Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently met with executives from major homebuilding companies, according to people familiar with the matter, part of President Donald Trump’s push to bolster his standing with voters on the economy.

The administration has held meetings in recent weeks aimed at sounding out the builders on ways to improve housing affordability, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing internal matters. Part of those talks centered on what kind of incentives the administration could offer to spur a commitment to construct more homes, one of them said.

Lutnick’s talks come as the Trump administration ramps up efforts to demonstrate to voters that the president is taking action to address affordability concerns that have emerged as a central issue in the November midterm elections. Last week, Trump moved to ban institutional investors from buying single-family homes and directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds.

Ukraine strikes Russian oil operations

Ukraine over the weekend targeted three drilling platforms in the Caspian Sea owned by Russian oil major Lukoil in the latest move to weaken Russia’s economic capacity to fund its war effort.

The platforms, V. Filanovsky, Yuri Korchagin, and Valery Grayfe, sustained direct hits, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on its Telegram channel. The extent of the damage is being assessed, it added. The facilities were targeted multiple times by Ukraine in December.

Lukoil didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment outside of regular business hours.