Axios

President Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a tense meeting on Friday that he doesn't intend to provide long-range Tomahawk missiles, at least for now, two sources briefed on the meeting tell Axios.

Why it matters: Zelensky hoped to leave Washington with commitments around new weapons for Ukraine, but found Trump in a totally different state of mind a day after he held a lengthy call with Russian president Vladimir Putin. Trump made clear his priority now is diplomacy, and he thinks providing Tomahawks could undermine it, the sources say.

President Trump on Friday confirmed a U.S. military strike on an alleged "drug-carrying submarine" in the Caribbean.

Why it matters: Thursday's attack is the first known instance of the U.S. capturing survivors from a suspected drug-carrying vessel from Venezuela, multiple outlets reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky came to Washington hoping to convince President Trump to supply his country with Tomahawk missiles, but Trump said at the top of their meeting that he hopes that won't be necessary.

Why it matters: The Ukrainian side wants clear decisions from the U.S. about what weapons it's willing to send, with Tomahawks at the top of the list, Zelensky's chief of staff told Axios before the meeting. But Trump said that after his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, his focus is on bringing the war to a swift end.

President Trump's relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has taken a U-turn since the leaders' February meeting devolved into a shouting match, with the two expected to discuss supplying Ukraine with game-changing long-range missiles Friday.

The big picture: Trump repeatedly boasted he could end the Russia-Ukraine war on his first day in office, and nine months later he appears poised to up the ante to force Russia to the negotiating table.

The Trump administration's immigration crackdown is projected to reduce the U.S. workforce by 6.8 million people by 2028 and by 15.7 million by 2035, per a study first shared with Axios.

Why it matters: Fewer workers in the labor force could have dramatic effects on the U.S. economy, from lower economic growth to reductions in the nation's goods and services produced.

There's a shutdown in D.C., clashes in Chicago, and economic worries bubbling up all over the country — but at the moment, President Trump seems more focused on Gaza, Ukraine and Venezuela.

Why it matters: Trump's foreign policy focus — and the peace deals he has secured — is the stuff of presidential legacy building. But the globe-trotting risks blurring his "America First" brand.

President Trump's tariffs will cost businesses more than $1.2 trillion this year, with most of that cost being passed on to consumers, according to a new study from S&P Global.

Why it matters: It's the latest sign that Americans will end up bearing the brunt of Trump's trade war.

Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, the head of U.S. Southern Command, is stepping down from the job roughly one year into it.

Why it matters: SOUTHCOM oversees military operations across Central and South America and in the Caribbean Sea.

• U.S. warships are massing in the region, and troops have killed more than two-dozen people who the Trump administration has accused of drug smuggling and other illicit activity.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes his meeting with President Trump at the White House on Friday will lead to clear decisions from the U.S. about which weapons systems it's prepared to provide, Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak told Axios in an interview.

• "I think we need decisions that will help to change Putin's attitude that he is in a strong position. He needs to understand that with President Trump, it's impossible to play games," Yermak said.

Why it matters: Zelensky, who arrived in Washington on Thursday afternoon, has been very optimistic in recent days about his planned meeting with Trump and the president's willingness to supply long-range Tomahawk missiles.

President Trump announced following a call with Vladimir Putin on Thursday that he and the Russian leader had agreed to meet in Hungary in the coming weeks to discuss how to end the war in Ukraine.

Split screen: The two-hour call took place a day before Trump will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Trump and Zelensky will discuss the possibility of Ukraine receiving Tomahawk long-range missiles.

The Trump administration is working to help establish a multinational security force for Gaza, vet potential Palestinian civilian leaders, and take the first steps toward rebuilding the enclave, two senior advisers to President Trump told reporters.

The big picture: The first week of peace in Gaza has been marked by joyful reunions as well as public executions. An Israeli withdrawal but also deadly clashes. And a peace process that is proceeding as envisioned but is already facing its first potential crisis.

The U.S. passport dropped from the world's top 10 most powerful list for the first time in the 20-year history of a key rankings index.

Why it matters: The declining strength of the U.S. passport since its No. 1 spot in 2014 "signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics," per a statement from Christian Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the Henley Passport Index.