Ukraine, Gaza and China: Why Trump’s Middle East tour takes on new importance
Donald Trump’s tour of the Middle East this week has taken on a new importance after a series of surprising developments on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and on trade between the US and China.
After a diplomatic flurry over the weekend, it seemed like steps were being taken towards some form of possible peace in both Gaza and Ukraine.
Alongside that, Washington claimed it had made “substantial progress” in trade talks with China, with treasury secretary Scott Bessent going as far as to say a deal had been agreed to cut the US trade deficit. But there was no mention of reducing tariffs.
Scott Bessent and Jamieson Greer speak to the media after trade talks with China in Geneva, Switzerland. Pic: Reuters
Mr Trump is due to travel to the Middle East later today on the first major foreign trip of his second presidency, visiting Saudi Arabia and then Qatar and the UAE.
It will coincide with a possible meeting between Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, in person in Turkey, and comes after Hamas said it would release a hostage, an Israeli soldier who holds American citizenship.
This leaves Mr Trump facing challenges on three fronts as he visits some of the richest nations in the world.
Zelenskyy and Putin to meet?
The US president previously claimed he could end the war in Ukraine in one day – something he has not done.
On Sunday, he put pressure on Mr Zelenskyy to sit down and meet with Mr Putin in person after Moscow put forward the proposal for talks in Istanbul.
This was something the leader from Kyiv quickly agreed to and it came after European leaders threatened Mr Putin with fresh sanctions.
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Putin’s call for peace talks genuine?
Thursday could see a potential first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Moscow’s invasion began.
It could mark an extraordinary moment in the ongoing war in Ukraine, however, the countries are seemingly still a long way from actual peace.
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A trade deal or a first step?
After Mr Trump declared war on the existing global trade system in April, hitting allies and foes alike with tariffs, it left many reeling and triggered an escalation with China, which slapped Washington with reciprocal measures.
While those are still in place, the US said on Sunday that the two have agreed a deal to cut the US trade deficit.
However, despite confidence from the US side, China’s vice premier He Lifeng described the meeting as an “important first step” that created a foundation only.
No mention was made of reducing tariffs and this would do little good elsewhere where tariffs continue to add friction to previously freer global trade.
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Israeli soldier to be released
In Gaza, previous efforts to achieve a ceasefire collapsed and Israel implemented a total ban on aid going into the enclave to try to pressure Hamas back to the negotiating table.
With charities warning that the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza face a humanitarian crisis, the militant group has said it will release Edan Alexander, an Israeli soldier who holds US citizenship.
It comes after Israel announced it intends to occupy the entire enclave, threatening years of more war.
Yael Alexander holds a poster of her son, Edan, who was taken hostage by Hamas militants.
Pic: AP
No exact date was given, but Hamas said it would release the 21-year-old as part of ongoing efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire with Israel.
His expected release has been described as a “gesture of goodwill” by Steve Witkoff, Mr Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East.
The previously agreed ceasefire failed over disagreement on the transition from phase one onwards.
While Hamas wanted to progress to phase two, where work would be done towards Israel’s permanent withdrawal from Gaza and peace, Israel wanted to extend phase one and release more hostages.
Read more:
A week that could define Trump
Zelenskyy offers to meet Putin
Hamas says it will release hostage
Israel agreed to a framework proposed by the US that would see Hamas release half of the remaining hostages, its main bargaining chip, in exchange for a ceasefire extension and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce.
While Mr Alexander is only one hostage, it will be seen as a promising sign that Hamas returned to the negotiating table and Mr Trump will be in Qatar, the key mediator in so-far unsuccessful peace efforts.
Rudy Giuliani has been hospitalised following a car crash in New Hampshire, a spokesperson for the former New York City mayor said.
Mr Giuliani suffered “a fractured thoracic vertebrae, multiple lacerations and contusions, as well as injuries to his left arm and lower leg” when his vehicle was struck from behind while driving on a highway near Manchester on Saturday evening, according to Michael Ragusa, Mr Giuliani’s head of security.
“He sustained injuries but is in good spirits and recovering tremendously,” Mr Ragusa said in a statement on X, adding: “This was not a targeted attack.”
Mr Giuliani was in a rental car and “no one knew it was him”, according to Mr Ragusa.
His head of security said the 81-year-old had been “flagged down by a woman who was the victim of a domestic violence incident” and contacted police on her behalf. The crash shortly after was “random and unrelated” to the domestic violence incident, Mr Ragusa said.
Rudy Giuliani attended Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony in January. Pic: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool via Reuters
Mr Giuliani, who worked as an attorney for Donald Trump in his failed efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, is expected to be released from hospital in a few days.
His son, Andrew Giuliani, thanked people for reaching out after hearing about his father’s accident, writing on X: “Your prayers mean the world.”
“As a son, I can tell you that I’m honored to have a Dad that I can call the toughest SOB I’ve ever seen,” he added.
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US
US blocks Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials from United Nations’ annual meeting in New York
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials have been blocked from attending September’s annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio has revoked the US visas of delegates from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), and denied others from applying for one.
It is the latest step by Donald Trump’s administration to target Palestinians with visa restrictions, and follows the suspension of a programme to allow injured children from Gaza to receive treatment in the US.
Mahmoud Abbas addressed the general assembly in 2024, but is barred from next month’s meeting. Pic: Reuters
“It is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace,” a statement from the US State Department said.
It added that, to be considered partners for peace, both groups “must consistently repudiate terrorism, and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by US law and as promised by the PLO”.
Offensive will cause ‘intolerable deaths’
Several US allies, including France, Malta, and Australia have announced plans to recognise Palestine as a state at September’s United Nations General Assembly. Canada and the UK will too, unless Israel meets certain conditions.
Israel declared Gaza’s largest city a dangerous combat zone on Friday.
The army launched a planned offensive that has drawn international condemnation.
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Thick smoke rises from Gaza City after Israeli strikes
Foreign ministers from Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain released a joint statement saying the military operations in Gaza City will cause “intolerable deaths of innocent Palestinian civilians”.
Gaza latest: Israel’s Gaza City offensive condemned
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are sheltering in Gaza City while enduring famine.
An Israeli armoured vehicle in northern Gaza on Friday. Pic: AP
Palestinians ride a truck carrying humanitarian aid in Gaza City. Pic: AP
The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Riyad Mansour, said Mr Abbas had planned to lead the delegation to the UN meetings and was expected to address the general assembly at the general debate, which begins on 23 September.
He was also expected to attend a high-level meeting co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia on 22 September about a two-state solution, a broad idea involving Israel coexisting with an independent Palestinian state.
The State of Palestine is an observer member of the UN, meaning it can speak at meetings but not vote on resolutions.
The State of Palestine cannot vote on UN resolutions. Pic: AP
US decision ‘contravenes international law’
The Palestinian Authority “expressed its deep regret and astonishment” at the visa decision, calling it “a violation of US commitments” as the host of the UN, and claiming it “contravenes international law”.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the world body would be seeking clarification in the “hope that this will be resolved”.
Hundreds of diplomats left when Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu began speaking at the general assembly in 2024. Pic: Reuters
The State Department said that the Palestinian Authority’s mission to the UN, comprising officials who are permanently based there, would not be included in the restrictions.
Under a 1947 UN agreement, the US is generally required to allow access for foreign diplomats to the UN in New York.
But Washington has said it can deny visas for security, extremism and foreign policy reasons.
Read more from Sky News:
Analysis: Israel is killing a lot of journalists
Hospitals ‘overwhelmed’ by malnutrition cases
Tony Blair meets Trump over Gaza
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The death toll in Gaza has now risen to 63,025, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
It also reported five more malnutrition-related deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number during the war to 322, with 121 of them children.
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