‘Vladimir, STOP!’: Trump urges Putin to pursue peace in Ukraine

President Donald Trump issues a terse message to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the attacks on Ukraine. Also, China acts on the tariff standoff with the Trump administration, with an apparent rollback attracting attention despite mixed messages on negotiations. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, April 25, 2025.

‘Trump urges Russian president to pursue peace in Ukraine

As President Donald Trump aims to deliver on a key campaign promise to end the war in Ukraine, he has made a new plea to Russian President Vladimir Putin after a deadly wave of attacks on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and other cities Thursday morning, April 24.

Trump addressed Putin by his first name in a post on his Truth Social platform, stating, “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv,” and adding, “Not necessary and very bad timing.” He concluded with an emphatic, “Vladimir, STOP!”

The president then urged the Russian leader to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine.

When asked by reporters about the post during a meeting with Norway’s Prime Minister at the White House on Thursday, Trump reiterated his displeasure over Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine.

Trump mentioned that Russia has already made a “pretty big concession” by expressing its willingness to halt the war without taking full control of Ukraine.

In an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country was ready to reach a peace deal.

“There are still some specific points and elements of this deal that need to be fine-tuned, and we are busy with this exact process,” Lavrov said. “There are several signs that we are moving in the right direction.”

Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, planned to meet with Putin in Russia on Friday, April 25, to work on the deal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted an update on X, stating that rescue and recovery operations are still underway following the Russian strike on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine.

He confirmed that at least nine people died in the attacks and that they injured dozens more.

Zelenskyy also claimed that Russia used a ballistic missile manufactured in North Korea in the deadly attack on Kyiv. He called it “further proof of the criminal nature of the alliance between Russia and Pyongyang.” He posted that a report from the front lines indicates there were nearly 150 Russian attacks on Ukrainian positions.

China reportedly rolls back 125% tariffs on semiconductors

China has allegedly rolled back its retaliatory 125% tariffs on certain semiconductors produced in the U.S., according to a new CNN report. This arises as the U.S. and China seem to have differing views on the possibility of a trade deal.

Trump said Thursday that administration officials have met with Chinese officials.

While a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson released a statement saying, “Any claims about the progress of China-U.S. trade negotiations are groundless as trying to catch the wind and have no factual basis.”

Earlier this week, the president told reporters, “everything’s active,” when asked if he was engaging with China.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said there were no formal negotiations ongoing, but there is an opportunity for a big deal as the U.S. is looking to rebalance and have more American manufacturing.

On April 12, China raised its reciprocal tariffs on American goods to 125% in response to Trump’s move imposing 145% tariffs on Chinese products coming into the U.S.

Federal judge blocks portions of Trump’s election overhaul order

A federal judge halted parts of Trump’s plans to overhaul elections in the U.S., including the requirement to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote.

In her 120-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly called the executive order an attempt to “short-circuit Congress’s deliberative process by executive order.”

She also blocked the portion of the order stating that election officials must “assess” the citizenship of anyone who receives public assistance before allowing them to register. Additionally, she barred the election assistance commission from withholding federal funding from states that did not comply with the order.

Two parts of Trump’s executive order are allowed to continue — for now. They relate to the enforcement of pre-existing laws.

One orders the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department to make voting databases accessible to the Department of Government Efficiency to identify non-citizens who are registered to vote.

The other mandates the Department of Justice to intervene with states that fail to implement Trump’s rule requiring mail-in ballots to arrive by Election Day for them to be counted.

ICE accused of arresting pro-Palestinian protester without warrant

The lawyers for Mahmoud Khalil are now claiming that officers and agents from the Department of Homeland Security, as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, lacked a proper warrant when they arrested the pro-Palestinian demonstration leader at his Columbia University apartment last month.

They called it an unlawful arrest and demanded Khalil be released.

Meanwhile, DHS lawyers contend they served Khalil with a warrant once they took him to the ICE office in New York after his arrest.

The government contends that, at the time, it had reason to believe “he would escape before they could obtain a warrant.”

Khalil, born in Syria, has permanent legal status in the U.S. and holds a green card, allowing a person to live and work in America.

The Trump administration has attempted to deport him for his actions during protests at the Ivy League school last year. He’s currently in custody at a detention center in Louisiana.

An immigration judge ruled earlier this month that Khalil can be deported on the grounds that he’s a threat to American foreign policy.

Defense secretary reportedly had Signal app installed on Pentagon computer

More fallout follows the defense secretary’s use of the Signal messaging app.

The Associated Press reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had an internet connection in his office designed to bypass Pentagon security, allowing him to use the Signal app on his computer.

The report indicates that this raises concerns that sensitive Defense Department information might be at risk of being hacked because the line connects directly to the public internet, which lacks the filters and security that a Pentagon-secured connection would have.

One expert told the AP that the advantage of using such a line is that the user would not appear as one of the numerous internet addresses belonging to the defense department. He would essentially be masked.

Hegseth has faced criticism for two previous chats on the Signal app regarding impending U.S. military strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Despite the backlash and some calls for Hegseth’s resignation, President Trump has given the Defense Secretary his full support.

2025 NFL draft kicks off

The 2025 National Football League draft began with an exciting start on Thursday, April 24, featuring plenty of behind-the-scenes trades and negotiations.

Straight Arrow News sports anchor Chris Francis looks at this year’s top picks here.

One notable player who was not selected is Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who was a possibility for the Pittsburgh Steelers at number 21.

It seemed likely based on many mock drafts, but the Steelers ultimately selected Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.

The second and third rounds of the draft begin at 7 p.m. Eastern tonight. The NFL Draft concludes on Saturday with rounds four through seven.