Trump envoys head to Ukraine and Moscow, as Trump threatens trade partners over Fed rates

President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are preparing for a diplomatic mission to Moscow and Kyiv this weekend, September 5-6. This marks their first visit to the Ukrainian capital since President Trump began his second term, following previous trips to Moscow. The high-level journey aims to facilitate discussions on ending the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, building on earlier mediation efforts, including a recent visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow.

Concurrently, President Trump has issued a strong economic ultimatum to the Federal Reserve. On Friday, he demanded that the central bank lower interest rates, threatening to sever trade relations with nations that hold a trade surplus with the United States if his demands are not met. This assertive stance follows a recent report indicating stronger-than-anticipated job growth in August.