Noting that Putin’s spokesman, Dimitri Peskov, dismissed Trump’s recent tirades against Putin — in which he called the Russian president “absolutely CRAZY” and said he was “playing with fire” — as the result of Trump suffering “emotional overload” a reporter asked if Trump believes Putin genuinely seeks peace. “I can’t tell you that, but I’ll let you know in about two weeks, within two weeks,” Trump responded. “We’re going to find out very soon. We’re going to find out whether or not he’s tapping us along or not. And if he is, we’ll respond a little bit differently.” “I can say this, that I’m very disappointed at what happened a couple of nights now, where people were killed in the middle of what you would call a negotiation. I’m very disappointed by that, very, very disappointed,” Trump said. “But at this point, we’re working on President Putin, and we’ll see where we are. I think we’re doing fine, but we’ll see. I don’t like what’s happening. That’s one thing I’ll say. I don’t like when I see rockets being shot into cities, that’s no good. We’re not going to allow it.” PUTIN’S DEMANDS EXPAND: Meanwhile, new reports suggest that Putin’s conditions for ending the war are becoming even more maximalist. He appears to be preparing for a summer offensive designed to take more territory in the four Ukrainian oblasts where his forces have a foothold but don’t control the provincial capitals. “Russia’s goal of Ukrainian capitulation and destruction of NATO remains unchanged,” the Institute for the Study of War concludes, noting a Reuters report that cites Russian sources who say “Putin has toughened his position,” is now less inclined to compromise on territory and was sticking to his public stance that he wants Ukraine to cede entirety of four regions in eastern Ukraine — Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson — claimed by Russia. In addition, Putin is adding a new demand that Western leaders pledge in writing to stop enlarging NATO eastwards, which would rule out future NATO membership not just for Ukraine but also for Georgia, Moldova, and other former Soviet republics. If Putin realizes he cannot reach a peace deal on his terms, he will seek to show Ukrainians and Europeans by military victories that “peace tomorrow will be even more painful,” one Russian source told NATO. LAVROV: RUSSIA READY FOR TALKS MONDAY: After a phone call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Russia has completed its memorandum outlining its conditions for peace and proposed a second round of talks to be held in Istanbul next week. “As agreed, the Russian side promptly drafted a memorandum that sets out our views on all aspects of reliably overcoming the root causes of the crisis,” Lavrov said. “Our delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, is ready to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary clarifications during a second round of resumed direct talks in Istanbul next Monday, June 2.” Earlier this week, Trump’s special envoy, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, told Fox News that the U.S. had received Ukraine’s memorandum, which he called a “terms sheet,” and was still waiting for Russia’s, so the two could be “melded together” to see where there might be room for compromise. But yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said they would only be sharing the document directly with Ukraine. “We agreed that each side – Russia and Ukraine – would prepare its own vision of the modalities for settlement and a ceasefire, after which they would exchange the relevant documents directly and discuss them in the next round,” Zakharova said. “There were no agreements regarding mediation by the United States or other countries in the exchange of drafts.” Good Thursday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre. HAPPENING TODAY: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is in Singapore for the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, but apparently, he will not have a chance to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Defense Minister Dong Jun. A Defense Ministry spokesman, Zhang Xiaogang, said today that this year, China will be represented by a delegation from the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University, an indication that for the first time since 2019, China’s top defense official will be absent from the Asian defense forum, which is sponsored each year by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The event formally gets underway tomorrow. THE MYSTERIOUS IRAN TALKS: From what Tehran has said publicly, it would seem that Iran and the United States have irreconcilable differences about crafting a new nuclear deal to replace the 2015 agreement that President Trump tore up during his first term. Trump has said he’ll only settle for complete dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear facilities, while Iran has steadfastly insisted it will not give up its right to enrich uranium for the peaceful generation of electricity. “Figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science,” Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted on X last week. “Zero nuclear weapons = we DO have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal.” In talks with Britain, Araghchi said, “If the UK position is ‘zero enrichment’ in Iran … there is nothing left for us to discuss on the nuclear issue.” However, President Trump continued to make public statements expressing optimism that a deal is about to be concluded. “We’ve made a lot of progress and we’ll see,” Trump said yesterday. “You know, they still have to agree to the final stages of a document, but I think you could be very well surprised what happens there.” “I think we’re going to see something very sensible because there are only two outcomes. You know the two outcomes — there’s a smart outcome, and there’s a violent outcome. And I don’t think anybody wants to see the second,” Trump said. “It’d be a great thing … it could have a great country into the future.” “Iran and the United States appear to be trying to secure an interim nuclear deal before,” the Institute for the Study of War concluded in its latest Iran assessment. The ISW cites reporting by both the New York Times and Reuters that U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff has dropped his opposition to an interim deal, and that an interim agreement “would require Iran to suspend uranium enrichment for one year and ship part of its highly enriched uranium stockpile abroad or convert it into fuel plates.” The United States, in turn, would reportedly release frozen Iranian funds and recognize Iran’s right to uranium enrichment in exchange.” TRUMP WAVES OFF NETANYAHU, AGAIN: During his exchange with reporters, Trump admitted he has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stand down while he tries to bring his Iran deal over the finish line. “I’d like to be honest. Yes, I did,” Trump said. “It’s not a warning. I said, ‘I don’t think it’s appropriate.’” Trump said he told Netanyahu that military action is inappropriate right now because “we can settle it with a very strong document, very strong, with inspections and no trust.” “I don’t trust anybody. So no trust,” Trump said. “I want it very strong, where we can go in with inspectors, we can take whatever we want, we can blow up whatever we want, but nobody getting killed. We can blow up a lab, but nobody’s going to be in the lab as opposed to everybody being in the lab and blowing it up, right?” “We’re very close to a solution. Now, that could change at any moment. It could change with a phone call. But right now, I think they want to make a deal, and if we can make a deal, I save a lot of lives.” MORE OF A SHAKEDOWN THAN A GIFT: When is a gift not a gift? When the recipient demands it as a condition of continued friendship. It turns out that — as has been previously reported — the generous offer of a luxurious Boeing 747-8 from Qatar was actually more of a shakedown, with Trump asking for the Qatari to donate the jet for Trump to use as Air Force One. Now, the Washington Post is reporting that Qatar is insisting on getting a written waiver of liability that would state explicitly that “the aircraft’s transfer was initiated by the Trump administration and that Qatar is not responsible for any future transfers of the plane’s ownership.” Trump bragged again yesterday about what a great deal he got and said the “beautiful, big, magnificent, free airplane” is already being converted to a new Air Force One. “It’s here already. It’s in the country. It’s being refitted for military standards.” The plane is said to be worth $200 million to $400 million because the market for such a high-end luxury plane with reduced seating or cargo capacity is limited. Converting the plane to “military standards” could cost as much as $1 billion, but it could be less if some requirements are waived. Asked about the cost, Trump said, “I don’t know. Whatever it is, a hell of a lot less than building a new one. We’re waiting too long from Boeing. Boeing has got to get its act together.” THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Russia suggests new peace talks with Ukraine to be scheduled in Istanbul Washington Examiner: Jeanine Pirro swearing-in overshadowed by tense questions to Trump on foreign policy Washington Examiner: Netanyahu confirms airstrike killed Hamas leader Mohammed ‘the shadow’ Sinwar Washington Examiner: Where things stand 600 days after Oct. 7 on Israel, Gaza, Iran, and more Washington Examiner: Republicans’ ‘big, beautiful bill’ features multipronged approach to crack down on immigration Washington Examiner: Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ could shield him from federal judges Washington Examiner: Elon Musk exits Trump administration one day after trashing ‘big, beautiful bill’ Washington Examiner: Musk frustrated with DOGE getting all the blame as Trump administration ‘whipping boy’ Washington Examiner: Trump to send $9.4 billion ‘rescissions package’ to Congress on Tuesday Washington Examiner: Rubio announces visa restriction for foreigners ‘complicit in censoring Americans’ Washington Examiner: ICE arrests illegal immigrant who threatened to assassinate Trump at rally Washington Examiner: East Asian governments urge universities to scoop up Harvard students amid Trump feud Washington Examiner: Annual Vietnam veterans ceremony relocates for the first time due to Trump’s military parade Washington Examiner: Trump military parade: What to know about the Army’s 250th anniversary celebration in DC Washington Examiner: Opinion: NATO’s troubling new addiction to defense spending gimmicks Reuters: Exclusive: Putin’s demands for peace include an end to NATO enlargement, sources say Washington Post: Trump’s Air Force One Deal With Qatar Not Final, Despite U.S. Claims Bloomberg: Hegseth Cuts Staff at Pentagon’s Independent Test Office Editor and Publisher: New York Post Reporter Suspended After Accusing Editor of Killing Story About Trump Nominee AP: Pratt & Whitney Machinists End 3-Week Strike After Approving a New Contract Militarycom: Lawmakers Push for Osprey Safety Report to Be Added to Annual Defense Funding Bill Air & Space Forces Magazine: General Atomics Designing Long-Range Stealth ‘GHOST’ Recon Drone Breaking Defense: Lockheed Has Path to Pilot-Optional F-35, CEO Says Air & Space Forces Magazine: AWACS Enters the Homestretch SpaceNews: SpaceX to Launch Another GPS III Satellite in Record Turnaround Air & Space Forces Magazine: Pentagon Eyes Fewer PCS Moves for Troops to Cut Costs Military Times: Hegseth, Collins Promise Fixes to Post-Military Transition Programs AP: What to Know About the Death of Air Force Prep Graduate Ava Moore in a Crash on a Texas Lake THE CALENDAR: THURSDAY | MAY 29 9 a.m. — Asia Society Policy Institute virtual discussion: “New Centers of Gravity: How China and India Are Vying for Influence in the European Union,” with Lyle Morris, ASPI senior fellow; Akshay Mathur, ASPI senior director; and Philippe Le Corre, ASPI senior fellow https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/events/new-centers-gravity 11 a.m. Falcon Stadium, Colorado — U.S. Air Force Academy 2025 Graduation Ceremony, with Air Force Secretary Troy Meink delivering the commencement address https://www.youtube.com/watch 11 a.m. — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group virtual discussion: “China’s AI Infrastructure Surge: How PRC Data Centers and AI Models Bridge Military Ambitions and Global Connections,” with report author Ylli Bajraktari, President and CEO, Special Competitive Studies Project; and Greg Levesque, CEO and cofounder, Strider Technologies RSVP: Thom Shanker at [email protected] 12 p.m. — Association of the U.S. Army virtual discussion: “People, Training, and Readiness,” with U.S. Army Reserve Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Betty; and retired Army Sgt. Maj. Dan Dailey, vice president of non-commissioned officers and soldier programs at AUSA https://www.ausa.org/events/noon-report/people-training-and-readiness 8 p.m. New York, New York — 92nd Street Y, New York discussion: “America’s Relationship with Russia,” with Evelyn Farkas, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia in the Obama Administration and McCain Institute executive director; Thomas Graham, distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and former senior director for Russia on the National Security Council; and PBS NewsHour’s Nick Schifrin https://www.92ny.org/event/america-s-relationship-with-russia THURSDAY | JUNE 5 2 p.m. 1333 H St. NW — Center for American Progress discussion: “America’s Role in the World,” with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT); and Neera Tanden, president and CEO, Center for American Progress https://rsvp2.americanprogress.org/americasroleintheworld SATURDAY | JUNE 14 6:30 p.m. Constitution Ave., Washington, D.C — Grand Military Parade and Celebration honoring the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army, with remarks by President Donald Trump, and featuring veterans, active-duty troops, wounded warriors, Gold Star Families, and patriotic Americans from across the country Tickets: https://america250.org TUESDAY| JUNE 17 9 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave NW — CSIS Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency 15th Annual South China Sea Conference https://www.csis.org/events/fifteenth-annual-south-china-sea-conference