Trump 2nd term updates: Trump excludes low-value shipments from looming tariffs

The Trump administration on Monday told federal agencies they don't have to direct workers to comply with Elon Musk's request for information about their activities at work -- and that doing so is voluntary, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

The Office of Personnel Management -- effectively the human resources agency for the federal government -- updated agency human resources officers on a Monday call after a weekend of confusion over Musk's call for the Trump administration to fire federal workers who do not submit an email listing their accomplishments from the previous week.

This comes after President Donald Trump on Monday said there was a "lot of genius" behind Musk's proposal, and that workers would be "sort of semi-fired" if they don't respond.

– ABC News' Ben Siegel and Will Steakin

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday repeatedly emphasized any agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war must contain security guarantees for long-term peace in the region.

"This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine," Macron said. "It must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees. This peace must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty and allow Ukraine to negotiate with other stakeholders regarding the issues that affect it. But is also a country in which we need to shoulder our responsibility so that we ensure security and stability for Ukraine and for the entire region. And for us Europeans this is an existential issue."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also pushed that any agreement to end the conflict include security guarantees.

Trump, however, didn't say much on the issue during Monday's news conference.

Earlier in the day, he said he supported European peacemakers going into Ukraine after the war and said Russian President Vladimir Putin accepts that as well. When asked whether the U.S. would support European troops stationed in Ukraine, Trump vaguely replied, "We’re going to have a backing of some kind."

During a press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, President Donald Trump was asked about his deadline for Canada and Mexico tariffs scheduled for next week, to which he said they will be "going forward, on time, on schedule."

"We're on time with the tariffs and it seems like that's moving along very rapidly," he said, emphasizing his belief that America has been mistreated and taken advantage of by "many" countries.

Earlier this month after negotiating with leaders, Trump postponed the 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada to go into effect on March 4.

President Donald Trump said in the Oval Office he believed the war in Ukraine could end "soon." Monday marks three years since Russia's invasion began.

"How soon?" a reporter pressed him.

"I think we could end it within weeks. If we're smart," Trump said. "If we're not smart, it'll keep going and we'll keep losing."