You are invited to join us for Global Crisis Watch 340, on Friday, May 23rd at 17:00 BST / 12:00 EDT.
The highlighted topics will include:
Putin and Zelensky Signal Openness to Peace, But War Grinds On
In a flurry of diplomacy on Monday, May 15th, US President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to begin immediate ceasefire talks. After a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump briefed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several EU leaders. While Trump called the talks productive and emphasized that negotiations should lead to an “END to the War,” there was no concrete agreement or timeline for a ceasefire.
Putin expressed general support for resuming talks, thanking Trump for his efforts, but emphasized that any progress must address “the root causes” of the conflict. These include Ukraine dropping NATO ambitions and withdrawing troops from regions Russia occupies – conditions Kyiv rejects. Kremlin officials stressed that negotiations would be complex and take time, and there was “no deadline.”
Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s readiness for an unconditional ceasefire and welcomed the idea of a joint memorandum as a path to a full peace agreement. He proposed neutral venues such as Turkey, the Vatican or Switzerland for high-level negotiations. Newly elected Pope Leo XIV has reportedly expressed interest in hosting the talks.
European leaders, however, responded to the inconclusive outcome by ramping up sanctions against Russia. Trump, in contrast, declined to impose further sanctions, citing a chance for progress and warning that pressure could backfire.
Critics, including former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, warned that Putin gained leverage by deflecting pressure for an immediate truce. Trump’s approach – transactional and focused on future trade opportunities – has drawn concern, particularly as the US reduces military aid and refuses to offer security guarantees to Ukraine.
As diplomacy proceeds slowly, the war drags on, with Russia recently launching its largest drone attack since 2022 and continuing to advance in eastern Ukraine.
US Welcomes Afrikaner Refugees Amid Criticism Over Racial Preference and Refugee Policy
On Monday, May 12th, fifty-nine white South Africans from the Afrikaner minority arrived in the US as refugees, admitted under a special exemption to the Trump administration’s suspended refugee program. The arrivals were met by high-ranking US officials and were brought on a State Department-chartered flight. This exception was made on the grounds of alleged race-based discrimination and violence in South Africa, which the Trump administration framed as a justification for refugee status.
The move comes amid a broader shutdown of refugee admissions from conflict-affected countries like Afghanistan and Sudan. President Trump and officials like Stephen Miller have argued that the Afrikaners are fleeing persecution, particularly citing South Africa’s new land expropriation law. Trump’s executive order also halted US aid to South Africa, denouncing the government’s treatment of white farmers and referencing unverified claims of widespread violence against them.
However, critics, including the South African government and human rights organizations, dispute the notion that Afrikaners face systematic persecution. President Cyril Ramaphosa defended the land law as a fair, constitutional effort to redress historical inequalities through legal expropriation in the public interest. Crime data do not support claims of a targeted campaign against white farmers, and many victims of farm violence have been Black.
The Episcopal Church, historically involved in US refugee resettlement, declined to assist with this group, citing ethical concerns and inequity in the refugee process. Church leadership criticized the preferential treatment of white South Africans over refugees from war-torn regions who have long awaited resettlement.
Experts warn that Trump’s narrative of “white genocide” exacerbates racial tensions in South Africa. South African historian Thula Simpson cautioned that such rhetoric risks inflaming already volatile race relations.
Supreme Court Clears Way for Ending Deportation Protections for 350,000 Venezuelans
The US Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 350,000 Venezuelans living in the United States. TPS is a humanitarian program that provides legal protection and work permits to migrants from countries experiencing war, natural disasters or other extreme crises. Venezuela was designated for TPS in 2021 due to a severe humanitarian crisis involving widespread hunger, political repression and infrastructure collapse.
The Court’s ruling lifts a temporary hold placed by a California judge, who had blocked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate these protections early. This judge had ruled that the administration’s attempt to end TPS violated federal law and criticized the portrayal of Venezuelan TPS holders as criminals, noting they are statistically less likely to commit crimes and more likely to hold degrees than the general US population. The Supreme Court’s order was brief and unsigned, with only Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting.
The termination of TPS protections means many Venezuelan migrants could lose their legal status and face deportation to a country still in crisis. Advocates call the ruling the largest single removal of immigration protections in modern US history and warn it will have immediate and lasting humanitarian and economic impacts.
The Trump administration’s decision aligns with its broader hardline immigration policies, which include ending TPS for other groups such as Afghans and Cameroonians and attempts to use the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants without due process.
Many Venezuelans affected by this decision express fear and uncertainty. Some are considering moving to other countries, such as Spain, since returning to Venezuela is not a viable option. The ruling leaves open the possibility of future legal challenges to any cancellations of TPS-related documents.
Colombia Eyes Major Infrastructure Deal with China, Challenging US Influence in Region
Colombia has officially applied to join the China-based New Development Bank (NDB), a move reflecting Latin America’s gradual shift away from traditional US influence toward closer ties with China. This decision comes amid frustration with US policies under the Trump administration, including cuts to foreign aid, increased trade barriers and tougher immigration enforcement, which have prompted many Latin American leaders to seek partnerships beyond Washington.
The NDB was established about a decade ago by the BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – as an alternative to US-dominated financial institutions like the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. Since its inception, the NDB has approved more than $40 billion in loans for infrastructure projects, focusing on sectors such as transport, sanitation and clean energy.
During his recent visit to China, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced Colombia’s commitment to purchasing $512 million in shares of the bank. He also expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of the NDB supporting a transformative infrastructure project: a canal or railway spanning 120 kilometers to connect Colombia’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Such a project would position Colombia as a central trade corridor linking South America to Asian markets.
Colombia follows Uruguay as the second Latin American country seeking membership in the NDB, signaling a growing interest in diversifying economic partners. However, Colombia’s traditional close ties to the US, especially as a key partner in anti-drug efforts, could raise concerns in Washington. The US State Department has recently pledged to oppose financing of infrastructure projects in Latin America connected to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). President Petro has embraced the BRI during meetings with other leftist leaders, further aligning Colombia with China’s global economic ambitions.
This development underscores a broader realignment in Latin America as countries recalibrate their foreign policy and economic alliances in response to shifting global power balances.
Plus, all the stories that are catching our attention wherever we live in the world. Feel free to join us and add your voice to the conversation.
