <\/a>from Russia. <\/p>\n

Here are some of the most recent developments on relations between the US and Eastern European countries: <\/p>\n

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