https://www.voanews.com/z/7993 VOA’s The Issue takes you beyond the headlines, diving into the stories shaping our world. Each episode focuses on a single topic, offering in-depth analysis and essential context. We break down complex issues, explaining why they matter and how they fit https://www.voanews.com/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.voanews.com/z/7993 en 2026 - VOA 60 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 23:32:13 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA Armenia and Azerbaijan finalized the text of a peace agreement Friday aimed at establishing formal relations that would end decades of conflict. In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said "The United States commends Armenia and Azerbaijan for concluding negotiations on a historic peace treaty. This is an opportunity for both countries to turn the page and move in line with President [Donald] Trump's vision for a more peaceful world. We speak with Ben Dubow, Nonresident Senior... https://www.voanews.com/a/historic-peace-treaty-for-armenia-and-azerbaijan/8011173.html https://www.voanews.com/a/historic-peace-treaty-for-armenia-and-azerbaijan/8011173.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0400 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin, Scott Walterman) President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia agreed in principle with U.S. proposals for a ceasefire in Ukraine, but crucial details need to be sorted out and any truce would have to deal with the root causes of the conflict. Putin said he may call President Donald Trump to discuss the issue, which the U.S. president said he’d be open to. Trump said he sees “good signals” coming out of Russia and offered guarded optimism about Putin’s statement. We spoke with Jennifer Kavanagh is a... https://www.voanews.com/a/putin-wants-to-talk-to-trump-about-ceasefire/8010035.html https://www.voanews.com/a/putin-wants-to-talk-to-trump-about-ceasefire/8010035.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0400 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin, Scott Walterman) U.S. President Donald Trump's increased tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports took effect on Wednesday "with no exceptions or exemptions," escalating the global trade war. Trump's increased tariffs campaign to reorder global trade norms in favor of the U.S. drew swift retaliation. China, the EU, Canada and others have reacted to the with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on 21 billion U.S. goods. We speak with John W. Diamond, Senior Fellow in Public... https://www.voanews.com/a/global-tariff-war-/8008632.html https://www.voanews.com/a/global-tariff-war-/8008632.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0400 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin, Scott Walterman) U.S. and Ukrainian officials met Saudi Arabia, for talks on efforts to end Russia’s war with Ukraine, with both sides saying Kyiv supports a U.S. proposed 30-day ceasefire. Ukrainian and U.S. officials held talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to find a path towards ending the war with Russia. Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel later this week to Moscow. We speak with Thomas Graham, a distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.voanews.com/a/ukraine-agrees-to-ceasefire-proposal-in-talks-with-u-s-/8007351.html https://www.voanews.com/a/ukraine-agrees-to-ceasefire-proposal-in-talks-with-u-s-/8007351.html Tue, 11 Mar 2025 18:00:38 -0400 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin, Scott Walterman) Canada’s next prime minister has helped run two Group of Seven economies in crisis and will now try to steer Canada through a looming trade war brought by U.S. President Donald Trump, a threat of annexation and an expected federal election. Former central banker Mark Carney will become prime minister after the governing Liberal Party elected him its leader Sunday in a landslide vote with 85.9% support. Carney replaces Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January... https://www.voanews.com/a/canada-s-new-prime-minister-/8005479.html https://www.voanews.com/a/canada-s-new-prime-minister-/8005479.html Mon, 10 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0400 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Scott Walterman) U.S. President Donald Trump says he sent a letter to Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, something not immediately confirmed by the supreme leader. Trump made the comments in an interview aired on Friday by Fox Business News. The White House confirmed Trump’s comments, saying that he sent a letter to Iran’s leaders seeking to negotiate a nuclear deal. We talk to Alex Vatanka, a Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute. He specializes in Middle Eastern regional security affairs with a particular... https://www.voanews.com/a/president-trump-sends-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-letter/8002920.html https://www.voanews.com/a/president-trump-sends-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-letter/8002920.html Fri, 07 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Scott Walterman) Facing the prospect that the United States might cut them adrift under President Donald Trump, European Union leaders launched a day of emergency talks Thursday in a bid to beef up their own security and ensure that Ukraine will still be properly protected. The 27-nation bloc woke up to news that French President Emmanuel Macron would confer with EU leaders about the possibility of using France’s nuclear deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats. We talk with Nicolas Tenzer is... https://www.voanews.com/a/france-proposes-using-its-nuclear-deterrent-to-protect-europe-from-russia/8001645.html https://www.voanews.com/a/france-proposes-using-its-nuclear-deterrent-to-protect-europe-from-russia/8001645.html Thu, 06 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Scott Walterman) Ukraine's armed forces have spent three years learning how to wage a modern drone war. And the country's top drone commander says it's a kind of combat the armies of NATO are not yet prepared to fight and need to be. We talk to Stephen Biddle Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University and Adjunct Senior Fellow for Defense Policy, Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.voanews.com/a/nato-armed-forces-are-not-ready-for-a-modern-drone-war/7999267.html https://www.voanews.com/a/nato-armed-forces-are-not-ready-for-a-modern-drone-war/7999267.html Wed, 05 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Scott Walterman) U.S. President Donald Trump will address a joint session of Congress Tuesday night for the first time in his new term. The address comes after Trump has signed a slew of executive orders in the first weeks after taking office including several focused on slashing the size of the federal government, a project spearheaded by his largest campaign donor Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE. U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin will give the Democratic rebuttal following the... https://www.voanews.com/a/president-trump-delivers-an-address-to-congress/7997660.html https://www.voanews.com/a/president-trump-delivers-an-address-to-congress/7997660.html Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin, Scott Walterman) EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says she will inform member states on Tuesday about plans to strengthen the European defense industry and the EU's military capabilities. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged European leaders on Sunday to step up their defense efforts to not only help secure peace in Ukraine but stability across the continent. White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said he welcomed the European plans. We spoke with Jennifer Kavanagh Senior Fellow &... https://www.voanews.com/a/eu-s-von-der-leyen-calls-for-massive-surge-on-defense-/7995820.html https://www.voanews.com/a/eu-s-von-der-leyen-calls-for-massive-surge-on-defense-/7995820.html Mon, 03 Mar 2025 17:19:47 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin, Scott Walterman) A White House meeting between U.S. President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky fell apart in front of the whole world after Vice President JD Vance questioned Zelenskyy’s thankfulness. It had been hoped that the two would make a deal that gave the U.S. minerals deal in exchange for a security agreement. The White House put out a statement that Zelenskyy had been asked to leave the White House and not come back until he was ready for Peace. We spoke with Ambassador Steven Pifer with... https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-zelenskyy-meeting-falls-apart/7993105.html https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-zelenskyy-meeting-falls-apart/7993105.html Fri, 28 Feb 2025 18:01:02 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin, Scott Walterman) British Prime Minister Keir British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and bilateral trade ties. Trump has threatened Europe with tariffs. Trump has demanded that Europe rely less on Washington for its security. Analysis with Daniel S. Hamilton a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center on the United States and Europe, president of the Transatlantic Leadership Network. https://www.voanews.com/a/britian-s-starmer-meets-with-trump-at-the-white-house/7990816.html https://www.voanews.com/a/britian-s-starmer-meets-with-trump-at-the-white-house/7990816.html Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:53:09 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin, Scott Walterman) The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog says Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium. As tensions between Tehran and Washington rise, the Trump administration says Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons. The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday issued fresh Iran-related sanctions on six entities located in Hong Kong or China. The International Atomic Energy Agency has warned time is running out for diplomacy to impose new restrictions on Iran's... https://www.voanews.com/a/iran-s-stock-of-near-weapon-grade-uranium-grows-sharply/7989383.html https://www.voanews.com/a/iran-s-stock-of-near-weapon-grade-uranium-grows-sharply/7989383.html Wed, 26 Feb 2025 17:30:26 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin, Scott Walterman) Before heading to Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer told Parliament he is committed to stepping up defense spending to support Europe. Humanitarian organizations like ‘Save the Children’ are expressing concern that the war funds increase will be paid for with 40% cuts to international aid. And when the war ends, will Ukrainian children deported and adopted in Russia be located? Yale researchers describe the program as one of the largest... https://www.voanews.com/a/where-are-the-children-/7988058.html https://www.voanews.com/a/where-are-the-children-/7988058.html Tue, 25 Feb 2025 18:32:29 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin) A group of leaders from Europe and Canada are in Ukraine's capital to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion. In Washington, President Donald Trump hosted French President Emmanuel Macron as the anniversary marked a dramatic shift in policies on Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that Kyiv and the U.S. are working productively on an economic rare earth minerals deal at the center of an effort to end Russia's war on Ukraine. The U.N. General... https://www.voanews.com/a/ukraine-marks-third-war-anniversary-with-future-uncertainty-/7986547.html https://www.voanews.com/a/ukraine-marks-third-war-anniversary-with-future-uncertainty-/7986547.html Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:00:00 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin) U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday pushed Kyiv to sign a critical minerals agreement while Washington pursues talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine. Trump continued his criticism of Zelenskyy and said that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s trip to Kyiv last week to try to secure a deal to access Ukraine’s minerals was “a wasted trip.” What are rare earth minerals and why does the Trump administration want them as part of a deal to end the war? For insights, we speak with... https://www.voanews.com/a/7983970.html https://www.voanews.com/a/7983970.html Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:23:35 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin, Scott Walterman) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was counting on Ukrainian and European unity and U.S. pragmatism as Kyiv faces a mounting crisis in relations with its once most powerful western ally. He is navigating an extraordinary rift with after U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Zelenskiy was a "dictator without elections" who should act quickly or lose his country. As tensions also simmer with Europe over Ukraine policy, the White House says Trump will host meetings with... https://www.voanews.com/a/allies-navigate-shift-in-u-s-policy-on-ukraine/7982530.html https://www.voanews.com/a/allies-navigate-shift-in-u-s-policy-on-ukraine/7982530.html Thu, 20 Feb 2025 17:37:38 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin) The U.S. envoy for Ukraine and Russia, General Keith Kellog visited Kyiv Wednesday acknowledged Ukraine's needs for security guarantees. It comes amid rising tensions between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the U.S. shifts its policy away from years of efforts to isolate Vladimir Putin. Top American and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia sidelined Ukraine and its European supporters as Trump later suggested that Kyiv was to blame for the war, Zelenskyy in... https://www.voanews.com/a/tensions-rise-between-trump-and-zelenskyy-over-the-russia-ukraine-war-/7981131.html https://www.voanews.com/a/tensions-rise-between-trump-and-zelenskyy-over-the-russia-ukraine-war-/7981131.html Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:28:54 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin) U.S. and Russian officials held more than four hours of talks in Riyadh on Tuesday, their first on ending the war in Ukraine, as Kyiv and its European allies watched anxiously from the sidelines and Moscow raised a major new demand. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy postponed a planned visit to Saudi Arabia Wednesday. France plans to a host a second meeting to discuss Ukraine and European security on Wednesday. Analysis with Andrea Kendall-Taylor, senior fellow with the Center for a... https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-and-us-agree-to-work-toward-improving-ties-and-ending-the-ukraine-war-/7979751.html https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-and-us-agree-to-work-toward-improving-ties-and-ending-the-ukraine-war-/7979751.html Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:07:25 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin) Senior American and Russian officials and diplomats will hold talks on improving ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine, in what could be the most significant meeting between the sides since Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbor nearly three years ago. Excluded from the meetings, European leaders gathered in Paris following a call from French President Emmanuel Macron for talks on how to react to the U.S. diplomatic blitz on the war in Ukraine, which left the once... https://www.voanews.com/a/as-us-moves-toward-russia-europe-prepares-to-go-it-alone/7978350.html https://www.voanews.com/a/as-us-moves-toward-russia-europe-prepares-to-go-it-alone/7978350.html Mon, 17 Feb 2025 17:15:56 -0500 The Issuewebdesk@voanews.com (Lori Lundin, Scott Walterman)