the DON JONES INDEX…
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LESSON for AUGUST 28th, 2025 – “FRIDAY NIGHT GASLIGHT”

Part Two: “COALITIONS of the WILLING; COALITIONS of the KILLING!”

As last week’s Lesson reported...

The summit meeting between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump in Alaska, largely adjudged to have been “inconclusive” at best and, without Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskky (specifically banned while the big power pair made plans for his future, that of Ukraine and its people), was met with dismay, contempt and astonishment by European politicians; only the Hungarian president believing that the major powers of the US and Russia are on the right track amidst denunciations that Moscow was re-colonizing the breakaway republic. The German Euractiv coronists, (August 16^th, ATTACHMENT ONE) simply dismissed the public proclamations of progress as mere “gaslighting”.

Everyone... the Russians, Ukrainians, Americans (and the DJI, too) went back to the sketching board.

Which means picking up the pieces from the excluded Zelenskyy and deluded American and Russian “bigger than thee” powers as Ukraine and its tagalong followers in the Old World seek peace, at best, or a ceasefire or, at least, more meetings with Tootin’ and Prump in such combinations as starlight directs (and gaslight shadows).

Part One concluded Saturday midnight with Presidents Zelenskyy and Trump gearing (and dressing) up for their Monday reunion – nobody wanting a reprise of their original slashfest which ended with the big American telling the little foreigner that he didn’t have the cards to fend off Russia, then having him kicked out of the White House. This time, however, Z-Man brought along a posse to guard his back... organizational and European diplomats and even a few national leaders... individually not so powerful as Trump, but perhaps formidable in the aggregate.

Prognosticators prognosticated – including last week’s Index. Cards were dealt, dice were rolled and we let the explainers explain themselves in no less than forty seven Attachments (appended thereto) which, as it turned out, proved only a fraction of the expert and partisan pronouncements as would bubble and smoke during and after the summit – with speculations of more meetings (perhaps a Putin-Zelenskyy twofer, a three-way with Djonald DisEpsteined* rolling onto the couch or the carpet with the foreigners or... who knew... some odd but perhaps treatifying fostercluck amidst the gamblers and the grafters of the power-ranger ilk.

None of the principles showed up on the Sunday speakeasies, so America had to watch and listen to surrogates pitching their merch as media lurched from grim delight to officious pessimism and, atop these rip currents, we began compiling the conjectures.

*while the Ukes and the Russians fought, other American curiosities unfolded – one of which was the contention of pardon-seeking Ghislaine Maxwell that Djonald UnPrurient never participated in any of Jeffy Epstein’s freakoffs

Simon Shuster (not the publisher but a Time correspondent) opined that Putin had to be “thrilled” with the result of the Alaska summit because, as Russian troops were “grinding out” advances along the frontline, the dictator’s main objective was to “buy time” for his troops to continue those advances, while avoiding the “very severe consequences” that Trump had promised to impose on the Russians if they refused to call a ceasefire. (ATTACHMENT FORTY EIGHT – the earlier commentaries can be found in last week’s Index, as above)

“It appears Putin succeeded on both counts. In his public statements on Friday night, Trump made clear he no longer plans to impose any economic pain on Russia. “Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that,” he told Fox News after the summit. “I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don't have to think about that right now.” 

Alaska marked the latest of these disappointments, but Trump has shown no inclination to change his strategy. “He did not even secure some of the easier concessions from Putin that might have given the Americans something to show for the Alaskan spectacle. One of Russia’s leading dissidents, Yulia Navalnaya, had urged Trump to secure the release of Russian political prisoners jailed for their opposition to the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for his part, has urged the U.S. to demand the release of thousands of Ukrainian children that Russian forces have abducted from the war zone,” but touched only Melania (in a manner of speaking) as the kidnapped kids continue being pimped out to Epsteinicious oligarchs.

Neither of these issues came up in the official statements in Alaska. “Appearing side by side on Friday, Trump gave his guest the floor, allowing Putin to deliver another one of his rambling history lessons, a maneuver that has been likened to diplomatic “filibustering.” When Trump’s turn came to speak, he admitted that the talks had not resulted in a deal.”

“Given the red-carpet treatment he received in Alaska, Putin had every reason to feel like a winner coming out of those talks. He had, after all, achieved his main objective,” Shuster concluded and “given nothing away.”

Trump even deferred the right of first remarking customary for a host nation... “gestur(ing) to the sanctioned Russian leader as they took the stage that he should lead the way.” (USA Today, ATTACHMENT FORTY NINE) As noted last week, Putin enjoyed a red carpet, a presidential limousine ride and, added USAT’s Francesca Chambers, both sides gave the finger to the assembled press.

Originally seeking a cease-fire, Trump “reversed himself” and wrote on social media that "it was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up." (NPR, ATTACHMENT FIFTY)

This could not be considered a TACO moment, because whole peace deals are far harder to prepare and devour than simple cease-fires.

But there was a method to Putin’s advancing the substitution, and Trump apparently went along.

On Sunday, Surrogate-of-State Marco Rubio was asked about the president's position on NBC's Meet the Press with Kristen Welker.

"We've been asking for ceasefire for a long period of time," Rubio said. "The only way to have a ceasefire is for both sides to agree to stop firing at one another, and the Russians just haven't agreed to that."

And “special envoy” Steve Witkoff, the third wheel on the American tricycle that met with Putin, Sergei Lavrov and Yury Ushakov in Alaska called the summit a victory for Trump (if less so for America and even less for Ukraine)

Security guarantees offering Ukraine “Article 5-like protections” are the real prize, Witkoff told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday. They’re “game-changing,” he said. (Politico, ATTACHMENT FIFTY ONE)

To shorten a long story, Article Five is a provision of NATO that mandates all members (including the United States and even some outliers like Hungary and Turkey) to declare and prosecute war (even nuclear war) against any aggressor who attacks a NATO member... explaining Russia’s opposition to Ukraine joining the country club.

“Article Five – like,” however, is something different... nobody seeming to know exactly what it is. They still don’t, but Russia intimidated Trump into dropping even this gaslight whilst picking up another TACO.

Thus the conservative Breitbart journal felt quite comfortable lending their ears and their cheers to the liberal Rep. Jason Crow (D-Co) who’d said on Sunday’s “Face the Nation” that Trump’s Alaska performance was a “historic embarrassment for the United States” including excerpts from the discourse as included snark like the three Putinesque objectives – all realized at the summit.

“What Vladimir Putin cares about is basically three things,” croaked the Crow (ATTACHMENT FIFTY TWO). “He cares about economic pressure in the form of sanctions. He cares about political, diplomatic isolation, being a pariah state. And he cares about military defeat.”

Little Marco, on the other hand “scrambled to justify the administration’s lack of progress toward a Ukraine–Russia ceasefire” on a squandered Sunday quartet of talkshows, facing off against Martha Raddatz (“This Week”), Fox’s “Sunday Morning Futures”, CBS’s “Face the Nation” and with Kristen Welker (who sandbagged Rubio on “Meet the Press” showing old footage of his calling Putin “bloodthirsty,” “a butcher,” and “a monster” during the Biden Years, (Rolling Stone, ATTACHMENT FIFTY THREE) and the WashPost (Sixty One, below).

Even Trump patsy New York Post had to hem and haw in hitting upon honors for their favorite President (ATTACHMENT FIFTY FOUR), finally explaining that, since a truce would only prolong the war, Trump set aside his publicly stated goal of a temporary halt in the fighting, and called for a “full peace deal” (a whole enchilada as oppsed to a skinny TACO) during “a series of Friday night and Saturday morning calls aboard Air Force One to the European leaders, before announcing Zelensky’s Monday visit to Washington.”

“Figuratively, the president sort of threw up his hands,” the abruptly skeptical Other Post reported, and said, ‘I’m not interested in a cease-fire anymore,' an (anonymous) source familiar with the discussion said.

While the President apparently wallowed in self-pity at losing his deal (and longed-for Nobel Peace Prize), Melania stepped up and penned her own missive to Bad Vlad on just one (but one grinding) aspect of the war... the kidnapped Ukrainian children - the first lady writing "it is time" to protect children and future generations worldwide. (ABC, ATTACHMENT FIFTY FIVE)

"Every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether born randomly into a nation's rustic countryside or a magnificent city-center. They dream of love, possibility, and safety from danger," Melania's letter began.

The first lady states that all children are born innocent, regardless of their nationality, political views or beliefs.

"A simple yet profound concept, Mr. Putin, as I am sure you agree, is that each generation's descendants begin their lives with a purity -- an innocence which stands above geography, government, and ideology," she said.

"In today's world, some children are forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them -- a silent defiance against the forces that can potentially claim their future," she continued.

The first lady told the Russian president that protecting children "will do more than serve Russia alone" and "will serve humanity itself."

"Such a bold idea transcends all human division, and you, Mr. Putin, are fit to implement this vision with a stroke of the pen today," she concluded.

"It is time," she signed off.

And her letter received a response... not from Putin (who continues to hold the children he has seized and has been snatching more, ever since) but from Zelenskyy’s wife Olena (USA Today, ATTACHMENT FIFTY SIX) which the Ukrainian President hand-delivered to Trump during their Monday meeting.

"It's not to you, it's to your wife," Zelenskyy said as Trump began to examine it.

"I want it," Trump replied while laughing.

Addressing a question from a reporter, Donald Trump said his wife has a great love of children and has "watched the same things that I watched and you watched."

"She hates to see something like this happening," he said.

On the table for Monday’s Trump-Zelenskyy showdown was Witkoff’s contention that Vladimir Putin had agreed at the Alaska summit with Donald Trump to allow the US and European allies to offer Ukraine a security guarantee resembling Nato’s collective defence mandate (article 5: an attack on one member is an attack on all) “as part of an eventual deal to end the war,” the Guardian U.K. reported. (ATTACHMENT FIFTY SEVEN)... telling Jake Tapper on CNN’s Sunday State of the Union Programme that “...what we were discussing was assuming that that held, assuming that the Ukrainians could agree to that, and could live with that, and everything is going to be about what the Ukrainians can live with...

“But assuming they could, we were able to win the following concession: that the United States could offer article five, like protection...” Witkoff explained (again choosing not to focus on the differences between Article Five and Article Five–like... itself rather like the distinction between genuine crab or lobster and a substitute, fashioned from lesser sea creatures like surimi).

Next, GUK provided a “wrap up” of Sunday’s events as Trump and Zelenskyy prepared for the Monday Summit 2.0. The latter reiterated: “Ukraine’s constitution makes it impossible to give up or trade land. Since the territorial issue is so important, it should be discussed only by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia at the trilateral—Ukraine, the U.S., Russia. So far, Russia gives no sign this will happen, and if Russia refuses, new sanctions must follow.”

Z-Man’s posse, now calling itself the “Coalition of the Willing” was also making the rounds of the American press.

French president Emmanuel Macron said that in order to have a “lasting peace deal for Ukraine, Ukraine needs a strong army”.

European Union council president Antonio Costa said that, in addition to a strong army, security guarantees would be required from all, including the United States. “Transatlantic unity is paramount at this moment to achieve a sustainable peace in Ukraine.”

Other European leaders (besides Macron and Costa) backing Ukraine at the White House on Monday included German chancellor Friedrich Merz, British prime minister Keir Starmer, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Finland’s president Alexander Stubb, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte.

Starmer, ventured his homeboys at GUK, very deliberately sought to position himself as “a leader who can get along with Trump while consistently stressing to him Europe’s red lines over any peace plan, and trying to sweet talk the president into offering US security guarantees.”

At home, GUK cited an Associated Press roundup of soundups from both Democratic and Republican legislators... elephants like Sen. Lindsey Graham saying they were “proud” of their President and even sometimes-sketchy Republicans like Sen. Lisa Murkowski expressing “cautious optimism” and former VP Mike Pence hailing the man who tried to hang him on CNN.

Donkeys brayed their displeasure at the President having been “played” in Alaska; Sen Jeanne Shaheen condemning his “warmly greet(ing) a murderous dictator on American soil” while Sen. Chris Murphy slammed Trump for “legitimizing” Bad Vlad.

The Guardian also noted public protests... women with children outside the US embassy in Kyiv (sic)... and called the “Coalition of the Willing” (CoWs?) a “dream team” seeking to “coax the president out of the pro-Russian positions he adopted after just a couple of hours under Putin’s sway in the sub-Arctic on Friday.”

The voluble Macron warned: “If we are weak today, we will pay a heavy price tomorrow … If Europe wants to be free and independent, we need to be feared and we need to be strong.”

More CoWs not coming to the White House also bent GUK’s ear... Halyna Yanchenko, an independent member of Ukraine’s parliament, said demands that Ukraine “simply surrender new territories without a fight – just because Putin wants it – is absurd from the very start.”

The Russian news agency TASS (ATTACHMENT FIFTY NINE) chose nostalgia over Nosferatu by recalling the “warm” relationship between Franklin Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin as prompted a meeting in Alaska which, unfortunately, was cancelled.

"But the fact remains: there were periods in our history when there was much more respect despite ideological contradictions than in the subsequent time," Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said.

Not that FDR was a Communist... as many then and now maintain... Russia and Stalin, in 1943, were the lesser evil compared to the Germans, with whom both were at war.

Putin told the media after the talks that the parties had focused on resolving the Ukraine conflict. The Russian leader also called for turning the page in bilateral relations and going back to cooperation. Putin invited Trump to visit Moscow. The US leader, in turn, pointed to progress in the negotiation process but noted that the parties had not been able to agree on all issues – some Russians choosing to warn that: "If European leaders receive a peace plan from Trump, even partial agreement to it by individual members of the pro-Ukrainian coalition will ruin it and significantly reduce Ukraine's opportunities."

Down in Sandland, Al Jazeera (ATTACHMENT SIXTY) called the Alaska summit “a spectacular distraction” and “an inconsequential meeting” in the light of current intra-MAGA strife, which owes to a factors like the files relating to the late Jeffrey Epstein, and... more jermane to the Jazzies... what they call Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip, “which Trump persists in aiding and abetting.”

Even right-wing US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a traditional ally of the president known for such antics as wearing a hat imprinted with the words “Trump Was Right About Everything!” was unexpectedly explicit in her condemnation of “the genocide, humanitarian crisis, and starvation happening in Gaza”.

Other MAGA fixtures like far-right influencer Laura Loomer – a self-defined “proud Islamophobe” and (the Jazzies say) “general bona fide sociopath” – wasted no time in responding to Greene’s post: “There is no genocide in Gaza.”

Civil wars often lack civility. And truth is often hard to find.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said Sunday, ahead of the planned meeting at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, said that President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to “robust security guarantees” during their summit in Alaska last week.

“The United States is potentially prepared to be able to give Article 5 security guarantees but not from NATO — directly from the United States and other European countries,” Witkoff said in a “Fox News Sunday” interview – still, as ever, declining specifics. (WashPost, ATTACHMENT SIXTY ONE) He said the security guarantee deal would be further discussed among the U.S., Zelensky and the European allies during the Monday afternoon meeting in Washington.

Working out the precise implementation of security guarantees is likely to be a lengthy process, the Post advised, “which could allow Putin to continue his war while the details are finalized.”

So Zelensky, speaking alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Sunday, said it was impossible to enter into negotiations with Moscow “under the pressure of weapons,” insisting, as before, that a full ceasefire had to be in place before any discussions could start.

Trump, however, dropped his demand for a ceasefire in Alaska, instead calling for a “final peace deal”. Trump also told allies that Putin wanted all of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region as a condition for ending the war, including areas Russian soldiers have not managed to seize during years of fighting.

Before heading to the White House Zelensky is also set to meet virtually with his CoW... the “Coalition of the Willing,” a group of European allies planning to back any future settlement of the war, including with troops – an escalation that might provoke Russian attacks on the Euros.

That would presumably obligate Trump to attack Russia.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said European leaders welcomed “Trump’s willingness to contribute to Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine,” but said that Ukraine must receive enough weaponry so that it would become “a steel porcupine — undigestible for potential invaders.”

Rubio’s roundabout on the Sunday talk shows (above) failed to go into detail about what the U.S. would like to see in a security guarantee, but said that it would be a “very big move” by Trump if he offers a U.S. commitment – although there are implications that this would involve sanctions, rather than military (possibly nuclear) encounters.

Having European leaders at the meeting would also “level the negotiating balance,” said Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Kyiv-based Penta Center for Applied Political Studies think tank.

The European leaders can “look out for Zelensky and reduce the tension if necessary,” Fesenko said.

Having European leaders at the meeting would also “level the negotiating balance,” said Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Kyiv-based Penta Center for Applied Political Studies think tank.

The European leaders can “look out for Zelensky and reduce the tension if necessary,” Fesenko said.

By most accounts, the New York Times (ATTACHMENT SIXTY TWO) surmised, “they want to ensure that Mr. Trump has not pivoted too close to the Russian side, and does not try to strong-arm Mr. Zelensky into a deal that will ultimately sow the seeds of Ukraine’s dissolution. And,” reflecting the reality of a President Trump, “they want to safeguard against the risk of the United States, the linchpin of NATO and European security since its creation in 1949, undermining those security interests,” given that Timesman David Sanger warned that Putin’s agenda is larger than just seizing part or all of Ukraine. “For nearly a quarter-century, his grandest ambition has been to split NATO, dividing the European allies from the United States.”

Trump did promise to supply weapons, but only if the United States was paid for them from European coffers.

“The message was clear: Defending Ukraine was Europe’s problem, not Washington’s. The Trump administration is happy to serve as a for-profit arms supplier,” Sanger wrote, “but otherwise appears to see no responsibility to defend the country, which is not a NATO member.

“That was a wedge that Mr. Putin sought to exploit in Anchorage, and he did it skillfully.”

“With Trump abandoning the cease-fire, but making no reference to the ‘severe consequences’ he threatened, we are at a dangerous moment for the alliance,” said James G. Stavridis, a retired Navy admiral who served as NATO’s supreme allied commander from 2009 to 2013, when the United States still viewed Russia as a NATO partner, if a difficult one.

On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who sat in on the meetings with Mr. Putin at the American air base outside of Anchorage, “disputed the idea that the Europeans were coming as a posse to protect Mr. Zelensky from a repeat of the February shouting match.

“They’re not coming here to keep Zelensky from getting bullied,” Mr. Rubio insisted to Margaret Brennan on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

“They are coming here tomorrow because we’ve been working with the Europeans,” he said, listing the many meetings the United States had engaged in before and after the Putin visit. “We invited them to come.”

Rubio also said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that a possible ceasefire is “not off the table” but that the best way to end the war would be through a “full peace deal.”

But 1440 correspondents Samya Kullab and John Leicester maintain the CoW is coming to America to ensure the meeting goes better than the last one in February, when Trump berated Zelenskyy in a heated Oval Office encounter.

“The Europeans are very afraid of the Oval Office scene being repeated and so they want to support Mr. Zelenskyy to the hilt,” said retired French Gen. Dominique Trinquand, a former head of France’s military mission at the United Nations.

“It’s a power struggle and a position of strength that might work with Trump,” he said.

“The risk is they look heavy-handed and are ganging up on Trump,” said Neil Melvin, director of international security at the London-based Royal United Services Institute. “Trump won’t want to be put in a corner.”

Nor having to sit on a stool with his “Trump Is Always Right” fedora replaced by a dunce cap.

Zelenskyy, however, pushed back against the Trump/Putin preference — that the two sides should negotiate a complete end to the war, rather than first securing a ceasefire. Zelenskyy said a ceasefire would provide breathing room to review the Coalition of the Killing’s demands.

“It’s impossible to do this under the pressure of weapons,” he said. “Putin does not want to stop the killing, but he must do it.”

Posting at the stroke of midnight, Monday, GUK’s Simon McDonald... boasting that he used to run the British Foreign Office... shared his advice for the upcoming meeting.

With seven countries and two international organizations on hand, the usual format of each leader making a statement (however brief) just won’t cut it. “There are three key groupings in the meeting, McDonald wrote – the US, Ukraine and Europe. Europe should have a single spokesperson. Most European participants might be prepared to concede to that approach, as long as their leader is the chosen one. But only two are really in the frame.”

“The meeting will be conducted entirely in English with an interpreter for Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But there will be only two native English speakers, with Keir Starmer as the only European. Two others have spoken English for so long that they count as near-native speakers: Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb, and Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte.”

Stubb represents the smallest participant, “often an advantage when corralling bigger beasts,” but Rutte represents Europe’s military alliance.

“So, Rutte or Starmer should speak for Europe. Whoever speaks needs to make their points without notes, look Trump in the eye, be prepared to be interrupted but disciplined enough not to lose the thread – and to resume their presentation when the president has subsided.”

Strolling through history (the Russo-Finnish war of 1939-40 where a certain Russian victory, occupation and absorption was prevented by the Nazis), GUK looks towards another “miracle” and he suggests a risky one... Ukrainian membership in NATO.

“Today’s meeting in Washington is one of the oddest in modern diplomacy. But European leaders can turn oddness into opportunity.”

· Lord McDonald of Salford was permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, 2015-2020, and is now a crossbench peer

Time (ATTACHMENT SIXTY FIVE) stated that “one of the causes of the Oval Office fight in February was a belief within the Trump Administration that Zelensky was not being realistic about his ability to continue fighting the war, and that he should agree to a ceasefire with Russia even without clear security guarantees.”

Zelensky’s refusal to accept a deal without those guarantees “earned him ire from Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and the MAGA base, but he sees them as vital to preventing another Russian invasion—as does Europe.”

As noted... and rejected by both sides... envoy Witkoff proposed “Article 5-like protection" to Ukraine which, he said, the Russians had agreed to accept.

The actual NATO Article 5 requires each member to consider attacks on one member – be they important, tho’ lesser players like France and Germany, small states like Switzerland, the Netherlands or Portugal, or former Soviet territories (the Baltics) or allies (Poland, the Czech Republic or Slovakia). While most adhere to the Coalition of the Willing, some... Hungary and Turkey, for example, have been known to play on both sides of the table.

Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO, Time said, “were a key reason behind Russia’s invasion.”

But not even its American drafters can explain or even understand what Article Five-like guarantees are.

"How that's constructed, what we call it, how it's built, what guarantees are built into it that are enforceable, that's what we'll be talking about over the next few days with our partners," SecState Marco said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Trump has pivoted this way and that upon many foreign policy issues, but remains adamant that peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved without Zelenskyy giving up land... whether Crimea, taken a decade ago, the occupied regions to the East or the entirety of the Donbas (including territories still under Ukrainian control).

“There'll be some swapping of territories (and people) to the betterment of both,” he said.  “We’re going to get some back, and we’re going to get some switched.”

After the talks, he reiterated that call, arguing that "Russia is a very big power, and they're not." 

“The answer to Ukraine’s territorial question is already in the Constitution of Ukraine,” Z-man replied. “No one will step back from this, nor will anyone be able to.”  

While Time called such a deal “tantamount to a surrender,” they also claimed that many in Trump’s MAGA base “have grown weary of continued support for Ukraine and have come to view Zelensky as ungrateful for not agreeing to the President’s demands to deal with Putin, whatever the costs.”

As CoW was preparing for their meeting at the White House President Trump doubled down on his determination that there would be"no going into Nato by Ukraine" as part of a peace deal.

Hours before he was due to host Zelensky at the White House, Trump also said there would be "no getting back" the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014, eight years before launching its full-scale invasion. (BBC, ATTACHMENT SIXTY SIX)

An anonymous (and, as it turned out) mis- or dis-informed US envoy said on Sunday that Putin had agreed to a possible Nato-like security pact for Ukraine while, upon arriving in the US late on Sunday, Zelensky repeated his call for “effective (i.e. no NATO surimi) security guarantees.

Deadly Russian attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities continued hours before the summit in Washington – as well as during and after it – the Coalition of the Killing taking at least 10 more lives, including children.

In the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, at least seven people were killed after a Russian drone hit an apartment block, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. At least three were killed in Zaporizhzhia, officials said.

Trump responded to the war news with smiles of satisfaction and a neatly wrapped package from his Blame Basket. "Remember how it started,” he posted on Truth Social. “No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!" Trump added.

“The president's assertion is untrue,” Time replied: “At least two Ukrainian soldiers are known to have been shot dead by Russian forces in Crimea in 2014.”

On Monday morning before the confab, Time also reported that President President Donald Trump has told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to give up on the idea of Ukraine reclaiming Crimea or joining NATO.

“President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump said via Truth Social on Sunday night, stating there was “no getting back” Crimea and “no going into NATO by Ukraine.”  ((ATTACHMENT SIXTY SEVEN)

Crimea has been under Russian occupation since 2014, when Moscow-backed forces took control of the territory. Russia initially denied direct involvement in the occupation.

“Will they [Ukraine] be able to get it back? They've had their Russians. They've had their submarines there for long before any period that we're talking about, for many years. The people speak largely Russian in Crimea,” said the U.S. President.

In that same interview, Trump also said that he didn’t see a future for Ukraine in NATO.

“Ukraine is not a NATO member. Ukraine is a NATO partner country, which means that it cooperates closely with NATO but it is not covered by the security guarantee in the Alliance’s founding treaty,” the organisation’s website reads, specifying that “NATO condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia's brutal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.”

Meanwhile, Time reported that CoWboys are firm in their notion that “pressure” upon Russia can be increased moving forward.

“We do stand ready to increase pressure on Russia, particularly the economy, with sanctions and wider measures as may be necessary,” PM Starmer said last week. “It’s important we all continue to work alongside Presidents Trump and Zelensky for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”

ATTACHMENTS SIXTY EIGHT through SEVENTY TWO were TIMELINES... which we compiled and sorted in ascending chronology – see at close... summaries of each being...

A68 from the A.P. (edited by CURTIS YEE, BERNARD MCGHEE, CARLEY PETESCH and NELL CLARK) Updated 5:46 PM EDT...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope that Monday’s critical talks with Ukrainian and European leaders at the White House could lead to trilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine.

What to know about today’s White House meeting:

· Security guarantees for Ukraine...

· The annexation of Crimea...

· A potential peace accord...

A69 from the Guardian U.K. (#1 - by JOANNA WALTERS)

What has Vladimir Putin been up to today during the great international assembly at the White House?

It appears to have been a drab day in Moscow all around, damp and grey and the Russian president hosting a meeting at the Kremlin with the acting governor of the Rostov region, Yury Slyusar.

One gripping regional media headline is: “Putin noted a decrease in the pace of agricultural production in the Rostov region.”

Meanwhile the attacks and the killing in Ukraine go on.

A70 from CNN (by VICTORIA BUTENKO)

Negotiations between US President Donald Trump and European leaders have resumed at the Oval Office in a “leaders only” format, said Serhiy Nykyforov, a spokesperson to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

A White House official confirmed that Zelensky and European leaders are currently in the Oval Office with Trump.

A71 from Guardian U. K. (#2)

Donald Trump has interrupted his talks in Washington with European leaders to call Vladimir Putin, German newspaper Bild is reporting.

Bild said the meetings are due to resume after the call, which Trump had initially said would take place afterwards.

A72 from the New York Post (by RYAN KING, JOSH CHRISTENSON, SAMUEL CHAMBERLAIN, DIANA NEROZZI AND KAYDI PELLETIER) Updated 5:05 p.m. ET...

Zelensky, wearing a military-style suit, arrived at the White House shortly after 1 p.m. and met with Trump in the Oval Office — a warm sit-down that was wildly different in tone from the blowup that ensued the last time the two leaders gathered in the same spot in February.

Trump and Zelensky then met behind closed doors. Seven European leaders have now joined them to discuss an end to Putin’s three-year war on Ukraine.

CANKLE CULTURE

As the White House summit raged... or, more aptly, communed... the Daily Beast took notice of an odd ploy by an unknown and well-meaning but careless subordinate: placeing an Air Force One model on the floor in an apparent attempt to hide the 79-year-old president’s “cankles” (swollen ankles).

Trump’s swollen ankles “were hard to miss as his slacks crept up his shin while sitting down with Zelensky, 47, for Russia-Ukraine peace talks,” the Beast observed (ATTACHMENT SEVENTY THREE)

“Meanwhile, the ankles of other attendees, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were on full display and appeared unremarkable.”

The White House has offered little more on the president’s condition since disclosing in July that he was diagnosed with “chronic venous insufficiency,” a circulation issue typical in people over the age of 70.

“Look, you see the president every day,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last week. “He’s moving, he’s working, he’s continuing, there have been no adjustments made to his lifestyle.” She promised to “look into” making a White House physician available to answer questions about Trump’s health.

But perhaps in occurrences drawing comparison to the President’s predecessor, Old Sick Joe, (whom he also replaced as the oldest president ever to be inaugurated) “his physical and cognitive health have been questioned amid his diagnosis and frequent gaffes.”

During Monday’s meeting with Zelensky, he referred to the Republic of the Congo as the “Republic of the Condo.”

He suffered similar lapses in the lead up to his Alaskan summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, twice erroneously declaring he was “going to Russia,” and mistakenly referring to “Leningrad,” the Cold War-era name for the city now known as St. Petersburg.

Spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement, “President Trump’s unmatched stamina is evident by his ability to work around the clock to negotiate world peace.”

But the Beast also noticed “a bruise on his right hand” – as if the President, before the meeting, had punched some unlucky staffer who told him news that he did not appreciate.

And they were not alone in reporting that he’d “swapped his typical military-style clothing for a dark suit.”

Delving into details on Zelensky’s attire with zealotry perhaps more common to GQ (or, perhaps, Vogue?) the President’s pet apologists pivoted on Z-man’s fashion foibles in the Post (New York, of course, although the larger hometown tabloid has been more forgiving of Djonald UnFootloose since Trump trained his traumas of revenge and retribution upon Jeff Bezos. (ATTACHMENT SEVENTY FOUR)

“Brian Glenn, the chief White House correspondent of conservative outlet Real America’s Voice, praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s military-style suit during Monday’s Oval Office sitdown with President Trump.

“President Zelensky, you look fabulous in that suit,” Glenn — who is dating the suddenly, suspiciously confrontative Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) —  told the Ukrainian, 47, during a gaggle with reporters. “You look good.”

President Trump chimed in, joking that he said “the same thing” to Zelensky and recounted how Glenn had browbeat the Ukrainian leader over his attire during the last White House meeting between the two leaders on Feb. 28.

“I apologize to you. You look wonderful,” Glenn said.

A smiling Zelensky pointed to Glenn’s suit and joked in response, “It’s the same suit.”

“You see, I have changed; you have not.”

The Oval Office erupted in laughter, with Trump... who, apparently, has not chastised Glenn for his girlfriend’s misadventures... and the White House pool reporters joining in.

Zelensky’s attire (often “a military-style sweatshirt, adorned with a black or green Ukrainian trident”) caused an issue in February, beginning when Trump pointedly noted that the Ukrainian leader was “all dressed up today.”

Then, during a “chaotic media availability” that included a three-cornered argument between Zelensky, Trump and Vice President JD Vance, Glenn had attacked Zelensky over his outfit.

“Why don’t you wear a suit?” the reporter scolded at the time. “You’re at the highest level in this country’s office, and you refuse to wear a suit.

“Do you own a suit?” he went on. “A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the dignity of this office.”

“Zelensky defended himself,” the Post reiterated, saying: “I will wear costume after this war will finish.” (In Ukrainian, the word for suit sounds similar to the English word “costume.”)

When Trump and Zelensky next met at the funeral of Pope Francis April 26, the Ukrainian president wore an all-black suit with no tie.

Another Post... oppositional from the left... reported that Glenn, who had “policed the Ukrainian leader's attire” at their February meeting. now told the foreign leader, “You look fabulous in that suit.”

It may have seemed like a compliment, but Trump promptly identified Glenn to Zelenskyy, saying, “That’s the one that attacked you last time.” (Huffington Post, ATTACHMENT SEVENTY FIVE)

The Ukrainian’s hilariously snarky response reminded people that he was a comedian before he became president.

“I remember that,” Zelenskyy said before addressing Glenn. “You’re in the same suit. You see, I changed mine.”

United 24, a pro-Zelenskyy Ukrainian journal, called the lighthearted convocation “very successful” and quoted President Trump’s remarks upon its conclusion during the sort of press briefing that he and Putin had ducked (or chickened) out of in Alaska.

That Arctic foul (or fowl) mood was gone. “I’ve just had the honor of being with President Zelenskyy,” he said. “All of the discussions we’ve had covered a lot of territory. Thank you for all the important discussions today as we work to end the killing and stop the war in Ukraine. We’re all working toward the same, very simple goal: to stop the killing and get this settled.” (ATTACHMENT SEVENTY SIX)

In his post-summit summary, “Zelenskyy highlighted two critical areas of discussion: security guarantees and humanitarian concerns,” both of which appear to have since apparently flown north for the summer.

“The first is security guarantees, and we are very happy that all the leaders are here. The security of Ukraine depends on the United States and on these leaders who have supported us in various ways,” he said. “All of us want to finish this war, stop Russia, and end the violence.”

On the humanitarian front, United 24 reported that Zelenskyy had emphasized the exchange of prisoners and the return of children to their families.

“This is incredibly important, and I am thankful to the president and his wife for their support. We hope this can play a historic role in bringing people back to their families,” Zelenskyy said.

Now where was Bad Vlad Putin during all this summitry good vibes and self-congratulation?

Well, the Russian dictator visited the region of Chukotka in Russia’s far east on his way back from a summit with US President Donald Trump in Alaska (TASS, via Al Arabiya (ATTCHMENT SEVENTY SEVEN) and then, avoiding the earthquake, tsunami and volcanoes, returned to Moscow... hungry (see the Oops Moment below... to continue his duties as leader of the Coalition of the Killing “with (an) air of triumph” the Wall Street Journal reported.

Back in Alaska, some American fool (or partisan, or traitor) had left confidential documents about the Trump – Putin meeting in a printer at Hotel Captain Cook, the four-star hotel in Anchorage near the military base where the summit took place.

“The documents show(ed) the schedule of the summit with times and locations. They also show the lunch menu, the lunch seating chart, and the phone numbers of three of Trump administration staffers.” (Rolling Stone, ATTACHMENT SEVENTY EIGHT)

The discovery of the documents “strikes me as further evidence of the sloppiness and the incompetence of the administration,” Jon Michaels, a professor of law at UCLA, told NPR. “You just don’t leave things in printers. It’s that simple.”

The Stoners said the document breach “was reminiscent of when Trump administration officials added Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal chat where they discussed plans to bomb Yemen — though likely less embarrassing.

“The lunch, which did not end up happening,”was to be held “in honor of his excellency Vladimir Putin.” Meeting organizers planned to serve filet mignon, halibut Olympia, and crème brûlée.

The White House and the State Department did not respond to NPR’s questions about the documents, nor did Rolling Stone disclose what happened to the meal.

The many who thought Russia had won in Alaska included Laurie Bristow, a former British ambassador to Russia, who told the Associated Press that Putin has “broken out of international isolation” and “wasn’t in the least challenged” by Trump.

“They spent three years telling everyone Russia was isolated, and today they saw the beautiful red carpet laid out for the Russian president in the U.S.,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told Axios.

Time’s resident columnist-in-chief Philip Elliott agreed with most American, Western and Russian summaries that Trump had again fallen for “charm offensives” – first by Putin and then, TAPdancing (Trump Always Pivots) away from the Russians, “took the bait” from Zelenskyy and his Europosse who’d made him feel “every bit like the most powerful person on the planet.”

The CoWs, lauching their own counter-charm charm offensive “meant to guide Trump back to a footing of support for the U.S. ally facing Russian belligerence” to such effective intent that Trump not only promised to resume shipments of weapons (contingent on the Euros paying for them; he may, at times, be a fool... but not a foolish fool), he did not rule out sending U.S. forces to help defend Ukraine.

Whether he will actually send the military into combat against Russia was problematical on Monday night and has become more so since... it would not only divert fighting forces from fighting in America’s Democratic-infested cities, but, as an actual Article Five (not Article Five-like) offensive, he would be risking Russian retaliation ranging all the way up to World War Three.

(By yesterday, he was already pivoting on the pivot on his pivot and settling back into sanctionary mode... not against Russia, nor their largest oily customer China... 109 million tons last year... but their Number Two, India... 88 million... doubling New Delhi’s tariff debt dunning from twenty five to fifty percent on mostly everything – except pharmaceuticals,)

Europeans rightly worry that an expanding Russia, indifferent to sovereign borders, “is a threat to post-Cold War norms,” Elliott wrote. “A strong NATO alliance that includes the United States remains crucial for keeping a creeping post-Soviet Russia from metastasizing. (ATTACHMENT SEVENTY NINE)

“But those global currents matter less to Trump than his fragile ego. So the Europeans traded geopolitical arguments over decades of curbing Moscow’s ambitions for cheap praise. For the moment, it seems to have worked as Trump returned to the prospect of a trilateral summit with Ukraine and Russia, and himself as the arbiter” – rejected by Russia and the sanctions which, although impacting India more, may influence Putin to pivot himself, if the Russian economy is a glitchy as some believe it to be.

 “If we can get a cease-fire, great,’’ Trump responded. He also said that it would be up to Zelensky and Putin to negotiate any such pause to the fighting. “As of this moment it’s not happening.”

Elliott closed out by reiterating Trump’s hot mic remarks to Macron (whom CoWs are starting to dub their Trump whisperer) that Putin “wants to make a deal with me—you understand that?—as crazy as it sounds.”

Fox (Monday night, 8:57 PM, ATTACHMENT EIGHTY) said Trump had spoken with Putin between sessions with the CoWboys and CoK addict Vlad’s gofer Ushakov (above) said that they were on the phone for about 40 minutes and held a "candid and very constructive" dialogue, according to CNN, including “support for direct negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine," Ushakov reportedly added.

German Chancellor Merz validated the contention that Putin agreed, in his call with Trump, to meet Zelenskyy in two weeks. 

Following Monday's talks, Zelenskyy thanked Trump and all the other leaders present in D.C. for their work in trying to bring peace to his country, noting that the talks were "long and detailed" and specifically citing attention given “to the return of our children, to the release of prisoners of war and civilians held by Russia. We agreed to work on this," Zelenskyy posted on X Monday night.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on this but, as of the end of a manic, but potentially productive Monday, did not receive a response.

Responding voluminously, per usual, was the Guardian U.K. – posting another timeline after midnight Tuesday (Monday night c. 7:30 PM, EDT, ATTACHMENT EIGHTY ONE) suggesting, among other late developments, that the White House was considering Budapest for Putin-Zelenskyy bilateral (the first, maybe not the worst, in a series of locational selections) and pivoting again in deciding not to send the military into the Ukrainian fighting.

The Coalition of the Willing dispersing back to their respective homelands, the crisis cooled down into a war of words... both between and within the respective players with marked cards, loaded dice and magic eight balls on the table while wheels of fortune spun gravely for the Russian soldiers, Ukrainian soldiers and civilians and those caught up in wars across the rest of a hot and hostile planet (as. for example, journalists in Gaza, Kilmar Abrego Garcia... whether in the USA or Uganda... or children in Minneapolis.)

So, we’ll sample sample summaries upon what happened and what various partisans (global and national) published regarding Ukraine (and perhaps a few other predicaments – including the MidEast, the border and Washington DC or Chicago or wherever the troops are next sent) and the efficacy and probable future of Labor Day).

But hey, it will be a holiday, the heat appears to be finally breaking, wildfires under control, urchins back to school with fall football, new television programs, supermovie sequels, videogames and distractions abounding (like the Travis Kelcy/Taylor Swift engagement or Cracker Barrel coup and restoration).

And, as the days grow shorter, the Old Lamplighter will be making his rounds, firing up the gas, and there might even be light at the end of the tunnel.

TIMELINE SUMMARIES from the A.P. in BLACK; from Guardian U.K. (1^st in RED); CNN (in BLUE); from Guardian U.K. (2^nd in PURPLE); and from the New York Post (in GREEN)

Several media who have covered the war since its beginning noticed the discussions between the Presidents and Zelenskyy’s entourage in their timelines, takeaways and updates, as above. As is nearly always the case, the timelines were published in REVERSE ORDER by the media... but were compiled and restored to an ascending chronological listing by the Don Jones Index.

“The East Room multilateral meeting has ended,” the White House said in a notice to the media.

1323 Meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy begins.

1333-4 Asked by a reporter if it was the “end of the road” for U.S. support for Ukraine if no deal is struck, Trump said “People are being killed and we want to stop that. So I would not say it’s the end of the road.”

1331 Zelenskyy signals he was open to having a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin to negotiate end to Russia-Ukraine war.

1337 Trump, in advance of the meeting, declined to rule out sending US troops to the Ukraine war zone.

1347-9 Trump promised to debrief Putin after the meeting.

1339 Brian Glenn, a conservative reporter, told Zelenskyy “you look fabulous in that suit.” Glenn implied that his casual dress at that first disastrous meeting had been “disrespectful.”

1344 Witkoff mentioned NATO-style (not –like) security guarantees for Ukraine, on the meeting agenda.

1346 During discussions of Ukrainian elections suspended by the war, Trump “appeared to jokingly hypothesize how a similar circumstance could allow him to stay in power in the U.S. past the expiration of his current term.” Hmmm...

1352 Veep Vance, presumably still sulking, sat silently through the meeting.

1357 Trump said the US “would back European security guarantees for Ukraine to help end the war with Russia.”

1419-21 The Presidents met privately and A.P.’s Meg Kinnard said they seemed quite pleased with themselves and afterwards they answered questions from reporters with big, broad smiles.

1402 Trump to call Putin later today

1403 Zelenskyy lobbied for a “strong Ukrainian army” through weapons sales and training while Trump reiterated his commitment to a “NATO-like” security presence.

1405 Zelensky wants Trump present for meeting with Putin

1405 Zelensky says today's talk with Trump was 'the best one' so far

1440 Up north, Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador Dmitry Polyansky told U.N. reporters “everybody hopes” Ukraine will “think about their people who don’t want to fight and who are ready for peace...”

1444 Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. (Optics friendlier...)

1452 “The U.S. president and his guests lined up in the White House in a show of solidarity for the cameras..”

1458 Trump said he wanted to put the Russia-Ukraine war ‘to sleep’ like a sick, old animal

1459 Trump pitchforked praise for the CoWs, calling Starmer “my friend”, saying he liked Macron “from day one” that Merz was tanned and “very strong” and Stubb “...look(ed) better than I’ve ever seen you look.”

1500 Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump have just posed for a “family photo” with European leaders.

1503 Trump kicks off multilateral meeting with European leaders

1505 Trump, Zelensky examine Ukraine map showing Russian gains

1505 Trump and European leaders head into closed-door meeting

1505 Finnish President touts more progress in two weeks on Ukraine war than over the past three and a half years

1505 Italian PM credits Trump for Russia's new willingness to talk about ending war

1506 President Donald Trump said he expects a trilateral meeting to materialize between himself, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

1510 Trump pivoted again – telling the gang that “all of us would obviously prefer the immediate ceasefire while we work on a lasting peace,” after telling Putin it was “unnecessary”.

1510 Analysis rom CNN's Kristen Holmes: Trump and Zelensky need each other

1512 Trump says Russia will accept security guarantees for Ukraine, but adds 'possible exchanges of territory' to be discussed.

1513 Trump reiterates that he wants a trilateral meeting soon.

1516 German chancellor Merz called for a trilateral meeting and a ceasefire; Mark Rutte and Ursula Von der Leyen joined in (premature) praise for President Trump while Italian PM Meloni called the gathering “an important day and new phase.”

1516 Analysis from CNN's Stephen Collinson: Trump’s attitude going forward will be crucial for peace hopes

1516 Zelensky says he had a "very good conversation" with Trump

1517 Trump says he would prefer ceasefire, but 'as of this moment, it's not happening'

1519 Invited to address the media, Zelenksyy says he and Trump had a “constructive” meeting, a “very good conversation”.

1520 NATO secretary general says Trump’s offer of security guarantees is a “breakthrough" in peace talks

1520 Macron says Europe should be represented in talks with Trump, Putin and Zelensky

1523 "The path is open" for more serious negotiations, German chancellor says

1526 The CoWs, milking their White House moment, spoke up. “When we speak about security guarantees, we speak about the whole security of the European continent,” said French PM Macron. Starmer proposed this could be “a historic step.”

1528 Merz breaks with Trump to push for ceasefire 'from the next meeting'

1535 Trump, “known for blasting the news media and punishing outlets he doesn’t agree with,” said: “The media’s been actually very fair, generally speaking, very fair.”

1535 Macron stresses leaders want peace and echoes need to push for a ceasefire

1537 Starmer also said “we all want peace” and “guaranteeing Ukraine’s security guarantees the security of Europe as a whole.”

1540 The end of the public remarks from the meeting between Trump and the European leaders.

1543 Trump questions whether ceasefire "necessary," says peace agreement "very attainable"

1545 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday’s meeting with US President Donald Trump could be a “historic step” for Ukraine and Europe’s security.

1545 President Donald Trump said he planned to bring European leaders back to the Oval Office before they depart today.

1606 (Other) Hot mic catches Trump's 'crazy' whisper to French prez Macron before multilateral meeting

1611 Europeans' subtle message to Trump: Supporting peace means supporting Ukraine

1614 Russian President Vladimir Putin was not at the table with President Donald Trump, European leaders

1617 US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several top European leaders are now meeting at the White House to discuss a possible end to the war in Ukraine.

1621 As Trump, Zelensky and seven other European leaders took questions from reporters, a hot mic captured Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni telling Trump "Thank you for being so fair."

1633 Giving up any Ukrainian territory means "giving up on the lives" that fought for it, parliament member says

1634 All smoke and no fire as Zelenskky emerges unbruised after Trump meeting.

1648 Trump interrupts talks with European leaders to call Putin - report

1700 Sources in the Ukrainian delegation at the White House have told the BBC that talks involving Trump, Zelenskyy and European leaders have ended.

1655 Standing with President Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday, President Vladimir Putin warned Ukraine and European nations not to “throw a wrench” in what he called important progress.

1656 Hot mic catches Trump telling the French president he thinks Putin "wants to make a deal for me"

1705 NYP: What to know about Trump, Zelensky meeting

1717 White House meeting ends, but negotiations on site continue, spokesperson to Zelensky says

1723 Chair of Joint Chiefs working through potential security guarantees for Ukraine, source says

1728 Sen Richard Blumenthal (D-Ct) says Bad Vlad has “an incentive to prolong peace efforts and continue to play rope-a-dope with Trump.”

1730 Trump paused meeting with Zelensky and European leaders to call Putin, sources say

1737 AP

1746 AP

	IN the NEWS: AUGUST 21^st through AUGUST 27^th, 2025
Thursday, August 21, 2025 Dow: 44,785.50	Sixty thousand Israeli reservists called up to help cleanse Gaza of Gazans, while hostage families protest and Hamas threatens to kill hostages. In the Mideast, Putin refused to meet with Zelenskyy unless he bows to Trump and accept his cease fire deal (giving up half or more of Ukraine to the Russians).. Lavrov calls the cease-fire a “road to nowhere”. Hurricane Erin reaches Cat. 5 but pivots northeast. Still, it generates 20 foot waves and deadly rip currents. Record Western heat generates more wildfires – including in and around Calistoga (bad news for water drinkers) and Napa (bad news for wine drinkers). It’s time for Back to School with parents, police and psychologists all hammering at the kids to behave while the merciless merchers pitch their merch. Harsh regulations at high school football games after gunmen, angry at losing, open fire while at Villanova U., active shooters celebrate the new semester but police say it was just a hoax. Also perpetrating an “elaborate” hoax was the Ranger who said he was stabbed. (Yogi Bear was then released from prison.) Also arrested: a Beef Bandit who hid meat in his pants while the last New Orleans escapee is captured in Texas.
Friday, August 22, 2025 Dow: 45,631.94	Feddie Powell says he won’t lower interest rates now, but might next month. This sends the Dow soaring. Hungry MAGA alien fighters applaud ICE raids and Trump’s promise to kick as many as 55 million Visacrats out of the Land of the Free. In Washington, local police are subsumed to the FBI, ICE, National Guard and various military patrols – unarmed at first, but now armed and ready to kill. After their Ken/Jackson State moments are savored, Trump tells Chicago: “you’re next!” Lyle and Erik Menendez are denied parole because they used illegal phones in prison. A prosecutor says thar they killed their abusive father, “...but why did they kill their mother?” A new Diddy trial is also denied. In other legal news, evil liberal judges block transfer of aliens to Alligator Alcatraz.
Saturday, August 23, 2025 Dow: Closed	Kash Patel launches a revenge and retribution raid against Trump former ally turned critic John Bolton (and his mustache, too). They break into his home and office and carry off what they claim to be stolen confidential documents. Trump calls him a “sleazebag.” Patel says “nobody is above the law.” With Ukraine peace or cease fire talks smalled, Trump returns to his former obsessions – tariff increases still on and beginning to bite Americans. He compels Canada to bend the knww and lower their tariffs but turns TACO on China, giving them 90 more days to do as he orders. RNC elects a new Chair... Joe Grober (a self-designated MAGA warrior) taking the job held by Michael Whatley and Reince Priebus. (if nothing else, he’ll copa lucrative media or foundation job after leaving)
Sunday, August 24, 2025 Dow: Closed	President Trump warms up for his meet, greet and eat beet borscht with Zelenskyy and his posse by purging Lt. Gen Jeffery Kruse, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and numerous presumed “disloyal” agents. But who needs intelligence when you have Defense? The DEA drug fighters are joining the National Guard, military and ICE in patrolling what is being called the “crime ridden” Washington DC, arresting anybody from seat belt violators to criminal aliens sneaking into America. Sneakers are also in the headlines as Nike unveils (unwraps? Disboxes?) its latest Air Jordans as the talking heads declare that “sneakers are wearable art”. No Nikes for Mike, he meets the press in $1,500 Christian Dior footgear – a small price considering that a card signed by both Jordan and Kobe Bryant sells at auction for $12.9 – topping the old record set by a Mickey Mantle card. It’s Talkshow Sunday and, on ABC, Jonathan Karl discusses Trump’s domestic enemies list and Russian two week TACO, General Petraus (to MAGA, Betray-Us) who reminisces about intelligence agents purged for telling the truth about Iran while, on the Roundtable, Reince Priebus predicts a Musk/Trump reunion while Donna Brazile says Elon should focus more on selling cars and going to Mars. On News Nation, Jonathan Rauch (author of “Cross Purposes”) says, from the Vatican, that faith and democracy “need each other.”
Monday, August 25, 2025 Dow: 45,282.29	It’s the 20^th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and, as Pacific wildfires scorch Napa’s vineyards and massive dust storms snuff out Burning Man, weatherpeople protest cuts to FEMA and the like. In Washington, Trump orders that occupiers be armed and Guardsmen brandish weapons against unarmed civilian protesters but nobody’s killed... yet. 2028 calculating Governors (Wes Moore of Maryland calls calls to occupy Baltimore “performance art” while J. B. Pritzger of Illinois says a proposed invasion of Chicago is a “manufactured crisis”). Donnie stands by Bibi as the IDF, alleging they saw a Hamas terrorist with... a camera!... bombs the last working hospital in Gaza and kills dozens, including five journalists. The President fires Feddie Lisa Cook, orders the re-renaming of the Department of Defense to the Department of War (while denying military incursions into Ukraine or Gaza) and pressures the Cracker Barrel into bringing back Uncle Herschel..
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Dow: 45,418.07	It’s National Dog Day and Trump celebrates by saying he should be the fifth face on Mount Rushmore. Geologists say the attempt would collapse the whole mountain. Djonald Unleashed also says he wants to criminalize burning American flags, eliminate no-cash bail for poor people accused of minor crimes and calls for the death penalty for child molesters. Constitutionalists say that flag burning is “free speech”, keeping paupers locked up for months or years will waste money and the death penalty, if enacted, would motivate pervos to kill their child victims to prevent them from testifying. He also wants to extort $500M from Harvard, fight “de minimus” tariffs and lower the value of things people allowed to bring back from Over There from $800 to $200. There was real crime Over Here today, too... a school shooter, motive unknown, shot 20 at a Minneapolis school, killing two children and then himself.
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 Dow: 45,565.23	Travis Kelce proposes marriage to Taylor Swift in a garden of flowers and statues, gifting her with a $650K diamond ring (which he can well afford with his salary of $17M/game. The proposal was compared to a John Hughes movie on brother Jason’s podcast, both fathers-in-law say it’s about time – but the actual time has not been set, yet. They also get congratulations from President Trump - who gains appleause for squeezing Cracker Barrel managers into bringing Herschel back and CB stock jumps 6%. In other business news, Southwest raises fares for fat passengers, Kroger thins its workforce by a thousand. In lealth news, flesh-eating bacteria cases are on the rise, parasitic screwworms invade America and TV docs say that menopause causes women to have twice as much sleep apnea as men. And, despite outrage at the White House, a grand jury refuses to indict the “Sandwich Man” who threw a “wrapped” Subway sandwich at a Border Patrol agent. Varying reports said it was a salami hoagie, a grinder, a hero.

THE DON JONES INDEX

CHART of CATEGORIES w/VALUE ADDED to EQUAL BASELINE of 15,000

(REFLECTING… approximately… DOW JONES INDEX of June 27, 2013)

Gains in indices as improved are noted in GREEN. Negative/harmful indices in RED as are their designation. (Note – some of the indices where the total went up created a realm where their value went down... and vice versa.) See a further explanation of categories HERE

ECONOMIC INDICES		(60%)
CATEGORY	VALUE	BASE	RESULTS by PERCENTAGE			SCORE		OUR SOURCES and COMMENTS
INCOME	(24%)	6/17/13 revised 1/1/22	LAST	CHANGE	NEXT	LAST WEEK	THIS WEEK	THE WEEK’S CLOSING STATS...
Wages (hrly. Per cap)	9%	1350 points	8/21/25	+0.32%	9/25	1,583.91	1,583.91	https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/wages   31.34
Median Inc. (yearly)	4%	600	8/21/25	+0.06%	9/04/25	749.87	750.30	http://www.usdebtclock.org/   44,031 056 081
Unempl. (BLS – in mi)	4%	600	8/21/25	+2.44%	9/25	542.87	542.87	http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000/ 4.2
Official (DC – in mi)	2%	300	8/21/25	+0.04%	9/04/25	222.56	222.47	http://www.usdebtclock.org/      7,036 039 042
Unofficl. (DC – in mi)	2%	300	8/21/25	+0.115%	9/04/25	248.35	248.06	http://www.usdebtclock.org/     13,909 926 942
Workforce Participation Number Percent	2%	300	8/21/25	+0.026% -0.028%	9/04/25	297.69	297.77	In 163,643 686 728 Out 103,551 604 657 Total: 267,194 290 285 61.245 .239 ,256
WP % (ycharts)*	1%	150	8/21/25	-0.16%	9/25	150.47	150.47	https://ycharts.com/indicators/labor_force_participation_rate 62.20
OUTGO	(15%)
Total Inflation	7%	1050	8/21/25	+0.3%	9/25	931.17	931.17	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm     +0.2
Food	2%	300	8/21/25	+0.3%	9/25	263.91	263.91	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm     +0.0
Gasoline	2%	300	8/21/25	+1.0%	9/25	260.05	260.05	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm    -1.9
Medical Costs	2%	300	8/21/25	+0.6%	9/25	273.93	273.93	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm     +0.8
Shelter	2%	300	8/21/25	+0.2%	9/25	251.64	251.64	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm     +0.3
WEALTH
Dow Jones Index	2%	300	8/21/25	+1.40%	9/04/25	341.62	346.39	https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/index/ 44,922.27 44,938.31 45,565.23
Home (Sales) (Valuation)	1% 1%	150 150	8/21/25	+2.04% -2.96%	9/25	123.91 277.56	123.91 277.56	https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics Sales (M):  3.93 4.01 Valuations (K):  435.3 422.4
Millionaires (New Category)	1%	150	8/21/25	+0.051%	9/04/25	133.46	133.53	http://www.usdebtclock.org/    23,679 692 704
Paupers (New Category)	1%	150	8/21/25	+0.021%	9/04/25	133.03	133.06	http://www.usdebtclock.org/    37,351 344 336
GOVERNMENT	(10%)
Revenue (trilns.)	2%	300	8/21/25	+0.13%	9/04/25	445.98	446.58	http://www.usdebtclock.org/    5,226 234 241
Expenditures (tr.)	2%	300	8/21/25	+0.11%	9/04/25	285.31	285.00	http://www.usdebtclock.org/    7,235 243 251
National Debt tr.)	3%	450	8/21/25	+0.08%	9/04/25	360.81	360.53	http://www.usdebtclock.org/    37,232 261 290
Aggregate Debt (tr.)	3%	450	8/21/25	+0.14%	9/04/25	375.03	374.81	http://www.usdebtclock.org/    105,689 835 981
TRADE	(5%)
Foreign Debt (tr.)	2%	300	8/21/25	+0.19%	9/04/25	260.03	259.53	http://www.usdebtclock.org/    9,299 318 336
Exports (in billions)	1%	150	8/21/25	-0.61%	9/25	172.77	172.77	https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 277.3
Imports (in billions))	1%	150	8/21/25	+3.85%	9/25	161.12	161.12	https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 337.5
Trade Surplus/Deficit (blns.)	1%	150	8/21/25	+11.88%	9/25	330.21	330.21	https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 60.2
SOCIAL INDICES		(40%)
ACTS of MAN	(12%)
World Affairs	3%	450	8/21/25	-0.1%	9/04/25	473.36	472.89	Denmark summons American ambassador to Copenhagen to explain suspected plot to steal Greenland. (Could a 50% tariff on their pastries scare them into selling?) European shippers refusing to ship tariffed goods to America. US ambassador to France accuses Macron of anti-Semitism (now defined as opposition to Israel’s conquering of Gaza).
War and terrorism	2%	300	8/21/25	+0.1%	9/04/25	288.67	288.96	Thereto, Israelis blow up Gaza hospital, kill five journalists, tell a million starving Gazans to keep moving and 350,000 protest. American troops kill ISIS leader in Syria. World celebrates Ukrainian Independence Day (as above). Trump allows agencies invading Washington DC to carry guns and shoot protesters and aliens.
Politics	3%	450	8/21/25	-0.1%	9/04/25	463.94	463.48	Trump renames DoD to DoWar, wants death penalty for evildoers in DC., purges CDC, Defense Intellience and is trying to fire Feddie Lisa Cook. Supporters want his face on Mt. FRushmore. With Democrats slinking back to Austin, Texas legislature passes gerrymandering and motivates California to retaliate in kind. Better news for the asses as Iowa flips a deep red legislative seat.
Economics	3%	450	8/21/25	+0.2%	9/04/25	430.51	431.37	New Nike Air Jordan sneakers debut as Nike makes deal with Caitlin Clark for $28M. Card signed by Jordan and Kobe sells for $12.9M, beating old record set by Mickey Mantle. Dr. Pepper will buy Peets coffee while Blue Bell ice cream is recalled.
Crime	1%	150	8/21/25	-0.2%	9/04/25	212.53	212.10	Criminal charges against Trump critic John Bolton and Feddie Cook are called retribution. RNC selects Joe Gruters as new chair. Angry Minnesotans say don’t say prayers for victims and families of Catholic school shooter because they were in church. 23 year old killer left an insane manifesto behind. 14 year ikd arrested for high school football game shooting,
ACTS of GOD	(6%)
Environment/Weather	3%	450	8/21/25	+0.2%	9/04/25	348.69	349.39	There are still California wildfires burning wine in Napa and water in Calistoga, dust storms bedevil Burning Man in Nevada while heat in Sisters and Medford Or reaches105° - more flooding in Midwest, but a massive cooldown gives welcome relief to Easterners. Hurricane Erin reaches Cat. 5 but never makes landfall but producing high waves and rip currents.
Disasters	3%	450	8/21/25	+0.2%	9/04/25	411.09	411.91	Record Labor Day traffic predicted. With beef prices soaring due to drought, disease and tariffs, some turning to turkeyburgers. Cracker Barrel modernization fails, so Uncle Herschel is brought back.
LIFESTYLE/JUSTICE INDEX		(15%)
Science, Tech, Education	4%	600	8/21/25	+0.2%	9/04/25	615.22	616.45	Space X finally lifts off and flies off – even tho’ it breaks up on re-entry, part time leader Musk calls it a success. Astronomers say a sparkling new supernova is designed in layers, like an onion.
Equality (econ/social)	4%	600	8/21/25	+0.2%	9/04/25	663.74	665.07	Advocates want to increase black male teachers (comprising only 1% of all), researchers looking through evidence on Emmit Till. Good news for women – baseball league begins in 2026.
Health	4%	600	8/21/25	-0.1%	9/04/25	423.45	423.03	Bad news for a woman who dies after botched plastic surgery in Mexico. NYTimes doctors investigate and rate psychedelic drugs; Sen. Tuberville (R-Al) recommends psychedelics for veterans with PTSD. Flesh eating screwworms and measles proliferate.
Freedom and Justice	3%	450	8/21/25	nc	9/04/25	484.99	484.99	Pardon seeking Ghislaine Maxwell says Trump never “inappropriate” when with Epstein, nor was (Bill) Clinton. Menendez brothers’ parole rejected – they are accused of using illegal phones to talk to friends and relatives. Celebrity alien Kilmar Abrego Garcia released from prison, offered deal to be deported to Uganda.
CULTURAL and MISCELLANEOUS INCIDENTS			(6%)
Cultural incidents	3%	450	8/21/25	+0.2%	9/04/25	568.28	569.42	Morgan Freeman takes his tribute to the blues on a national tour. Big festival planned 9/13 for the Vatican authorized by the Chicago Pope. Taiwan defeats Nevada in Little League final, Tommy Fleetwood wins at PGA, “K-Pop Dragon Fighter” wins at weak box office with the heavy artillery due to arrive soon. RIP: “Secretariat” jockey Ron Turcotte, diamond broker and Jackie Oh lover Maurice Templesman
Miscellaneous incidents	4%	450	8/21/25	+0.1%	9/04/25	540.16	540.70	Leprechaun whisperer: Kevin Woods, who lives in rural Ireland, says he talks to magical creatures. Pumpkin spice season begins. Last week’s stabbed ranger explosed as a hoax, and Yogi is let out of prison.

The Don Jones Index for the week of August 21^st through August 27^th, 2025 was UP 9.42 points

The Don Jones Index is sponsored by the Coalition for a New Consensus: retired Congressman and Independent Presidential candidate Jack “Catfish” Parnell, Chairman; Brian Doohan, Administrator. The CNC denies, emphatically, allegations that the organization, as well as any of its officers (including former Congressman Parnell, environmentalist/America-Firster Austin Tillerman and cosmetics CEO Rayna Finch) and references to Parnell’s works, “Entropy and Renaissance” and “The Coming Kill-Off” are fictitious or, at best, mere pawns in the web-serial “Black Helicopters” – and promise swift, effective legal action against parties promulgating this and/or other such slanders.

Comments, complaints, donations (especially SUPERPAC donations) always welcome at feedme@generisis.com or: speak@donjonesindex.com.

(ATTACHMENTS CONTINUED from LAST WEEK’S LESSON... PART ONE)

ATTACHMENT FORTY EIGHT – FROM TIME

WHY PUTIN MUST BE THRILLED WITH THE RESULT OF THE ALASKA SUMMIT

By Simon Shuster Aug 16, 2025 3:25 PM ET

Vladimir Putin wanted a lot of things from his visit to Alaska. A ceasefire in Ukraine was not one of them. 

Throughout the summer, his troops have been grinding out advances along the frontline, and they achieved a sudden breakthrough in the days before the Alaska summit. Putin’s main objective was to buy time for his troops to continue those advances, all while avoiding the “very severe consequences” that President Donald Trump promised to impose on the Russians if they refused to call a ceasefire.

It appears Putin succeeded on both counts. In his public statements on Friday night, Trump made clear he no longer plans to impose any economic pain on Russia. “Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that,” he told Fox News after the summit. “I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don't have to think about that right now.” 

In Trump’s understanding, two or three weeks is a malleable term, as the New York Times recently noted, “not a measurement of time so much as a placeholder.”

Read more: From the Sidelines, Ukraine Prepares to Watch as U.S., Russia Discuss Its Fate

On the battlefield, however, it could mean the difference between holding off the Russians and allowing them to seize another region of Ukraine. The epicenter of the fighting in recent weeks has been the region of Donetsk, where Ukrainian troops were able to stop the latest Russian breakthrough.

The latest maps of the fighting indicate that the Kremlin remains determined to seize that region. Another few weeks of Russian infantry assaults could achieve that goal, allowing Putin to negotiate with the U.S. and Ukraine from a position of greater advantage. “Things at the front are going well for them,” a senior Ukrainian military officer tells TIME. “Slow but steady.”

These gains helped Putin negotiate in Alaska from a position of strength. Ahead of their talks, Trump indicated that he wants the warring sides to “swap” territories, with Ukraine giving away its own land in exchange for areas Russia has occupied. “They’ve occupied some very prime territory,” Trump said a few days before his summit with Putin. “We’re going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine.”

Trump failed to achieve that in Alaska, and his chances of getting what he calls a “fair deal” for Ukraine diminish as Russian forces continue to gain ground. For reasons that remain unclear, Trump said he believes that Putin wants to stop the fighting. “I believe he wants to get it over,” Trump said. “Now, I’ve said that a few times, and I’ve been disappointed.”

Alaska marks the latest of these disappointments, but Trump has shown no inclination to change his strategy. He did not even secure some of the easier concessions from Putin that might have given the Americans something to show for the Alaskan spectacle. One of Russia’s leading dissidents, Yulia Navalnaya, had urged Trump to secure the release of Russian political prisoners jailed for their opposition to the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for his part, has urged the U.S. to demand the release of thousands of Ukrainian children that Russian forces have abducted from the war zone.

Neither of these issues came up in the official statements in Alaska. Appearing side by side on Friday, Trump gave his guest the floor, allowing Putin to deliver another one of his rambling history lessons, a maneuver that has been likened to diplomatic “filibustering.” When Trump’s turn came to speak, he admitted that the talks had not resulted in a deal.

The next step toward peace, he suggested, would be to arrange a meeting between Putin and Zelensky. But the Russian side has given no indication that it would be open to such an arrangement. Instead, at the end of their press conference in Alaska, Putin suggested in English that he and Trump would meet “next time in Moscow,” an idea that seemed to catch Trump off guard.

“Oh, that’s an interesting one,” he replied. “I’ll get a little heat on that one.” 

This final exchange pointed again to the paltry outcomes of the summit. The two sides had not even agreed on a location or a format for the next stage of the peace process, while Putin came away confident enough to suggest that his capital would be a fitting venue. It was hard to blame him. Given the red-carpet treatment he received in Alaska, Putin had every reason to feel like a winner coming out of those talks. He had, after all, achieved his main objective, and given nothing away.

ATTACHMENT FORTY NINE – FROM USA TODAY

PUTIN SPOKE FIRST AND OTHER KEY MOMENTS FROM ALASKA SUMMIT

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has the first — and the last — word at a summit with President Donald Trump that was held on American soil.

By Francesca Chambers

WASHINGTON – When Vladimir Putin’s summit with Donald Trump ended, the Russian president commanded the world’s attention.

“Mr. President. Ladies and gentlemen,” Putin began.

That Putin spoke first at a U.S.-hosted summit was highly unusual. Trump gestured to the sanctioned Russian leader as they took the stage that he should lead the way.

Addressing the cameras, Putin declared that an “agreement” had been reached that could solve the “Ukrainian issue” and restore “business-like” relations with the United States. 

Trump said several minutes later that they’d made headway on an agreement – but he said a deal had not been made. He heaped praise on Putin and declined to point out that his predecessor's distaste for Putin was prompted by Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Here's a look at key moments from the Alaska summit.

Trump gives Putin a warm welcome

From start to finish, Trump’s summit with Putin was rife with pomp and circumstance.

A fighter jet escort. Red carpets. A B-2 bomber that flew overhead. Trump clapping as Putin approached, with a grin on his face.

The overjoyed greeting the president offered Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf in Alaska was significantly warmer than the one he received the last time he was in the United States. 

On that occasion, a 2015 visit to New York City to attend the United Nations General Assembly, then-President Barack Obama criticized Putin in a speech for annexing Crimea and stoking aggression in eastern Ukraine.

When they posed for a photo together, Obama gave Putin a perfunctory handshake. “Thank you, everybody,” Obama said. The leaders did not answer reporters’ questions as they walked away.

Putin gets a presidential limousine ride

Nearly a decade later in Alaska, and more than three years into Russia’s full-scale assault on Ukraine, Trump smiled at Putin and clasped the leader’s hand: first on the red carpet, and again on a platform. 

Trump and Putin also ignored questions from journalists. 

Trump ushered Putin into the U.S. president’s limousine, known as The Beast, and gave him a ride to the meeting site. 

Inside the armored vehicle, Putin smiled and waved from behind bulletproof glass.

He grimaced and shook his head at the start of their meeting as reporters peppered them with highly critical questions about his country's attacks on civilians in Ukraine. A stony-faced Trump sat to his left, his hands clasped between his legs.

Putin has the first – and last word

The leaders met for roughly three hours before they reappeared to make joint remarks.

Putin spoke first.

Then Trump spoke.

“I would like to thank President Putin and his entire team,” Trump said, “whose faces I get to see all the time in the newspapers.” 

Trump said Putin’s aides were nearly as famous as the Russian leader. “Especially this one right over here,” Trump said, seemingly referring to Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.

Lavrov had been at the summit site earlier in the day wearing a sweatshirt that said CCCP, which stands for USSR in Russian. The move was interpreted as blatant trolling. The discussions were about Ukraine, which is a former Soviet republic.

In wrapping up his remarks. Trump said he hoped to see Putin again  “very soon” and thanked him profusely for coming.

“Thank you very much, Vladimir,” Trump said, calling him by his first name.

Putin did not miss a beat.

“Next time in Moscow,” he said.

A skeptical Trump said he’d “get a little heat on that one” but did not rule it out.

ATTACHMENT FIFTY – FROM NPR

AFTER MEETING PUTIN, TRUMP CHANGES HIS POSITION ON THE NEED FOR A CEASEFIRE

By Greg Myre August 17, 2025 12:35 PM ET

KYIV – When President Trump was flying to Alaska for his summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Trump said the main goal was a ceasefire. He said he'd be disappointed if it didn't happen, and warned of "severe consequences."

But shortly after meeting Putin, Trump reversed himself and said a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war wasn't critical. He wrote on social media that "it was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up."

Trump's new position aligns him with Putin, and puts him at odds with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy -- who's headed to the White House on Monday.

Zelenskyy's last visit to the White House, on Feb. 28, descended into a heated dispute between the Ukrainian leader and Trump with the cameras rolling. Trump told Zelenskyy that, "You don't have the cards right now," and that the Ukrainian leader would have to make concessions with Russia to prevent the total destruction of his country.

Since that diplomatic disaster, Zelenskyy and Ukraine have worked hard to rebuild the relationship with Trump, and it appeared to be working. The Ukrainians consistently praise Trump's peace efforts. When Trump pressed for a deal that would give the U.S. access to valuable Ukrainian minerals, the Ukrainians agreed.

When Trump began pushing for a ceasefire several months ago, the Ukrainians endorsed the move. Putin did not, and Trump became openly critical and grew increasingly frustrated, to the point of threatening additional sanctions.

But Putin and Trump appeared to be on excellent terms at Friday's summit. While they didn't announce any breakthroughs, Trump now looks to be on Putin's side when it comes to the critical question of whether to pursue an immediate ceasefire versus a comprehensive peace agreement, which would take lengthy negotiations.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked about the president's position on NBC's Meet the Press with Kristen Welker.

"We've been asking for ceasefire for a long period of time," Rubio said. "The only way to have a ceasefire is for both sides to agree to stop firing at one another, and the Russians just haven't agreed to that."

Zelenskyy will have additional support during Monday's visit. Several European leaders will be traveling with him to Washington to help make the case for further Western support for Ukraine.

Ukraine invasion — explained

'A chess game' - Trump gears up for Alaska summit with Putin

Zelenskyy met Sunday in Brussels with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, one of those accompanying him.

"We agreed on the necessity of a ceasefire for subsequent diplomatic steps, effective security guarantees for Ukraine, and continued sanctions pressure on Russia," Zelenskyy posted on X.

Why Ukraine favors an immediate ceasefire

Ukraine wants a ceasefire for several reasons. First, it would be the quickest and most realistic way to stop the fighting in the short-term.

Ukraine has had no relief from Russian attacks since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, and any respite would be welcome. Russian forces continue to pound Ukraine with offensive operations on the ground in eastern Ukraine, and with nightly drone and missile strikes across the country.

Ukraine says the two sides need a ceasefire first, and can then sit down and negotiate the much more complicated terms of a permanent peace agreement.

"Our vision is a ceasefire first, and then everything else," Serhiy Leshchenko, an advisor to Zelenskyy, said on Ukrainian television. "If we negotiate before the ceasefire, it creates a big risk for Ukraine. If there is a ceasefire, it opens up space for diplomats."

Ukraine also fears that without a ceasefire, Putin will keep buying time and dragging out the war. According to Ukrainian leaders, Putin believes time is on his side and he intends to keep fighting until he wins what he wants on the battlefield, or gets concessions from Ukraine.

A ceasefire, Ukrainians say, would force Putin to negotiate.

Russia's approach to negotiations

At the Alaska summit, Putin again raised his favorite talking point — that the "root causes" of the conflict need to be addressed for a lasting peace. This includes an expansive list of demands that Russia has not been able to achieve on the battlefield.

Russia now controls close to 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, yet is calling on Ukraine to give up additional land it still holds in the eastern part of the country, in the Donbas region. Russia wants guarantees that Ukraine will never be allowed to join NATO. Russia also wants an agreement that would greatly restrict the future size of Ukraine's military.

Ukraine rejects all these demands and says negotiations on a comprehensive peace deal would go nowhere, while the fighting would grind on.

Ukraine invasion — explained

What's at stake as Trump prepares to meet Putin in Alaska?

From Russia's perspective, agreeing to a ceasefire could cost the Russian military its momentum in the fighting, where Russia has been making incremental gains the past two years, though at an extremely high cost in casualties. A truce would reduce Russia's current leverage and ease the pressure on Ukraine.

"Everything is going to be about what the Ukrainians can live with."

In the wake of the Alaska summit, the diplomatic debate is now focused on whether to work for a near-term ceasefire or a permanent peace agreement. It will be on full display when Trump and Zelenskyy meet Monday at the White House.

ATTACHMENT FIFTY ONE – FROM POLITICO

WITKOFF CLAIMS TRUMP-PUTIN MEETING VICTORY, SAYS 'ARTICLE 5-LIKE' SECURITY ON THE TABLE FOR UKRAINE

"We are seeing accommodation more than we've seen in the past, certainly more than we saw in the last administration," Witkoff said. "And that's encouraging. Now we have to build on that."

By Gregory Svirnovskiy 08/17/2025 11:18 AM EDT

Special envoy Steve Witkoff says the White House extracted critical wins from its Friday summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, even as President Donald Trump failed to walk away with the ceasefire he was loudly advocated for.

Security guarantees offering Ukraine “Article 5-like protections” are the real prize, Witkoff told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday. They’re “game-changing,” he said.

“We didn’t think that we were anywhere close to agreeing to Article Five protection from the United States in legislative enshrinement within the Russian Federation, not to go after any other territory when the peace deal is codified,” Witkoff said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

He continued, saying, “We got to an agreement that the United States and other European nations could effectively offer Article 5-like language to cover a security guarantee.”

Trump spent much of the week ahead of the Alaska meeting issuing threats over what could happen if Russia wasn’t serious about a ceasefire. In the end, Trump’s confab with Putin, in which the U.S. president feted his Russian counterpart with a red carpet and clapped as he approached, didn’t even result in concrete plans for a follow-up meeting.

Still, Witkoff is optimistic.

“We’re on the path for the first time,” he told Tapper. “We are seeing accommodation more than we’ve seen in the past, certainly more than we saw in the last administration. And that’s encouraging. Now we have to build on that.”

Zelenskyy will travel to Washington — alongside a number of major European leaders — to meet with Trump on Monday.

The president has warmed to the idea of playing at least some role in maintaining peace and deterring future Russian invasions into Ukraine after the war, telling European leaders in a virtual meeting last week that he was open to contributing security guarantees to Kyiv in a final settlement.

Trump’s foreign policy has long been marked by skepticism of NATO allies. He previously balked at the idea of coming to the defense of a NATO country “if they don’t pay,” signaling he would consider abandoning a key part of the NATO security pact if members don’t spend more on defense.

“There are numerous definitions of Article 5,” Trump told reporters en route to the NATO summit in June.

Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence told Tapper that Witkoff’s description of the security guarantees floated during the meeting was “encouraging.” But he cautioned the White House to “remember the bad guy here is Putin” throughout its conversations on ending the war.

“I served alongside the president for four years. I know his style in dealing with these dictators,” Pence said. “It’s the velvet glove. But I think the hammer needs to come and it needs to come immediately.”

ATTACHMENT FIFTY TWO – FROM BREITBART

DEM REP. CROW: TRUMP-PUTIN MEETING WAS ‘HISTORIC EMBARRASSMENT’ FOR U.S.

Pam Key 17 Aug 2025

Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) said President Donald Trump’s Alaskan summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin was a “historic embarrassment for the United States.”

Partial transcript as follows:

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, on Ukraine: You know that the U.S. intelligence assessment is that the battlefield is turning in Russia’s favor, despite the fact that Putin has to rely on Iran and North Korea to keep this thing going. If neither President Biden nor President Trump were ever willing to commit troops, doesn’t the secretary have a point that it has to be hammered out at the negotiating table?

REP. CROW: You know, this absolutely will end at a negotiating table, like most conflicts will. But what happened on Friday was a historic embarrassment for the United States. There’s no other way to put it. Right? You listen to what Marco Rubio and the president have said. They keep on saying they’re dedicating time. They’re making it a priority. They’re focusing their attention on it. In any negotiation, when you’re trying to end an armed conflict, there’s nothing more important than understanding what motivates your adversary. What is making Vladimir Putin tick, in this instance. Vladimir Putin does not care about the amount of time that we’re nego- we’re allocating to this, does not care about a B-2 bomber flyover, does not care about a lineup of F-22 fighters rolled out. He doesn’t care about any of that. What Vladimir Putin cares about is basically three things. He cares about economic pressure in the form of sanctions. He cares about political, diplomatic isolation, being a pariah state. And he cares about military defeat. Those are the three things that will end this conflict if he feels pressure on all of those three fronts. And this administration continues to be unwilling to do anything to assert pressure in any of those three areas.

ATTACHMENT FIFTY THREE – FROM ROLLING STONE

RUBIO DESPERATELY TRIES TO SPIN TRUMP’S PUTIN FLOP

The president said he'd be "unhappy" if he walked away from his meeting with the Russian leader without a ceasefire agreement, which is exactly what happened

By Peter Wade August 17, 2025

Secretary of State Marco Rubio scrambled to justify the administration’s lack of progress toward a Ukraine–Russia ceasefire during Donald Trump‘s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

In a round of interviews on four Sunday news programs, Rubio, who used to be strongly anti-Putin, struggled to defend the administration’s position, despite Trump’s boasting that he made “BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA” in a Truth Social post that morning.

That’s a big change of tune to what Trump said before he met with Putin: “I want to see a ceasefire rapidly. I don’t know if it’s going to be today, but I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today.”

This Week host Martha Raddatz pointed out this inconvenient fact, asking Rubio if Trump changed his mind.

“The fighting hasn’t stopped. The killing hasn’t stopped. And there is no ceasefire. What changed President Trump’s mind?” Raddatz asked.

“I don’t think his mind has changed at all,” Rubio said. “I think, ultimately, if this whole effort doesn’t work out then, yes, there is going to have to be additional consequences to Russia, but we’re trying to avoid that by reaching a peace agreement. And that’s not going to be easy. It’s going to take a lot of work.”

Rubio continued to hedge: “So, we’re still a long ways off. I mean, we’re not at the precipice of a peace agreement. We’re not at the edge of one, but I do think progress was made.”

But Rubio refused to elaborate on what that progress was, nor would he name any concessions that Putin agreed to.

Raddatz pressed Rubio. “The president went in to that meeting saying he wanted a ceasefire and there would be consequences if they didn’t agree on a ceasefire in that meeting, and they didn’t agree to a ceasefire. Where are the consequences?” she asked.

“That’s not the aim,” Rubio responded.

“The president said that was the aim,” Raddatz said.

The public meeting between Putin and Trump went so poorly, even Fox News described it as a flop where Putin clearly dominated the conversation: “The way that it felt in the room was not good. It did not seem like things went well. And it seemed like Putin came in and steamrolled, got right into what he wanted to say and got his photo next to the president and then left,” the network’s senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich said.

On Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Rubio said that while “there’s a lot of work that remains,” the U.S.-Russia conversation zeroed in on issues of borders, long-term security for Kyv, and Ukraine’s military alliances.

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to Russia, disclosed more details, saying on CNN that the U.S. allegedly won “the concession that the United States could offer Article Five-like protection” to Ukraine, referring to the kind of protection NATO countries provide one another. Putin has vehemently opposed Ukraine becoming a NATO member.

Rubio’s role in the administration has led him to compromise his views on Putin’s aggression toward Ukraine. On Meet the Press, host Kristen Welker rolled out a clip of Rubio from 2022 arguing that “you can’t cut deals with guys” like Putin.

As a senator, Rubio called Putin several things — “bloodthirsty,” “a butcher,” and “a monster.” He also pressed the Biden administration to continue supporting Ukrainians “as long as they are willing to fight.”

Democrats have been staunchly critical of the administration’s handling of Russia’s aggression twoard Ukraine.

“That meeting was a disaster. It was an embarrassment for the United States,” Sen. Chris Murphy said Sunday on Meet the Press. “It was a failure. Putin got everything he wanted.”

“[Putin] didn’t have to give up anything. Nothing, right?” Murphy continued. “President Trump said he wanted a ceasefire. It appears the ceasefire wasn’t even seriously discussed. And, then… there’s no consequences. Trump said, ‘If I don’t get a ceasefire, Putin’s going to pay a price.’ And then he walked out of that meeting saying, ‘I didn’t get a ceasefire. I didn’t get a peace deal. And I’m not even considering sanctions.’ You heard Secretary Rubio downplay sanctions. And, so, Putin walks away with his photo op, with zero commitments made and zero consequences. What a great day for Russia.”

Murphy also unleashed on congressional Republicans for doing Trump’s bidding. “In the Congress, the Republicans essentially work for President Trump,” he said. “And if President Trump tells them that his number one priority is to keep Vladimir Putin happy, not to actually levy the kind of sanctions that would create a realistic negotiating table, Republicans are gonna listen.”

Rep. Jason Crow also pointed out what a failure the meeting was, calling it a “historic embarrassment” for the U.S.

“What [Putin] cares about is three things: economic pressure in form of sanctions, being a pariah state, and military defeat… This admin continues to be unwilling to do anything to assert pressure in any of those three areas,” he said.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Washington on Monday where he will meet with Trump. The last time Zelensky visited D.C., both Trump and Vance publicly berated him in the Oval Office, with Vance bashing him for not saying “thank you” enough to the United States.

ATTACHMENT FIFTY FOUR – FROM NEW YORK POST

HOW TRUMP’S MEETING WITH PUTIN PIVOTED FROM UKRAINE CEASE-FIRE TO FULL PEACE DEAL

By Steven Nelson Published Aug. 16, 2025, 2:48 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON — President Trump made an abrupt announcement about two hours into his private, roughly three-hour meeting with Vladimir Putin Friday — declaring he wanted a full peace deal in Ukraine rather than a cease-fire, The Post has learned.

Convinced there were relatively few matters left to resolve, and believing a truce would only prolong the war, Trump set aside his publicly stated goal of a temporary halt in fighting.

“Figuratively, the president sort of threw up his hands and said, ‘I’m not interested in a cease-fire anymore,'” a source familiar with the discussion said.

Trump expressed concern that the “focus of the cease-fire” would be on “how long the cease fire will be” and “are they going to rearm?”

The pivot yielded “no pushback from the Russians,” leading Trump to exit Anchorage without a cease-fire in hand. Instead, he dialed up Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders to see if a full peace deal was within reach.

The calls yielded a positive response, the source said, and Trump announced on social media that Zelensky would be at the White House Monday for talks.

Putin insisted during the summit Ukraine hand over the remainder of the coal and minerals-rich Dontesk, a historically Russian-speaking region that had a Moscow-backed rebellion beginning in 2014.

Russia claimed to annex the whole region in 2022.

Zelensky has vehemently objected to giving up the northern third of the Donetsk region, arguing it would obliterate more than decade-old defense lines and allow Putin to launch further incursions into Ukraine.

The matter may be addressed through an international peacekeeping deployment, the possibility of which was raised during the bilateral discussion in Alaska, with Putin open to a deployment of UK and French troops along the front lines to prevent a recurrence of fighting.

Trump has in principle accepted the deployment by its NATO allies as a de facto US “security guarantee” to Ukraine, two sources told The Post. The move comes after Trump previously suggesting a US-Ukraine minerals deal would also effectively give Kyiv a measure of protection.

In Anchorage, the Russian dictator floated an “Article 5-plus” formulation for the peace-keeping force in which China would also send troops, but appeared to back away from the idea and settle on the possibility of NATO ally Turkey — a mediator for Moscow — instead sending soldiers to supplement the more openly pro-Kyiv bloc.

European leaders appeared wooed by Putin informing Trump he was “willing to stipulate” he would not attack additional countries in eastern Europe — though “Europeans think in centuries” rather than US presidential terms, the source cautioned.

“The president got Putin to say out loud and agree to, in some way, memorialize that. … He said, ‘I will not attack a European country. … I have no interest in this,’ and that has always been the fear on the part of the Europeans,” the source said.

“That went a long way in the calls last night with the Europeans.”

In a rare move, Trump took no questions at a planned news conference Friday and boarded Air Force One early for a return flight to Washington, during which he spoke on the phone with Zelensky and various European leaders.

Trump firmed up his conviction that a full peace deal was possible during a series of Friday night and Saturday morning calls aboard Air Force One to the European leaders, before announcing Zelensky’s Monday visit to Washington.

Zelensky has claimed he cannot cede land without a national referendum, adding complexity to the final end-game if he’s amenable to handing over the remainder of Donetsk in exchange for the peacekeeping deployment.

“Every issue is an ancillary issue, except Donetsk,” a source familiar with the Trump-Putin talks said. “That’s the ball game right there, the future of Donetsk.”

Here are the latest details on Trump and Putin's meeting in Alaska

· The meeting will take place in Anchorage, Alaska at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

· Trump said his sitdown with Putin in Alaska will be “setting the table” for a possible future meeting about the war in Ukraine with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky present.

· Putin suggested the US and Russia could reach a deal on nuclear arms control.

· President Trump estimated Thursday there is a 25% chance that his Alaska summit will fail.

· Zelensky met with European world leaders ahead of the meeting between Trump and Putin.

Russia has made recent gains in Donetsk, including capturing two villages Saturday.

The Kremlin additionally took Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and partially controls three other provinces in addition to Donetsk that it purportedly annexed.

The Trump-Putin summit featured dramatic symbolism from the American hosts, with the US leader escorting the 25-year strongman down a red carpet as a B-2 bomber and fighter jets flew overhead, seeming to surprise the guest.

ATTACHMENT FIFTY FIVE – FROM ABC

TRUMP SHARES MELANIA TRUMP'S LETTER TO PUTIN

The first lady told Putin he could protect children "with the stroke of a pen."

By Kelsey Walsh August 17, 2025, 2:44 PM

President Donald Trump shared on social media the "peace letter" from first lady Melania Trump that was hand delivered to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska on Friday.

The first lady writes "it is time" to protect children and future generations worldwide.

"Every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether born randomly into a nation's rustic countryside or a magnificent city-center. They dream of love, possibility, and safety from danger," Melania Trump's letter begins.

MORE: Hunter Biden escalates rift with Melania Trump over Jeffrey Epstein allegation

The first lady states that all children are born innocent, regardless of their nationality, political views or beliefs.

"A simple yet profound concept, Mr. Putin, as I am sure you agree, is that each generation's descendants begin their lives with a purity -- an innocence which stands above geography, government, and ideology," she said.

"In today's world, some children are forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them -- a silent defiance against the forces that can potentially claim their future," she continued.

The first lady tells the Russian president that protecting children "will do more than serve Russia alone" and "will serve humanity itself."

"Such a bold idea transcends all human division, and you, Mr. Putin, are fit to implement this vision with a stroke of the pen today," she concludes.

"It is time," she signs off.

The physical letter was first obtained by Fox News Digital.

ATTACHMENT FIFTY SIX – FROM USA TODAY

ZELENSKYY DELIVERS LETTER FROM HIS WIFE TO FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP: 'MANY THANKS'

By Erin Mansfield

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hand-delivered a letter from his own wife for Melania Trump and commended the American first lady her advocacy for children amid Russia's war with Ukraine.

The letter came a day after it was revealed that Melania Trump penned a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin that spoke generally about the need to protect children, and Donald Trump hand-delivered it to the Russian leader during their Aug. 15 meeting. The letter does not specifically mention Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government estimates that nearly 20,000 children were unlawfully deported or transferred from Ukraine and alleges that Russia uses tactics such as "taking children from orphanages, killing parents, splitting families during filtration processes, creating unbearable living conditions in occupied areas, and brazenly kidnapping children from their homes and schools."

Zelenskyy in DC: Updates on White House showdown

"Many thanks to your wife, the first lady of the United States," Zelenskyy told President Trump in the Oval Office on Monday, Aug. 18. He then handed Trump a white envelope that he said contained a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska.

"It's not to you, it's to your wife," Zelenskyy said as Trump began to examine it.

"I want it," Trump replied while laughing.

Zelenskyy characterized Melania Trump's letter as one "about our children, abducted children," which he described as a "sensitive topic."

The International Criminal Court has indicted Putin for the unlawful deportation and transfer of children.

"In today's world, some children are forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them-- a silent defiance against the forces that can potentially claim their future," Melania Trump wrote in her letter, which USA TODAY obtained. "Mr. Putin, you can singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter."

Addressing a question from a reporter, Donald Trump said Melania Trump has a great love of children and has "watched the same things that I watched and you watched."

"She hates to see something like this happening," he said.

ATTACHMENT FIFTY SEVEN – FROM GUK

US ENVOY SAYS PUTIN AGREED TO SECURITY PROTECTIONS FOR UKRAINE AS PART OF TRUMP SUMMIT

By Maya Yang (now); Donna Ferguson, Yohannes Lowe and Kirsty McEwen (earlier) Sun 17 Aug 2025 17.19 EDT

Special US envoy Steve Witkoff has also been speaking to the media. He said on Sunday that Vladimir Putin agreed at the Alaska summit with Donald Trump to allow the US and European allies to offer Ukraine a security guarantee resembling Nato’s collective defence mandate (article 5: an attack on one member is an attack on all) as part of an eventual deal to end the war.

Speaking with Jake Tapper, Witkoff told CNN’s State of the Union programme:

We got to an agreement that the United States and other European nations could effectively offer article five like language to cover a security guarantee. So Putin has said that a red flag is Nato admission.

And so what we were discussing was assuming that that held, assuming that the Ukrainians could agree to that, and could live with that, and everything is going to be about what the Ukrainians can live with.

But assuming they could, we were able to win the following concession: that the United States could offer article five, like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in Nato, we sort of were able to bypass that and get an agreement that the United States could offer article five protection, which was the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that.

ATTACHMENT FIFTY EIGHT

STATE OF THE UNION (@CNNSOTU) AUGUST 17, 2025 UPDATED AT 10.00 EDT

17.13 EDT

Summary

Here’s a wrap-up of the day’s key events:

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has released a series of statements on X after his meeting with European leaders ahead of Monday’s peace talks with Donald Trump in the US. In his statements, Zelenskyy said: “Ukraine’s constitution makes it impossible to give up or trade land. Since the territorial issue is so important, it should be discussed only by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia at the trilateral—Ukraine, the U.S., Russia. So far, Russia gives no sign this will happen, and if Russia refuses, new sanctions must follow.”

Ahead of Monday’s peace talks in the US, French president Emmanuel Macron said that in order to have a “lasting peace deal for Ukraine, Ukraine needs a strong army”. He added that European allies want “Ukraine’s territorial integrity to be respected” and that “Ukraine must be represented in any talks on Ukraine’s future.” Macron also said that “our goal for tomorrow’s talks is to present a united front between Ukraine and its European allies”.

European Union council president Antonio Costa added that he “welcomed the United States’ willingness to participate in providing security guarantees to Ukraine”. Costa said: “Transatlantic unity is paramount at this moment to achieve a sustainable peace in Ukraine.”

Donald Trump has published a letter Melania Trump addressed to Vladimir Putin during his visit to Alaska on Friday. In the letter, the first lady urges the Russian president to “restore the melodic laughter” of children, saying: “In protecting the innocence of these children, you will do more than serve Russia alone – you serve humanity itself. Such a bold idea transcends all human division, and you, Mr Putin, are fit to implement this vision with a stroke of the pen today.”

Steve Witkoff added that Russia had agreed to unspecified concessions on five Ukrainian regions central to the war, particularly the eastern Donetsk province. “We agreed to robust security guarantees that I would describe as gamechanging,” Witkoff said.

European leaders who are set to join Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a show of solidarity at the White House on Monday include: German chancellor Friedrich Merz, British prime minister Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Finland’s president Alexander Stubb, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte.

Updated at

17.19 EDT

55m ago

16.32 EDT

By Peter Walker

Asked behind the scenes at June’s G7 summit if he could explain why Donald Trump seemed to like him so much, Keir Starmer admitted he did not really know. Whatever the reason, when it comes to Ukraine, the UK prime minister is once again hoping to exploit this somewhat curious relationship.

As soon as it was announced that a string of European leaders planned to join Volodymyr Zelenskyy to back the Ukrainian president in crucial talks with Trump at the White House on Monday, it was obvious Starmer would be joining them.

The idea of Britain being some sort of bridge between US and European interests is something of a longstanding UK diplomatic cliche, and not one that always necessarily carries much meaning.

But in the case of Ukraine, Starmer has very deliberately sought to position himself as a leader who can get along with Trump while consistently stressing to him Europe’s red lines over any peace plan, and trying to sweet talk the president into offering US security guarantees.

16.34 EDT

2h ago

15.54 EDT

By Edward Helmore

In a combative series of interviews on Sunday, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said that “both sides are going to have to make concessions” for there to be a peaceful resolution to the war that erupted when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

“You can’t have a peace agreement unless both sides make concessions – that’s a fact,” the Trump administration’s top diplomat said Sunday on ABC’s This Week. “That’s true in virtually any negotiation. If not, it’s just called surrender. And neither side is going to surrender. So both sides are going to have to make concessions.”

Rubio said the recent talks in Alaska between Russian president Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump toward ending the war had “made progress in the sense that we identified potential areas of agreement – but there remains some big areas of disagreement”.

“We’re still a long ways off,” Rubio added. “We’re not at the precipice of a peace agreement. We’re not at the edge of one. But I do think progress was made and towards one.”

For the full story, click here:

Rubio says both Russia and Ukraine ‘have to make concessions’ for peace deal

2h ago

15.02 EDT

Reporters from Associated Press have done a little round up of the reactions of Republican and Democrat senators to Donald Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin.

Among the Republicans:

Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, wrote on social media after the summit that “while the press conference offered few details about their meeting,” she was “cautiously optimistic about the signals that some level of progress was made.” She said it “was also encouraging to hear both presidents reference future meetings” but that Ukraine “must be part of any negotiated settlement and must freely agree to its terms.”

Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and close Trump ally, said he was “very proud” of the president for having the face-to-face meeting and was “cautiously optimistic” that the war might end “well before Christmas” if a trilateral meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and Putin transpires.

Former vice-president Mike Pence commended his former boss for seeking peace. “I think he deserves credit as leader of the free world for not giving up on Ukraine,” he said on CNN’s State of the Union.

However, Democrat senators have been expressed alarm:

“President Trump appears to have been played yet again by Vladimir Putin,” said Democratic senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, ranking member of the Senate foreign relations committee. “The president rolled out a red carpet and warmly greeted a murderous dictator on American soil and reports indicate he got nothing concrete in return.” She added: “If President Trump won’t act, Congress must do so decisively by passing crushing sanctions when we return in the coming weeks.”

Connecticut senator Chris Murphy said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Putin “got everything he wanted”, including a photo op with Trump. “He is intentionally murdering civilians, he’s kidnapping children, and now he got to stand next to the President of the United States — legitimized in the view of the world,” the Democrat said.

Updated at

15.52 EDT

3h ago

14.42 EDT

While politicians have been discussing their future, people in Ukraine have been attending a rally outside the US embassy in Kyiv. Many were women, standing with children and highlighting the plight of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Updated at

15.53 EDT

3h ago

14.20 EDT

Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces a daunting trip to the White House – but this time he won’t be alone.

The Guardian’s Julian Borger writes:

Volodymyr Zelenskyy will make his second visit to the White House on Monday with the daunting task of reversing the damage done to Ukraine’s security prospects by Friday’s Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.

Zelenskyy will not, however, be alone as he was on his first trip to the White House in February when he was ambushed and humiliated by Donald Trump and the vice-president, JD Vance, who sought to bully him into capitulation to Moscow’s demands.

This time the Ukrainian leader comes to Washington flanked by a dream team of European leaders, including Britain’s Keir Starmer, Germany’s Friedrich Merz and France’s Emmanuel Macron, who combine economic and military clout with proven rapport with Trump.

Their mission will be to try to use their individual and combined influence to coax the president out of the pro-Russian positions he adopted after just a couple of hours under Putin’s sway in the sub-Arctic on Friday.

To do that, they will have to project a more convincing sense of resolve and common purpose than they have managed hitherto, argued Ben Rhodes, a former adviser to Barack Obama.

Updated at

14.54 EDT

4h ago

13.48 EDT

Zelenskyy: 'Ukraine's constitution makes it impossible to give up or trade land'

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has released a series of statements on X after his meeting with European leaders ahead of Monday’s peace talks with Donald Trump in the US.

In his statements, Zelenskyy said:

We have to stop the killings. Putin has many demands but we do not know all of them. If there are really as many as we heard, then it will take time to go through them all. It is impossible to do this under the pressure of weapons …

We need real negotiations, which means they can start where the front line is now. The contact line is the best line for talking. Europeans support this, and we thank everyone. Russia is still unsuccessful in the Donetsk region, Putin has been unable to take it for 12 years …

Ukraine’s Constitution makes it impossible to give up or trade land. Since the territorial issue is so important, it should be discussed only by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia at the trilateral—Ukraine, the U.S., Russia. So far, Russia gives no sign this will happen, and if Russia refuses, new sanctions must follow.

It’s important that America agrees to work with Europe to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, and therefore for all of Europe. This is a significant change, but there are no details how it will work—what America’s role will be, what Europe’s role will be, what the EU can do. We need security to work in practice, like Article 5 of NATO.”

Updated at

14.55 EDT

4h ago

13.13 EDT

A string of Ukrainian politicians and public figures condemned the idea of handing over unoccupied land to Russia for peace on Sunday, arguing that their country had not been defeated and should not be forced into a surrender.

The Guardian’s Dan Sabbagh and Artem Mazhulin report:

The hardening of the mood comes at the end of a weekend where there was first ridicule and disgust in Ukraine at the red carpet treatment of Vladimir Putin by Donald Trump at their summit in Alaska – followed by frustration as it appeared that Trump was siding with the Russian leader.

Trump reportedly told European leaders that he believed a peace deal could be negotiated if Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to give up the areas of the Donbas region that the Russian invaders have not been able to seize in more than three years of fighting.

Halyna Yanchenko, an independent member of Ukraine’s parliament, said demands that Ukraine “simply surrender new territories without a fight – just because Putin wants it – is absurd from the very start”.

The MP, an anti-corruption activist previously part of Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party, said that hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians would be affected by Putin’s proposal, initially favoured by Trump after Friday’s Alaska summit.

5h ago

12.45 EDT

Emmanuel Macron further said: “No country can accept the loss of territories unless it has security guarantees for its remaining territory.”

The French president added: “If we are weak today, we will pay a heavy price tomorrow … If Europe wants to be free and independent, we need to be feared and we need to be strong.”

Updated at

12.55 EDT

5h ago

12.17 EDT

Emmanuel Macron: Goal for tomorrow's talks is to 'present united front' between Ukraine and European allies

Ahead of Monday’s peace talks in the US, French president Emmanuel Macron said that in order to have a “lasting peace deal for Ukraine, Ukraine needs a strong army”.

He added that European allies want “Ukraine’s territorial integrity to be respected” and that “Ukraine must be represented in any talks on Ukraine’s future.”

Macron also said that “our goal for tomorrow’s talks is to present a united front between Ukraine and its European allies.”

He went on to warn that “if we show weakness today in front of Russia, we are laying the ground for future conflict.”

Updated at

12.56 EDT

5h ago

12.12 EDT

EU council president: 'If no ceasefire is agreed, the EU and US must increase pressure on Russia'

European Union council president Antonio Costa added that he “welcomed the United States’ willingness to participate in providing security guarantees to Ukraine”.

Costa said: “Transatlantic unity is paramount at this moment to achieve a sustainable peace in Ukraine.”

He added: “As I underlined during today’s meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, if no ceasefire is agreed, the EU and the US must increase pressure on Russia.”

Updated at

12.56 EDT

5h ago

12.10 EDT

Following the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ meeting among European countries ahead of Monday’s peace talks in Washington DC, European leaders are releasing statements regarding Ukraine.

An European Union Commission spokesperson said that the “videoconference of Ukraine’s allies focused on key matters such as the need to stop the killing in Ukraine, the commitment to maintain full pressure against Russia via sanctions.”

The spokesperson added that the “leaders involved in the video conference of Ukraine’s allies reaffirmed their unity in supporting Ukraine towards a just and lasting peace.”

1 of 4 more at site

ATTACHMENT FIFTY NINE – FROM TASS

PUTIN, TRUMP IMPLEMENT ROOSEVELT’S IDEA OF BOTH LEADERS’ MEETING IN ALASKA — DUMA SPEAKER

MOSCOW, August 17. /TASS/. Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump implemented the idea of both leaders’ encounter in Alaska that then-President of the United States Franklin Roosevelt suggested to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin 82 years ago, Speaker of the State Duma (the lower house of Russia’s parliament) Vyacheslav Volodin said on Sunday.

"Roosevelt’s idea of a meeting with the head of the Soviet state in Alaska was implemented 82 years later by Putin and Trump. These are such historical parallels," the speaker wrote on his Max messenger channel.

On May 5, 1943, Roosevelt turned to Stalin with a request to hold a meeting in Alaska to discuss the military situation on the ground and at sea. The US leader stressed the importance of holding a meeting without the participation of Great Britain as he believed that the Soviet Union was playing a more important role in that than the UK. However, the meeting in Alaska did not take place, Volodin recalled.

"But the fact remains: there were periods in our history when there was much more respect despite ideological contradictions than in the subsequent time," the Duma speaker stressed.

Russia-US summit in Alaska

The meeting between President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Donald Trump of the United States took place at a military base in Alaska on August 15. The meeting lasted over three hours, with the two leaders first holding a one-on-one conversation in a car on their way to the venue of the talks. Their closed-door negotiations also involved Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov, as well as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

Putin told the media after the talks that the parties had focused on resolving the Ukraine conflict. The Russian leader also called for turning the page in bilateral relations and going back to cooperation. Putin invited Trump to visit Moscow. The US leader, in turn, pointed to progress in the negotiation process but noted that the parties had not been able to agree on all issues.

West not interested in ending hostilities in Ukraine — Belarusian security chief

Alexander Volfovich stressed that the jingoist policy is flourishing in Poland and in the Baltic countries, especially in Lithuania

Putin briefs Kazakh president on his talks with US leader in Alaska — Kremlin

According to the Kremlin, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated the Russian leader on the successful talks aiming to reach a lasting settlement to the Ukrainian crisis

Today, 09:43

Putin briefs Lukashenko on his talks with Trump — Kremlin

"Lukashenko welcomed steps that are being taken toward settling the Ukrainian crisis and, in turn, told Putin about his phone call with Donald Trump om August 15," the Kremlin press service said

Yesterday, 08:21

Zelensky has no chance to keep fighting after Trump-Putin meeting, says Rada member

"If European leaders receive a peace plan from Trump, even partial agreement to it by individual members of the pro-Ukrainian coalition will ruin it and significantly reduce Ukraine's opportunities," Dubinsky said

ATTACHMENT SIXTY – FROM AL JAZEERA

THE ALASKA SUMMIT WAS A SPECTACULAR DISTRACTION

Trump needed a break from the infighting in MAGA so he decided an inconsequential meeting with Putin would do the trick.

By Belén Fernández Published On 17 Aug 2025

Say you are the president of the United States and the relationship with a significant chunk of your political base has become less than blissfully harmonious. What do you do?

Well, one option is to stage a summit, accompanied by much fanfare, with the president of Russia, ostensibly in order to end that country’s war in Ukraine.

And this is precisely the manoeuvre that was pulled by US President Donald Trump, who on Friday rolled out the red carpet in Alaska for his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The short-lived encounter was ultimately anticlimactic, with Trump offering the incisive assessment that “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.”

Fox News reported that Trump had rated the much-anticipated meeting with Putin a “10” out of 10 and that he particularly “appreciated the Russian president’s comments when he claimed he would not have invaded Ukraine had Trump won the 2020 presidency”.

Fox went on to add that neither head of state had bothered to specify the “reasoning behind these comments”.

At any rate, the no-deal talks constituted a convenient distraction from current intra-MAGA strife, which owes to a couple of factors. There is, for example, the matter of the files relating to the late Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019.

When US Attorney General Pam Bondi briefed Trump in May on the Justice Department’s review of the content of the so-called “Epstein files”, she reportedly informed the president that his name appeared therein.

Despite having pledged while on the campaign trail to declassify the Epstein files, Trump changed tack earlier this year and angrily dismissed the investigation as a “hoax”. He went as far as to insult many of his Republican followers as “stupid” and “foolish” for continuing to insist that the Epstein details be released.

On July 12, the president took to social media with his signature preference for manic capitalisation to berate those demanding declassification: “We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and ‘selfish people’ are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein.”

And yet this is not the only headache facing the “PERFECT Administration” from within Trump’s own MAGA base, many of whose prominent members have become vocally critical of Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip, which Trump persists in aiding and abetting.

The genocide, which will mark its two-year anniversary in October, has officially killed nearly 62,000 Palestinians thus far – although the true death toll is undoubtedly many times higher. Apparently, Israel’s behaviour was entirely palatable to much of the US political establishment when it simply consisted of unending massacres, slaughtered and mutilated babies, bombed hospitals, and razed neighbourhoods.

Now that mass starvation has been visibly added to the genocidal mix, however, Israel seems to have crossed a red line even among formerly staunch devotees. As per Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the death toll from malnutrition has hit 251, including 108 children. Images of skeletal Palestinians have flooded the internet, and the United Nations World Food Programme has categorised food shortage in Gaza as “catastrophic”.

Furthermore, according to the UN, the Israeli military has killed at least 1,760 Palestinians since late May alone, as they sought aid, including at sites run by the nefarious so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Backed by the US and Israel, the GHF has not only served Israel’s plans for mass displacement and forced eviction of Palestinians; the aid distribution hubs have also functioned as a sort of one-stop shop for indiscriminate killing – which, after all, is the whole point of genocide.

And while Trump has intermittently chided Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the disagreeable optics of the whole spectacle, it has not been sufficient to appease the scrutiny of the likes of right-wing US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a traditional ally of the president known for such antics as wearing a hat imprinted with the words “Trump Was Right About Everything!”

In a social media post last month, Greene – a leading figure in Trump’s MAGA movement – was unexpectedly explicit in her condemnation of “the genocide, humanitarian crisis, and starvation happening in Gaza”. Other MAGA fixtures like far-right influencer Laura Loomer – a self-defined “proud Islamophobe” and general bona fide sociopath – wasted no time in responding to Greene’s post: “There is no genocide in Gaza.”

Anyway, political tensions and infighting were at least temporarily removed from the spotlight by the Trump-Putin extravaganza in Alaska. It’s hardly the first time the old art of distraction has come in handy – Trump’s pal, Netanyahu, is the master of this trade. His commitment to waging genocide in Gaza has more than a little to do with his desire to stave off domestic opposition and avoid dealing with the assorted corruption charges in which he is presently embroiled.

And while the Alaskan red-carpet stunt provided little to write home about, distraction may yet prevail as folks ponder what the hell that was all about.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

Belén Fernández is the author of The Darién Gap: A Reporter’s Journey through the Deadly Crossroads of the Americas (Rutgers UP, 2025), Inside Siglo XXI: Locked Up in Mexico’s Largest Immigration Detention Center (OR Books, 2022), Checkpoint Zipolite: Quarantine in a Small Place (OR Books, 2021), Exile: Rejecting America and Finding the World (OR Books, 2019), Martyrs Never Die: Travels through South Lebanon (Warscapes, 2016), and The Imperial Messenger: Thomas Friedman at Work (Verso, 2011). She has written for The New York Times, the London Review of Books blog, The Baffler, Current Affairs, and Middle East Eye, among numerous other publications.

ATTACHMENT SIXTY ONE – FROM WASHPOST

U.S. READY TO GIVE UKRAINE SECURITY GUARANTEES WHEN TRUMP MEETS ZELENSKY

Leaders from Britain, France and Germany will be among those joining Zelensky in Washington on Monday after the U.S. president’s Alaska summit with Putin.

By David L. Stern, Mariana Alfaro, Anastacia Galouchka, Catherine Belton and Natalie Allison August 17, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. EDT

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said Sunday ahead of a planned meeting at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders that President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to “robust security guarantees” during their summit in Alaska last week.

“The United States is potentially prepared to be able to give Article 5 security guarantees but not from NATO — directly from the United States and other European countries,” Witkoff said in a “Fox News Sunday” interview.

Under Article 5 of the NATO treaty, if a member country is attacked, each member of the alliance “will consider this act of violence as an armed attack against all members and will take the actions it deems necessary.” Ukraine is not a member of NATO but has been seeking support from allies since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

Witkoff said the security guarantee deal would be further discussed among the U.S., Zelensky and European allies during the Monday afternoon meeting in Washington. European leaders will be joining that meeting to present a united front to help Zelensky navigate what Ukrainians anticipate could be a high-stakes and potentially emotional meeting on which Ukraine’s future could hinge.

Separately, the United States is hoping that a trilateral meeting with Trump, Putin and Zelensky will take place later this week, according to a White House official. The official, however, cautioned that the White House does not necessarily expect Monday’s meeting to result in that. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning.

Working out the precise implementation of security guarantees is likely to be a lengthy process, which could allow Putin to continue his war while the details are finalized.

Zelensky, speaking alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Sunday, said it was impossible to enter into negotiations with Moscow “under the pressure of weapons,” insisting, as before, that a full ceasefire had to be in place before any discussions could start.

Trump met with Putin in Anchorage on Friday, after which Trump dropped his demand for a ceasefire, instead calling for a final peace deal. Trump also told allies that Putin wanted all of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region as a condition for ending the war, including areas Russian soldiers have not managed to seize during years of fighting.

Zelensky added that he was grateful for America’s apparent willingness to join in providing future security guarantees, but said more details need to be hammered out, such as what the U.S.’s role will be and what role European countries will play.

Von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb all confirmed Sunday that they will join Zelensky on Monday.

The decision by Europe’s top leaders to join Zelensky at his White House meeting — a dramatic, high-profile gesture — underlines the importance of the conversation that will take place between Trump and Zelensky, and the need to drastically change the trajectory of the peace negotiations.

While in Brussels, Zelensky is also set to meet virtually with the “Coalition of the Willing,” a group of European allies planning to back any future settlement of the war, including with troops.

Von der Leyen said European leaders welcomed “Trump’s willingness to contribute to Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine,” but said that Ukraine must receive enough weaponry so that it would become “a steel porcupine — undigestible for potential invaders.”

She also reiterated Europe’s position that international borders cannot be changed by force, and that only Ukraine had the right to make decisions concerning its territory.

On Sunday, Witkoff noted that the Russians agreed that they would not try to take any additional land from Ukraine after any peace deal.

“They would attest to not violating any European borders. So we got through quite a bit and there’s a whole lot more,” added Witkoff. He, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, flanked Trump during a roughly three-hour discussion in Anchorage with Putin and two of his senior advisers.

On Sunday, Rubio also backed up Ukraine’s need to seek such guarantees. “Ukraine is a sovereign country. They have a right, like every sovereign country does in the world,.. to enter into security alliances with other countries to prevent an invasion in the future, to prevent threats to their national security,” Rubio said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

He also added that both countries would have to give up some of their demands to get to a deal. “It will require both sides to make concessions. It will require both sides to get things they’re asking for. That’s how these deals are made, whether we like it or not,” Rubio said on CBS. “It’s just a fact, and there are things that maybe Russia is holding now that they’re going to have to give up.”

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Zelensky and his European backers have long called for a ceasefire instead of a final settlement, with European allies saying that Ukraine cannot negotiate under attack.

But Rubio, speaking to host Maria Bartiromo on Fox News, said Sunday that the Trump administration never promised that Friday’s summit with Putin would result in a ceasefire deal. That meeting, he said, was the first of several steps before finalizing any agreement.

Rubio would not go into detail about what the U.S. would like to see in a security guarantee, but said that it would be a “very big move” by Trump if he offers a U.S. commitment.

Rubio raised the possibility that the United States could still toughen its stance against Russia if it doesn’t negotiate a peace deal.

“Look, if we’re not going to be able to reach an agreement here at any point, then there are going to be consequences — not only the consequences of the war continuing but the consequences of all those sanctions continuing, and potentially new sanctions on top of it as well,” Rubio said in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” stressing that negotiators have to first try for a peace deal.

Several members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have called for more support to Ukraine, and the Alaska summit has done little to dissuade them. “Donald Trump got flattered by Vladimir Putin. But when it comes to Ukraine and our European allies, this was a setback,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) said on ABC’s “This Week.” He called on the Senate to move forward with bipartisan legislation to impose new sanctions on Russia.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff attended the meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage on Friday. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Zelensky will tread a fine line on Monday, experts and Ukrainian political figures said, having to take care not to anger Trump while at the same time convincing him that his recent proposals for an end to the Ukraine-Russia war are unworkable.

Foremost in Ukrainians’ minds is avoiding a repetition of a contentious meeting in the Oval Office in February that included Vice President JD Vance. That dissolved into a shouting match and gravely damaged Kyiv’s position with its U.S. ally. Vance is expected to join the Monday meeting with Zelensky, a Trump administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

This time around, Vance’s posture might be more tactful than his tone in February. He is fresh off more than a week in Britain, where he engaged in friendly diplomacy in recent days with both British and other European officials.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Vance earlier this month hosted a meeting at Lammy’s country home with other European officials, including representatives from Ukraine, to strategize ahead of Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska.

European officials are still worried about the demeanor Trump will present on Monday after the Anchorage meeting, widely seen as a public relations victory for Putin, including a red-carpet welcome from Trump.

One European official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said he was surprised that Trump appeared to so easily drop the leverage he had against Putin, especially considering the increasing pressure that the Russian economy is under because of inflation and sky-high interest rates, which have caused many Russian business leaders to warn of impending bankruptcies.

Trump threatened to levy tough sanctions on Russia earlier this month, but those plans did not materialize as Trump and Putin prepared to meet. Trump had also threatened very “severe consequences” if Putin didn’t agree to a ceasefire during the Alaska summit, but then backed off those demands.

But the fact that the summit meeting with Putin had ended early, while the U.S. leader stated in an interview following the summit that he could return to the question of imposing sanctions targeting Russia “in two or three weeks,” was a sign that Putin had not been able to win over Trump completely, the official said.

A Ukrainian official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said it would be impossible for Zelensky to agree to any deal that would force ceding Donbas.

“We are not going to put 1 million Ukrainians into occupation,” the official said. “It’s unbelievable that it is even possible to propose anything like that in the modern world.”

“Unfortunately, there is such risk indeed” of a repeat of that scene from earlier this year, said Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at the government-linked Ukrainian National Institute for Strategic Studies. “It seems that Putin managed to build a case in Trump’s mind in Alaska that it’s Ukraine that should make major concessions for peace.”

Zelensky needs to “strike a balance between being non-provocative in his defense of Ukraine national interests but still mindful of promoting those interests,” Bielieskov said.

Having European leaders at the meeting would also “level the negotiating balance,” said Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Kyiv-based Penta Center for Applied Political Studies think tank.

The European leaders can “look out for Zelensky and reduce the tension if necessary,” Fesenko said.

Ukraine and its European allies may find themselves, Fesenko said, “on what I call ‘the Trump roller coaster’ — first it goes in one direction, and then in another.”

“He took Putin’s side in Alaska, and before that, in July, he took our side. Now he needs to be returned to our side again, at least partially,” he said.

Ellen Francis in Brussels, Catherine Belton in London and Brianna Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.

ATTACHMENT SIXTY TWO – FROM NEW YORK TIMES

ZELENSKY BRINGS BACKUP TO THE WHITE HOUSE AS TRUMP ALIGNS MORE CLOSELY WITH PUTIN

European leaders are joining a trip to Washington to make sure the trans-Atlantic alliance remains intact.

By David E. Sanger Aug. 17, 2025 Updated 5:37 p.m. ET

This time, when President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine arrives in the Oval Office, he will come with backup.

An array of European prime ministers and presidents are flying in for the meeting on Monday to make sure that a viable, defensible Ukraine survives whatever carving up of its territory is about to happen at the negotiating table.

But they are also there to make certain that the trans-Atlantic alliance emerges intact. President Trump’s instant reversal on the critical issue of obtaining a cease-fire before negotiating over land or security guarantees has left many of them shaken, and wondering whether Mr. Trump had once again been swayed by President Vladimir V. Putin.

By most accounts, they want to ensure that Mr. Trump has not pivoted too close to the Russian side, and does not try to strong-arm Mr. Zelensky into a deal that will ultimately sow the seeds of Ukraine’s dissolution. And they want to safeguard against the risk of the United States, the linchpin of NATO and European security since its creation in 1949, undermining those security interests.

At a news conference on Sunday in Brussels, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Union’s executive arm, stressed the importance of security guarantees for Ukraine and respect for its territory. But she also said it was paramount to “stop the killing” and urged talks among the presidents of Russia, Ukraine and the United States “as soon as possible.”

One senior European diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of angering Mr. Trump, described a sense of panic among European allies. The diplomat had not seen a meeting like the one set for Monday come together so quickly since just before the Iraq War.

The foremost concern, the diplomat said, was to avoid another scene like the one that took place in February when Mr. Zelensky met with Mr. Trump in front of the television cameras at the White House.

At that meeting, Mr. Trump berated the Ukrainian president, saying “you don’t have the cards” in the war — essentially telling a weak foreign power to bend to the demands of a far more powerful one. The president did so again on Friday night, after Mr. Putin flew back to the Russian Far East, telling a Fox News interviewer that Ukraine was going to have to realize that Russia was a more “powerful” country, and that power meant Mr. Zelensky was going to have to make concessions.

On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who sat in on the meetings with Mr. Putin at the American air base outside of Anchorage, disputed the idea that the Europeans were coming as a posse to protect Mr. Zelensky from a repeat of the February shouting match.

“They’re not coming here to keep Zelensky from getting bullied,” Mr. Rubio insisted to Margaret Brennan on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

“They are coming here tomorrow because we’ve been working with the Europeans,” he said, listing the many meetings the United States had engaged in before and after the Putin visit. “We invited them to come.”

European officials said on Saturday that Mr. Trump told Mr. Zelensky he was free to bring guests to the meeting, and later the White House extended invitations to several European leaders.

Whatever the motive for the leaders to upend their schedules on short notice, there is little question that elements of the negotiation will test the cohesiveness of the Atlantic alliance. Mr. Putin’s agenda is larger than just seizing part or all of Ukraine. For nearly a quarter-century, his grandest ambition has been to split NATO, dividing the European allies from the United States.

As Europe and Ukraine struggle to navigate Mr. Trump’s sudden reversal of strategy for ending a war that has stretched well past three years, Mr. Putin has a renewed opportunity to realize his dream. The United States and its European allies now appear to be pursuing different negotiating strategies.

The differences have been long brewing. But in the weeks before the Putin meeting, they broke out into the open. “We’re done with the funding of the Ukraine war business,” Vice President JD Vance said flatly a week ago.

The Europeans, however, have promised continued support, through a grouping of countries operating outside of the NATO alliance. They got Mr. Trump to promise to supply weapons, as long as the United States was paid for them from European coffers.

The message was clear: Defending Ukraine was Europe’s problem, not Washington’s. The Trump administration is happy to serve as a for-profit arms supplier, but otherwise appears to see no responsibility to defend the country, which is not a NATO member.

That was a wedge that Mr. Putin sought to exploit in Anchorage, and he did it skillfully.

Mr. Trump has already adopted many of Mr. Putin’s talking points, and few of the West’s. Even before he met face to face with Mr. Putin, he assured the Russian leader that Ukraine’s application to join NATO would be put on long-term hold — a position that his predecessor, Joseph R. Biden Jr., also took. At various moments, he hinted that Ukraine invited invasion by applying to the alliance and to membership in the European Union.

After the Friday summit with Mr. Putin, he went another step. Mr. Trump and European allies had agreed earlier in the week that a cease-fire must precede a peace accord, but he abandoned that view and sided with the Russian leader.

“With Trump abandoning the cease-fire, but making no reference to the ‘severe consequences’ he threatened, we are at a dangerous moment for the alliance,” said James G. Stavridis, a retired Navy admiral who served as NATO’s supreme allied commander from 2009 to 2013, when the United States still viewed Russia as a NATO partner, if a difficult one.

This is exactly the kind of split that European leaders were trying to avoid after Mr. Trump’s return to power in January. NATO’s new secretary general, Mark Rutte, a former prime minister of the Netherlands, visited Washington frequently for quiet meetings with Mr. Trump. He was determined to avoid the kind of public breach that took place in the first term, when Mr. Trump came to the edge of withdrawing the United States from what he called an “obsolete” alliance.

Mr. Rutte helped engineer the announcement in June, at a NATO summit, that nearly all members of the alliance had committed to spend 5 percent of the gross domestic product on defense. (Of that, 1.5 percent is infrastructure spending only tangentially related to military spending.) That gave Mr. Trump an early win — and demonstrated that, even if a decade late, Europe was getting serious about taking responsibility for its own defense. Mr. Trump took credit, and left the summit praising NATO’s reforms.

Then European leaders designed the program to buy American weapons for Ukraine, recognizing its appeal to the president. The United States could remain Ukraine’s arms supplier, but at no cost to American taxpayers.

The strategy seemed to be paying off a few weeks ago, when Mr. Trump castigated Mr. Putin for holding friendly conversations while continuing to kill civilians. He set deadlines, and threatened to impose secondary sanctions on countries that were buying oil from Russia.

For the first time since Mr. Trump’s inauguration, Washington’s approach, including the threat of new sanctions on Russian oil and gas if there was no cease-fire, and Europe’s continued military and economic pressure seemed roughly aligned. Last Wednesday, European leaders talked with Mr. Trump, and he agreed to hold firm with Mr. Putin that a cease-fire must precede a longer peace negotiation.

That alignment is what blew up at Anchorage.

“It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement,” Mr. Trump wrote on his social media site early Saturday.

Mr. Trump’s flip-flops stand in contrast to Mr. Putin’s determination to stay the course with the war, even as the body count of Russians killed has soared. “Peace will come when we achieve our goals,” he proclaimed in late 2023.

Even then, Mr. Putin privately was sending signals that he was open to discussing a cease-fire, but only if it froze existing battle lines — meaning Ukraine would have to cede control over roughly 20 percent of its territory. His overtures were rebuffed at the time.

But now the Russian military is making considerable gains, so Mr. Putin no longer has interest in a cease-fire.

“They’re feel like they got momentum in the battlefield,” Mr. Rubio said, “and frankly, don’t care, don’t seem to care very much about how many Russian soldiers die in this endeavor.”

“It’s a meat grinder,’’ he added, “and they just have more meat to grind.”

That reality would seem to suggest that the timing is hardly right for a peace agreement. Mr. Putin may calculate his best strategy is to drag out the talks.

But when European and American officials gather at the White House on Monday, they will have more to discuss than just boundaries. The Europeans have to find a way to bring Mr. Trump on board for security guarantees for Ukraine — a fulsome peacekeeping force that would deter Mr. Putin from restarting the war in a few years.

In his phone conversation with the European leaders on Friday night, Mr. Trump suggested for the first time that he might be willing to join that effort — though the assumption is that he would contribute U.S. intelligence, not troops.

In London on Sunday, after a virtual meeting of European countries that call themselves a “coalition of the willing” — a phrase used in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars — Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain’s government issued a statement that commended Mr. Trump for his “commitment to providing security guarantees for Ukraine.”

That phrasing seemed intended to lock him into the effort. The statement reiterated that the United Kingdom and other European nations were ready to “deploy a reassurance force once hostilities have ceased, and to help secure Ukraine’s skies and seas and regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces.”

The United States has never been that specific.

Michael D. Shear contributed reporting from London, Jeanna Smialek from Brussels and Jim Tankersley from Berlin.

ATTACHMENT SIXTY THREE – FROM 1440

By  Samya Kullab and John Leicester

Updated 3:47 PM EDT, August 17, 2025

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — European and NATO leaders announced Sunday they will join President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington to present a united front in talks with President Donald Trump on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine and firming up U.S. security guarantees now on the negotiating table.

Leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Finland are rallying around the Ukrainian president after his exclusion from Trump’s summit on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their pledge to be at Zelenskyy’s side at the White House on Monday is an apparent effort to ensure the meeting goes better than the last one in February, when Trump berated Zelenskyy in a heated Oval Office encounter.

“The Europeans are very afraid of the Oval Office scene being repeated and so they want to support Mr. Zelenskyy to the hilt,” said retired French Gen. Dominique Trinquand, a former head of France’s military mission at the United Nations.

“It’s a power struggle and a position of strength that might work with Trump,” he said.

Zelenskyy, Trump express hope for trilateral talks with Putin

Zelenskyy and European leaders are set to meet Trump: What to know

Putin agrees to NATO-style security protections for Ukraine, Trump envoy says

Putin agreed at his summit in Alaska with Trump that the U.S. and its European allies could offer Ukraine a security guarantee resembling NATO’s collective defense mandate as part of an eventual deal to end the 3 1/2-year war, special U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said in an interview Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

It “was the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that,” said Witkoff, who called it “game-changing.”

Later, French President Emmanuel Macron said the European delegation will ask Trump to back plans they drafted to beef-up Ukraine’s armed forces — already Europe’s largest outside of Russia — with more training and equipment to secure any peace.

“We need a credible format for the Ukrainian army, that’s the first point, and say — we Europeans and Americans — how we’ll train them, equip them, and finance this effort in the long-term,” the French leader said.

The European-drafted plans also envision an allied force in Ukraine away from the front lines to reassure Kyiv that peace will hold and to dissuade another Russian invasion, Macron said. He spoke after a nearly two-hour video call Sunday with nations in Europe and further afield — including Canada, Australia and Japan — that are involved in the so-called “coalition of the willing.”

The “several thousand men on the ground in Ukraine in the zone of peace” would signal that “our fates are linked,” Macron said.

“This is what we must discuss with the Americans: Who is ready to do what?” Macron said. “Otherwise, I think the Ukrainians simply cannot accept commitments that are theoretical.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said earlier at a news conference in Brussels with Zelenskyy that “we welcome President Trump’s willingness to contribute to Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine. And the ‘coalition of the willing’ -- including the European Union -- is ready to do its .”

Macron said the substance of security guarantees will be more important than whether they are given an Article 5-type label.

“A theoretical article isn’t enough, the question is one of substance,” he said. “We must start out by saying that the first of the security guarantees for Ukraine is a strong Ukrainian army.”

Along with Von der Leyen and Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb also said they’ll will take part in Monday’s talks, as will secretary-general of the NATO military alliance, Mark Rutte.

The European leaders’ support could help ease concerns in Kyiv and in other European capitals that Ukraine risks being railroaded into a peace deal.

Neil Melvin, director of international security at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, said European leaders are trying to “shape this fast-evolving agenda.” After the Alaska summit, the idea of a ceasefire appears all-but-abandoned, with the narrative shifting toward Putin’s agenda of ensuring Ukraine does not join NATO or even the EU.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that a possible ceasefire is “not off the table” but that the best way to end the war would be through a “full peace deal.”

Putin has implied that he sees Europe as a hindrance to negotiations. He has also resisted meeting Zelenskyy in person, saying that such a meeting can only take place once the groundwork for a peace deal has been laid.

Speaking to the press after his meeting with Trump, the Russian leader raised the idea that Kyiv and other European capitals could “create obstacles” to derail potential progress with “behind-the-scenes intrigue.”

For now, Zelenskyy offers the Europeans the “only way” to get into the discussions about the future of Ukraine and European security, says RUSI’s Melvin.

However, the sheer number of European leaders potentially in attendance means the group will have to be “mindful” not to give “contradictory” messages, Melvin said.

“The risk is they look heavy-handed and are ganging up on Trump,” he added. “Trump won’t want to be put in a corner.”

Although details remain hazy on what Article 5-like security guarantees from the U.S. and Europe would entail for Ukraine, it could mirror NATO membership terms, in which an attack on one member of the alliance is seen as an attack on all.

Zelenskyy continues to stress the importance of both U.S. and European involvement in any negotiations.

“A security guarantee is a strong army. Only Ukraine can provide that. Only Europe can finance this army, and weapons for this army can be provided by our domestic production and European production. But there are certain things that are in short supply and are only available in the United States,” he said at the press conference Sunday alongside Von der Leyen.

Zelenskyy also pushed back against Trump’s assertion — which aligned with Putin’s preference — that the two sides should negotiate a complete end to the war, rather than first securing a ceasefire. Zelenskyy said a ceasefire would provide breathing room to review Putin’s demands.

“It’s impossible to do this under the pressure of weapons,” he said. “Putin does not want to stop the killing, but he must do it.”

— Leicester reported from Le Pecq, France. Associated Press writers Pan Pylas in London, and Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, contributed to this report.

ATTACHMENT SIXTY FOUR – FROM GUK

I USED TO RUN THE FOREIGN OFFICE. THIS IS MY ADVICE FOR TODAY’S EXTRAORDINARY WHITE HOUSE MEETING

With so much at stake for Europe, the most important thing is to choose a lead speaker. I’d go with Starmer or Rutte

By Simon McDonald Mon 18 Aug 2025 00.00 EDT

Last week’s extraordinary summit meeting in Alaska is being followed today by an even more extraordinary international conference in Washington. None of the participants knew they were going to take part two days ago. In recent decades, diplomacy has been increasingly conducted in ad hoc contact groups – but the group of seven countries (the US, Ukraine, the UK, Germany, Finland, Italy and France) and two international organisations (Nato and the EU) has never met in this way before.

Officials will be preparing in the usual way, assembling briefing packs and writing talking points, aiming to please their bosses and, hopefully, allowing them to make the most effective intervention.

They should take a deep breath and think differently. The precedents of European Councils and Nato summits – and even Donald Trump bilaterals – are misleading enough to be actively unhelpful. As former colleagues from Washington to Kyiv, via London, Paris, Brussels, Rome, Berlin and Helsinki, prep their principals, I urge them to discard the traditional approach.

The usual format of each leader making a statement (however brief) just won’t cut it. There are three key groupings in the meeting – the US, Ukraine and Europe. Europe should have a single spokesperson. Most European participants might be prepared to concede to that approach, as long as their leader is the chosen one. But only two are really in the frame.

The meeting will be conducted entirely in English with an interpreter for Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But there will be only two native English speakers, with Keir Starmer as the only European. Two others have spoken English for so long that they count as near-native speakers: Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb, and Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte. Stubb represents the smallest participant, often an advantage when corralling bigger beasts, while Rutte represents Europe’s military alliance. The others speak well enough for most meetings but Trump’s quirkiness could wrong-foot them. Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen, Friedrich Merz and Giorgia Meloni speak well enough to make any point they want to make, but not necessarily in the best way to make it. Trump takes offence easily.

So, Rutte or Starmer should speak for Europe. Whoever speaks needs to make their points without notes, look Trump in the eye, be prepared to be interrupted but disciplined enough not to lose the thread – and to resume their presentation when the president has subsided.

The European message needs to build on the Alaska summit. European publics and pundits have declared Vladimir Putin the winner, and poured scorn on Trump’s kowtowing and conspicuous lack of success; some politicians have joined in. Britons might think their government craven for seeing the meeting as the start of a promising initiative, but that’s really the only sensible diplomatic take.

The most promising result of the Anchorage summit was Trump’s conclusion that aiming for a ceasefire was not good enough; we need to move smartly to a full agreement. The Europeans could signal their willingness to play a full part in implementing such an agreement. That role, above everything else, will be providing concrete security guarantees. Putin is highly likely to reject that.

But what if the comprehensive agreement also had something important for him? Putin’s two key territorial requirements are the land bridge to Crimea and the whole of Donbas. He has the first but not the second.

Ukraine would hate giving up land that Russia has never conquered. But the aim here is peace, and peace always requires concessions. Ukraine has, of course, a great interest in ending the fighting. It wants to do that – with honour – and it wants no resumption.

The precedent is the winter war of 1939-40. At the outset, Finland looked completely outgunned by the Soviet Union. But, like the Ukrainians, they fought bravely. Like the Ukrainians, they did much better than any outsider predicted. But in the end, they ceded more land than the Soviets were occupying in order to make peace – 11% of their territory, including Karelia (inspiration for their national composer’s most famous piece of music).

In 1940, Finland had reason to fear that the Soviets would be back for more. Operation Barbarossa came to their rescue one year later, when the Soviet Union was the target of the biggest land invasion in history. In 2025, Ukraine needs something more immediate. Membership of Nato is the most obvious “something”.

Putin won in Anchorage. Now Zelenskyy and Europe are in an even more perilous position

Zelenskyy won’t like any of this. He would have to consult his cabinet and parliament before conceding any of it. But he would be able to outline the bare bones of a deal to bring to an end the bloodiest conflict in Europe since the end of the second world war, a prize worth taking.

Putin, too, wouldn’t like it. A Ukraine whose security is guaranteed by a power other than Moscow is inimical to him. But if Russia rejects an offer everyone else can grudgingly accept, Trump would see Putin for what he has been to date: the problem. He would have the knowledge and justification for upping the US’s contribution to Ukraine’s defence.

Today’s meeting in Washington is one of the oddest in modern diplomacy. But European leaders can turn oddness into opportunity.

· Lord McDonald of Salford was permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, 2015-2020, and is now a crossbench peer

ATTACHMENT SIXTY FIVE – FROM TIME

ZELENSKY RETURNS TO THE WHITE HOUSE WITH A SQUAD OF EUROPEAN LEADERS. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

By Richard Hall 8/18/25

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returns to the White House on Monday for the first time since his infamous clash with President Donald Trump earlier this year, which led to a rupture in relations that threatened to derail Kyiv’s war effort.

This time, however, Zelensky will be accompanied by at least five European heads of state and government, who have rallied around the Ukrainian leader to ease pressure from Trump as the president appears eager to forge a final deal to end the war regardless of the cost to Ukraine.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen all lined up on Sunday to announce they would join Zelensky at the White House. Mark Rutte, Secretary-General of NATO, will also be going.

Macron said the high-level support team, which has called itself the "coalition of the willing," was aimed at showing a united front between Europe and Ukraine. "If we show weakness today in front of Russia, we are laying the ground for future conflicts," he said on Sunday.

Why Putin Will Be Thrilled With the Result of the Alaska Summit

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to CBS, sought to play down rumors that the leaders of Europe’s largest economies were traveling to the White House to prevent another argument between Trump and Zelensky. 

"They're not coming here tomorrow to keep Zelensky from being bullied. They're coming here tomorrow because we've been working with the Europeans," he said. "We invited them to come."

Writing on social media ahead of the meeting, Trump appeared to put the onus on Zelensky to agree to terms negotiated at a summit between the U.S. and Russia in Alaska last week.

"President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight," Trump wrote Truth Social. "Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!"

Here’s what to expect at Monday's meeting.

Ceasefire or final deal? 

The visit comes at a crucial moment in Kyiv’s effort to fight off Russia’s invasion. Russia has been inching forward in the key region of Donetsk, and Trump has just emerged from a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin more aligned with Moscow on several issues.

Crucially, Trump appeared to reverse a previously held position and join with Putin in calling for a final deal to end the war, rather than a ceasefire, as called for by Zelensky and European leaders.

Zelensky has long argued that a peace deal cannot be achieved without a halt in the fighting first. He reiterated that on Sunday, ahead of his meeting with Trump.

“It’s impossible to do this under the pressure of weapons. So it’s necessary to cease fire and work quickly on a final deal. We’ll talk about it in Washington,” he said.

European leaders have stood behind Zelensky on this point. 

"You cannot negotiate peace under falling bombs," Poland's foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday.  

A fight about security guarantees

One of the causes of the Oval Office fight in February was a belief within the Trump Administration that Zelensky was not being realistic about his ability to continue fighting the war, and that he should agree to a ceasefire with Russia even without clear security guarantees.

Zelensky’s refusal to accept a deal without those guarantees earned him ire from Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and the MAGA base, but he sees them as vital to preventing another Russian invasion—as does Europe.

At the time, U.S. guarantees amounted to a deal that would give American companies access to Ukrainian minerals. That appears to have shifted.

On Sunday, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN's "State of the Union" that the U.S. might offer “Article 5-like protection" to Ukraine, likening it to the measure that triggers a military response from all NATO members if one member is attacked. He said it was "the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that."

Under Article 5 of the NATO treaty, an attack on a member country requires each member to “consider this act of violence as an armed attack against all members and will take the actions it deems necessary.” Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO were a key reason behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Rubio was less clear on what the guarantees might look like.

"How that's constructed, what we call it, how it's built, what guarantees are built into it that are enforceable, that's what we'll be talking about over the next few days with our partners," he said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

He added that it would be "a huge concession" if Trump agreed to it.

That might answer one of Zelensky’s concerns, but it's far from the only one.

Trump wants Zelesnky to cede land

The issue of land swaps, or ceding territory, has been a key point of contention between the U.S. and Ukraine for some months.

Trump has urged Ukraine publicly and privately to give up land in return for peace. When announcing his summit with Putin last week, he worried both Europe and Ukraine when he appeared to preface the talks by insisting that Kyiv would have to cede land occupied by Russia.

“There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both,” he said.  “We’re going to get some back, and we’re going to get some switched.”

After the talks, he reiterated that call, arguing that "Russia is a very big power, and they're not." 

As he has done in the past when the issue of ceding occupied Ukrainian territory has been raised, Zelensky cited his country’s Constitution—which states that its territory cannot be given away— in rejecting the proposal. 

“The answer to Ukraine’s territorial question is already in the Constitution of Ukraine,” he said. “No one will step back from this, nor will anyone be able to.”  

In the aftermath of the summit, proposals about precisely which land would be swapped have been leaked to the media. Trump reportedly relayed an offer from the Kremlin that it would freeze most front lines in the conflict if Ukraine ceded all of Donetsk and Luhansk, according to Reuters, which cited sources familiar with the offer. The same offer was reported in the Financial Times. Under the proposed deal, Russia would freeze the front lines in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, the outlets reported. In return, Russia would withdraw from parts of the Sumy and Kharkiv regions— much smaller areas. 

Such a deal would require Zelensky to agree to cede territory to Russia it has not captured in war, in return for a much smaller the Russian army occupies elsewhere. The Ukrainian leader rejected the demand, Reuters reported.

That Trump appears to have responded positively to the proposal may worry Zelensky and Europe. And he is now publicly pressuring Zelensky to accept a deal that, reporting suggests, would be tantamount to a surrender.

Many in Trump’s MAGA base have grown weary of continued support for Ukraine and have come to view Zelensky as ungrateful for not agreeing to the President’s demands to deal with Putin, whatever the costs.

That will be the case again this during this visit, perhaps even greater now, after Trump has spent significant political capital by organizing his Alaska summit.

All of which suggests another Oval Office clash might be on the cards.

ATTACHMENT SIXTY SIX – FROM BBC

'NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE,' SAYS TRUMP AS ZELENSKY PREPARES FOR WHITE HOUSE TALKS

Donald Trump has said the Ukrainian president can end Russia's war "if he wants to", but there will be "no going into Nato by Ukraine" as part of a peace deal.

Hours before he was due to host Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, Trump also said there would be "no getting back" the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014, eight years before launching its full-scale invasion.

Trump's remarks follow his summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska that resulted in the US president dropping a demand for a ceasefire and calling instead for a permanent peace deal.

After arriving in the US late on Sunday, Zelensky repeated his call for allies' effective security guarantees.

A US envoy said on Sunday that Putin had agreed to a possible Nato-like security pact for Ukraine.

The Russian president has consistently opposed the idea of Ukraine joining the military alliance.

Deadly Russian attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities continued hours before the summit in Washington - killing at least 10 people, including children.

In the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, at least seven people were killed after a Russian drone hit an apartment block, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. At least three were killed in Zaporizhzhia, officials said.

Zelensky described the attacks as a "demonstrative and cynical Russian strike" in a post on X.

"Putin will commit demonstrative killings to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe, as well as to humiliate diplomatic efforts. That is precisely why we are seeking assistance to put an end to the killings," he said.

· What handing Donbas to Putin would mean for Ukraine

· Washington talks could prove more vital than Trump-Putin summit

· In maps: War-ravaged Ukrainian territories

Earlier, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, saying: "President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight.

"Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!" Trump added.

The president's assertion is untrue: At least two Ukrainian soldiers are known to have been shot dead by Russian forces in Crimea in 2014.

The Ukrainian naval vessel Cherkasy, a minesweeper, was also attacked by Russian forces when trying to leave the area.

Before Trump's return to power in January, Nato countries agreed on Kyiv's "irreversible path" to membership in the alliance.

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, alongside European leaders including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, will join Zelensky in Washington for talks on Ukraine's future on Monday.

Also attending are French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It is unclear how many of them will go to the White House.

Trump later added: "Big day at the White House tomorrow. Never had so many European Leaders at one time. My great honor to host them!!!"

Zelensky posted on social media saying he was "grateful" for Trump's invitation. "We all a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably".

He also doubled down on the need for effective security guarantees from allies, "not like it was years ago... when Ukraine was given so called 'security guarantees' in 1994 but they didn't work".

"Of course, Crimea should not have been given up then," he added. "Just as Ukrainians did not give up Kyiv, Odesa, or Kharkiv after 2022".

February's row between Zelensky, Vance and Trump

For so many heads of state to travel with such little notice across the Atlantic to what is essentially a wartime crisis meeting appears without precedent in the modern era, underscoring the sky-high stakes.

Diplomatic sources say European officials are concerned that Trump may try to press Zelensky to agree to terms, after the Ukrainian leader was excluded from the Trump-Putin meeting on US soil last Friday.

But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the BBC's US partner CBS that any suggestion Zelensky might be bullied by Trump into accepting a peace deal was a "stupid media narrative".

Nato leaders also appear eager to avoid a repeat of Zelensky's February trip to the Oval Office that ended abruptly after an argument with Trump and US Vice-President JD Vance.

The altercation - which saw Trump accuse Zelensky of "gambling with World War Three" - left Washington-Kyiv ties in tatters.

But European leaders have been working diligently behind the scenes since then to mend the relationship. The Ukrainian leader has been coached to talk in terms of deal-making - language that resonates with Trump.

In April, Ukraine signed a minerals agreement that gave the US a financial stake in the country, and Trump and Zelensky spoke privately at the Vatican before Pope Francis's funeral. Ukraine made clear it was willing to pay for US weapons.

By July, the two leaders had a phone call that the Ukrainian president described as "the best conversation we have had".

Meanwhile, Trump had begun to express exasperation with Russia's unrelenting onslaught in Ukraine. He called Putin "absolutely crazy", drastically shortened his deadline for a peace deal, and threatened economic sanctions on Moscow.

As these deliberations grind on, Russian forces continue to advance on the battlefield. They now occupy almost a fifth of Ukraine since Moscow launched its full scale invasion in February 2022.

Zelensky joined a virtual summit on Sunday with Nato and European leaders

A virtual summit was held on Sunday between Zelensky and the so-called coalition of the willing - a group of nations including the UK, France and Germany that have pledged to protect peace in Ukraine once it is achieved.

Afterwards, Emmanuel Macron told reporters their plan was to "present a united front" for Monday's talks with Trump.

Zelensky and the Nato leaders said they were keen to learn more after US envoy Steve Witkoff told US television that Putin had agreed on Friday to "robust security guarantees that I would describe as game-changing".

Witkoff said such an agreement could see Europe and the US protect Ukraine from further aggression with a Nato-like defence agreement.

"We were able to win the following concession: that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in Nato," Witkoff told CNN on Sunday.

Putin has long opposed Ukraine joining Nato, and Witkoff said the arrangement could be an alternative if the Ukrainians "can live with it".

Article 5 is a principle at the heart of the 32-member transatlantic military alliance that says its members will come to the defence of an ally that is under attack.

Witkoff also told CNN that Russia made "some concessions" around five heavily contested regions of Ukraine.

In talks with European allies after the Alaska summit, Trump said Putin had reiterated that he wants the key Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up Donbas, eastern Ukraine, according to European officials.

But at Sunday's virtual summit with Nato leaders, Zelensky stressed that the Ukrainian constitution makes it impossible to give up territory - and that this should only be discussed by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia at a trilateral summit with the US.

The US secretary of state, meanwhile, sought to temper hopes that a deal to end Europe's deadliest conflict for 80 years could be imminent.

"We're still a long ways off," Rubio said on Sunday.

ATTACHMENT SIXTY SEVEN – FROM TIME

TRUMP TELLS ZELENSKY TO FORGO REGAINING CRIMEA AND JOINING NATO AHEAD OF WHITE HOUSE MEETING

By Callum Sutherland Aug 18, 2025 7:10 AM ET

President Donald Trump has told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to give up on the idea of Ukraine reclaiming Crimea or joining NATO.

“President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump said via Truth Social on Sunday night, stating there was “no getting back” Crimea and “no going into NATO by Ukraine.” 

Trump, who is now focused on securing a peace deal rather than a cease-fire to end the Russia-Ukraine war (which was triggered when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022), d the advice ahead of his planned meeting with Zelensky and key European leaders at the White House on Monday.

Ukraine’s pursuit for NATO membership has long been documented and is a point of contention for Russia. At the annual NATO Summit earlier in June, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said: “NATO has no business in Ukraine. Ukraine is not a member of NATO, neither Russia, my job is to keep it as it is.”

NATO has maintained its stance on the matter.

“Ukraine is not a NATO member. Ukraine is a NATO partner country, which means that it cooperates closely with NATO but it is not covered by the security guarantee in the Alliance’s founding treaty,” the organisation’s website reads, specifying that “NATO condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia's brutal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.”

Meanwhile, Crimea has been under Russian occupation since 2014, when Moscow-backed forces took control of the territory. Russia initially denied direct involvement in the occupation.

Read More: Why Putin Must Be Thrilled With the Result of the Alaska Summit

Trump’s comments on Sunday night come after he travelled to Alaska on Friday to engage in, what he referred to as, a “high-stakes” summit with Putin.

The summit, which saw the first in-person encounter between Trump and Putin since 2019, was intended to foster discussions about a path toward a potential cease-fire, but it ended earlier than expected and without any deal being reached. Trump and Putin spoke only briefly to reporters afterwards, and neither took any questions.

Despite the anticlimactic event, Trump referred to the sit-down as “extremely productive” and has since lashed out at what he calls “fake news,” insisting he had a “great meeting” with Putin.

Mapping out his reasoning behind inviting Zelensky to a White House meeting, Trump said: “It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a peace agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere cease-fire agreement, which often times do not hold up.”

Trump late-night comments on Sunday, and his public direction to Zelensky re: his vision for how the war can be ended, fall in line with previous remarks he has made.

In an interview with TIME in April, Trump suggested that Crimea (which he has repeatedly referred to as being “given” by Barack Obama, who was President at the time of the Russian annexation of Crimea), would remain under Russian control when asked about a path to peace in Ukraine.

“Will they [Ukraine] be able to get it back? They've had their Russians. They've had their submarines there for long before any period that we're talking about, for many years. The people speak largely Russian in Crimea,” said the U.S. President.

In that same interview, Trump also said that he didn’t see a future for Ukraine in NATO.

“I don’t think they’ll ever be able to join NATO. I think that's been—from day one, I think that's been, that's I think what caused the war to start was when they started talking about joining NATO,” he maintained.

Elsewhere, Trump has also previously stated that a lasting cease-fire in the Russia-Ukraine war could likely only come through the exchange of territories “for the betterment of both.” Zelensky and his European allies have staunchly denounced this idea, with Zelensky stating that Ukraine will not “gift their land to the occupier.”

Zelensky, who famously clashed with Trump during a disastrous Oval Office meeting in February, will this time be bolstered by the presence and support of key European leaders as he returns to the White House on Monday.

Among those set to attend are U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Also set to be present in Washington, D.C., for the peace talks are NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission.

Furthermore, Zelensky’s European allies are firm in their notion that “pressure” upon Russia can be increased moving forward.

“We do stand ready to increase pressure on Russia, particularly the economy, with sanctions and wider measures as may be necessary,” Starmer said last week. “It’s important we all continue to work alongside Presidents Trump and Zelensky for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”

ATTACHMENTS SIXTY EIGHT through SEVENTY – TIMELINES FROM the ASSOCIATED PRESS,

A68 X82 X82 FROM THE A.P. TIMELINE

Live updates: Zelenskyy signals openness to three-way meeting with Trump and Putin

Edited By  CURTIS YEE, BERNARD MCGHEE, CARLEY PETESCH and NELL CLARK

Updated 5:46 PM EDT, August 18, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope that Monday’s critical talks with Ukrainian and European leaders at the White House could lead to trilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Monday’s hastily assembled meeting comes after Trump met with Putin and has said that the onus is now on Zelenskyy to agree to concessions that he said could end the war.

A group of European political leaders also met with the U.S. president on Monday after they were left out of Friday’s summit. They’re looking to safeguard Ukraine and the continent from any widening aggression from Moscow.

What to know about today’s White House meeting:

· Security guarantees for Ukraine: On the table for discussion are possible NATO-like security guarantees that Ukraine would need for any peace with Russia to be durable. Putin opposes Ukraine joining NATO outright, yet Trump’s team claims the Russian leader is open to allies agreeing to defend Ukraine if it comes under attack.

· The annexation of Crimea: Sunday night, Trump suggested that Ukraine could not regain Crimea, which Russia annexed illegally in 2014, setting off an armed conflict that led to its broader 2022 invasion. Trump says Putin reiterated that he wants the key Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up the Donbas.

· A potential peace accord: Trump has abandoned a push for a ceasefire, arguing instead for a full peace agreement, a position held by Putin. Moscow has long said it’s not interested in a temporary truce and is seeking a long-term settlement that takes the Kremlin’s interests into account. The president’s surrogates argue the pivot is due to strong progress made at the summit.

9 min ago

Trump’s group meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders ends

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

“The East Room multilateral meeting has ended,” the White House said in a notice to the media.

Trump had said they would visit the Oval Office before heading back to their respective countries.

18 min ago

US Sen. Blumenthal voices concerns about Putin’s goals amid Ukraine war talks

By JOEY CAPPELLETTI, MARY CLARE JALONICK

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who has co-sponsored a bill imposing sanctions on Russia with GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, said Monday there is a “lot of reason for skepticism and doubt.”

“All the talk about security guarantees, about a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting, about positive steps forward. All of it is coming from Trump and (special envoy Steve) Witkoff, not from Putin,” Blumenthal told The Associated Press.

He added that he believes Putin has “an incentive to prolong peace efforts and continue to play rope-a-dope with Trump.”

4:51 PM EDT

Trump administration aims to overturn another decades-old school desegregation case

By COLLIN BINKLEY

The Trump administration is siding with a Louisiana school district that says it should be released from decades-old desegregation orders that some advocates say are still needed to address racial disparities.

In a motion filed Friday, the Justice Department and the Concordia Parish School Board agreed to dismiss a 1960s case that required the small district to integrate its public schools. Court orders have remained in place to address the lingering impact of segregation.

U.S. District Judge Dee Drell has yet to decide on the request.

The Justice Department and Louisiana’s attorney general have worked to end older desegregation cases they say are no longer needed. In April, they lifted a 1965 order in Louisiana’s Plaquemines Parish.

Concordia’s filing says the orders interfere with its local control.

In July, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a brief arguing that there is “significant evidence that vestiges of discrimination continue to harm Black students” in Concordia’s schools.

3:35 PM EDT

Trump offered an uncharacteristic thank-you to the news media

By THOMAS BEAUMONT

It came as he closed the open session with European leaders about pursuing an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Known for blasting the news media and punishing outlets he doesn’t agree with, Trump on Monday said: “The media’s been actually very fair, generally speaking, very fair.”

“I think it’s very important that they’re fair, because this is a very important subject to get it ended,” he said. “So that’s all we ever ask for, is fairness.”

With that, Trump was dismissing the gathered press when Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, seated next to Trump, leaned over to thank him and laughed, saying “I never want to speak with my press.”

3:26 PM EDT

Ukraine talks could signal future for European security

By CHRIS MEGERIAN

A focal point for negotiations on ending the war with Russia has been security guarantees for Ukraine as a shield against future aggression.

Details are still in flux, but it’s clear that European leaders see the issue as pivotal for the entire continent, not just Ukraine.

“When we speak about security guarantees, we speak about the whole security of the European continent,” Macron said.

Starmer made a similar point. “I think we could take a really important step forward today, a historic step actually to come out of this meeting in terms of security for Ukraine and security in Europe,” he said.

3:16 PM EDT

Merz calls for a ceasefire and ‘to put pressure on Russia’

By MEG KINNARD

The German chancellor said he would “like to see a ceasefire from the next meeting, which should be a trilateral meeting” with Ukraine, Russia and the U.S.

Like his other European counterparts, Merz had praise for Trump for his role in the process of angling to work out an end to the war.

Rutte told Trump his willingness to participate in security guarantees marked a “breakthrough” and “makes all the difference.”

Von der Leyen called for working together on “a just and lasting peace,” while Meloni called the gathering “an important day and new phase.”

3:10 PM EDT

Despite earlier comments, Trump says a ceasefire is preferred between Russia and Ukraine

By FARNOUSH AMIRI

Trump said in an Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy earlier that a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was “unnecessary.” After an hour of closed-door meeting with EU leaders and Zelenskyy, Trump then told reporters in the East Room that “all of us would obviously prefer the immediate ceasefire while we work on a lasting peace.”

He added that he likes a ceasefire because it would “immediately stop the killing,” but reiterated that a peace agreement between the two countries is “very attainable” at this point in the war.

2:59 PM EDT

Trump lavished praise on his guests

By CHRIS MEGERIAN

Sitting in the East Room, Trump was jovial as he recognized all of the European leaders at the table.

He called Starmer “my friend” and said he liked Macron “from day one.” He said Merz was “very strong” and said “I want to get a tan like that.” He praised Stubb’s appearance, saying “you look better than I’ve ever seen you look.”

2:58 PM EDT

Trump says he wants to put Russia-Ukraine war ‘to sleep’

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

Trump is opening a group meeting with Zelenskyy and leaders from Europe.

He’s using a new phrase to say he wants to end the war. Trump said the group wants to see “if we can get it finished” and “put this to sleep.”

2:52 PM EDT

Trump and the European leaders pose for a picture

By CHRIS MEGERIAN

The U.S. president and his guests lined up in the White House in a show of solidarity for the cameras. Macron was on his left, Zelenskyy on his right.

While they were standing there, Trump gestured toward a painting that depicts him pumping his fist after surviving an assassination attempt during last year’s presidential campaign.

“That was not a good day. Not a great day. See the picture?”

2:40 PM EDT

Russian envoy says Moscow hopes Trump meetings now will keep open the opportunity for peace

By EDITH M. LEDERER

Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador Dmitry Polyansky told U.N. reporters “what everybody hopes” is that President Trump’s meetings with Ukraine’s president and European leaders “will go in the same vein” as the U.S. leader’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last Friday.

He said Trump acknowledged that his meeting with Putin opened “an opportunity for a long and lasting peace.”

“And we welcome very much such a scenario,” said Polyansky, who is Russia’s current charge d’affaires at the United Nations.

“We hope that the Ukrainian leadership will, instead of thinking about saving their own skin, think about their people who don’t want to fight and who are ready for peace — fair, just and long-lasting peace,” he said. “That’s what Russia is trying to achieve in Ukraine for many, many years.”

2:21 PM EDT

Trump and Zelenskyy meeting privately

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

The leaders were holding closed-door talks after they made opening statements and answered questions from reporters who were admitted to the Oval Office to see them together.

A group photo of Trump, Zelenskyy and the European leaders will follow before everyone meets in the East Room to discuss how to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.

2:19 PM EDT

Trump and Zelenskyy’s meeting was friendlier than last time

By MEG KINNARD

It was only a few months ago that Trump and Zelenskyy last met in the Oval Office, but Monday’s face-to-face between the two leaders looked markedly different.

For much of their February exchange, during which Trump and Vance blasted Zelenskyy as “disrespectful” and warned about future American support, Zelenskyy crossed his arms and looked askance at the U.S. leaders. The presidents often spoke over each other, also gesturing disagreement.

Monday’s meeting was rounded out with more smiles and pleasantries between the two leaders, as well as agreement on some points regarding the ongoing war. Both men largely sat with their hands clasped in their laps, affably fielding questions from reporters.

2:03 PM EDT

Zelenskyy says Ukraine wants ‘everything’ as far as US security guarantees

By FARNOUSH AMIRI

The big topic of the Oval Office meeting Monday was what U.S. security guarantees Ukraine needs to agree to a peace deal and whether Trump would be willing to provide them.

Zelenskyy outlined what he said his country needed to feel secure, which included a “strong Ukrainian army” through weapons sales and training. The second part, he said, would depend on the outcome of Monday’s talks and what EU countries, NATO and the U.S. would be able to guarantee to the war-torn country.

Trump stopped short of committing U.S. troops to the effort, saying instead that there would be a “NATO-like” security presence but that all those details would be hashed out in their afternoon meeting with EU leaders.

“They want to give protection and they feel very strongly about it and we’ll help them out with that,” Trump said. “I think its very important to get the deal done.”

1:57 PM EDT breaking news alerts

JUST IN: Trump says the US would back European security guarantees for Ukraine to help end the war with Russia

By The Associated Press

1:52 PM EDT

Vice President JD Vance makes no comments in public part of Zelenskyy meeting

By MEG KINNARD

Unlike the last time he was in the Oval Office with Zelenskyy, Vance made no comments during the public portion of Monday’s meeting.

Seated on a couch with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vance sat by as Trump and Zelenskyy interacted and took questions from reporters.

During February’s tense Oval Office meeting, Vance called Zelenskyy “disrespectful” for airing disagreements with Trump in public. Zelenskyy grew defensive, and Trump and his vice president blasted him as ungrateful, issuing stark warnings about future American support.

1:49 PM EDT

Trump says he’ll talk to Putin after White House meetings

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

Trump said the Russian leader is “expecting my call when we’re finished with this meeting” with Zelenskyy and the group of European leaders.

Trump and Putin met in person Friday in Alaska to discuss ending the war.

1:47 PM EDT breaking news alerts

JUST IN: Trump says he’ll talk to Putin after meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House

By The Associated Press

1:46 PM EDT

Trump needles Zelenskyy on elections and the 2028 election

By MEG KINNARD

As Zelenskyy answered a question about the difficulty of holding an election during Ukraine’s war with Russia, Trump appeared to jokingly hypothesize how a similar circumstance could allow him to stay in power in the U.S. past the expiration of his current tern.

“So let me just say three and a half years from now — so you mean, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections, oh, I wonder what the fake news would say,” Trump said.

Zelenskyy noted the difficulties of being able to hold elections during wartime, saying a “truce” would be needed to do so safely.

“We can do security,” Zelenskyy said. “We need ... a truce, yes, everywhere — the battlefield, the sky and the sea, to make it possible for people to do democratic open legal elections.”

1:44 PM EDT

Trump says security guarantees for Ukraine will be discussed

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

Zelenskyy wants security guarantees as part of any deal to end Russia’s war against his country.

Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, mentioned NATO-style security guarantees for Ukraine as he was being interviewed on Sunday talk shows.

It’s on the meeting agenda.

“We’re going to be discussing it today,” Trump said. He said European leaders want to give Ukraine protection and the U.S. will participate.

1:39 PM EDT

Sartorial diplomatic progress

By CHRIS MEGERIAN

Brian Glenn, a conservative reporter, told Zelenskyy “you look fabulous in that suit.” Glenn had asked the Ukrainian leader about his clothing during his last visit to the Oval Office, implying that his casual dress was disrespectful.

Trump jumped in saying, “I said the same thing.” Turning to Zelenskyy, Trump said “that’s the one that attacked you last time.”

“I remember that,” Zelenskyy said as laughter rippled through the room.

By THOMAS BEAUMONT

Speaking in the Oval Office, he noted it will be a discussion point with European leaders today.

Asked if he would rule out such a deployment, the president said, “We’ll let you know that, maybe, later today. We’re meeting with seven great leaders of great countries, also, and we’ll be talking about that.”

“They’ll all be involved,” he added. “When it comes to security, there’s going to be a lot of help.”

1:34 PM EDT

Zelenskyy signals openness to three-way meeting with Trump and Putin

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

Zelenskyy’s assent came after Trump said the three leaders could meet if Monday’s White House meetings go well.

“We are ready for trilateral,” he said.

Such a meeting would be held to negotiate an end to Russia war against Ukraine.

1:33 PM EDT

Despite earlier comments, Trump says both Zelenskyy and Putin have to want the war to end

By FARNOUSH AMIRI

Asked by a reporter if it is the “end of the road” for U.S. support for Ukraine if no deal is struck, Trump said it’s “never the end of the road.”

“People are being killed and we want to stop that. So I would not say it’s the end of the road,” Trump said as Zelenskyy sat next to him shaking his head at the question. He added that there’s a “good chance” of ending the war through these meetings.

“I know the president, I know myself, and I believe Vladimir Putin wants to see it end,” Trump said.

1:31 PM EDT breaking news alerts

JUST IN: Zelenskyy signals he’s open to having a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin to negotiate end to Russia-Ukraine war

By The Associated Press

1:23 PM EDT

Meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy begins

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

Trump said the meeting is “very important” and Zelenskyy thanked Trump for trying to end Russia’s war against his country.

1:21 PM EDT

Contrasts in Trump’s hosting of Putin and Zelenskyy

By MEG KINNARD

In just a span of a few days and thousands of mile apart, Trump has hosted the leaders of two nations embroiled in war.

At Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, dueling red carpets showed the way for both Trump and Putin to make their way to a platform emblazoned with “Alaska 2025,” where they briefly stood before taking Trump’s limousine to the meeting site. Trump arrived at the junction point first, waiting on Putin and greeting him warmly.

For Zelenskyy’s White House arrival Monday, Trump greeted the Ukrainian president at a threshold of the executive residence, after Zelenskyy’s motorcade wound its way up the driveway festooned with flags and lined with uniformed members of the U.S. military. After a handshake and pleasantries, Trump responded “we love them” as a reporter shouted a question about his message for Ukraine.

In both circumstances, Trump was host to the foreign leaders, welcoming them to U.S. soil.

Zelenskyy delivers letter from his wife to first lady Melania Trump: 'Many thanks'

By Erin Mansfield

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hand-delivered a letter from his own wife for Melania Trump and commended the American first lady her advocacy for children amid Russia's war with Ukraine.

The letter came a day after it was revealed that Melania Trump penned a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin that spoke generally about the need to protect children, and Donald Trump hand-delivered it to the Russian leader during their Aug. 15 meeting. The letter does not specifically mention Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government estimates that nearly 20,000 children were unlawfully deported or transferred from Ukraine and alleges that Russia uses tactics such as "taking children from orphanages, killing parents, splitting families during filtration processes, creating unbearable living conditions in occupied areas, and brazenly kidnapping children from their homes and schools."

Zelenskyy in DC: Updates on White House showdown

"Many thanks to your wife, the first lady of the United States," Zelenskyy told President Trump in the Oval Office on Monday, Aug. 18. He then handed Trump a white envelope that he said contained a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska.

"It's not to you, it's to your wife," Zelenskyy said as Trump began to examine it.

"I want it," Trump replied while laughing.

Zelenskyy characterized Melania Trump's letter as one "about our children, abducted children," which he described as a "sensitive topic."

The International Criminal Court has indicted Putin for the unlawful deportation and transfer of children.

"In today's world, some children are forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them-- a silent defiance against the forces that can potentially claim their future," Melania Trump wrote in her letter, which USA TODAY obtained. "Mr. Putin, you can singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter."

Addressing a question from a reporter, Donald Trump said Melania Trump has a great love of children and has "watched the same things that I watched and you watched."

"She hates to see something like this happening," he said.

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By Joanna Walters

What has Vladimir Putin been up to today during the great international assembly at the White House?

It appears to have been a drab day in Moscow all around, damp and grey and the Russian president hosting a meeting at the Kremlin with the acting governor of the Rostov region, Yury Slyusar.

One gripping regional media headline is: “Putin noted a decrease in the pace of agricultural production in the Rostov region.”

Meanwhile the attacks and the killing in Ukraine go on.

2h ago15.40 EDT

That’s the end of the public remarks from the meeting between Trump and the European leaders. As they continue talks through the afternoon, we’ll bring you more as we get it. ;

Updated at 15.40 EDT

2h ago15.37 EDT

The UK’s prime minister Keir Starmer echoes Macron’s sentiments that “we all want peace” and guaranteeing Ukraine’s security guarantees the security of Europe as a whole.

He adds that a trilateral meeting is “the sensible next step”.

Security guarantees and a trilateral meeting with Russia, Ukraine and the US would be a “historic” step forward, he says.

Updated at 16.45 EDT

2h ago15.35 EDT

Macron stresses leaders want peace and echoes need to push for a ceasefire

French president Emmanuel Macron, notably, opens his remarks by saying: “Everybody around this table is in favour of peace”.

Discussions of security guarantees are “about the whole security of the European continent”, he tells Trump.

He reiterates Merz’s comments about asking for a ceasefire “at least to stop the kiilling”, adding “we all support this idea”.

Security guarantees would involve a strong Ukrainian army for “years and decades to come”, and a commitment from all those around the table to build security, he says.

2h ago15.28 EDT

Merz breaks with Trump to push for ceasefire 'from the next meeting'

German chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasises that they would like to see a ceasefire. “To be honest, we all would like to see a ceasefire, the latest from the next meeting on,” he tells Trump.

He adds that he “can’t imagine” the trilateral meeting will take place without one, urging the US president to put pressure on Russia to get one.

Trump says “we’ll see … if we can do that” but, as he did earlier, highlights the “six wars|” he claims to have ended without a ceasefire.

Updated at 15.28 EDT

2h ago15.19 EDT

Invited to address the media, Zelenksyy says he and Trump had a “constructive” meeting, a “very good conversation”.

He reiterates that Ukraine’s security depends on the European countries present and the United States. “This is very important the the US gives such strong signal and is ready for security guarantees,” he says.

Updated at 15.23 EDT

2h ago15.17 EDT

Trump says he would prefer ceasefire, but 'as of this moment, it's not happening'

Trump says he would prefer an immediate to ceasefire in Ukraine while they work on a peace deal, but “as of this moment, it’s not happening”.

2h ago15.13 EDT

Trump reiterates that he wants a trilateral meeting soon.

2h ago15.12 EDT

Trump says Russia will accept security guarantees for Ukraine, but adds 'possible exchanges of territory' to be discussed.

Trump says after his summit with Putin he believes that peace is “within reach”.

In a “significant step”, Putin agreed Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine, he says.

He says the leaders at this meeting will be considering “who will do what, essentially” regarding Ukraine’s future security.

Trump says he’s optimistic that the group can reach an agreement that will deter future aggression against Ukraine, adding:

I actually think there won’t be. I even think that’s largely overrated.

“I think the European nations are going to take a lot of the burden,” he says, reiterating that the US will be involved. “We’re going to help them.”

The meeting will also discuss the “possible exchanges of territory”, he adds, ominously for Ukraine.

Updated at 15.14 EDT

2h ago15.06 EDT

There is a feed at the top of the blog if you’d like to follow the meeting live.

2h ago15.03 EDT

Trump kicks off multilateral meeting with European leaders

That multilateral meeting has just started between Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the European leaders at the White House.

2h ago15.00 EDT

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump have just posed for a “family photo” with European leaders. Here it is, featuring UK prime minister Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish president Alexander Stubb, and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

3h ago14.44 EDT

Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, round two - snap analysis

Well, the optics of this initial meeting were far friendlier than the last time these people were all in the Oval Office together, and Zelenskyy and the other European leaders will no doubt be very pleased with how suit-gate was handled, for example – heck, there was even laughing at times.

But despite this lightheartedness, there were some worrying developments for Kyiv. Perhaps most key was Trump’s assertion that he’s decided he doesn’t need a ceasefire after all in order to negotiate a peace deal, after spending months demanding one from Russia and threatening sanctions and “severe consequences” if it didn’t comply. Things have clearly changed after his Alaska summit with Putin, who knows the US president wants peace more than anything and has played this up to his advantage by blaming others for being obstacles to ending the war.

But there were glimmers of hope for Kyiv, notably Trump saying the US would help guarantee Ukraine’s security in a peace deal, giving Ukraine “very good protection”. Kyiv has long said this would essential for achieving a lasting peace. But Trump remained uncommitted on what level of specific security guarantees the US is willing to support, for instance whether its involvement would include an Article 5-style defence commitment and/or American boots on the ground, and also made clear that most of the burden would fall on Europe.

Whether Trump can now be convinced once again by Zelenskyy and the Europeans that the onus is on Russia to end its war, and not on Ukraine to give up territory, in order to achieve peace remains to be seen.

'We will give them very good protection,' Trump says of Ukraine

Earlier Trump was asked if he would offer Ukraine [Nato] Article 5-style security guarantees. He said this hasn’t been discussed yet but says of Kyiv:

We will give them very good protection, very good security. That’s part of it.

Updated at 14.07 EDT

3h ago14.02 EDT

Trump to call Putin later today

Trump says he just spoke to Putin indirectly, and will speak to him again after these meetings today “and we may or may not have a [trilateral meeting].”

“He’s expecting my call when we’re finished with this meeting,” Trump says.

Updated at 14.17 EDT

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TIMELINE

Negotiations resume at Oval Office in "leaders only" format, Zelensky's spokesperson says

From CNN's Victoria Butenko

Negotiations between US President Donald Trump and European leaders have resumed at the Oval Office in a “leaders only” format, said Serhiy Nykyforov, a spokesperson to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

A White House official confirmed that Zelensky and European leaders are currently in the Oval Office with Trump.

9 min ago

Trump paused meeting with Zelensky and European leaders to call Putin, sources say

From CNN’s Kristen Holmes at the White House and Fred Pleitgen in Moscow

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke after Trump paused his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders on Monday, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.

The source said the Europeans were not present for the conversation.

A European official told CNN that Trump paused the negotiations with the European leaders and Zelensky in order to call Putin. The news was first reported by German newspaper Bild, who reported the talks with European leaders would continue after the call with Putin at the White House.

26 min ago

Chair of Joint Chiefs working through potential security guarantees for Ukraine, source says

From CNN's Zachary Cohen

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine and his staff have been involved in working through potential security guarantees for Ukraine ahead of today’s meetings at the White House, according to a source familiar with the planning.

European governments are also holding similar discussions, the source added.

They did not provide details on what possibilities for US involvement are under discussion.

While Trump declined to rule out sending US troops to Ukraine, the source familiar with the planning process noted that the important part of the president’s comments was his apparent willingness to be involved in some way. Caine’s involvement in the planning process would appear to further demonstrate that the US is seriously prepared to help.

Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were both at the White House today while Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, a US defense official told CNN.

A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on Caine’s role in the planning process related to security guarantees for Ukraine. CNN reached out to the White House for comment.

22 min ago

White House meeting ends, but negotiations on site continue, spokesperson to Zelensky says

From CNN's Victoria Butenko and Kate Irby

The White House meeting between President Donald Trump and European leaders has ended, but leaders are staying in the White House to continue negotiations, possibly in a different format, said Serhiy Nykyforov, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s spokesperson.

A White House official also said the multilateral meeting with European leaders and Zelensky had ended, but did not address if any further talks would continue.

43 min ago

Hot mic catches Trump telling the French president he thinks Putin "wants to make a deal for me"

From CNN's Kit Maher at the White House

Ahead of the multilateral meeting, President Donald Trump was caught on a hot mic saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to reach a resolution to the war for him.

“I think he wants to make a deal,” Trump whispered to French President Emmanuel Macron in the East Room. “I think he wants to make a deal for me, you understand that? As crazy as it sounds.”

Trump is also heard talking about setting up a trilateral meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which Trump has publicly said he believes will happen.

44 min ago

Analysis: This was Europe’s answer to Putin

Analysis from CNN's Stephen Collinson

Standing with President Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday, President Vladimir Putin warned Ukraine and European nations not to “throw a wrench” in what he called important progress.

This was a classic attempt to split the Western alliance.

Monday’s White House meeting was Europe’s answer.

It felt historic, stirring echoes of the great allied gatherings that ended World War II.

The European leaders dropped everything to rush to Washington because they were alarmed at what happened in Alaska, which reinforced their doubts about the constancy of an American president who has frequently berated NATO.

But this was the way the West is supposed to work.

Each European leader asked to speak by Trump addressed a separate issue. French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump’s proposed three-way summit with Putin and Zelensky should have a fourth seat — for Europe. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pushed for the ceasefire that Putin has refused, with Trump’s acquiescence. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer raised the importance of security guarantees for Ukraine modeled on NATO’s mutual defense clause.

It was a remarkable show of unity from leaders spanning the ideological spectrum from liberal centrists like Macron to the populist conservative Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. EU-deserter Britain stood firm with its partners across the water. Trump’s visitors were deeply prepared and displayed synergy that a diverse bloc almost never musters.

Trump’s visitors said he’d gone further than anyone with his peace effort. They were striving to construct a political and even emotional rationale for a pliable president to stay engaged in the long term for a truly just peace, rather than the one Putin wants.

None of this will bridge the many apparently irreconcilable differences between Russia and Ukraine.

But you can be sure Putin was watching.

1 hr 6 min ago

Giving up any Ukrainian territory means "giving up on the lives" that fought for it, parliament member says

CNN

Ukraine does not support redrawing its borders because it means “giving up on the lives that we have lost for it,” Ukrainian parliament member Kira Rudik told CNN.

“First, because it is against Ukrainian constitution, and second, because for us it is very emotional. For every inch of Ukrainian territory that we are holding onto right now, we have paid an ultimate price. And for us to give it up would mean that Ukraine is giving up on the lives that we have lost for it and the price that we have paid,” she told CNN’s Boris Sanchez, adding that it would be politically impossible.
“Ukrainian people would not accept it at all,” Rudik said.

Rudik also said that bringing peace to Ukraine would need security guarantees, which would act as a deterrence because the understanding is that “Russia would attack us again.”

1 hr 28 min ago

Europeans' subtle message to Trump: Supporting peace means supporting Ukraine

From CNN's Adam Cancryn

Alexander Drago/Reuters

As European leaders showered praise on US President Donald Trump for seeking an end to the war, they also all sought to advance a more delicate argument that Trump has resisted at times in the past: Supporting peace means first supporting Ukraine.

“If we want to reach peace and if we want to guarantee justice, we have to do it united,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told Trump. “We are on the side of Ukraine.”

“It’s team Europe and team United States helping Ukraine,” Finnish President Alexander Stubb added shortly afterward.

The subtle push came as European allies sought to re-establish Trump’s full support for Ukraine in the war against Russia, especially following a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the US leader touted as “very warm.”

Trump in the past has also suggested that Ukraine may need to make significant concessions to secure peace, deepening concerns among Ukraine and the Europeans that he might grow impatient with the sluggish pace of negotiations and push for a peace deal that the rest of the alliance doesn’t support.

But as he prepared to talk over the finer points of a potential agreement, Trump at least for now appeared mostly aligned with Ukraine and the leaders in front of him.

“I just look forward to working and having a great result,” he said. “We’re really honored you guys came over.”

1 hr 25 min ago

Analysis: Putin did not have a seat at the table — but his voice was still heard

From CNN's Jeff Zeleny

Russian President Vladimir Putin was not at the table with President Donald Trump, European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this afternoon, but his point of view was hardly missing.

“I’ve known him for a long time, I’ve always had a great relationship with him,” Trump said of his Russian counterpart. “I think President Putin wants to find an answer, too. We’ll see.”

Even as Trump sounded like he was speaking for Putin, few of the European leaders gathered at the White House on Monday even mentioned him by name. While the Russian leader is at the center of it all — and will largely determine Ukraine’s fate — it remains an open question whether Putin is nearly as focused on reaching a peace accord as Trump has repeatedly suggested.

Trump said he expected a trilateral meeting would soon take place between Russia, Ukraine and the United States.

“I think it’s going to be when,” Trump said, “not if.”

But the when could be a question that indicates far more than timing. It will suggest the degree to which Putin is serious about negotiating an end to the war — or simply trying to buy time, as many critics suspect.

Trump struck an optimistic tone, but allowed himself room for disappointment.

“It’s possible it might not be able to be done. On the other hand, it’s possible that it will,” Trump said, adding: “We have to give it our best. That’s all you can do.”

1 hr 22 min ago

Here's where things stand as Trump, Zelensky and European leaders begin their high-stakes meeting on Ukraine

From CNN's Kevin Liptak, Kit Maher, Aditi Sangal, Caitlin Danaher and Mitchell McCluskey

US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several top European leaders are now meeting at the White House to discuss a possible end to the war in Ukraine.

One of the key topics on the agenda is security guarantees for Ukraine.

European leaders are also expected to push for Trump to join them in taking a hard line with Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid future conflicts.

Before they went behind closed doors, the leaders made remarks to the assembled media:

· Trump: The US president said the leaders would discuss “who will do what” as part of security guarantees for Ukraine and signaled a resolution would be reached today. Trump also said “possible exchanges of territory” to end the war is up for discussion. Looking ahead, Trump said he would call Putin later today to set up a trilateral meeting between himself, the Russian leader and Zelensky.

· Zelensky: Ukraine’s president said he had a “very good conversation” with Trump earlier in the day. They discussed security guarantees and humanitarian concerns, he said. The Ukrainian president also said he would be happy to have Trump at a trilateral meeting with him and Putin.

· French President Emmanuel Macron: The leader of France pushed the idea that there should be a European leader present at a meeting with Putin. “When we speak about security guarantees, we speak about the whole security of the European continent,” he said.

· NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: Trump offering US support in security guarantees for Ukraine was a “breakthrough” to securing peace, Rutte said. He also thanked Trump for “breaking the deadlock” and bringing Putin to the table.

· German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: When Trump met with Putin in Alaska last week, it opened a path for more serious negotiations, the German leader said. Merz reiterated that the European leaders are eager to see a ceasefire before more talks are held — something Trump has questioned whether “it’s necessary.”

· Finnish President Alexander Stubb: Finland’s leader praised progress Trump made in talks to resolve the war. He pointed to the symbolic nature of the leaders gathering to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.

· British Prime Minister Keir Starmer: The “Coalition of the Willing” — Ukraine’s main European allies — are “prepared to step up to the plate” to ensure Ukraine’s security, he said.

1 hr 54 min ago

British prime minister Starmer says White House meeting could be “historic step”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday’s meeting with US President Donald Trump could be a “historic step” for Ukraine and Europe’s security.

“I think we could take a really important step forward today, a historic step actually could come out of this meeting in terms of security for Ukraine and security in Europe,” Starmer said during a meeting with Trump and European leaders at the White House.

The British leader said Trump’s indication of “Article-5 style” security guarantees corresponds with the work the “Coalition of the Willing” — Ukraine’s main European allies — has been doing for the past months.

He added the coalition is “prepared to step up to the plate” when it comes to ensuring Ukraine’s security.

What is NATO Article 5? It’s the “collective defense” part of the alliance’s treaty, which stipulates that an attack against one is considered an attack against all the allies and members will take mutual action.

Trump has previously been dismissive of Kyiv’s frequent calls for security guarantees — some way to ensure that Russia won’t violate a ceasefire agreement or renew its offensive in Ukraine in a few years.

1 hr 54 min ago

Trump and European leaders plan to meet in the Oval Office

From CNN's Kristen Holmes

President Donald Trump said he planned to bring European leaders back to the Oval Office before they depart today, an add to the schedule that a White House official attributed to the fact that “everything is going well.”

Trum met with those leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the East Room of the White House this afternoon. A visit to the Oval Office was not originally on the schedule.

It’s currently unclear if that meeting will remain private or open to the press.

1 hr 56 min ago

Trump questions whether ceasefire "necessary," says peace agreement "very attainable"

From CNN's Kit Maher at the White House

While President Donald Trump said a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is preferable, he questioned whether “it’s necessary,” given he believes a broader peace deal can come to fruition in the “near future.”

“All of us would obviously prefer an immediate ceasefire while we work on a lasting peace. And maybe something like that could happen. As of this moment, it’s not happening,” Trump said while sitting alongside European leaders at the White House. He added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin can discuss the matter.

“I don’t know that it’s necessary,” Trump said. “I like the ceasefire. From another standpoint, you immediately stop the killing. But I believe a peace agreement at the end of all of this is something that’s very attainable, and it can be done in the near future.”

At the table, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz advocated for a ceasefire agreement before a trilateral meeting with Trump, Zelensky and Putin.

“We all would like to see a ceasefire. … I can’t imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire. So let’s work on that, and let’s try to put pressure on Russia as a result of a potential trilateral meeting,” Merz said.

Reminder: On his way to Alaska to meet Putin last week, Trump said, “I want to see a ceasefire rapidly. I don’t know if it’s going to be today, but I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today.”

After the Alaska meeting, Trump backed off on his push for a ceasefire, instead seeking a full peace deal — which could take much longer to hash out.

2 hr 5 min ago

Finnish president thanks Trump for "progress" in ending Russia's war in Ukraine

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

Finnish President Alexander Stubb praised US President Donald Trump for the progress made in talks to resolve Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“I think in the past two weeks, we’ve probably had more progress in ending this war than we have in the past three and a half years,” he said today, pointing to the symbolic nature of the leaders gathering to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.

Stubb reminded listeners that his country, Finland, s a border with Russia for over 800 miles. He also nodded to the two countries’ d history. Finland was an autonomous part of the Russian empire from 1809 to 1917.

More context: Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in April 2023, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 drove the formerly non-aligned country to abandon its neutrality and seek protection within the US-led alliance.

2 hr 16 min ago

"The path is open" for more serious negotiations, German chancellor says

From CNN's Mitchell McCluskey

“The path is open” for more serious negotiations to be held on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said during a meeting with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.

Merz said that Trump opened that path after the US president met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

“Now the way is open for complicated negotiations,” he said.

Merz reiterated that the European leaders are eager to see a ceasefire before more talks are held.

“I can’t imagine that the next meeting will take place without a ceasefire,” he said. “So let’s work on that.”

2 hr 19 min ago

NATO secretary general says Trump’s offer of security guarantees is a “breakthrough" in peace talks

From CNN's Caitlin Danaher

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says US President Donald Trump’s offer of security guarantees for Ukraine amounts to a “breakthrough” in securing a potential peace deal for Ukraine.

“The fact that you have said ‘I am willing to participate in the security guarantees’ is a big step, it’s really a breakthrough, and it makes all the difference. So also thank you for that,” Rutte said to Trump in a multilateral meeting alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in the White House.

Speaking earlier in the Oval Office alongside Zelensky, Trump did not immediately rule out sending US troops to Ukraine to help maintain a potential peace deal. “We’ll let you know that, maybe later today,” Trump said.

Rutte also thanked the American president for “breaking the deadlock” and successfully bringing Russian President Vladimir Putin to the table for peace talks.

2 hr 19 min ago

Macron says Europe should be represented in talks with Trump, Putin and Zelensky

From CNN's Kevin Liptak at the White House

As President Donald Trump pushes toward a three-way meeting between himself, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron offers an idea: a European leader at the table as well.

“I think as a follow up, we would need probably a quadrilateral meeting. Because when we speak about security guarantees, we speak about the whole security of the European continent,” he said.

It seems unlikely Trump will warm to that idea, at least in the near term, as he works toward ending the war.

But Macron’s point underscores how much is at stake not only for Ukraine in today’s talks, but also the rest of Europe.

2 hr 23 min ago

Analysis: Trump’s attitude going forward will be crucial for peace hopes

From CNN's Stephen Collinson

Here’s something to look out for in the coming hours.

After meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin last week and putting the onus on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to make peace, how does Donald Trump act after the Oval Office talks with the Ukrainian leader and wider discussions with European leaders?

Does he set himself up as a third-party broker seeking a landing spot that both Russia and Ukraine could live with? Or is he a stronger advocate for Moscow after adopting Putin’s opposition to an immediate ceasefire?

This is important because all the parties have different goals.

· Ukraine’s interest is in survival, maintaining its sovereignty and deterring future Russian attacks by retaining a strong post-war military.

· Europe agrees on that but also needs to defuse the biggest threat to its security since the Cold War by depriving Putin of validation for his illegal invasion and land grabs.

· Putin wants to destroy Ukraine’s hopes of joining the West while dismantling its military, and to lock in territorial gains in a conflict that is existential for his legacy.

· Trump, meanwhile, wants a swift peace he can bill as a win. He doesn’t seem that worried about the details.

If the president can stay patient and reconcile all these strands, he’ll deserve his Nobel Peace Prize.

2 hr 29 min ago

Analysis: Trump and Zelensky need each other

From CNN's Kristen Holmes at the White House

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky both need each other in this moment.

Trump is desperate for a trilateral meeting with Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, believing it could bring about an end to the war in Ukraine. Trump promised he could end the conflict as soon as he entered office, which, by his own admission, has been more difficult than he thought. He can’t get there without Zelensky’s buy-in on any potential concessions to Russia.

Zelensky, meanwhile, needs key security assurances and protections for Ukraine from the US if he is going to make concessions to end the war.

The current dynamic may not lead to long-lasting peace. But it certainly has led to much more cordial relations between the two leaders as talks progress.

2 hr 23 min ago

Zelensky says he had a "very good conversation" with Trump

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had a “very good conversation” with US President Donald Trump ahead of their multilateral meeting with other European leaders.

“I think that we had a very good conversation with President Trump,” he said. “We spoke about very sensitive points.”

This is what he laid out:

· Security guarantees: He said he is very happy that Ukraine’s security on the leaders in the room.

· Humanitarian concerns: He said he is thankful to Trump and the US first lady for writing a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine’s abducted children.

· Trilateral meeting: In the event that Russia agrees to a trilateral meeting, Zelensky said he will be happy to have Trump there.

2 hr 33 min ago

Trump says "when, not if" a trilateral meeting set up with himself, Putin and Zelensky

From CNN's Kevin Liptak at the White House

President Donald Trump said he expects a trilateral meeting to materialize between himself, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“I think it’s going to be when, not if,” Trump said.

He said he would be phoning Putin quickly after today’s talks to discuss setting up a meeting.

A71 FROM GUK #2 TIMELINE 16.48 EDT

Trump interrupts talks with European leaders to call Putin - report

Donald Trump has interrupted his talks in Washington with European leaders to call Vladimir Putin, German newspaper Bild is reporting.

Bild said the meetings are due to resume after the call, which Trump had initially said would take place afterwards.

14m ago17.00 EDT

Sources in the Ukrainian delegation at the White House have told the BBC that talks involving Trump, Zelenskyy and European leaders have ended. We’ll bring you more as we get it.

26m ago16.48 EDT

Trump interrupts talks with European leaders to call Putin - report

Donald Trump has interrupted his talks in Washington with European leaders to call Vladimir Putin, German newspaper Bild is reporting.

Bild said the meetings are due to resume after the call, which Trump had initially said would take place afterwards.

39m ago16.34 EDT

Sketch: All smoke and no fire as Zelenskky emerges unbruised after Trump meeting.

By Andrew Roth

If there was a sign that Volodymyr Zelenskyy wasn’t going to be immediately voted off the island of the Donald Trump diplomacy show, it came early on when a familiar voice commended his choice of attire.

“President Zelensky, you look fabulous in that suit,” said Brian Glenn, a pro-Trump pundit and member of the White House press corps, who had attacked him for wearing military fatigues during the infamous Oval Office meeting in February. “I said the same thing,” Trump added.

“You are in the same suit,” Zelenskyy shot back, earning smiles and laughter from the room including the US president. “I changed, you did not.”

Thus did Zelenskyy survive his first media appearance at the White House with Trump on Monday as the US president focused less on belittling the leader of a wartime ally than boasting – and in many cases exaggerating – his exploits as a peacemaker in world conflicts.

Zelenskyy, dressed reluctantly in a black military-style suit to appease sticklers for protocol in the White House, largely sat by quietly as Trump claimed to have hammered out peace deals in six wars including one the veteran real estate developer said had taken place in the “Republic of the Condo”.

From Trump there was hyperbole about his ability to broker peace deals, digressions to internal US political battles over mail-in ballots, nebulous declarations about how he would end the conflict and evasions over how he would do that without negotiating a ceasefire.

But there were no explosions – which meant for Zelenskyy it probably went as well as it could have.

He found a far more hospitable welcome from both Trump and JD Vance, and he kicked off the meeting with some high-level flattery, thanking Trump profusely for his efforts to end the conflict and praising Melania Trump for sending a letter to Putin about abducted Ukrainian children.

There was little detail about the peace deal that Trump wanted to hammer out, except for the fact that he wanted to skip past a ceasefire – too difficult to actually negotiate – and go straight for a peace deal.

And yet it appeared that all – or at least most – sides were keen to smooth over their differences in order to prevent Ukraine as being seen as the main obstruction to peace and of throwing the ball back to Putin.

All smoke but no fire as Zelenskky emerges unbruised after Trump meeting.

McDonald was permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, 2015-2020, and is now a crossbench peer

A72 X80 X80 FROM THE NEW YORK POST

Trump live updates: Hot mic catches president’s ‘crazy’ whisper to Emmanuel Macron before Euro leaders’ Ukraine meeting

By Ryan King, Josh Christenson, Samuel Chamberlain, Diana Nerozzi and Kaydi Pelletier Updated Aug. 18, 2025, 5:05 p.m. ET

Follow The Post’s live updates on the Trump administration as the president meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies at the White House on Monday, after POTUS’ Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin three days ago.

Zelensky, wearing a military-style suit, arrived at the White House shortly after 1 p.m. and met with Trump in the Oval Office — a warm sit-down that was wildly different in tone from the blowup that ensued the last time the two leaders gathered in the same spot in February.

Trump and Zelensky then met behind closed doors. Seven European leaders have now joined them to discuss an end to Putin’s three-year war on Ukraine.

What to know about Trump, Zelensky meeting today

· Trump says Zelensky can end war with Russia ‘almost immediately’ by doing these two things

· How Trump’s meeting with Putin pivoted from Ukraine cease-fire to full peace deal — exclusive details

· Trump backs security deal for Ukraine following high-stakes summit with Vladimir Putin

44 minutes ago

And in other White House hot mic moments: 'I never want to speak to my press!'

By Kaydi Pelletier

After Trump, Zelensky and seven other European leaders took questions from reporters as they sat around a table in the White House's East Room, a hot mic captured Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni telling Trump "Thank you for being so fair," among other things:

59 minutes ago

Hot mic catches Trump's 'crazy' whisper to French prez Macron before multilateral meeting

By Kaydi Pelletier

A hot mic caught President Trump whispering something he called "crazy" as he, Zelensky and seven European heads of state spoke to the press before their closed-door meeting at the White House to talk about ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

“I think he [Russian President Vladimir Putin] wants to make a deal,” Trump whispered to French President Emmanuel Macron in the East Room.

“I think he wants to make a deal for me, you understand that? As crazy as it sounds.”

2 hours ago

Trump, Zelensky examine Ukraine map showing Russian gains

By Ryan King

The private meeting between President Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky included a large map showing the current state of the Russian invasion.

The map included a breakdown of how much territory Moscow controls in Ukraine's eastern provinces, or oblasts.

Zelensky later riffed on the map as the two presidents met with European leaders.

"I showed the president a lot of details on the battlefield — on the map," the Ukrainian said. "Thank you for the map, by the way. It's great. I'm thinking how to take it back."

2 hours ago

Trump and European leaders head into closed-door meeting

By Ryan King

President Trump and European leaders began the private portion of their meeting after making public remarks on the status of the war in Ukraine.

2 hours ago

Finnish President touts more progress in two weeks on Ukraine war than over the past three and a half years

By Ryan King

Finnish President Alexander Stubb underscored the progress being made toward ending the war in Ukraine.

"I think in the past two weeks, we've probably had more progress in ending this war than we have in the past three and a half years," Stubb said.

"And I think the fact that we're around this table today is very much symbolic in the sense that it's team Europe and team United States helping Ukraine."

Finland joined NATO shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine began, after decades of staying out of the powerful military alliance.

2 hours ago

Italian PM credits Trump for Russia's new willingness to talk about ending war

By Ryan King

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni credited President Trump for Russia's newfound willingness to talk about ending its brutality against Ukraine.

"I think it is an important day, a new phase, after three years ... [when] we didn't see any kind of sign from the Russian side, that there [is] a willingness for dialogue," she said.

"So something is changing. Something has changed."

She also praised Ukraine's military for stalling Russian progress on the battlefield and underscored the need for unity to achieve peace.

3 hours ago

Zelensky wants Trump present for meeting with Putin

By Kaydi Pelletier

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that he would like to see President Trump participate in a future meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, should such a face-to-face come to fruition.

"President Trump will try to organize such [a] meeting," Zelensky said of Trump's push for another meeting with Putin. "And he said that he will come or not come, Ukraine will be happy if you [do]."

Trump had dangled the possibility of attending, what he described as a trilateral meeting, and noted he plans to call Putin after Monday's meeting to set that up.

3 hours ago

Zelensky says today's talk with Trump was 'the best one' so far

By Ryan King

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his conversation today with President Trump was their "best one" so far.

"I think that we had a very good conversation with President Trump, very good. And it really was the best one," he said.

Zelensky later added, "Maybe the best one will be in the future, but it was really good."

ATTACHMENT SEVENTY THREE – FROM THE DAILY BEAST

WHITE HOUSE HIDES TRUMP’S CANKLES WITH ODD PROP IN ZELENSKY PHOTO-OP

A White House photo conveniently placed an Air Force One model in front of the 79-year-old president’s swollen ankles.

Erkki Forster Updated Aug. 18 2025 4:56PM EDT Published Aug. 18 2025 4:49PM EDT 

The White House appeared to cover up Donald Trump’s cankles in an official photo from his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Monday.

The 79-year-old president’s swollen ankles were hard to miss as his slacks crept up his shin while sitting down with Zelensky, 47, for Russia-Ukraine peace talks.

But in a photo from the meeting posted by the White House’s X account, the angle conveniently placed Trump’s cherished Air Force One model in front of his enlarged lower limbs.

Trump has displayed the plane model on the Oval Office’s coffee table since his first term.

Meanwhile, the ankles of other attendees, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were on full display and appeared unremarkable.

The White House has offered little more on the president’s condition since disclosing in July that he was diagnosed with “chronic venous insufficiency,” a circulation issue typical in people over the age of 70.

“Look, you see the president every day,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last week. “He’s moving, he’s working, he’s continuing, there have been no adjustments made to his lifestyle.” She promised to “look into” making a White House physician available to answer questions about Trump’s health.

But the White House did not address the Daily Beast’s questions about that proposal, or the curiously angled photo from Zelensky’s visit, when reached for comment on Monday.

Spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement, “President Trump’s unmatched stamina is evident by his ability to work around the clock to negotiate world peace.”

Trump—who is also often seen with a bruise on his right hand—is the oldest president ever to be inaugurated. His physical and cognitive health have been questioned amid his diagnosis and frequent gaffes.

During Monday’s meeting with Zelensky, he referred to the Republic of the Congo as the “Republic of the Condo.”

He suffered similar lapses in the lead up to his Alaskan summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, twice erroneously declaring he was “going to Russia,” and mistakenly referring to “Leningrad,” the Cold War-era name for the city now known as St. Petersburg.

This time, Trump’s meeting with Zelensky did not spiral into the contentious back-and-forth that marked the Ukrainian president’s previous visit to the White House, when Trump and Vance took a combative approach toward their ally.

Zelensky—accompanied by a group of European leaders—swapped his typical military-style clothing for a dark suit and had a smoother rapport with Trump.

ATTACHMENT SEVENTY FOUR – FROM the NEW YORK POST

RIGHT-WING REPORTER BRIAN GLENN PRAISES ZELENSKY’S ATTIRE AFTER SHAMING HIM IN FEBRUARY

By Ryan King  Updated Aug. 18, 2025, 3:15 p.m. ET

Brian Glenn, the chief White House correspondent of conservative outlet Real America’s Voice, praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s military-style suit during Monday’s Oval Office sitdown with President Trump.

“President Zelensky, you look fabulous in that suit,” Glenn — who is dating Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) —  told the Ukrainian, 47, during a gaggle with reporters. “You look good.”

In a lighter moment during Zelensky and Trump’s Oval Office meeting, the Ukrainian president got an apology from a reporter — who is dating Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — who had criticized his outfit the last time Zelensky sat here in February.AFP via Getty Images

President Trump chimed in, joking that he said “the same thing” to Zelensky and recounted how Glenn had browbeat the Ukrainian leader over his attire during the last White House meeting between the two leaders on Feb. 28.

“I apologize to you. You look wonderful,” Glenn said.

A smiling Zelensky pointed to Glenn’s suit and joked in response, “It’s the same suit.”

Hot mic catches Trump's 'crazy' whisper to French prez before Ukraine meeting; Zelensky says today's sit-down ‘the best’ yet

“You see, I have changed; you have not.”

The Oval Office erupted in laughter, with Trump and the White House pool reporters joining in.

When Zelensky appears in public, he has most often donned a military-style sweatshirt, adorned with a black or green Ukrainian trident. 

The Kyiv president has stuck to the wardrobe to symbolize the fact that his country is fighting for its freedom against a bloody Russian invasion. 

But Zelensky’s attire caused an issue in February, beginning when Trump pointedly noted that the Ukrainian leader was “all dressed up today.”

Then, during a chaotic media availability that included a three-cornered argument between Zelensky, Trump and Vice President JD Vance, Glenn attacked Zelensky over his outfit.

“Why don’t you wear a suit?” the reporter scolded at the time. “You’re at the highest level in this country’s office, and you refuse to wear a suit.

“Do you own a suit?” he went on. “A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the dignity of this office.”

Zelensky defended himself, saying: “I will wear costume after this war will finish.” (In Ukrainian, the word for suit sounds similar to the English word “costume.”)

When Trump and Zelensky next met at the funeral of Pope Francis April 26, the Ukrainian president wore an all-black suit with no tie.

The outfit was resurrected for Monday’s visit to Washington.

ATTACHMENT SEVENTY FIVE – FROM the HUFFINGTON POST

ZELENSKYY GETS SNARKY AFTER MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE'S BOYFRIEND REMARKS ON HIS SUIT

Real America’s Voice reporter Brian Glenn had previously policed the Ukrainian leader's attire in the White House.

By David Moye Aug 18, 2025, 03:39 PM EDT

Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a suitably snarky response for a reporter who had previously criticized his attire at the White House.

The Ukrainian president was in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump on Monday, taking questions from the media, when a reporter offered Zelenskyy more of an observation than a question.

Brian Glenn of right-wing outlet Real America’s Voice, who is also Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s boyfriend, told the foreign leader, “You look fabulous in that suit.”

It may have seemed like a compliment, but Trump promptly identified Glenn to Zelenskyy, saying, “That’s the one that attacked you last time.”

The Ukrainian’s hilariously snarky response reminded people that he was a comedian before he became president.

“I remember that,” Zelenskyy said before addressing Glenn. “You’re in the same suit. You see, I changed mine.”

When Zelenskyy visited the White House earlier this year, Glenn had bluntly asked him, “Do you own a suit?” adding, “A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the dignity of this office.”

Glenn seemed amused by the exchange on Monday. He apologized and told the Ukrainian president he looked “wonderful.”

Zelenskyy’s suit was apparently a big deal to the White House this time, according to Axios, which reported that Trump administration officials had reached out to their Ukrainian counterparts in advance to see what Zelenskyy might wear.

A Trump adviser reportedly told Axios, “It would be great if he wore a tie but we don’t expect him to.”

ATTACHMENT SEVENTY SIX – FROM UNITED 24 (PRO-UKE)

“VERY SUCCESSFUL DAY”: TRUMP AND ZELENSKYY HIGHLIGHT SECURITY GUARANTEES, ENDING WAR, AND CHILDREN’S RETURN

By Liubava Petriv Aug 18, 2025 22:55 Updated Aug 18, 2025 23:15 (us or uke time not determined)

On August 18, after concluding their meeting at the White House, President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined European leaders to continue discussions focused on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, securing long-term guarantees, and addressing urgent humanitarian issues.

Following the meeting, Trump described the day as “very successful thus far.”

“I’ve just had the honor of being with President Zelenskyy,” he said. “All of the discussions we’ve had covered a lot of territory. Thank you for all the important discussions today as we work to end the killing and stop the war in Ukraine. We’re all working toward the same, very simple goal: to stop the killing and get this settled.”

Zelenskyy highlighted two critical areas of discussion: security guarantees and humanitarian concerns.

“The first is security guarantees, and we are very happy that all the leaders are here. The security of Ukraine depends on the United States and on these leaders who have supported us in various ways,” he said. “All of us want to finish this war, stop Russia, and end the violence.”

Live Updates: Trump Meets Zelenskyy and European Leaders at White House

Aug 18, 2025 20:21

On the humanitarian front, Zelenskyy emphasized the exchange of prisoners and the return of children to their families.

“This is incredibly important, and I am thankful to the president and his wife for their support. We hope this can play a historic role in bringing people back to their families,” Zelenskyy said.

Trump confirmed his backing for these initiatives, stating, “I will be there,” referring to a planned trilateral meeting to address sensitive issues, including territorial matters. He added that over a thousand prisoners are expected to be released soon, calling it a positive and urgent step forward.

The president also noted that he had spoken indirectly with Putin and planned to call him after the meeting. “We’re going to try to work out a trilateral agreement and put this to rest. Since World War II, there hasn’t been anything like this,” he said, emphasizing optimism that coordinated negotiations could deter future aggression and strengthen Ukraine’s security.

Before meeting with Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with European leaders ahead of talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House, where he highlighted Ukraine’s aim for a stable and lasting peace for the country and for Europe.

On the same day, President Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. During the talks, Trump addressed the question of a ceasefire in Ukraine, telling Zelenskyy, 'I don’t think you need a ceasefire, ' and added that discussions should focus on a broader peace deal.

ATTACHMENT SEVENTY SEVEN – FROM AL ARABIYA

PUTIN STOPS OFF IN RUSSIA’S FAR EAST AFTER TRUMP MEETING: TASS

President Vladimir Putin visited the region of Chukotka in Russia’s far east on his way back from a summit with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, the TASS state news agency reported on Saturday.

Chukotka is separated from Alaska by the Bering Strait. Putin met with the regional governor there, TASS said.

ATTACHMENT SEVENTY EIGHT – FROM ROLLING STONE

SOMEONE LEFT DOCUMENTS DETAILING TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT IN HOTEL PRINTER

Trump planned to give Putin an “American bald eagle desk statue,” according to documents obtained by NPR

By Naomi LaChance August 16, 2025

Guests at a hotel in Alaska found eight pages of documents from President Donald Trump’s meetings Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a printer, NPR reported Saturday.

The documents show the schedule of the summit with times and locations. They also show the lunch menu, the lunch seating chart, and the phone numbers of three of Trump administration staffers. The documents were found in a printer at Hotel Captain Cook, a four-star hotel in Anchorage that is near the military base where the summit took place.

Trump and Putin have had a hot and cold relationship, with Trump alternately taunting him and praising him. On Friday, the two leaders walked a red carpet together, as they met to discuss a potential end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The meeting ended abruptly without a Ukraine ceasefire deal. Trump told reporters it was “an extremely productive meeting,” but they “didn’t get there.”

“I think the meeting was a 10,” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

The documents show which officials were involved in the summit. A “2:2” meeting took place among Trump; Steve Witkoff, special envoy for peace missions; Putin; and Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Putin for foreign policy and Putin’s “America guru.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were also involved, among others.

The documents show that Trump planned to give Putin an “American bald eagle desk statue.”

The discovery of the documents “strikes me as further evidence of the sloppiness and the incompetence of the administration,” Jon Michaels, a professor of law at UCLA, told NPR. “You just don’t leave things in printers. It’s that simple.”

This document breach is reminiscent of when Trump administration officials added Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal chat where they discussed plans to bomb Yemen — though likely less embarrassing.

The lunch, which did not end up happening, was to be held “in honor of his excellency Vladimir Putin.” The seating chart shows assigned spots for 13 officials, with Americans on one side and Russians on the other. Meeting organizers planned to serve filet mignon, halibut Olympia, and crème brûlée.

The White House and the State Department did not respond to NPR’s questions about the documents.

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes — which Trump ignored — making Alaska a safe place for Putin to fly to and avoid arrest.

Through this meeting, Putin has “broken out of international isolation” and “wasn’t in the least challenged” by Trump, Laurie Bristow, a former British ambassador to Russia, told the Associated Press.

“They spent three years telling everyone Russia was isolated, and today they saw the beautiful red carpet laid out for the Russian president in the U.S.,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told Axios.

ATTACHMENT SEVENTY NINE – FROM TIME

TRUMP FALLS FOR EUROPE’S CHARM OFFENSIVE

By Philip Elliott Aug 18, 2025 6:08 PM ET

The Europeans made the pilgrimage to Washington on a moment’s notice. They flattered their host, President Donald Trump, with praise for his ability to convene an impromptu peace summit with their Ukrainian counterpart, who in turn updated his fashion choices to fall in line with what White House officials expect from visitors. Above all, they made Trump feel every bit like the most powerful person on the planet.

What’s more, Trump took their bait.

From the moment a week ago that Trump announced that he would meet that Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, European leaders have come together with an Avengers-like unity to have the back of Ukrainian President counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, whose nation was invaded more than three years ago by Putin’s forces. The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Finland, plus the heads of the European Commission and NATO, took part in a largely harmonious charm offensive meant to guide Trump back to a footing of support for the U.S. ally facing Russian belligerence. They heaped compliments on Trump in what can only be described as a diplomatic plea for a ceasefire that just days ago Trump walked away from. In turn, Trump did not rule out sending U.S. forces to help defend Ukraine. For the Europeans, things seemed to go as well as they could have imagined. In fact, it almost seemed the most unlikely of qualities in Trump’s Washington: normal.

Unlike Zelensky’s first trip back to Trump’s White House this term, there was none of the made-for-TV stage fighting. In February, with the world watching, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance ambushed Zelensky in the Oval Office and proceeded to kick him and his delegation out. It made for drama but it left the wartime President unsure if Washington would keep in Kyiv’s column of supporters. Since then, Trump has softened slightly toward Zelensky, as Trump has grown frustrated that his charisma alone has not delivered an offramp for a brutal battle that has continued without pause, even amid Trump’s meetings with Putin and Zelensky. 

Trump is famously fickle and famously susceptible to shameless praise, even when it seems to most outside observers as feigned. Sycophancy is a survival skill in the President’s orbit, and survivors know its currency. Cabinet meetings with Trump are ultimately a tour of department chiefs, each of whom knows to come ready with lavish compliments for their boss. Trump, as expected, responds with a wide grin.

Zelensky, having learned his lesson after a disastrous visit in February, returned on Monday with gratitude being shoveled in spades. Not only that, he traded in the military wardrobe he’s favored since Russia’s invasion in 2022 for one of an all-black field jacket and buttoned-up dress shirt. It set the stage for a warmer welcome from Trump, who from the start seemed pleased to have forced a wardrobe update based on his whims.

To be clear: This is not how the United States—or any rational government, really—should be deciding on strategy. It is obviously in the United States’ security interests to side with European nations standing with ally Ukraine against Russia, which now occupies about one-fifth of its neighbor. Europeans rightly worry an expanding Russia that is indifferent to sovereign borders is a threat to post-Cold War norms. A strong NATO alliance that includes the United States remains crucial for keeping a creeping post-Soviet Russia from metastasizing.

But those global currents matter less to Trump than his fragile ego. So the Europeans traded geopolitical arguments over decades of curbing Moscow’s ambitions for cheap praise. For the moment, it seems to have worked as Trump returned to the prospect of a trilateral summit with Ukraine and Russia, and himself as the arbiter. 

“Everyone around this table wants peace,” French President Emmanuel Macron told Trump. Like others, Macron said Trump has a unique ability to convene a session where that peace may be scored—the latest example of Macron’s unique ability among European leaders to be their Trump whisperer.

The Europeans clearly had coordinated their approach and were speaking with one message if in eight different voices.

“The next steps ahead are the more complicated ones,’’ German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, being upfront with his host. “I can’t imagine the next meeting will take place without a ceasefire,” he told Trump. But Trump has said a ceasefire was not necessary. 

“If we can get a cease-fire, great,’’ Trump responded. He also said that it would be up to Zelensky and Putin to negotiate any such pause to the fighting. “As of this moment it’s not happening.”

Thus, it returns to a sequencing order: which comes first, a ceasefire or a trilateral meeting? That’s the question that seemed to persist even as the meetings unfolded across the White House’s campus. But one thing was clear: he who gives Trump the biggest ego boost is likely to come out ahead.

“I think he wants to make a deal with me—you understand that?—as crazy as it sounds,” Trump was heard on a hot mic making small talk ahead of that one-way praise fest. It remains a matter of debate, though, if Trump is correct or just projecting there. Given the opportunity to press their luck, the Europeans instead decided to push laudatory comments that would not draw any backlash. Ultimately, that strategy may preserve Ukraine and settle the borders of Europe’s map. 

ATTACHMENT EIGHTY – FROM FOX

TRUMP MOVES TO BROKER PUTIN-ZELENSKYY MEETING FOLLOWING DC PEACE TALKS

Meeting between Zelenskyy, Putin would be followed by a trilateral discussion involving the US

By Alec Schemmel Published August 18, 2025 8:57pm EDT

President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House, to begin coordinating next steps in the peace process aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. 

The president posted on his Truth Social platform Monday evening saying that he had called Putin at the conclusion of a day of meetings to begin "the arrangements for a meeting" between the Russian president and his Ukrainian counterpart. Trump's call to Putin mirrored his decision to call Zelenskyy following Friday's Alaska summit with Putin.

"At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy," Trump confirmed, following media reports hinting at the call.

TRUMP: ZELENSKYY MEETING NOT ‘END OF THE ROAD’ FOR US SUPPORT IN SECURING PEACE DEAL

The president added that after the meeting between the two warring presidents, there would be a trilateral meeting with the United States as well. 

"After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself," the president continued. "Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years."

Yury Ushakov, a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Trump and Putin were on the phone for about 40 minutes and held a "candid and very constructive" dialogue, according to CNN.

Putin "expressed support for direct negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine," Ushakov reportedly added.

TRUMP SAYS CEASEFIRE NOT NECESSARY FOR PEACE DURING HIGH-STAKES MEETING WITH ZELENSKYY

Officials familiar with Monday's talks also reportedly said Trump's call to Putin came in-between talks with the European leaders present at the White House. Meanwhile, one of those leaders, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reportedly said Putin agreed in the call with Trump to meet Zelenskyy in two weeks. 

Earlier in the day, Trump was caught in a hot-mic moment telling French President Emmanuel Macron that Putin wants to find a resolution to bring the war in Ukraine to an end for him.

"I think [Putin] wants to make a deal," Trump whispered to Macron in the East Room as they were preparing for Monday's talks. "I think he wants to make a deal for me, you understand that? As crazy as it sounds."

Following Monday's talks, Zelenskyy thanked Trump and all the other leaders present in D.C. for their work in trying to bring peace to his country, noting that the talks were "long and detailed."  

"Today, important negotiations took place in Washington. We discussed many issues with President Trump. It was a long and detailed conversation, including discussions about the situation on the battlefield and our steps to bring peace closer," Zelenskyy said in a post on X Monday night.

"We appreciate the important signal from the United States regarding its readiness to support and be part of these guarantees. A lot of attention today was given to the return of our children, to the release of prisoners of war and civilians held by Russia. We agreed to work on this," Zelenskyy continued. "The U.S. President also supported a meeting at the level of leaders. Such a meeting is necessary to resolve sensitive issues." 

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on this but did not receive a response.

ATTACHMENT EIGHTY ONE – FROM GUK

TIMELINE: WHITE HOUSE CONSIDERING BUDAPEST FOR PUTIN-ZELENSKYY BILATERAL, REPORT SUGGESTS – AS IT HAPPENED

From 4h ago

13.32 EDT

Trump has 'definitively' ruled out American boots on the ground but US to help coordinate security guarantees for Ukraine, White House confirms

Asked for the current status of talks regarding security guarantees for Ukraine and what the US’s red lines, Leavitt reiterates that Donald Trump has “definitively” ruled out American boots on the ground.

The president has definitely stated US boots will not be on the ground in Ukraine, but we can certainly help in the coordination and perhaps provide other means of security guarantees to our European allies.

She adds that Trump has directed his national security team to coordinate with Europe, and continue to discuss these matters with Ukraine and Russia.

Earlier, Trump told Fox News that he was ruling out the deployment of American troops to defend Ukraine against another Russian incursion and said Europe would have to “front load” Ukraine’s security.

2h ago

15.49 EDT

As we’ve been reporting, the Kremlin has yet to publicly confirm that Putin has agreed to meet Zelenskyy face-to-face. Without confirming whether planning has begun for a summit, the Kremlin issued only a vague statement that it was “considering the possibility” of holding high-level “direct talks” with Ukraine following Trump’s phone call with Putin yesterday.

According to the Moscow Times, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said today that Putin is open to it (the Russian president has previously outright rejected talks with Zelenskyy), but Lavrov also stressed that preparations for high-level summits take time. He told state broadcaster Russia 24:

We’re not refusing any kind of work format, neither bilateral nor trilateral. The president [Putin] has said that repeatedly … Any contacts involving top leaders must be prepared with the utmost care.

Despite European leaders’ optimistic suggestions yesterday that the meeting could take place within a fortnight, Moscow’s language appears to signal that it’s stalling on anything concrete for the proposed bilateral meeting.

15.21 EDT

The day so far

Donald Trump has “definitively” ruled out American boots on the ground as part of any peace deal for Ukraine, the White House confirmed, but has directed his national security team to coordinate with Europe to continue discussing security guarantees for Ukraine. Earlier in the day, Trump told Fox News that he was ruling out the deployment of American troops to defend Ukraine against another Russian incursion and said Europe would have to “front load” Ukraine’s security.

Instead, the US president is considering air support for Ukraine. He earlier appeared to hint at the possibility, saying: “We’re willing to help them with things, especially probably if you could talk about by air, because there’s nobody has the kind of stuff we have.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt then confirmed that this “is an option and a possibility”.

On trilateral talks between Trump, Zelenskyy and Putin, the White House is planning for the summit to be held in Budapest, Politico reports citing a Trump administration official and a person close to the administration. The White House declined to confirm this or other reports that Putin had suggested having the meeting in Moscow. Hungary would probably be an uncomfortable choice for Zelenskyy given that prime minister Victor Orbán is a longtime Putin ally. Earlier, French president Emmanuel Macron had proposed Geneva, with the Swiss foreign minister promising “immunity” to Putin despite an indictment by the international criminal court. It’s worth noting that the Kremlin has yet to confirm that Putin has agreed to meet with Zelenskyy face-to-face.

Earlier today Trump repeated his warning that Putin would face a “rough situation” if he did not cooperate in the peace process, while Zelenskyy had to “show some flexibility”, PA reported. “I hope President Putin is going to be good and if he’s not, that’s going to be a rough situation,” Trump said. “And I hope that Zelenskyy, President Zelenskyy, will do what he has to do. He has to show some flexibility.”

We’re ending our live coverage for now. You can read our latest full report here:

Trump rules out sending US troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees

14.27 EDT

Turkey’s president Tayyip Erdoğan and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte discussed feasible and sustainable security guarantees for Ukraine in a phone call on Tuesday, Erdoğan’s office has said.

Erdoğan and Rutte discussed the latest developments on the peace process between Russia and Ukraine and agreed on close coordination as well as Turkey’s contribution to the peace process, according to a statement by the Turkish presidency.

4h ago

14.04 EDT

Asked what Article 5-style security guarantees the US is considering for Ukraine if not boots on the ground, Leavitt says only that the discussions are sensitive and ongoing.

4h ago

14.01 EDT

White House eyeing Budapest for peace talks with Zelenskyy and Putin - report

Leavitt has been asked several times about the location of a meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and Putin but wouldn’t divulge anything, refusing to comment on reports about Budapest and that the Kremlin had even suggested Moscow.

Politico is now reporting that the White House is planning for the summit to be held in Budapest, citing a Trump administration official and a person close to the administration.

This would probably be an uncomfortable choice for Zelenskyy given the Hungarian prime minister Victor Orbán is a longtime Putin ally. Earlier, French president Emmanuel Macron proposed Geneva, with the Swiss foreign minister promising “immunity” to Putin despite an indictment by the international criminal court.

4h ago

13.54 EDT

Asked if Putin has firmly agreed to have a sit-down with Zelenskyy (as the Kremlin has not confirmed if that’s the case), Leavitt says the Trump administration is working with both countries to make the bilateral meeting happen.

4h ago

13.53 EDT

Asked how long Trump is willing to “wait in good faith” for Putin to set up a meeting with Zelenskyy before he intervenes, Leavitt just says Trump wants to end the war as quickly as possible.

4h ago

13.45 EDT

US air support for Ukraine 'an option and possibility', says White House

Asked if the US president is considering US troops in the air if not on the ground as part of security guarantees for Ukraine, Leavitt says that “is an option and a possibility”.

Trump earlier appeared to hint at the possibility of US air support for Ukraine: “We’re willing to help them with things, especially probably if you could talk about by air, because there’s nobody has the kind of stuff we have.”

4h ago

13.42 EDT

Asked about the change of plan – moving from a trilateral meeting to a one-on-one meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy first - Leavitt says: “Both leaders have expressed a willingness to sit down with each other.”

She adds that Donald Trump “wants these two countries to engage in direct diplomacy. He said that from the very beginning.”

Putin has previously resisted a one-on-one meeting with Zelenskyy, and while Trump and European leaders touted yesterday that he had agreed to face-to-face talks with the Ukrainian president, the Kremlin hasn’t confirmed this.

However, Politico reported this morning, citing a senior administration official, that when Trump called the Russian president yesterday to offer his presence at a meeting between him and Zelenskyy, Putin said: “You don’t have to come. I want to see him one on one.” Trump’s team “started working on that”, the official told Politico. “Steve Witkoff has the assignment to get it figured [out].”

But as my colleague Pjotr Sauer writes in this analysis, the claim that Putin has agreed to meet Zelenskyy is one that “Moscow has conspicuously declined to confirm, instead saying that any such meeting would need to be ‘prepared extremely carefully’”.

It’s notable that Leavitt was asked about the Russian response to all this in the briefing just now and she very much skirted around the question.

4h ago

13.32 EDT

Trump has 'definitively' ruled out American boots on the ground but US to help coordinate security guarantees for Ukraine, White House confirms

Asked for the current status of talks regarding security guarantees for Ukraine and what the US’s red lines, Leavitt reiterates that Donald Trump has “definitively” ruled out American boots on the ground.

The president has definitely stated US boots will not be on the ground in Ukraine, but we can certainly help in the coordination and perhaps provide other means of security guarantees to our European allies.

She adds that Trump has directed his national security team to coordinate with Europe, and continue to discuss these matters with Ukraine and Russia.

Earlier, Trump told Fox News that he was ruling out the deployment of American troops to defend Ukraine against another Russian incursion and said Europe would have to “front load” Ukraine’s security.

4h ago

13.13 EDT

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is due to hold a news briefing shortly where she’ll no doubt be asked about Ukraine. I’ll bring you any relevant lines here, my colleague Shrai Popat will also be covering it in full over on our US politics blog:

5h ago

13.01 EDT

Summary

I’m now handing the blog over to Lucy Campbell, but before I go, here is a quick roundup of today’s headlines so far:

The US president, Donald Trump, has ruled out the deployment of American troops in Ukraine, but appeared to hint at possibility of US air security guarantees.

Trump today repeated his warning that Vladimir Putin would face a “rough situation” if he did not cooperate in the peace process, while Volodymyr Zelenskyy had to “show some flexibility”, PA reported. “I hope President Putin is going to be good and if he’s not, that’s going to be a rough situation,” Trump said. “And I hope that Zelensky, President Zelensky, will do what he has to do. He has to show some flexibility.”

Vladimir Putin has agreed to face-to-face talks with Zelenskyy, according to Trump and European leaders, and the Ukrainian president has welcomed the news, calling a “big step forward” towards securing a peace deal.

The “Coalition of the Willing” met virtually today to debrief after last night’s talks at the White House, it emerged.

British prime minister Keir Starmer described the European leaders’ talks at the White House as “good and constructive” and said they produced “real progress”.

The trilateral meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy, Putin ‘can bring breakthrough on path to peace,’ Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said.

On the back of last night’s meeting with Trump and European allies at the White House, Zelenskyy confirmed that the allies were “already working on the concrete content of the security guarantees.”

Geneva is emerging as a potential location for a peace summit between Putin and Zelenskyy, as first floated by the French president, Emmanuel Macron. Speaking to reporters after his White House visit, Macron said the summit should be hosted by “a neutral country, maybe Switzerland – I’m pushing for Geneva – or another country.”

Military planners to meet in US to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, UK said. The UK prime minister’s office released a short statement after the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing on Ukraine, co-chaired by Starmer and Macron.

Ukraine need to be open to discuss territorial changes, not join Nato, the Slovak PM, Robert Fico, said. Fico, who repeatedly clashed with Ukraine in the past and sought to block or delay some EU sanctions on Russia, insisted that “the first basic prerequisite for ending the conflict is the understanding that Ukraine cannot become a member state of Nato.”

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said the EU would continue targeting Russia’s war economy and that the next sanctions package against Moscow should be ready by next month.

5h ago

12.45 EDT

Nato military chiefs to hold video meeting Wednesday on Ukraine (by Lucy Campbell)

The military chiefs of staff of Nato’s 32 member countries will hold a video meeting tomorrow to discuss developments concerning Ukraine, the head of the alliance’s military committee has said.

Italian admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone posted that the military head of Nato’s forces in Europe, US General Alexus Grynkewich, would give an update “on the current security environment” as “diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Ukraine progress”, AFP reports.

5h ago

12.30 EDT

EU to unveil new Russia sanctions package next month

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said the EU would continue targeting Russia’s war economy and that the next sanctions package against Moscow should be ready by next month.

She was speaking after a virtual European Council summit of about the war in Ukraine, a day after an extraordinary meeting of Ukrainian and several EU leaders with U.S. president Donald Trump in Washington.

Kallas said “unity among EU leaders in today’s virtual summit was palpable” and that she had placed the topics of Ukraine security and Russia sanctions at the top of the agenda for talks next week among EU foreign and defence ministers.

“[Vladimir] Putin cannot be trusted to honour any promise or commitment. Therefore, security guarantees must be strong and credible enough to deter Russia from re-grouping and re-attacking,” Kallas said in a post on X.

6h ago

12.08 EDT

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has given Donald Trump a golf club belonging to a wounded serviceman during his visit to Washington this week, Kyiv said on Tuesday.

Trump, an avid golfer who owns several courses, accepted the gift and presented Zelenskyy with symbolic keys to the White House in return, the Ukrainian leader’s office said.

The warm exchange marks a turnaround from February, when Zelenskyy left the White House early after a televised shouting match with Trump and US vice-president JD Vance. Since then, Zelenskyy has sought to repair ties, praising Trump’s efforts to secure peace.

“The president of Ukraine presented the president of the United States with a golf club,” Zelenskyy’s office said. The club belonged to Kostiantyn Kartavtsev, a soldier who “had lost a leg in the first months of Russia’s full-scale invasion while saving his brothers-in-arms”, it added. Zelenskyy also showed Trump a video of Kartavtsev.

Later on Tuesday, Ukrainian veteran organisation United by Golf published a video of Trump holding the club and thanking Kartavtsev. “I just watched your swing. I know a lot about golf and your swing is great,” Trump said. “You’re an amazing person, and you just keep playing golf and doing all of the other things. Your country is a great country. We’re trying to bring it back to health.”

Zelenskyy also brought a letter for Melania Trump from his wife, Olena, thanking the US first lady for writing to Vladimir Putin and urging him to save children’s lives NOT MADE PUBLIC

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ATTACHMENT ONE – FROM EURACTIV GERMANY

EUROPE CONDEMNS ‘GASLIGHTING’ TACTICS DURING TRUMP-PUTIN MEETING

Most reactions came from Eastern European countries. However, the German chair of the Defence Committee also had strong words

Brenda Strohmaier and Sarantis Michalopoulos Euractiv Aug 16, 2025 12:00

The inconclusive summit between Trump and Putin has been met with dismay and astonishment by European politicians, with only the Hungarian president believing that the major powers of the US and Russia are on the right track.

Most reactions came from Eastern European countries, which have supported a strong Western response to Putin.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky expressed support for Trump's efforts toward peace but warned against falling for Kremlin propaganda.

“The problem is Russian imperialism, not Ukraine's desire to live freely. ... If Putin were serious about peace talks, he would not have been attacking Ukraine all day today,” Lipavsky wrote on X.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė criticized Putin’s remarks urging Ukraine and the EU not to “sabotage” the talks.

“More gaslighting and veiled threats from Putin. A war criminal with a history of poisoning his critics addresses the US President with, ‘Very good to see you in good health and to see you alive,’” she said.

Only the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hailed the summit.

"For years, we have watched the two biggest nuclear powers dismantle the framework of their cooperation and shoot unfriendly messages back and forth. That has now come to an end. Today the world is a safer place than it was yesterday," Orban, a rare pro-Kremlin leader in Europe, said on X.

‘Bitterly angry burlesque’

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Chair of the Committee on Security and Defence at the European Parliament, said in an interview with the German media outlet WELT that: “What we were treated to in two and a half hours was a bitterly angry burlesque.”

She accused Trump of having “completely lost his moral compass” and said the only result of the summit was “that Putin is back on the red carpet of the international world.”

She called on Europe to act united and to “continue supporting Ukraine with weapons so that the Ukrainian people are protected, support them economically, and make the Russian funds that are in Europe available to Ukraine immediately.”

Similarly, former German ambassador to the United States Wolfgang Ischinger commented that Putin received his red carpet treatment with Trump, while Trump got nothing.

“As was to be feared: no ceasefire, no peace. No real progress – a clear 1-0 for Putin – no new sanctions. For the Ukrainians: nothing. For Europe: deeply disappointing,” he said on X.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide noted that Putin repeated familiar points, including highlighting the so-called "root causes" of the war - a phrase used to justify Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

He emphasised Norway’s firm stance, stating that it is crucial to maintain and even intensify pressure on Russia to send a clear message that there will be consequences. Eide also warned that Putin aims to divide the unity between the EU and the US, stressing that Kyiv’s voice must be heard.

Euractiv is part of the Trust Project

ATTACHMENT TWO – FROM 1440

TRUMP TO MEET PUTIN

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, at 3:30 pm ET today to discuss the war in Ukraine. The talk—which will be conducted one-on-one with two translators present—will be followed by lunch with their delegations and a joint press conference.

While Putin and Trump have had several phone calls this year, this will be their first in-person meeting since 2018. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not attend, though he did join Trump and other NATO leaders in a virtual meeting Wednesday. During that call, Trump affirmed his commitment to a ceasefire and agreed not to discuss peace deal parameters, including possible territorial divisions, without Ukraine present. Putin reportedly seeks to add US-Russia nuclear arms relations to today’s agenda. Trump told reporters his aim is to secure a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy.

ATTACHMENT THREE – FROM TIME

‘DON’T DELUDE YOURSELVES’: WHY TRUMP’S SUMMIT IN ALASKA CANNOT END PUTIN’S WAR IN UKRAINE

By Simon Shuster Aug 15, 2025 6:00 AM ET

Four summers ago, when the U.S. and Russia last held a summit of their two presidents, one of the officials in charge of organizing it was Eric Green. As Senior Director for Russia and Central Asia at the National Security Council, his phone rang whenever President Biden had a question about Vladimir Putin. In early 2021, it rang often.

For one thing, Putin decided that spring to send tens of thousands of troops to his border with Ukraine, raising fears of an imminent invasion.

At around the same time, Russian hackers launched a series of crippling ransomware attacks against American hospitals and businesses. On top of that, an important nuclear treaty between the U.S. and Russia was about to lapse. So Biden did what his successor, Donald Trump, would end up doing four years later: He invited Putin to meet and talk.

“The context was completely different,” Green told me this week, when I asked about comparisons to the summit Trump is holding with Putin today in Alaska.

Indeed, Russia had not yet invaded Ukraine when Biden met Putin for the last time in June 2021. But on one thing the Russian president has remained stubbornly consistent.

“There is continuity in his views about Ukraine,” Green says. “He wants to control its freedom of action, to dominate it.”

The stated aims of Trump's summit with Putin — such as his idea of “swapping” one piece of Ukrainian territory for another, or the notion of a partial ceasefire — will not address what the Russian leader has long described as the “root causes” of the war. “When he talks about root causes, he’s talking about Ukraine’s existence as a sovereign, independent country,” Green explains. “That’s not Trump’s to give away.” 

Without it, Putin cannot be expected to leave Ukraine in peace. At most, he might pause the fighting — allowing for a temporary truce to let his armies recover and his economy restore some of Russia’s depleted wealth. But seizing some Ukrainian territory would not satisfy Putin’s desire to bring the entire country under Russian control. Vladimir Solovyov, one of the leading propagandists on Russian state TV, made this clear to his millions of viewers this week. “Don’t delude yourselves,” he told them of the summit’s prospects for peace. “This war is for a long time.”

Putin’s objectives were not yet clear to Washington in June 2021. Ahead of that summit, held on neutral ground in Switzerland, on the shores of Lake Geneva, the Russians had pulled most of their forces away from their border with Ukraine, signaling that they wanted to give the U.S. a chance to prevent the outbreak of war. When Biden and Putin emerged from their meeting, however, their positions remained so far apart that the two leaders chose not to appear before the media to talk about the results. “We refused to have a joint press conference with him,” says Green. “We were dealing with an adversary, not a partner.” 

Weeks later, Putin published a lengthy manifesto, arguing that Ukraine belongs by right to Russia and cannot exist as an independent nation. “True sovereignty of Ukraine is possible only in partnership with Russia,” he wrote. 

By end of 2021, Russian troops returned to the border in even greater numbers, and Biden made another attempt to defuse the tensions with a presidential summit. He even offered to discuss issues far beyond Ukraine, such as the future of the NATO alliance and European security.

The Russians responded with a set of demands that the Americans could not even pretend to take seriously. The main one called for the NATO alliance to withdraw from eastern Europe, moving back to where they stood before Putin took power. “NATO needs to pack up its stuff and go back to where it was in 1997,” the lead Russian envoy in talks with the Americans, Sergei Ryabkov, said at the time. 

The U.S. rejected the ultimatum and threatened sanctions, which came into force when Russia invaded in February 2022.

Since then, the only thing that has stopped Putin from taking the whole country has been Ukrainian military force, bolstered by Western weapons. Even battlefield defeats — Kyiv in spring 2022, Kharkiv and Kherson that fall — have not shifted his ambitions.

Today, the war has devolved into a grinding, bloody stalemate centered mostly around the eastern region of the Donbas, where Russian forces have continued making slow territorial gains, mile by mile, despite their own horrifying losses and the wholesale destruction of the towns and cities Putin claims to be liberating. 

Still, Putin insists the “root causes” must be resolved before peace. On Aug. 1, days before Trump confirmed the Alaska summit, Putin repeated: “Our conditions, the goals of Russia, have not changed. The main thing is to uproot the causes of this crisis.”

All the while, the Russian leader has repeated time and again that the “root causes” of the invasion must be addressed before he ends the war. He said it again on August 1, about a week before Trump confirmed his plans for a summit in Alaska. “Our conditions, the goals of Russia, have not changed,” Putin said. “The main thing is to uproot the causes of this crisis.” 

The phrase may sound open to interpretation, but to those who have dealt with him, it is anything but.  

“He has been remarkably consistent on this point,” Green says. Putin wants all of Ukraine — and will use any means necessary to get it. A tactical pause to let Trump play peacemaker is one thing; securing the future of Ukraine is another. Only the Ukrainians, with whatever arms and allies they are able muster, can do that.

ATTACHMENT FOUR – FROM WASHPOST

EVEN BEFORE ALASKA SUMMIT, PUTIN IS REDRAWING GLOBAL ORDER TO HIS LIKING

The Alaska summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin represents a return to great-power politics in which big countries call the shots.

By Robyn Dixon, Francesca Ebel and Catherine Belton August 14, 2025 at 5:00 a.m. EDTToday at 5:00 a.m. EDT

Even before talks begin, President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with President Donald Trump at a U.S. military base in Alaska on Friday is advancing the Russian’s goal of redrawing the global security order, as the two men revive a great-power system in which a few big countries call the shots.

Putin set the scene last week after meeting Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, when he ruled out meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky until certain conditions were met — conditions that he said remained “far off.”

Trump agreed and dismissed the idea of Zelensky’s attendance, even as the future of his nation — and its 40 million citizens — hangs in the balance.

Zelensky had been in many meetings in 3½ years — since the start of Russia’s invasion — Trump said Monday, and “nothing happened. … I mean, do you want somebody that’s been doing this for 3½ years?”

A tête-à-tête summit, on U.S. soil, was not Putin’s only important win. He also diverted, for now, Trump’s threat of tough economic sanctions against Russian oil and deflected Trump’s calls for a ceasefire. On Monday, Trump was back to blaming Zelensky for the war — echoing Putin — although Trump seemed more conciliatory in a videoconference with Zelensky and European leaders Wednesday.

The optics of the Alaska meeting reinforce Putin’s long-held goal of rebuilding Russia as one of a handful of major global powers with rightful spheres of influence, and it delivers on his short-term tactical objective of a one-on-one meeting to woo and manipulate Trump.

A former senior Kremlin official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy, called the Alaska summit “a golden opportunity” for Putin, adding: “And of course a visit to the U.S. is a massive victory.”

Another person with close ties to the Kremlin and who also spoke on the condition of anonymity said the summit, which is set to begin at 11:30 a.m. Friday in Anchorage, was “a real chance to put an end to this” and that the meeting had been designed to “soothe the Russian elites, for whom this war is a disgrace, and want everything to get back to normal.”

Former senior Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev, who resigned over the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, said Putin had offered so little that it was difficult to see why Trump agreed to meet. He said it appeared to be a Kremlin ploy to divert Trump from sanctions, just as Putin diverted Trump’s call for a ceasefire in May by proposing peace talks in Istanbul that delivered nothing.

While Trump has lately criticized Putin’s attacks on Ukrainian cities, he has not imposed sanctions or any other pressure on Russia beyond rhetoric. Trump told reporters on Wednesday that there would be “very severe” consequences if Putin continued the war after the Alaska meeting, although he has made similar threats before without following through.

“It’s a bad idea for Trump to host this meeting,” Bondarev said, questioning the purpose and benefit. “First he said, ‘I want to meet with Vladimir and we will make a deal somehow.’” But then, he added, Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the meeting was to find out what Putin wants, when “it’s totally visible what the other side wants.”

Putin has long made clear that he is demanding that Ukraine surrender four resource-rich regions and recognize Russia’s 2014 illegal invasion and annexation of Crimea. Putin also wants Ukraine barred from NATO membership and its military constrained to the point that it would have little use.

Rubio said Tuesday that meeting Putin was “not a concession” but a “feel-out meeting.”

“A meeting is what you do to kind of figure out and make your decision,” Rubio contended, adding an echo of Trump’s assertion that the chances of success would be clear early on.

Meetings between U.S. and Russian presidents — leaders of the nations with the world’s largest nuclear arsenals — are normally exquisitely choreographed, highly negotiated events in which concrete “deliverables” are agreed upon well in advance and nothing is left to chance.

Putin’s attacks on Zelensky’s legitimacy as recently as Aug. 1, and his depictions of Ukraine as a corrupt and artificial state, firmly place the Ukrainian on a lower plane, worthy of a meeting only when he accepts Russia’s terms.

“Putin would like to present it to Trump like this: that with you, Donald, we know how things are done, and all these people from Europe and this Zelensky boy, this nasty boy, shouldn’t be involved,” Bondarev said. “‘They don’t know what to do. They don’t know what they want. We know what we want, so let’s agree.’ Maybe Trump can be flattered like this.”

Trump, perhaps unwittingly, reinforces the narrative.

At a news conference Monday, he seemed to portray two tough men working out a deal together, dismissing Zelensky’s input and claiming that European leaders “very much rely on me. If it wasn’t for me, this thing would never get solved until the last person breathing is dead.”

Trump expressed strong dissatisfaction with Zelensky, whom he seemed to blame for the fighting: “I get along with Zelensky, but I disagree with what he’s done — very, very severely disagree. This is a war that should have never happened,” he said.

He complained about Zelensky citing the barriers in Ukraine’s constitution to changing borders. “He’s got approval to go into war, kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap,” Trump said. Trump, however, did not mention that Russia quickly wrote the invaded and illegally annexed Ukrainian regions into its constitution in a bid to prevent their return.

Boasting that Putin told him how “tough” he was, Trump called Russia “tough” too, and he described Putin’s invasion as a reflection of the Russian character.

“It’s a warring nation,” Trump said. “That’s what they do. They fight a lot of wars.”

Zelensky, he warned, had to accept “some land swapping” that would be “for the good of Ukraine” but also “some bad stuff for both.”

Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of the German parliament from Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union, said the exclusion of Europe and Ukraine from the meeting in Alaska meant the end of the West, in the sense of a collective alliance of the United States, European Union nations and NATO allies.

“‘The West’ as an emotional or ethical term — it’s over,” Kiesewetter said. “That’s my main concern.” His other fear, he added, is the fate of Ukrainians.

Putin has other opportunities in Alaska, with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stating Tuesday that a key Moscow objective is to “normalize” relations with the U.S., a reference to the Kremlin’s goal of ending sanctions, restoring direct flights and enabling U.S.-Russian business deals.

Russia also wants to deflect blame onto Ukraine for Trump’s failure so far to end the war, according to analysts, in the hope that the Trump administration could halt intelligence support to Ukraine just as it has slowed weapons deliveries.

With recent Russian battlefield advances, Putin is confident that victory is with reach, according to Russian analysts, and he is disinclined to compromise, despite huge Russian casualties. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that the number of Russians killed or wounded will reach 1 million over the summer.

But the former senior Kremlin official said that Putin no longer cares about the human cost of the war, calling him “very thick-skinned.”

“He is like a turtle,” the former official said. “This does not touch him anymore.”

War fatigue appears to be setting in on all sides. The official said most people within the Kremlin oppose the war but are afraid to tell Putin.

“Everyone is scared of Putin. People do not want to talk about compromising because they all need to show that they are patriots,” he said.

As for the summit, the former official said: “I have low expectations. … They will either have to give an ultimatum to Ukraine, or walk away with very little achieved.”

ATTACHMENT FIVE – FROM INDEPENDENT U.K.

UKRAINE BELIEVES PUTIN HAS JUST ‘ONE CARD LEFT TO PLAY’ IN CEASEFIRE TALKS – AND IT GIVES KYIV THE UPPER HAND

Exclusive: Ukraine and its allies believe European support and the threat of further sanctions give Kyiv the edge over Moscow – they just hope they have done enough to convince Donald Trump, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

BY Sam Kiley Wednesday 13 August 2025 20:16 BST

Vladimir Putin has “only one card” left to play – to prolong the killing in Ukraine, according to a senior source in Volodymyr Zelensky’s presidential office as Europe held top-level talks ahead of the Alaska summit this week.

Zelensky has not been invited to Friday’s meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. And there are deep concerns that the US president will emerge from the encounter taking an even harder line on Ukraine.

Europe’s leaders, including Keir Starmer, have been corralling US officials and White House insiders, and met virtually with the Oval Office to try to persuade Trump to use the leverage he has over Putin to get him to agree to a ceasefire.

Trump told those gathered on the call that he would push Putin for a ceasefire deal at the meeting in Anchorage, but Zelensky voiced concerns that the Russian president, not for the first time, was “bluffing” about wanting a path to peace.

He told the US president that Putin “is trying to apply pressure ... on all sectors of the Ukrainian front” to show he is capable of occupying the whole of Ukraine.

A source close to Zelensky told The Independent that Putin only has one goal in mind: “The main thing for Putin is to try to trade land for ceasefires. The ability to kill and to prolong war is the only card Putin has. So, he’s trying to play this card.”

In February this year, Trump lost his temper with Zelensky, yelling at him that he didn’t “have the cards” in the conflict with Russia during an infamous press conference in the Oval Office.

Now, Ukraine insists, it’s Putin who has the weaker hand.

Europe’s leaders tried to reinforce that message to Trump, pushing the idea that sanctions really are having an effect on Russia. They emphasised this so that Trump feels confident to threaten further economic sanctions against countries that import Russian oil – and even to renew arms shipments to Ukraine – in his effort to persuade Putin to suspend military operations.

“Trump does want to finish the killings, it’s true, and he has the power to do it. So the question is, for him, how to do the right thing,” the Ukrainian presidential adviser said.

So far, Putin has said any ceasefire would have to be premised on the condition that Ukraine agrees to cede four provinces – Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia – to Russia along with Crimea. He also wants assurances that Ukraine will not use any pause in the fighting to rearm.

Ukraine has long agreed to a minimum 30-day unconditional ceasefire, and insists it is willing to discuss grounds for peace.

As speculation mounts over what Friday’s summit will achieve, Trump has indicated that he agrees with Russia and that Ukraine should be prepared to agree “land swaps” of Ukrainian territory.

Europe, the UK and Ukraine have ruled out such concessions – especially as part of any deal struck between Russia and the US without Ukraine being present.

Despite the fanfare over the meeting in Anchorage, the US actually has less power, and therefore less influence over the outcome of the talks, as a result of forcing Kyiv and Europe into taking on more of the burden of helping Ukraine to defend its territory.

Trump cut all military aid to Ukraine earlier this year. The total US military spend there has amounted to €114bn (£84bn), which is dwarfed by the current pledged contribution by the UK and the EU, which stands at €250bn (£216bn).

Ukraine’s Nato allies now have to buy US weapons to supply Kyiv, but there are no signs that the US could ban that revenue stream.

Russia has seen its second-largest oil client, India, hit with 50 per cent US tariffs, with 25 per cent imposed in an effort to convince Putin to respond to Trump’s ceasefire proposals. And if the US decided to open the taps of free military aid again, it could tip the tactical balance rapidly in Ukraine’s favour.

The UK and Europe want Trump to spell this out to Putin.

“Zelensky supports the ceasefire,” the Ukrainian source said. “The problem is that Putin rejects it. The majority of Ukrainians want to see peace, it’s true, but at the same time the majority of Ukrainians reject Russian claims on the territory.”

ATTACHMENT SIX – FROM THE WASHINGTON POST

‘A FUNDAMENTAL MISUNDERSTANDING’: WILL TRUMP’S ALASKA SUMMIT ACHIEVE ANYTHING?

Three writers discuss what to expect from Friday’s meeting.

By Damir Marusic, David Ignatius and Max Boot August 14, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. EDT

The highly anticipated Trump-Putin summit will take place tomorrow in Anchorage. On the agenda: how to end the Ukraine war. The meeting is sure to provide much theater, but will it yield anything else? I sat down with my colleagues David Ignatius and Max Boot to discuss.

— Damir Marusic,

Damir Marusic Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reportedly said, “I have many fears and a lot of hope.” David, Max, how are you feeling ahead of the sit-down?

David Ignatius For me, it’s a mix of hope and dread. The hope is that President Donald Trump, having committed so much to ending a war that he rightly condemns as a bloodbath, will lean hard enough on Russian President Vladimir Putin to get terms that reasonable people could sell to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his country. The fear is that Trump will simply listen to Putin‘s demands and either seek to impose them on Ukraine or walk away from his diplomatic mission. If I had to guess, I’d opt for the fearful version.

Max Boot I have more fear than hope. I see no indication that Putin is going to call off his war (which is making little progress on the ground). The offer Putin apparently made to special envoy Steve Witkoff — he is demanding that Ukraine turn over unconquered, well-defended territory in the Donetsk region in return for a ceasefire — is a nonstarter for Ukraine.

Damir I’m maybe a bit more optimistic. Not in the sense that there will be any progress, but the opposite: The White House seems to be lowering expectations about what’s possible. Trump on Monday told reporters, “It’s not up to me to make a deal.”

Max Yes, I’m mildly cheered to see the White House lowering expectations. But I also know that Trump is mercurial and unpredictable, and he loves surprises. So the chances of Putin-Trump meeting in private and hatching some kind of deal (or, more exactly, the framework of a deal) and Trump coming back to proclaim “peace for our time” are not negligible. I don’t see that as the likeliest outcome — and I am also buoyed by the fact that Trump was able to say no to a bad offer from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at their last summit — but it’s a real danger.

David Trump’s flair for the dramatic is what got him into this negotiation in the first place. And recalling his diplomacy with Kim, it’s hard to imagine him just having a “listening exercise” and then saying, “See you later, Vlad.” One way or another, I suspect Trump will want some drama.

Max My concern level will rise if Trump and Putin meet alone, with only interpreters. That’s what happened at their last meeting in Helsinki, and it was a disaster. I hope Trump will take Secretary of State Marco Rubio, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg and others into the room with him (but preferably not Witkoff, who has proved very credulous in dealing with Putin).

David An important baseline for Anchorage will come today, when Trump speaks with European leaders and Zelensky about what Europe might do to support Ukraine against continuing Russian aggression even if the U.S. backs away.

Damir The danger for me seems to be that Trump is still in thrall to the idea that everyone just wants to make money. During that Monday news conference, in the same breath as he said it was not up to him to make a deal, he seemed to hold out hope that normalizing economic relations with Russia could bring Putin to the table, saying that Putin has to get back to rebuilding his country.

David Trump has always had a fantasy that there are “trillions” to be made in a future Russia. People keep trying to talk him out of that misjudgment, I’m told. Yet it persists. Weird.

Max I thought reality was dawning for Trump last month when he started denouncing Putin for having nice conversations but then continuing to bomb civilian centers. Trump was finally on the right track in threatening massive sanctions and agreeing to supply weapons to Ukraine (albeit with the Europeans buying them first). But then he did another U-turn last week, following Witkoff’s meeting with Putin, again blaming Zelensky for starting the war and pretending that Putin is interested in peace. The whole summit is built on a fundamental misunderstanding: Trump thinks Putin wants to end the war. What Putin really wants is to win the war.

David Trump has tried every possible approach to diplomacy. Term sheets. Timelines. High-level meetings. But he keeps coming back to his core idea that it’s only a meeting between the two big guys — him and Putin — that can resolve this, so we end up in Anchorage with very little work done on the shape of a settlement or clarity about what it might involve.

Damir Is there any sense that Trump still has the “stick” of secondary sanctions in mind?

MaxI don’t know what Trump will do, but if he’s serious about making a deal with Putin, he first has to impose the full gamut of pressure and wait for the sanctions to bite. He is making a major blunder by prematurely rushing into a summit when there is no indication that Putin will make any concessions.

David I think Trump would love to use China and India as leverage to get Putin to make concessions. I’m told that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has included Ukraine in his conversations with Chinese officials, and obviously Trump has threatened India with heavy secondary sanctions if it continues to buy oil from Russia. But my guess is that these efforts will fade if Trump encounters an immovable obstacle in Putin on Friday.

Damir An immovable Putin wouldn’t cause him to double down, but fold? Is it TACO all over again?

Max Trump has said he may conclude there is no deal to be had and walk away. That’s fine, if it happens. The question is what happens next. Will he just ignore the entire war, thereby giving Putin a free hand? Or will he return to his threats of sanctions for Russia to punish Putin for intransigence? Trump doesn’t have to insert himself into the peacemaking process — ultimately, it will be up to Russia and Ukraine to make peace, and thus far Putin is not even willing to meet Zelensky — but Trump does need to continue backing Ukraine.

David I don’t like the TACO analogy. It just eggs Trump on, a breakfast taco? as near as I can tell. I think the question for Trump is how much he’s willing to risk to gain a peace in Ukraine that’s desperately important for Europe but less so for the United States. And the answer, probably, is that he’s not willing to risk much.

Damir Marusic is an assignment editor at Post Opinions. Previously, he was executive editor at the American Interest magazine and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center.

David Ignatius writes a twice-a-week foreign affairs column for The Washington Post. His latest novel is “Phantom Orbit.” @ignatiuspost

Max Boot is a Washington Post columnist and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. A Pulitzer Prize finalist in biography, he is the author, most recently, of the New York Times bestseller “Reagan: His Life and Legend," which was named one of the 10 best books of 2024 by the New York Times.

ATTACHMENT SEVEN – FROM TIME

FROM THE SIDELINES, UKRAINE PREPARES TO WATCH AS U.S., RUSSIA DISCUSS ITS FATE

By Philip Elliott Aug 14, 2025 4:48 PM ET

Given the optimistic tone coming from so many world leaders ahead of Donald Trump’s Friday meeting with Vladimir Putin, one might be forgiven for believing a peaceful end to Russia’s war in Ukraine was merely hours away.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called Wednesday’s video call with Trump to discuss Trump's upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin “a truly exceptionally constructive and good conversation.” From his point of view, Trump “would rate it a 10, very friendly.” Putin told reporters on Thursday that he saw Trump making “quite energetic efforts to stop the fighting, end the crisis, and reach agreements of interest to all parties involved in this conflict.”

All the while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country remains under constant attack from Putin’s Russia, seemed to say what everyone else didn’t want to acknowledge: “Putin does not want peace. He wants to occupy us completely.”

Ahead of a bilateral summit between U.S. and Russian leaders slated to take place on Friday in Alaska, no one was offering hard predictions. It’s impossible to forget just how effectively Putin has succeeded in bending Trump with his charm, brutality, and mind games. The session in Anchorage is likely far from resolving the three-year-old war but could, if Trump’s comments this week hold true, a first step toward winding down a conflict that has left Trump beyond frustrated that he cannot simply will peace into being. 

But everyone has seen Trump set out with one plan only to see him return with a completely revised notion. It’s why Putin is already trying to distract Trump with other agenda items before they even meet.

To be blunt, it’s a coin-toss what happens next. But one thing is certain: none of it will match the tranquility and conformity that leaders were trying to project heading into this session. Trump is famous for going into these sessions under-prepared and over-confident. And recent reports suggest Trump may be preparing a deal with Russia that would trade rare minerals—perhaps those mined in Alaska—with Russia in exchange for peace in Ukraine, a suggestion Trump did not shoot down during a Thursday meeting with reporters. Separately, there are reports that Trump is bandying around an idea that would give Russia military and economic control of an occupied Ukraine, much like Israel has the run of the Palestinians’ West Bank.

Indeed, the expectations-lowering machine was going so fast this week you could see the smoke coming off the gears, with Trump on Thursday doubling-down on the idea that Friday’s session was merely an opening act for the real games that would come quickly and with Zelensky on hand. 

“We have a meeting with President Putin tomorrow,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. “I think it's going to be a good meeting, but the more important meeting will be the second meeting that we're having. We're going to have a meeting with President Putin, President Zelensky, myself, and maybe we'll bring some of the European leaders along. Maybe not.”

It’s the maybe not that has a lot of Ukraine’s allies on edge. Europe’s bloodiest war since 1945 has left the continent unsettled, the West dusting off its Cold War instincts, and Russia increasingly isolated. This will be the first time Putin has had an in-person audience with a U.S. President since 2021, or since he invaded Ukraine the following year. That Trump would welcome Putin on U.S. soil was being spun both as Trump securing home-turf advantage and a moment of capitulation to a cold-blooded dictator whose values are anathema to American values.

For his part, Trump has been aggressively cagey about the summit’s goals as he tries to improvise his way toward the Nobel Peace Prize he openly covets.

“We're going to see what happens. And I think President Putin will make peace. I think President Zelensky will make peace. We'll see if they can get along, and if they can, it'll be great,” Trump said of the two leaders who have killed thousands of foes in a battle that seems fated.

White House officials and their proxies on the outside have been shameless in repositioning the goalposts so that Trump could declare a win no matter the outcome. The talking point calling the summit a “listening experience” drew so much derision, it teeters on becoming the new Infrastructure Week, a branding campaign infamous for its lack of tangible results. On Thursday, Trump leaned into that posture in his freewheeling session with reporters. 

“We're going to find out where everybody stands,” Trump said, seemingly oblivious to the fact Russia invaded Ukraine and has been far from an honest negotiating partner. “And I'll know within the first two minutes, three minutes, four minutes, or five minutes left, we tend to find out whether or not we're going to have a good meeting or a bad meeting. And if it's a bad meeting, it'll end very quickly, and if it's a good meeting, we're going to end up getting peace in the pretty near future.”

In an earlier radio interview, Trump said he put the odds of a failed summit at one-in-four and said he would leave Alaska immediately if things go sideways. 

The pieces were certainly in the wings for that outcome. Putin is bringing with him a business delegation that could distract Trump from the task at hand with the prospect of big-ticket investment vehicles. Trump, above all else, sees himself as a deal maker, and an economic package at home could prove more tempting than peace in a far-away corner of the globe. At the same time, Kremlin officials have dangled a nuclear treaty as another potential subject of conversation.

Trump’s advisers see the risk. Putin knows its potential. And Trump himself seems indifferent to the distractions hiding in plain sight.

So as Friday’s summit barrels toward a starting pistol, it is the diplomatic equivalent of a jump ball, with two nuclear powers making a play as Ukraine is left to watch from afar a discussion about its sheer survival.

ATTACHMENT EIGHT – FROM the FINANCIAL TIMES

BY Stephanie Stacey August 14, 2025

Hello and welcome back to White House Watch! Today let’s dig into:

 Trump vs Putin

 Tensions over Bolsonaro

 The new boss of the BLS

President Donald Trump said yesterday that Russia would face “very severe consequences” if Vladimir Putin refuses to agree to end the war in Ukraine at the leaders’ scheduled meeting in Alaska on Friday.

The threat came after a day of intense diplomacy from Ukraine and its European allies, who were concerned that Trump might strike a deal on territory with Putin and then try to impose it on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump’s comments yesterday went some way towards calming those fears, as he said he hoped Friday’s meeting would followed by a trilateral gathering with both Putin and Zelenskyy.

French President Emmanuel Macron said it was “very important” Trump had recognised that any territorial concession by Ukraine must come with security guarantees — and that the US “should take part”.

The White House had earlier played down expectations that a peace deal would be achieved at Friday’s summit between Putin and Trump, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt describing the meeting as “a listening exercise.” The Kremlin has said Putin and Trump will discuss “economic co-operation” as well as the war in Ukraine and nuclear arms control.

Meanwhile, foreign policy experts have warned that Trump will be entering discussions with Putin without the support of any longtime Russia specialists.

In his second term in office, Trump has prioritised loyalty over experience among his senior aides. Negotiations with Moscow have so far been led by real estate developer Steve Witkoff, while foreign policy veterans have often been sidelined and some forced out of their jobs.

“It’s safe to say that Trump does not have a single policymaking person who knows Russia and Ukraine advising him,” said former career diplomat Eric Rubin.

Putin, meanwhile, is notoriously skilled at catching his interlocutors off guard. “You want to avoid getting entrapped by his skill at debating those points and avoid agreeing to something that may sound reasonable the way it’s presented by Putin, but in fact is distorted,” said Eric Green, who was senior director for Russia at the National Security Council under former president Joe Biden.

Trump’s pick for the next boss of the Bureau of Labor Statistics — after he abruptly fired the last one — has deepened investor concern over the integrity of some of the global market’s most closely watched data.

Trump said in a Truth Social Post on Monday that he was nominating the “Highly Respected Economist” EJ Antoni, a loyalist from the rightwing Heritage Foundation, to chair the agency. The move comes less than two weeks after he fired former commissioner Erika McEntarfer, claiming without evidence that she had “rigged” a disappointing jobs report.

Antoni, who completed a PhD in economics at Northern Illinois University in 2020, has been an ardent supporter of the president and his policies. But even economists on the political right have doubts about his nomination.

“The hope was that [Trump] would pick someone . . . who people would have trust in and could lead the BLS in an appropriate way, with relevant experience and, ideally, not hyper-partisan,” said Stan Veuger, a senior fellow at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute think-tank. “EJ Antoni is really the opposite of that.”

“The sad thing is that there are countless competent, respected conservative economists who could do a terrific job running BLS,” wrote Jessica Riedl, a former Heritage fellow now at the conservative Manhattan Institute. “But no credible economist would take a job in which you’d get fired for publishing accurate data.”

Analysts warn that a hit to the BLS’s credibility could weaken the Treasury market. “People are really upset,” said Philippa Dunne, a labour market economist at TLR Analytics. “It’s that the rest of the world is not going to trust our data. And if they don’t trust us, they’re not going to lend us money.”

If the market doubts the independence of Trump’s BLS, it could also drive a shift to private providers. “One should expect demand for private-label data to increase,” said Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM. “It’s going to become quite the cottage industry going forward.”

 Putin has good reasons to be hopeful, writes columnist Ed Luce. The Russian president may be able to exploit Trump’s desperation for a deal on Ukraine.

 Trump is trading an economy grounded in the rule of law for one ruled by arbitrary deals, writes the FT’s editorial board.

 The foreign ministers of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia warn that Russian occupation is never temporary amid speculation of a territory swap with Ukraine.

 Subdued markets are giving Trump a pass to push norms and institutions closer to the breaking point. Investors are “frogs in a pot”, argues Katie Martin.

ATTACHMENT NINE – FROM THE GUARDIAN U.K.
PUTIN READY TO MAKE UKRAINE DEAL, TRUMP SAYS BEFORE ALASKA SUMMIT

US president’s comment that Russian and Ukrainian leaders may have to ‘divvy’ things up likely to raise alarm

Patrick Wintour Fri 15 Aug 2025 08.34 EDT

Donald Trump has said he believes Vladimir Putin is ready to make a deal on the war in Ukraine as the two leaders prepare for their summit in Alaska on Friday, but his suggestion that the Russian leader and Volodymyr Zelenskyy could “divvy things up” may alarm some in Kyiv.

The US president, who left the White House on Friday at 7.30am, implied there was a 75% chance of the Alaska meeting succeeding, and that the threat of economic sanctions may have made Putin more willing to seek an end to the war. “HIGH STAKES!!!” he posted on Truth Social as his motorcade idled outside the White House shortly after sunrise in Washington.

Trump told reporters on Thursday that he would not let Putin get the better of him in the meeting, saying: “I am president, and he’s not going to mess around with me.”

“I’ll know within the first two minutes, three minutes, four minutes or five minutes … whether or not we’re going to have a good meeting or a bad meeting. And if it’s a bad meeting, it’ll end very quickly, and if it’s a good meeting, we’re going to end up getting peace in the pretty near future.”

Trump also said a second meeting – not yet confirmed – between him, Putin and Zelenskyy would be the more decisive.

“The second meeting is going to be very, very important, because that’s going to be a meeting where they make a deal. And I don’t want to use the word ‘divvy’ things up, but you know, to a certain extent, it’s not a bad term, OK?” Trump told Fox News Radio.

He was referring to the possibility that Zelenskyy will have to accept “land swaps” – the handing over of Ukrainian territory to Russia, potentially including some not captured by Moscow.

Later on Thursday, Trump suggested that any second, trilateral meeting could happen quickly – and possibly take place in Alaska. “Tomorrow, all I want to do is set the table for the next meeting, which should happen shortly,” he said. “I’d like to see it actually happen, maybe in Alaska.”

Any such meeting would be a concession by Putin since he refuses to recognise Zelenskyy as the legitimate leader of Ukraine.

Trump conceded he was unsure whether an immediate ceasefire could be achieved, but expressed interest in brokering a peace agreement. On Putin, he said: “I believe now, he’s convinced that he’s going to make a deal. I think he’s going to, and we’re going to find out.”

Zelenskyy will face a difficult choice if Putin rejects Ukraine’s call for a full 30-day ceasefire and offers only a partial break in the fighting, particularly if Trump thinks a three-way meeting should still go ahead.

The Ukrainian president spent much of Thursday in London discussing Wednesday’s video call between European leaders and Trump with the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer. European leaders were largely relieved with the way the conversation went, but know Trump is unpredictable and prone to acting on instinct, rather than sticking to a script.

The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said changes on the battlefield could make peace harder. “To achieve a peace, I think we all recognise that there’ll have to be some conversation about security guarantees,” he said.

Trump has rejected offering such guarantees before, but it is possible European security guarantees could be agreed. Rubio said he believed Trump had spoken by phone to Putin four times and “felt it was important to now speak to him in person and look him in the eye and figure out what was possible and what isn’t”.

Starmer and Zelenskyy met in Downing Street for breakfast on Thursday and hailed “a visible chance for peace” as long as Putin proved he was serious about ending the war.

European leaders emerged from Wednesday’s meeting reassured that Trump was going into his summit focused on extracting Putin’s commitment to a durable ceasefire and was not seeking to negotiate over Ukraine’s head.

The plan for Trump and Putin to hold a joint press conference after their talks suggests the White House is optimistic the summit will bring about a breakthrough. Moscow is determined that the summit should not just focus on Ukraine but also agree steps to restart US-Russian economic cooperation.

In a brief summary of the Downing Street meeting, British officials said Zelenskyy and Starmer expressed cautious optimism about a truce “as long as Putin takes action to prove he is serious” about peace. In a separate statement, Zelenskyy said there had been discussions about the security guarantees required to make any deal “truly durable if the United States succeeds in pressing Russia to stop the killing”.

On Wednesday Starmer co-chaired a virtual meeting of the “coalition of the willing” – a European-led effort to send a peacekeeping force to Ukraine to enforce any deal – where he said there was a “viable” chance of a truce.

On Thursday the prime minister gave Zelenskyy a bear hug in the street outside the door to No 10 in a symbol of continuing British solidarity with the Ukrainian cause. Similar public displays of solidarity followed the disastrous February meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, when the two leaders quarrelled in front of the cameras in the White House.

Further sanctions could be imposed on Russia should the Kremlin fail to engage, and Starmer said the UK was already working on its next package of measures targeting Moscow.

Trump has frequently said he will know if he can achieve peace in Ukraine only by meeting Putin personally. He sets great faith in his personal relationship with the Russian leader, but on Wednesday he played down expectations of what he could do to persuade Putin to relent. At the same time he warned there would be “very severe consequences” for Russia if Putin did not agree to a ceasefire, a veiled threat to increase US sanctions on Russian oil exports.

As Ukraine battles to hold lines, Trump may find Putin difficult to persuade

He has so far held off from imposing such economic pressure on Russia, but by the end of the month the US is due to impose additional tariffs on Indian imports into the US as a punishment for India continuing to buy Russian oil.

The UK would like to see the US consider other, more targeted sanctions, either on the shadow fleet of Russian oil tankers or on refineries that use Russian oil. But Moscow briefed that the Alaska summit, far from leading to extra economic pressure on the Russian economy, would instead include discussion and agreements on new US-Russian economic cooperation, a step that would relieve the pressure on Russian state finances.

Some European leaders took heart from the detailed grasp of the issues shown on the call by the US vice-president, JD Vance, and by hints that Trump could be willing to contribute US assets to a European-led security guarantee for Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement.

The Alaska summit, due to start at 11.30am local time (2030 BST), will include a one-to-one meeting between Trump and Putin, with interpreters, then a wider meeting.

The Russian delegation will include the foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov; the defence minister, Andrei Belousov; the finance minister, Anton Siluanov; the head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund, Kirill Dmitriev; and Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov.

ATTACHMENT TEN – FROM INDEPENDENT U.K.

TRUMP’S FINALLY UNLEASHED – WHAT IS THE WORLD’S PAIN TOLERANCE?

Donald Trump is finally getting almost everything that he wants. But the question is, how will everyone else respond to that?

On Wednesday, he arrived at the Kennedy Center and announced that he would host the annual honors award ceremony, a first for a president. For a president who loves the theatrical, it’s definitely a coup, especially given that he removed the board members that Joe Biden nominated before the new board made him chairman.

But while Trump taking over the performing arts center is campy and even a bit weird, it shows how Trump feels no scruples and that he can finally realize the vision he wants for the country.

The only question at this point is what is the rest of the world’s pain tolerance.

Earlier this week, Trump made the unprecedented announcement that he would seize control of the Washington, D.C. police department and deploy the National Guard onto the streets of the nation’s capital.

Trump has long griped about crime and in many ways, it’s a chance for him to live out the vision he wanted during the 2020 George Floyd protests, where he could deploy active duty troops onto the streets of American cities.

But that’s not the only area where Trump has finally removed the handcuffs. Last week, after a prolonged pause, Trump resumed his “Liberation Day” tariffs.

Trump is brooking no opposition from the lords of finance. Earlier this month, he responded to a poor jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics by sacking the chief statistician and nominating E.J. Antoni, an alumnus of the conservative Heritage Foundation, the think tank behind Project 2025.

Then there’s the matter of Russia and Vladimir Putin. On Friday, he will host the Russian authoritarian in Alaska as he hopes to bring an end to Moscow’s war in Ukraine. This will be a stark contrast to the 2018 summit in Helsinki, when he seemed to brush off American intelligence and sided with Putin’s denial that Russia intervened in the 2016 election.

ATTACHMENT ELEVEN – FROM GUK (TIMELINE)

TRUMP SAYS PUTIN ‘WANTS TO GET IT DONE’ AT TOMORROW’S ALASKA SUMMIT, AS HE FLOATS IDEA OF SECOND MEETING WITH ZELENSKYY – AS IT HAPPENED

US president indicates in interview that any deal would not be made without Zelenskyy ahead of Friday’s meeting in Alaska

 Updated 4h ago

·

5h ago

Closing summary

·

6h ago

Trump: Second Putin meeting will be 'very, very important'

·

7h ago

'We'll do best we can,' Trump promises ahead of Putin summit

·

7h ago

Security guarantees, territorial disputes all part of talk about Ukraine, Rubio says

·

7h ago

'25%' chance meeting with Putin will end in failure if there's no second meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump says

·

7h ago

Trump says Putin 'wants to get it done,' as he once again floats another meeting with Zelenskyy

·

7h ago

No plans to sign documents at Alaska summit, Kremlin reportedly says, warning against predicting outcome of talks

·

8h ago

Serbia see clashes between pro-government groups and anti-graft protesters

·

9h ago

Russian senior delegation to Alaska shows Putin means business — snap analysis

·

9h ago

Climate change exacerbating severity of fires across Europe, experts say

·

9h ago

Spain activates EU civil protection mechanism to get EU help with wildfires

·

10h ago

What to expect from Alaska summit? — snap analysis

·

10h ago

Alaska meeting presents 'viable chance to make progress' if Putin is serious, UK says after Starmer-Zelenskyy talks

·

10h ago

Security guarantees part of discussions with UK, Zelenskyy says after meeting Starmer

·

10h ago

EU sees no justificiation for Chinese sanctions on Lithuanian banks

·

10h ago

EU gets new proposals from US on trade, continues to work to progress text

·

11h ago

Putin holds meeting with top officials to prepare for Trump, praising 'sincere efforts' from US to end Ukraine war

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11h ago

EU 'welcomes' suggestion US could join in providing security guarantees for Ukraine

·

11h ago

Trump will debrief Ukraine, EU after his meeting with Putin, EU says

·

11h ago

Finland's Stubb praised for 'unexpected bond' with Trump that helps Europe get its points across

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11h ago

Germany's Merz gets measured praise for Ukraine diplomacy, but Nato's Rutte gets most credit

·

12h ago

Kremlin looks to go beyond 'peace deal,' hopes for reset in US-Russia relations — snap analysis

·

12h ago

Zelenskyy visits Starmer in London — in pictures

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12h ago

More details on Trump-Putin talks emerge, with plans for joint press conference

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13h ago

Big hug from Starmer for Zelenskyy in another show of solidarity, but Kyiv has no illusions about Trump - snap analysis

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13h ago

Zelenskyy arrives at Downing Street for talks with Starmer

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13h ago

Spain wildfires are ‘clear warning’ of climate emergency, minister says

·

13h ago

Why are Spanish politicians in denial about deadly heatwaves — comment

·

14h ago

Third person dies in wildfires in Spain

·

14h ago

Morning opening: And now we wait

BY Tom Ambrose (now) and Jakub Krupa (earlier)

Thu 14 Aug 2025 12.55 EDT

07.05 EDT

Putin holds meeting with top officials to prepare for Trump, praising 'sincere efforts' from US to end Ukraine war

We are also getting a bit more on the Russian preparations for the summit in Alaska, with Tass reporting that president Vladimir Putin held a meeting with some of the country’s top officials to prepare for the meeting with Trump.

Reuters reported that following the meeting, Putin said the US administration was making “sincere efforts” to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

The Russian president also reportedly suggested Moscow and Washington could reach a deal on nuclear arms control that could strengthen peace.

5h ago12.55 EDT

Closing summary

· Russian president Vladimir Putin held a meeting with some of the country’s top officials to prepare for the meeting with Trump. Reuters reported that following the meeting, Putin said the US administration was making “sincere efforts” to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

· Donald Trump has told Fox News Radio that the second meeting between him and Vladimir Putin would be “very, very important”. The US president has indicated that any future meeting, where a deal would be struck on key details such as territory, would involved the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

· The Kremlin, via the Russian news agency Interfax, has said there are no plans to sign documents on the outcome of the summit, and warned it would be “a big mistake” to predict outcome of the talks, Reuters reported.

· US state secretary Marco Rubio said that security guarantees for Ukraine needed to be part of peace talks with Russia, adding he was hopeful of imminent progress towards ending the war, AFP reported. Ahead of the Trump-Putin summit on Friday, Rubio said that “to achieve peace, I think we all recognise that there’ll have to be some conversation about security guarantees.”

· The Trump-Putin summit in Alaska presents “a viable chance to make progress as long as Putin takes action to prove he is serious about peace,” Downing Street said in a statement after Starmer’s meeting with Zelenskyy in London.

· The heatwave-fuelled wildfires that have killed three people in Spain over recent days, devouring thousands of hectares of land and forcing thousands of people from their homes, are a “clear warning” of the impact of the climate emergency, the country’s environment minister has said.

· The deadly fires come as southern Europe suffers intense heat that has broken temperature records across the continent – made worse by fossil fuel pollution that traps sunlight and heats the planet – and which has dried out vegetation.

· The EU has said it sees no justification for China to sanction two Lithuanian banks in retaliation against the bloc’s sanctions on two Chinese banks as part of the 18th package of sanctions on Russia. “We don’t believe those countermeasures have any justification and therefore we call on China to remove them now,” said EU spokesperson Olof Gill.

5h ago12.34 EDT

European leaders have praised President Donald Trump for agreeing to allow US military support for a force they are mustering to police any future peace in Ukraine – a move that vastly improves the chances of success for an operation that could prove essential for the country’s security.

The leaders said Trump offered American military backup for the European “reassurance force” during a call they held with him ahead of his planned summit with Russian president Vladimir Putin on Friday, AP reported. They did not say what the assistance might involve and Trump himself has not publicly confirmed any support.

The effectiveness of the operation, drawn up by the coalition of about 30 countries supporting Ukraine, hinges on the deterrent effect of US air power or other military equipment that European armed forces do not have, or have only in short supply.

No US troops would be involved, but the threat of American air power, if needed, behind the European force would likely help to dissuade Russian troops from testing Europe’s resolve.

Senior Russian officials have repeatedly rejected the idea of European peacekeepers in Ukraine, even though a traditional UN-style peacekeeping force is not being planned.

6h ago11.52 EDT

Trump: Second Putin meeting will be 'very, very important'

Donald Trump has told Fox News Radio that the second meeting between him and Vladimir Putin would be “very, very important”.

The US president has indicated that any future meeting, where a deal would be struck on key details such as territory, would involved the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“The second meeting is going to be very, very important, because that’s going to be a meeting where they make a deal. And I don’t want to use the word ‘divvy’ things up. But you know, to a certain extent, it’s not a bad term, okay?” Trump told Fox News Radio.

Jakub Krupa

That’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today, but Tom Ambrose is here to take you through the late afternoon and bring you the latest ahead of the Trump-Putin summit tomorrow.

7h ago10.59 EDT

'We'll do best we can,' Trump promises ahead of Putin summit

Meanwhile, Trump’s interview with Fox News Radio has just wrapped up, with Trump signing off with a promise on tomorrow’s Alaska meeting with Putin:

“We’ll do the best we can, and I think we’ll have a good result in the end.”

Updated at 11.10 EDT

7h ago10.43 EDT

Security guarantees, territorial disputes all part of talk about Ukraine, Rubio says

Separately, US state secretary Marco Rubio said that security guarantees for Ukraine needed to be part of peace talks with Russia, adding he was hopeful of imminent progress towards ending the war, AFP reported.

Ahead of the Trump-Putin summit on Friday, Rubio said that “to achieve peace, I think we all recognise that there’ll have to be some conversation about security guarantees.”

“There’ll have to be some conversation about ... territorial disputes and claims, and what they’re fighting over,” he added, Reuters said.

On a future ceasefire, he said, “we’ll see what’s possible tomorrow.

Let’s see how the talks go. And we’re hopeful.

7h ago10.29 EDT

'25%' chance meeting with Putin will end in failure if there's no second meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump says

Trump got also asked if he thought there was a chance of the meeting ending in failure.

In response, he said he saw it as 25%.

He said the main aim of tomorrow’s summit was to set up a second meeting – involving Zelenskyy – to make a deal, comparing it to “a chess game.”

He argued it would include “a give and take as to boundaries, lands.”

He then said:

“There is a 25% chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting, in which case I will [return to] run the country and we have made America great again already in six months.”

He also suggested he could follow up with sanctions on Russia in that scenario.

Updated at 10.32 EDT

7h ago10.18 EDT

Trump says Putin 'wants to get it done,' as he once again floats another meeting with Zelenskyy

US president Donald Trump is speaking to Fox News Radio right now, and he has just said that he thought Russian president Vladimir Putin “wants to get it done” at tomorrow’s summit in Alaska.

Asked if his threats of sanctions may have influenced Putin’s decision to agree to a meeting, he said:

“Everything has an impact,” as he added that secondary tariffs against India “essentially took them out of buying oil from Russia.”

“Certainly, when you lose your second largest customer and you’re probably going to lose your first largest customer, I think that probably has a role,” he said.

Trump got also asked if he was ready to provide “economic incentives” to Russia to stop fighting in Ukraine, but he declined to say, explaining he wouldn’t “want to play my hand in public.”

He repeatedly said that Russia had “a tremendous potential,” with value in “oil and gas, a very profitable business.”

But Trump stressed he was primarily interested in making progress with Putin, and he would then immediately call Zelenskyy to “get him over to wherever we are going to meet.”

“We have an idea of three different locations,” he said, adding “including the possibility, because it would be by far the easiest, of staying in Alaska.”

“If it’s a bad meeting, I’m not calling anybody. I’m going home.

But if it’s a good meeting, I’m going to call President Zelensky and the European leaders.”

Addressing the reports he could hold a joint press conference with Putin, he said:

“I’m going to have a press conference. I don’t know if it’s going to be a joint. We haven’t even discussed it. I think it might be nice to have a joint, and then separates.”

But he then added that he would hold a press conference in any scenario, even if the talks collapse.

Updated at 10.32 EDT

7h ago10.09 EDT

No plans to sign documents at Alaska summit, Kremlin reportedly says, warning against predicting outcome of talks

We are just getting some lines from Russia in what appears to be an attempt to manage expectations ahead of tomorrow’s Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska.

The Kremlin, via the Russian news agency Interfax, has said there are no plans to sign documents on the outcome of the summit, and warned it would be “a big mistake” to predict outcome of the talks, Reuters reported.

8h ago09.47 EDT

Serbia see clashes between pro-government groups and anti-graft protesters

In other news across Europe, the situation in Serbia merits renewed attention as large groups of pro-government supporters, most wearing masks, confronted groups taking part in long-running anti-graft protests run by student movements, AFP reported.

AFP noted that the worst violence was reported in parts of Belgrade and Novi Sad, where the protest movement first began, with dozens injured and arrested.

One man, later identified as a military police officer, fired a pistol into the air as protesters approached the ruling party’s offices in Novi Sad, causing panic.

Footage also showed supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party launching fireworks at protesters gathered outside the party’s headquarters there.

An image taken from video shows fireworks flying as clashes erupted at protests in Vrbas, Serbia. Photograph: AP

Since November, near-daily protests have taken place over the collapse of a train station in Novi Sad. The tragedy, which killed 16 people, soon became a flashpoint as people across the country seized on it to demand greater government transparency and express their broader dissatisfaction with Serbia’s increasingly authoritarian rule.

‘We’ve proved that change is possible’ – but Serbia protesters unsure of next move

Read more

The agency said that over the past nine months, thousands of mostly peaceful, student-led demonstrations have been held, some attracting hundreds of thousands.

But it added that this week’s violence however marks a significant escalation and indicates the increasing strain on Aleksandar Vučić’s populist government, in power for 13 years.

Putin’s delegation has been announced (11:20) and, unsurprisingly, the Russian leader will be flanked by some of the most powerful figures in the Kremlin’s inner circle – seasoned political operators, financial strategists and diplomatic enforcers who have shaped Russia’s foreign and economic policy for more than two decades.

The mix of old-guard loyalists and younger financial power-brokers points to Putin’s aim of wooing Trump’s ear and dangling financial incentives for siding with Moscow on Ukraine.

Notably, alongside a cadre of veteran diplomats, Putin is bringing two prominent economic advisers.

The presence of finance minister Anton Siluanov is particularly striking: he has overseen Russia’s response to sweeping western sanctions, the lifting of which the Kremlin has repeatedly set as a central condition for any peace deal.

9h ago08.53 EDT

Meanwhile, let’s take a closer look at tomorrow’s Trump-Putin summit and at the Russian delegation attending with the Russian president.

Over to our Russian affairs reporter, Pjotr Sauer.

9h ago08.37 EDT

Climate change exacerbating severity of fires across Europe, experts say

The deadly fires come as southern Europe suffers intense heat that has broken temperature records across the continent – made worse by fossil fuel pollution that traps sunlight and heats the planet – and which has dried out vegetation.

“It’s obvious that climate change is exacerbating the severity of fires,” said Eduardo Rojas Briales, a forestry researcher at the Polytechnic University of Valencia and former deputy director general of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. “But it’s not responsible to wait for greenhouse gas emissions to drop … as the sole approach to addressing the problem.”

He called for additional policies such as ensuring dead plant material is kept at manageable levels, creating gaps in vegetation, for instance through reversing rural abandonment, and using prescribed burning.

“There is no alternative but to build landscapes … that are truly resilient to fires,” he said.

A report published Thursday by XDI, a climate risk analysis group, found that the climate crisis has doubled the risk of infrastructure damage from forest fires in France, Italy, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria since 1990. It predicted risk would increase further still in future.

“We’re all asking ourselves, how much worse can it get?,” said Karl Mallon, XDI’s head of science and technology.

“According to our latest analysis, a lot.”

Wildfires claim third life in Spain as intense heat continues across Europe

1 of 3NextOldest

Donald Trump

Trump reportedly called Norwegian minister ‘out of the blue’ to ask about Nobel prize

1h ago

ATTACHMENT TWELVE – FROM FOX

REP. GREENE ACCUSES ZELENSKYY OF TRYING TO 'SABOTAGE' TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT WITH DRONE STRIKES ON RUSSIA

Republican lawmaker responds to Ukrainian drone strikes launched hours before Trump-Putin summit

By Bradford Betz Published August 15, 2025 1:50am EDT

There's a reason why Putin decided to invade Ukraine under Joe Biden's presidency, says Katie Pavlich

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., late Thursday took shots at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of trying to sabotage Friday's highly anticipated peace talks between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin by launching drone strikes on Russia. 

Greene responded to a post on X from the account, "Open Source Intel," which reported that Ukraine had in recent hours launched "one of the largest" drone attacks on Russia. 

"On the eve of the historic peace talks between President Trump and President Putin, Zelensky does this," the Republican lawmaker wrote. "Zelensky doesn't want peace and obviously is trying to sabotage President Trump's heroic efforts to end the war in Ukraine. I pray peace prevails." 

Ukraine launched multiple drone strikes into Russia overnight Thursday, damaging several apartment buildings in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and injuring more than a dozen civilians, according to acting governor of the region, Yuri Slyusar. Two of those wounded were hospitalized in serious condition, he said. 

The Ukrainian strikes came after Russian strikes in Ukraine's Sumy region overnight Wednesday, resulting in multiple injuries, including a 7-year-old girl, per officials. 

Local officials also accused Ukraine of launching a drone strike in Belgorod that injured three people, and another that struck a car in the village of Pristen that killed at least one individual. 

Despite the violence, Trump and Putin are scheduled to meet in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday for a high-stakes summit on the future of the Ukraine war. 

The meeting will mark Putin's first visit to the U.S. since 2015 and the first U.S.-Russia summit since June 2021. 

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT TRUMP’S MEETING WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN IN ALASKA

Putin praised the U.S. on Thursday for making "sincere efforts" to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has been raging since early 2022. Appearing on television, the Russian president said the U.S. was "making, in my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop hostilities, stop the crisis and reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved in this conflict." 

Zelenskyy accused Russia of not being sincere in its intention to wind down the war. 

"This war must be ended. Pressure must be exerted on Russia for the sake of a just peace. Ukraine’s and our partners’ experience must be used to prevent deception by Russia," Zelenskyy said. 

"At present, there is no sign that the Russians are preparing to end the war. Our coordinated efforts and joint actions – of Ukraine, the United States, Europe, and all countries that seek peace – can definitely compel Russia to make peace," he added. 

ATTACHMENT THIRTEEN – FROM FOX

TRUMP-PUTIN MEETING STARTS, WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

First face-to-face meeting since Russian invasion could last up to seven hours in Anchorage

By Caitlin McFall Published August 15, 2025 3:43pm EDT | Updated 

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday landed in Anchorage, Alaska and have begun their highly anticipated talks in pursuit of ending the war in Ukraine.

The meeting marks the first time leaders from the U.S. and Russia have met in-person since Putin launched his deadly invasion of Ukraine more than three-and-a-half-years ago.

The meeting, which began at approximately 3:30 pm EST, is expected to last several hours, with initial estimates ranging roughly four hours, though the Kremlin on Friday signaled the talks could last up to seven hours. 

NATO DEFENSE MINISTER SIGNALS ‘ABSOLUTE DISTRUST’ THAT PUTIN WANTS ANY PEACE DEAL AHEAD OF TRUMP SUMMIT

Trump said ahead of the meeting that he would not enter into a deal or grant territorial concessions regarding Ukraine, though questions mounted in the lead up to the high-level talks about whether Washington would forge a minerals deal with Moscow. 

The president told reporters on Thursday he would wait to see how the talks play out before he would say if he may pursue a mining agreement – the optics of which remain unclear as they could potentially benefit Russia’s economy, and therefore Putin’s war chest. 

Though notably, both the U.S. and Russia saw their top business negotiators travel with their corresponding delegations as U.S. Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Scott Lutnick – both of whom have engaged in top-level trade talks – as well as Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, were reported to have traveled for the trip.

TRUMP READY TO ‘BRING THE HAMMER’ ON PUTIN IF HE DOESN’T COOPERATE AT SUMMIT

The White House confirmed that alongside the president and his top economic officials, Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also made the roughly 8-hour journey to Anchorage for "expanded bilateral" discussions and a "working lunch."

Though only Witkoff and Rubio will be in the meeting alongside Trump, while Putin is expected to be accompanied by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov.

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov was also reported to have made the roughly eight-and-a-half-hour flight, but it is unclear if he will be sitting in on the meeting with Putin and Trump.

Trump said he will call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders immediately following his discussions with Putin.

It remains unclear if Trump and Putin will address the press following the high-level meetings.

ATTACHMENT FOURTEEN – FROM FOX

TRUMP SAYS HE 'WON'T BE HAPPY' IF PUTIN DOES NOT AGREE TO A CEASEFIRE IN UKRAINE DURING ALASKA SUMMIT

Trump says he 'may have to start liking' Hillary Clinton if she nominates him for Nobel Peace Prize.

By Morgan Phillips  Published August 15, 2025 4:23pm EDT

President Donald Trump opened up about what he would like to accomplish in his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Air Force One.

President Donald Trump said Friday he "won’t be happy" if he does not walk away from his meeting with President Vladimir Putin with a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. 

Trump told Fox News’ Bret Baier he doesn’t like to have "too many expectations," but "I’d like to have a ceasefire." 

"I wouldn’t be thrilled if I didn’t get it," he said. "Everyone says, ‘You're not going to get a ceasefire. You – it'll take place on the second meeting,’ … but I'm not going to be happy with that."

The president said he might cancel talks entirely if Friday’s summit does not go well. 

"I won't be happy if I walk away without some form of a ceasefire. Now, I – I say this, and I said it from the beginning: This is really setting the table today. We're going to have another meeting, if things work out, which will be very soon, or we're not going to have any more meetings at all, maybe ever."

ZELENSKYY, AHEAD OF TRUMP-PUTIN MEETING, SAYS THERE IS 'NO SIGN' RUSSIA WANTS TO END THE WAR

Trump spoke while flying on Air Force One toward Anchorage, Alaska, where he and his team met with the Russian delegation in the first face-to-face meeting with Putin of the new administration.

Trump said that he would not be negotiating peace on Ukraine’s behalf, but would rather "set the table" for negotiations between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Well, look, it's not for me to negotiate a deal for Ukraine, but I can certainly set the table to negotiate the deal," he said. "Our next meeting will have President Zelenskyy and President Putin and probably me."

PRESIDENT TRUMP CONFIDENT PUTIN WANTS PEACE WITH UKRAINE, THINKS HE'S 'HAD ENOUGH' OF WAR

Trump also added that he "may have to start liking" Hillary Clinton, after the former Democratic presidential candidate said she would nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize if he negotiated a peace deal and did not "capitulate" to Russia. 

"That was very nice. I may have to start liking her again," Trump said. 

Clinton, a former Secretary of State, said that there are several things Trump needs to get Putin to agree to if he were to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. 

"But maybe this is the opportunity to make it clear that there must be a ceasefire, there will be no exchange of territory, and that, over a period of time, Putin should be actually withdrawing from the territory he seized in order to demonstrate his good faith efforts, let us say, not to threaten European security," she said.

ATTACHMENT FIFTEEN – FROM TASS

PUTIN-TRUMP TALKS CONTINUE FOR OVER HOUR

The two leaders began talking before arriving in Alaska on the airfield

ANCHORAGE /Alaska/, August 15. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump have been talking for over an hour. The meeting is taking place at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska.

The talks are currently being held in a "three-on-three" format, but the two leaders began talking before arriving in Alaska on the airfield. Putin and Trump left their planes nearly simultaneously and got into the US leader's Cadillac limousine, where they talked one-on-one on the way to the talks.

Putin's plane landed at the military base at 6:54 p.m. GMT (10:54 a.m. local time). Shortly before that, Trump's "Air Force One" also landed. The meeting ceremony at the airfield began at 7:10 p.m. GMT. Official talks with representatives of both delegations began 15 minutes later.

Ukrainian troops receive orders to step up shelling of LPR — governor

According to Leonid Pasechnik, there is also a possibility of an increase in sabotage operations

Yesterday, 20:50

For breakthrough in peaceful settlement, Zelensky must be ousted — Rada lawmaker

Ukraine needs "a leader who is ready to conduct an honest dialogue", Artyom Dmytruk said

Today, 11:40

Russian lawmaker believes Russia-US summit in Alaska can become a historical milestone

Russia and the US are two leading nuclear powers, the nature of their interaction largely determines stability and global security, Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs and leader of the LDPR, said

2 hours ago

Putin-Trump meeting to be held in three-on-three format, involving ministers — White House

Karoline Leavitt said that Donald Trump will be joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff

Today, 11:08

Trump says US may give Ukraine security guarantees but not in the form of NATO

Doanld Trump ruled out the scenario of Kiev joining NATO

Today, 04:14

Europe, Kiev 'holding their breath' on eve of Putin-Trump summit — El Pais

According to the report, the fear is that, despite promises from Washington, Vladimir Putin will end up bringing Donald Trump over to his side

ATTACHMENT SIXTEEN – FROM DW

TRUMP, PUTIN BEGIN ALASKA SUMMIT ON UKRAINE WAR

Kalika Mehta | Rana Taha AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa | Richard Connor AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa | Karl Sexton AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa

Published 15 hours ago last updated 7 minutes ago

· US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are meeting at a military base in Alaska

· Trump greeted Putin with a handshake on a red carpet laid out on the tarmac

· Zelenskyy says summit should "open up a real path toward a just peace"

· Yulia Navalnaya calls for the release of political prisoners from Russia and Ukraine

'Europeans are trying to stay in conversation'

By Kalika Mehta | Dmytro Hubenko Editor

As US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, DW's Chief International Editor Richard Walker said the European powers continue to seek a place at the table in the peace talks for the war in Ukraine.

"They are just trying to stay in the conversation as much as possible," Walker said. "They had a video conference with Trump earlier in the week."

"Wednesday was evidence that the Europeans are in a better place than they were with Trump earlier in the year," he added.

Walker explained that European nations' commitment to increasing defense spending to appease Trump has strengthened their position in discussions about European security.

"There’s also been a trade deal between the EU and the United States which has reset the trading relationship between the two," Walker added. "It’s seen by many in Europe as very unfair but also essential to keep Trump on side."

Walker stressed that Europeans have gone to great lengths to keep Trump happy and bring him back on board.

"This has earned them more of a seat at the table than they would have had without that," he concluded.

https://p.dw.com/p/4z532

2 hours ago

Trump and Putin sit down but take no questions from reporters

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin sat together in a room at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson after their arrival in Alaska. 

Against a backdrop bearing the slogan "Pursuing Peace," the US and Russian presidents sat with members of their respective delegations without taking any questions from reporters or making any statements.

The meeting then commenced without the presence of the press.

https://p.dw.com/p/4z4ks

2 hours ago

Trump, Putin shake hands after landing in Alaska

Donald Trump has greeted Vladimir Putin with a handshake on the red carpet in Alaska.

Putin appeared to crack a joke as the two leaders met on the tarmac before briefly posing for photos standing side-by-side.

After not taking any questions from reporters, they left the stage and got into a waiting car together, and could be seen smiling and chatting to each other in the backseat as the vehicle drove off.

2 hours ago

Trump-Putin talks expanded to include top aides

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said the previously planned one-on-one meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will now be a three-on-three session.

The US president is to be joined by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who arrived in Alaska earlier, is likely to be one of the team alongside Putin.

According to the Kremlin, the meeting will be followed by talks between the full delegations and continue over lunch. The two leaders are expected to hold a joint press conference.

ATTACHMENT SEVENTEEN – FROM REUTERS

PUTIN, TRUMP DISCUSS FATE OF UKRAINE AS SUMMIT GETS UNDER WAY

By Steve Holland, Andrew Osborn and Darya Korsunskaya August 15, 2025 4:41 PM EDT Updated 48 mins ago

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Aug 15 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met face-to-face in Alaska on Friday in a high-stakes summit that could determine whether a ceasefire can be reached in the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two.

Ahead of the talks, Trump greeted the Russian leader on a red carpet on the tarmac at a U.S. Air Force base. The two shook hands warmly and touched each other on the arm before riding in Trump's limo to the summit site nearby.

There, the two presidents sat with their respective delegations in their first meeting since 2019. A blue backdrop behind them had the words "Pursuing Peace" printed on it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was not invited to the talks, and his European allies fear Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict with Russia and recognising - if only informally - Russian control over one-fifth of Ukraine.

Earlier, Trump sought to assuage such concerns as he boarded Air Force One, saying he would let Ukraine decide on any possible territorial swaps. "I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I'm here to get them at a table," he said.

Asked what would make the meeting a success, he told reporters: "I want to see a ceasefire rapidly ... I'm not going to be happy if it's not today ... I want the killing to stop."

Trump spoke with Putin in a meeting that also included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's special envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff, foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

At a subsequent larger, bilateral meeting, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and chief of staff Susie Wiles will also join Trump, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Trump hopes a truce in the 3-1/2-year-old war that Putin started will bring peace to the region as well as bolster his credentials as a global peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize.

For Putin, the summit is already a big win that he can portray as evidence that years of Western attempts to isolate Russia have unravelled and that Moscow is retaking its rightful place at the top table of international diplomacy.

Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court, accused of the war crime of deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Russia denies allegations of war crimes and the Kremlin has dismissed the ICC warrant as null and void. Russia and the United States are not members of the court.

Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched on its smaller neighbour in February 2022. But thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian.

A conservative estimate of dead and injured in the war in Ukraine - from both sides combined - totals 1.2 million people, Trump's envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said in May.

Item 1 of 9 U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as they meet to negotiate for an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Trump, who once said he would end Russia's war in Ukraine within 24 hours, conceded on Thursday it had proven a tougher task than he had expected. He said if Friday's talks went well, quickly arranging a second, three-way summit with Zelenskiy would be more important than his encounter with Putin.

Zelenskiy said Friday's summit should open the way for a "just peace" and three-way talks that included him, but added that Russia was continuing to wage war. A Russian ballistic missile earlier struck Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, killing one person and wounding another.

"It's time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America," Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

Zelenskiy has ruled out formally handing Moscow any territory and is also seeking a security guarantee backed by the United States.

'SMART GUY'

Trump said before the summit that there is mutual respect between him and Putin.

"He is a smart guy, been doing it for a long time, but so have I ... We get along," Trump said of Putin. He also welcomed Putin's decision to bring businesspeople to Alaska.

"But they're not doing business until we get the war settled," he said, repeating a threat of "economically severe" consequences for Russia if the summit goes badly.

The United States has had internal discussions on using Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker vessels to support the development of gas and LNG projects in Alaska as one of the possible deals to aim for, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

One source acquainted with Kremlin thinking said there were signs Moscow could be ready to strike a compromise on Ukraine, given that Putin understood Russia's economic vulnerability and costs of continuing the war.

Reuters has previously reported that Putin might be willing to freeze the conflict along the front lines, provided there was a legally binding pledge not to enlarge NATO eastwards and to lift some Western sanctions. NATO has said Ukraine's future is in the alliance.

Russia, whose war economy is showing strain, is vulnerable to further U.S. sanctions - and Trump has threatened tariffs on buyers of Russian crude, primarily China and India.

"For Putin, economic problems are secondary to goals, but he understands our vulnerability and costs," the Russian source said.

Putin this week held out the prospect of something else he knows Trump wants - a new nuclear arms control accord to replace the last surviving one, which is due to expire in February.

Reporting by Andrew Osborn and Darya Korsunskaya in Moscow; additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Jeff Mason in Washington; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge, Gareth Jones and James Oliphant Editing by Kevin Liffey, Jon Boyle, Frances Kerry, Philippa Fletcher, Rod Nickel

ATTACHMENT EIGHTEEN – FROM HUFFINGTON POST

TRUMP TREATS WAR CRIMINAL DICTATOR PUTIN LIKE ROYALTY, STILL FAILS TO GET CEASEFIRE

Trump claimed heading into the summit with Russia’s leader that stopping the killing in Ukraine was the top priority.

By S.V. Date Aug 15, 2025, 07:21 PM EDT

President Donald Trump literally rolled out the red carpet for Russia’s accused war criminal dictator on American soil, honored him with a flyover of U.S. military jets, invited him into the presidential limousine to a ride and a laugh and, hours later, apparently ended the meeting without Vladimir Putin’s agreement to stop his brutal invasion of Ukraine.

“There’s no deal until there is a deal,” Trump said at a joint appearance with Putin at the end of three hours of discussions at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, just outside Anchorage, Alaska.

“We had an extremely productive meeting, and many points were agreed to. There are just a very few that are left. Some are not that significant. One is probably the most significant, but we have a very good chance of getting there,” Trump said. “We didn’t get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there.”

Putin spoke for nine minutes, spending much of the time explaining Russian and American cooperation during World War II, the geographic proximity of Alaska and eastern Russia and how nice it was to have Trump as president again.

“It is known that there have been no summits between Russia and the U.S. for four years, and that’s a long time,” Putin said through an interpreter. “This time was very hard for bilateral relations, and let’s be frank, they’ve fallen to the lowest point since the Cold War.”

He said he was grateful that Trump was not as difficult to deal with as his predecessor, Joe Biden, and that he seemed more receptive to hearing Putin’s side of the story regarding his 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“We see the strive of the administration and President Trump personally to help facilitate the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict, and his strive to get to the crux of the matter to understand this history is precious,” Putin said.

Trump, for his part, returned to one of his favorite grievances about the investigation into the help he received from Putin in winning the 2016 election — which Trump has for years falsely called a “hoax.”

“We were interfered with by the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax. That made it tougher to deal with, but he understood it. I think he’s probably seen things like that during the course of his career,” Trump said. “He’s seen it all, but we had to put up with the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax. He knew it was a hoax, and I knew it was a hoax, but what was done was very criminal, but it made it harder for us to deal as a country in terms of the business and all of the things that would like to have dealt with.”

Trump spoke for less than four minutes on stage, and although the appearance had been billed as a press conference, neither man took any questions.

Putin did, however, invite Trump to his country. “Next time, in Moscow,” Putin said, in English.

Putin was charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court in 2023 for his vicious attacks against Ukraine, faces arrest in most other countries and needed a waiver of U.S. sanctions for him to travel to the United States.

Trump, nevertheless, treated him like royalty, starting with the granting of the meeting in the first place. American soldiers were seen kneeling on the tarmac to secure a red carpet at the foot of the stairs of Putin’s plane. Trump greeted him warmly, even clapping for him as he approached. As the two walked to a podium for a photo, a B-2 stealth bomber and four fighter jets roared overhead in salute.

Then, Trump invited him into his presidential limousine and Putin agreed, abandoning his own car to ride with Trump for the short drive from the airfield to the meeting room. The two were seen laughing through the window. According to White House officials, no interpreters were in the limo with them.

On the flight to Alaska earlier Friday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he would not be happy if the summit failed to produce a ceasefire.

“I want to see a ceasefire rapidly. I don’t know if it’s going to be today, but I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today,” he said.

What happens next is unclear. Trump said he would call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and America’s European allies to brief them. He had originally hoped to set up a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy or among the three of them together.

Friday’s was Trump’s second high-level summit with Putin, with both ending without any real substance.

ATTACHMENT NINETEEN – FROM MOTHER JONES

THE TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT WAS A WIN FOR RUSSIA

Trump promised to end the fighting on “Day One.” Now, he won’t even push for a ceasefire.

By Ruth Murai

During his campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly promised that he would end the Russia-Ukraine war in the first 24 hours of his presidency. Eight months in, he has left a summit with President Vladimir Putin without a deal.

Trump went into Friday’s meeting in Anchorage with the goal of securing a ceasefire, telling reporters on Air Force One, “I want to see a ceasefire rapidly. I don’t know if it’s going to be today, but I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today.” Putin has resisted calls for a ceasefire, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with other European leaders, have stressed the importance of a commitment to stop fighting in order to begin negotiations for a lasting peace deal. On Wednesday, Trump promised “very severe consequences” if Putin did not agree to a ceasefire.

After the meeting with Putin, Trump backtracked on the idea of a ceasefire entirely on Truth Social. “It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up,” he wrote.

Without a demand for a ceasefire, Russia can continue to fight in Ukraine without concern for US sanctions. Leaders in Moscow have celebrated the meeting as a victory for Russia.

In an interview with Sean Hannity following the summit, Trump praised Putin, saying, “I always had a great relationship with President Putin, and we would have done great things together.” He went on to complain about the “Russia Russia Russia hoax” getting in the way of their potential partnership.

Trump has insisted that he wants to see the killings in Ukraine end, but it’s also clear he stands to gain from the end of the war, as my colleague David Corn wrote in May:

It seemed rather obvious that Trump wanted the war to end not because he was outraged by Putin’s vicious and vile assault on democracy and decency but so he would be free to work with the Russian autocrat for whom he has expressed admiration for over a decade.

Trump has for years been yearning for an out-in-the-open bromance with Putin—perhaps like the profitable relationships he has forged with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other nations. But this desire has been impeded by the Ukraine war and also complicated by an inconvenient fact: Trump would not likely have reached the White House without Putin’s assistance.

For nine years, Trump has done a masterful job of suppressing what was perhaps the most important story of the 2016 race: Moscow attacked the US election to assist Trump, and Trump and his crew aided and abetted that assault by denying it was happening. With his relentless ranting about “Russia, Russia, Russia,” the “Russia hoax,” and the “witch hunt”—propaganda enthusiastically embraced and loudly amplified by right-wing media and GOP leaders—Trump has essentially erased from public discourse Putin’s successful subversion of an US election and Trump’s own traitorous complicity.

Zelenskyy will travel to Washington for a meeting with Trump on Monday. In a statement on Telegram, the Ukrainian president wrote that “the killings must stop as soon as possible, and the fire must cease both on the battlefield and in the air.”

ATTACHMENT TWENTY – FROM TIME

TRUMP SAYS NO DEAL REACHED WITH PUTIN AS ALASKA SUMMIT ENDS EARLIER THAN EXPECTED

by Nik Popli and Brian Bennett Updated: Aug 15, 2025 8:36 PM ET

President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States and Russia “didn’t get there” on a deal regarding the war in Ukraine, even as he called his three-hour meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin “extremely productive.” The meeting—which Trump had billed as “high stakes”—ended earlier than expected and on a deflated note for the U.S., with no concrete steps reached toward a ceasefire, and Trump cutting their joint press conference short. The two said they would meet again, possibly in Moscow.

The high-profile summit in Anchorage, the first in-person encounter between the two leaders since 2019, was aimed at exploring a path toward a cease-fire in the war in Ukraine, even though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had not been invited. After their meeting concluded, both Trump and Putin spoke only briefly to reporters and neither took any questions.

Putin seemed to control the appearance of the proceedings in front of the press. Typically at such summits, the host speaks first and welcomes the visiting leader. But when the two leaders stepped up to the twin lecterns, Trump put his hand out to indicate Putin should speak first. Putin then held the floor for eight minutes, but did not indicate the two men had made progress on Trump’s chief reason for meeting: moving toward an end to the war in Ukraine. Putin said the negotiations had been held in a “constructive atmosphere of mutual respect” and he flattered Trump by saying he agreed with Trump’s repeated assertion that if Trump had remained President for a second term, Putin would not have rolled tanks into Ukraine’s capital Kiev.

“We have built a very good and businesslike and trustworthy contact and have every reason to believe that moving down this path we can come to the end of the conflict in Ukraine,” Putin said. But he gave no details on how that would happen.

Putin appeared to warn European leaders and Zelensky to stay out of the way of what was a work-in-progress, even though the fate of Ukraine impacts them directly. “We expect that Kyiv and European capitals will perceive all this in a constructive manner and will not create any obstacles—will not make attempts to disrupt the emerging progress through provocations and behind-the-scenes intrigues,” Putin said.

After Putin finished his monologue, Trump spoke for just three minutes and cut the press conference short without taking any questions from the room full of reporters. Trump said he had “always had a fantastic relationship with President Putin, with Vladimir.” But, Trump continued, the investigation into Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 election—what Trump calls the “Russia hoax”—had gotten in the way of the two leaders working together during his first term. “We were interfered with by Russia Russia Russia hoax,” Trump said.

On the Ukraine war, Trump said he and Putin are “going to try to get this over with” and stop thousands of people being killed each week. “I’m going to start making a few phone calls and telling them what happened," Trump said, referring to Zelensky and European leaders.

But Trump made it clear that more meetings would be needed. “We’ll speak to you very soon and probably see you again very soon. Thank you very much Vladimir,” Trump said.

“And next time in Moscow,” Putin unexpectedly interjected.

“Ooh that’s an interesting one,” Trump replied. “I don’t know. I’ll get a little heat on that one. But I could see it possibly happening.”

Earlier Friday, after the two leaders had landed in Anchorage, they smiled and shook hands as they greeted each other on a tarmac. Trump and Putin then made a highly unusual move for leaders whose countries are widely viewed as adversaries: they both got in the backseat of Trump’s armored presidential limousine—with no staff or translators present—to reach the meeting space.

Inside the meeting room, the two leaders were seated alongside members of their respective inner circles in front of a blue backdrop that had the words “Pursuing Peace” printed on it. Putin looked visibly uncomfortable as reporters shouted questions before the meeting, appearing to shrug and make faces before shouting back inaudible remarks.

The summit had been framed as potentially determine the trajectory of the war and paving the way for future negotiations between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky, who had warned that he was counting on “a strong position from America.” Trump had previously warned Putin of “very severe consequences” if a ceasefire is not reached and said he’s prepared to “walk away” from the talks if they do not go well.

The negotiations were originally planned as a one-on-one meeting between Trump and his Russian counterpart, but were changed at the last minute to include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and two of Putin’s aides, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, turning the talks into a three-on-three format that could allow for greater clarity on what happened during the meeting as both sides offer their own narratives.

Read More: Why Trump’s Summit in Alaska Cannot End Putin’s War in Ukraine

Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew to Alaska, Trump said that a potential agreement with Russia was not “set in stone” and that territorial swaps with Ukraine would be “discussed” during the meeting.

“I want to see a ceasefire rapidly,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be today. But I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today.”

Just before Trump and Putin arrived in Alaska, Zelensky said in a video statement posted on social media that Russian military strikes were continuing throughout Ukraine on Friday, and called for a follow-up meeting in the future with all three leaders. “On the day of negotiations, the Russians are killing as well,” he said. “And that speaks volumes.”

Read More: Zelensky on Trump, Putin, and the Endgame in Ukraine

The Trump Administration had characterized the meeting as a “listening exercise” for Trump to better understand Putin’s conditions for ending the war in Ukraine.

Before landing in Alaska, Trump suggested renewed economic engagement between the U.S. and Russia could be on the horizon should peace negotiations yield tangible results.“I noticed he’s bringing a lot of business people from Russia, and that’s good,” Trump said. “I like that because they want to do business, but they’re not doing business until we get the war settled.”

Russia found itself estranged from much of the global economy following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as sweeping sanctions and diplomatic pressure from the U.S., Europe, and allied nations have left Moscow largely isolated from major markets and financial systems.

Trump’s suggestion of easing economic restrictions has drawn sharp criticism from European allies, who warn that any premature normalization could undermine the unified Western stance on sanctions and harm Ukraine’s position in ongoing negotiations.

Some analysts and Congressional Republicans, including Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Don Bacon of Nebraska, have also warned that such a move risks rewarding Putin’s invasion by effectively legitimizing Russia’s territorial gains and military aggression.

When asked by TIME in the Oval Office on Thursday whether his offering incentives to Russia to bring about peace might inadvertently reward Putin for his invasion of Ukraine, Trump responded, “I don’t see it as a reward.”

The summit was being closely monitored in Ukraine and across Europe for any sign that the long-standing conflict may finally begin moving toward resolution. The Kremlin has expressed its desire for Ukraine to hand over swaths of its territory—particularly areas in the south and east, which Putin’s army has failed to fully occupy.

Before the summit on Friday, Trump suggested he would not negotiate on behalf of Ukraine, particularly over whether to engage in territorial swaps with Russia. Zelensky has repeatedly said he is not willing to cede any territory to Russia, insisting that such a move would “gift their land to the occupier." European leaders have warned that giving Russia land could embolden it to invade other countries.

“We are counting on America,” Zelensky said in a social media post on Friday. “The key thing is that this meeting should open up a real path toward a just peace and a substantive discussion between leaders in a trilateral format—Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian side. It is time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia.”

The summit also gave Putin the chance to appeal to Trump’s business interests. Russia’s Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and Kirill Dmitriev, a senior economic negotiator and head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, were among those who accompanied Putin to Alaska.

Read More: The Secret White House Backchannel That Paved the Way For Trump’s Summit With Putin

Asked if he would be discussing business opportunities with Russia during the meeting, Trump said: “If we make progress, I would discuss it, because that’s one of the things that they would like; they’d like to get a piece of what I built in terms of the economy.”

It’s unclear what kind of business deals Trump could use as leverage to resolve the war, but the President has previously threatened “severe consequences” if Putin doesn’t agree to end the conflict, including possible secondary sanctions on countries importing Russian oil and gas. 

Trump told reporters earlier Friday that he believed “something” will come of the summit in Alaska and praised his relationship with Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine has resulted in tens of thousands of civilians killed and millions displaced.

“Look, he’s a smart guy. Been doing it for a long time, but so have I. I’ve been doing it for a long time, and here we are: We’re President[s],” Trump said on his way to the summit. “We get along. There’s a good respect level on both sides and I think something’s going to come of it.”

ATTACHMENT TWENTY ONE – FROM GUARDIAN U.K.

TIMELINE

Zelenskyy to fly to Washington as Merz says US ready to be part of Ukraine security guarantees – as it happened

·

6h ago

Closing summary

·

7h ago

US ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, Germany's chancellor says

·

7h ago

Putin told Trump he could relax some territorial claims in exchange for Donetsk region – report

·

7h ago

European leaders invited to Monday’s Washington meeting with Zelenskyy, European officials say

·

8h ago

Two killed in Ukrainian drone strike on Russia's Kursk region, Russian governor says

·

8h ago

'Coalition of the willing' leaders to meet on Sunday, French president's office says

·

9h ago

Zelenskyy warns Russia may try to step up attacks in coming days

·

9h ago

Ukrainians label summit as 'useless meeting'

·

10h ago

Security guarantees 'essential', says European Commission president

·

10h ago

Zelenskyy: both Europe and US should provide Ukraine security guarantees

·

10h ago

Security guarantees "most interesting developments" from Alaska summit, Italian PM says

·

11h ago

Trump and European leaders discussed security guarantees for Ukraine

·

11h ago

Starmer: Trump's efforts have brought us closer to ending war in Ukraine

·

11h ago

European Council pledges to back Ukraine in joint statement on Trump-Putin summit

·

12h ago

Russian forces take Ukrainian villages of Kolodyazi and Vorone, state media says

·

12h ago

Trump says if meeting with Zelenskyy 'works out', US will schedule talks with Putin

·

12h ago

Speculation online about air ceasefire

·

13h ago

Factory blast in Russia's Ryazan kills 11, injures 130

·

13h ago

European leaders speak with Trump post-Alaska summit

·

13h ago

Trump: 'I think a fast deal is better than a ceasefire'

·

13h ago

Medvedev: negotiations possible during Russian war effort

·

13h ago

Zelenskyy to meet Trump on Monday

·

14h ago

Zelenskyy to meet Trump in Washington on Monday – reports

·

14h ago

Summary so far

·

14h ago

No discussion of a Trump-Putin-Zelenskyy meeting - Kremlin aide

·

15h ago

Trump speaks to Zelenskyy, Nato leaders, White House says

·

18h ago

Interim summary

·

18h ago

In 2024 debate, Harris told Trump that Putin 'would eat you for lunch' in Ukraine talks

·

19h ago

Trump claims Putin told him 2020 election 'was rigged'

·

20h ago

Trump says his advice to Zelenskyy is 'make a deal'

·

20h ago

'Wars are very bad; I seem to have an ability to end them', Trump boasts after failure to broker Ukraine ceasefire

·

20h ago

Trump boasts to Hannity that meeting with Putin was 'a 10'

·

20h ago

'Next time in Moscow': Putin invites Trump to Russia for next round of talks

·

21h ago

'I won't be happy if I walk away without some form of a ceasefire', Trump tells Fox en route to summit,

·

21h ago

After summit ends with a whimper, Trump turns to Sean Hannity to make sense of it all

·

21h ago

Fox News calls it 'really stunning' that Putin spoke first on US soil

·

22h ago

Trump: 'No deal until there's a deal'

·

22h ago

Trump-Putin news conference abruptly ends with no questions from reporters and no details of agreement

·

22h ago

Trump calls meeting with Putin 'extremely productive' but says more needs to be done to end war in Ukraine

·

22h ago

Putin says he reached an agreement with Trump

·

22h ago

Putin speaks first at the joint news conference in Alaska

·

22h ago

Trump-Putin summit news conference begins

·

22h ago

Kremlin says Putin's talks with Trump are over

·

23h ago

White House edits out Trump's applause for Putin in social media clip

·

24h ago

Ukrainians mock Trump for rolling out the red carpet for Putin

·

1d ago

'On the day of negotiations, the Russians are killing as well,' Zelenskyy says from Kyiv

·

1d ago

Trump-Putin meeting is under way

·

1d ago

Trump and Putin begin summit, joined by respective delegations

·

1d ago

Trump and Putin greet each other as summit begins

·

1d ago

Putin to be joined by Russian cabinet officials at summit

·

1d ago

Putin lands in Alaska ahead of summit

·

1d ago

Emotions run high in frontline Ukrainian city over ceding land to Russia

·

1d ago

Trump-Putin meeting no longer one-on-one, press secretary says

·

1d ago

Trump lands in Anchorage, Alaska

·

1d ago

The view from Alaska: meeting could prove a win-win for Trump and Putin

·

1d ago

Russian government plane lands ahead of summit

·

1d ago

Trump's pivotal meeting with Putin to begin shortly

From 7h ago

10.32 EDT

US ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, Germany's chancellor says

The United States is ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said on Saturday after a summit in Alaska between the US president, Donald Trump, and the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, ended without a ceasefire deal.

Merz was speaking to the German public broadcaster ZDF after being briefed together with other European leaders by Trump on his talks with Putin.

Updated at 10.35 EDT

6h ago11.20 EDT

Closing summary

It is almost 6.30pm in Kyiv and Moscow. We will be closing this blog soon, but you can stay up to date on the Guardian’s Russia-Ukraine war coverage here.

Here’s a recap of the developments from today:

· Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet president Trump in Washington on Monday after Trumps’s summit with Putin resulted in no ceasefire deal. The US and Russian leaders met on a red carpet laid down for them at a US military base in the former Russian territory of Alaska, and spent about three hours in private talks, with top foreign policy aides, aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Regarding the upcoming meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump wrote in a post on social media platform Truth Social that, “If it all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin. Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved.”

· Trump publicly dropped plans for an immediate ceasefire he had himself championed for months, instead embracing Putin’s preferred path of pushing through a far-reaching “Peace Agreement” before halting any fighting. “Unfortunately, Trump has taken Putin’s position, and this was Putin’s demand,” Oleksandr Merezhko, the head of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, told Reuters on Saturday.

· Speaking to German public broadcaster ZDF, chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday that the United States was ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen also said in a post on X that strong security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe were “essential” in any peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.

· Trump’s debriefing to European leaders after the Alaska summit with Putin included discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine, which is outside Nato. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the guarantees would be equivalent to article 5, which states that if a Nato ally is the victim of an armed attack, each and every other member of the Alliance will consider this as an armed attack against all members. Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said that the discussion of security guarantees was area where “most interesting developments” happened during the Trump-Putin Alaska summit.

· After a debriefing from president Trump, the European Commission released a joint pledge to back Ukraine, emphasising that “Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We welcome President Trump’s statement that the US is prepared to give security guarantees. The coalition of the willing is ready to play an active role. No limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or on its cooperation with third countries. Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine’s pathway to EU and Nato. It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory. International borders must not be changed by force.”

· Several European leaders lauded Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine. UK prime minister Keir Starmer said in a statement: “President Trump’s efforts have brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. His leadership in pursuit of an end to the killing should be commended.” The Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavský said he was “glad that President Trump is trying to stop the war” but that there has been “propagandistic nonsense about the ‘roots of the conflict’” from Putin in the subsequent press conference.

· European leaders have been invited to attend the Monday meeting with US president Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, the New York Times reported on Saturday, citing two senior European officials.

· During the Alaska meeting, Putin told Trump that he would freeze the frontline in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in exchange for the Donetsk region of Ukraine, according to a Financial Times report. In a statement posted on the social media platform X earlier on Saturday, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said: “All issues important to Ukraine must be discussed with Ukraine’s participation, and no issue, particularly territorial ones, can be decided without Ukraine.”

· Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia may step up its attacks on Ukraine following the inconclusive Putin-Trump summit and the news that the Ukrainian leader would fly to Washington to meet the US president on Monday.

· Two people were killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Kursk region, the local governor said on Saturday.

· A blast at a factory in the Russian region of Ryazan on Friday killed 11 people and left 130 injured, Russia’s emergencies ministry said on Saturday. Some Russian media outlets reported that the explosion was caused by gunpowder catching fire.

· The Russian defence ministry said its forces had taken Kolodyazi village in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, according to state media reports on Saturday. The Guardian could not independently verify battlefield reports.

· Trump reportedly hand-delivered a letter from his wife, Melania, to Putin at the meeting. The letter raised the plight of children abducted during the war in Ukraine – for which Putin is wanted by the international criminal court – White House officials said, without providing further details.

Updated at 11.26 EDT

7h ago10.32 EDT

US ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, Germany's chancellor says

The United States is ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said on Saturday after a summit in Alaska between the US president, Donald Trump, and the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, ended without a ceasefire deal.

Merz was speaking to the German public broadcaster ZDF after being briefed together with other European leaders by Trump on his talks with Putin.

Putin told Trump he could relax some territorial claims in exchange for Donetsk region – report

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, told Donald Trump that he would freeze the frontline in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in exchange for the Donetsk region of Ukraine, the Financial Times reports.

The Russian leader made the request during his meeting with Trump in Alaska on Friday, the FT said, citing four people with direct knowledge of the talks.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X earlier on Saturday, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said: “All issues important to Ukraine must be discussed with Ukraine’s participation, and no issue, particularly territorial ones, can be decided without Ukraine.”

Updated at 10.47 EDT

7h ago10.06 EDT

Trump sent another fundraising email to supporters where he mentioned meeting with Putin in Alaska on Saturday, according to NBC News reports.

“I met with Putin in Alaska yesterday! After my meeting with him, I need you to answer just one question … Do you still stand with Donald Trump?” the email said.

This comes after Trump’s campaign sent an email seeking donations on Friday, ahead of the Alaska summit.

Yesterday’s email read, “I’m meeting with Putin in Alaska! It’s a little chilly. THIS MEETING IS VERY HIGH STAKES for the world. The Democrats would love nothing more than for ME TO FAIL. No one in the world knows how to make deals like me!”

7h ago09.50 EDT

European leaders invited to Monday’s Washington meeting with Zelenskyy, European officials say

European leaders are invited to attend a Monday meeting with US president Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, the New York Times reported on Saturday, citing two senior European officials.

The meeting comes after a summit between Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, which Washington said resulted in “great progress” but no deal to end the conflict in Ukraine.

Updated at 09.58 EDT

8h ago09.35 EDT

Two killed in Ukrainian drone strike on Russia's Kursk region, Russian governor says

Two people, a 52-year-old man and his 13-year-old son, were killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Kursk region, the local governor said on Saturday.

In a statement published on Telegram, the Kursk governor, Alexander Khinshtein, said that the two had been killed when their car caught fire as a result of a drone strike.

Khinshtein said that the attack took place in Rylsk district, a border area close to the part of Kursk region that Ukraine occupied between August 2024 and March this year.

8h ago09.09 EDT

'Coalition of the willing' leaders to meet on Sunday, French president's office says

The “coalition of the willing” leaders will meet via video conference on Sunday afternoon ahead of president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington on Monday, the French presidency office said on Saturday.

The meeting will be co-presided by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, the office said.

Updated at 09.12 EDT

8h ago08.46 EDT

Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, has warned that the battle for Ukraine’s future and European security has reached a “decisive phase” as he urged the west to maintain unity in its opposition to Vladimir Putin, who he labelled a “cunning and ruthless player”.

The game for Ukraine’s future, Poland’s security, and all of Europe has entered a decisive phase. Today, it is even clearer that Russia respects only the strong, and Putin has once again proven to be a cunning and ruthless player. Therefore, maintaining the unity of the entire West is so important.

Earlier this week, US president Donald Trump at the last minute requested Maga-allied Polish president Karol Nawrocki join the Ukraine teleconference with European leaders on Wednesday, according to centrist Polish prime minister Donald Tusk, who had initally been expected to attend. Nawrocki, not Tusk, was present on the call between Trump and European leaders on Friday night after the summit with Putin in Alaska.

Nawrocki, a conservative nationalist and Eurosceptic, is an ally of Trump’s right-wing populist Maga political movement and visited the White House during Poland’s presidential election campaign this year.

Updated at 09.06 EDT

9h ago08.36 EDT

Zelenskyy warns Russia may try to step up attacks in coming days

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia may step up its attacks on Ukraine following the inconclusive Putin-Trump summit and the news that the Ukrainian leader would fly to Washington to meet the US president on Monday. In a post on X, he wrote:

Based on the political and diplomatic situation around Ukraine, and knowing Russia’s treachery, we anticipate that in the coming days the Russian army may try to increase pressure and strikes against Ukrainian positions in order to create more favorable political circumstances for talks with global actors.

Updated at 08.38 EDT

9h ago08.20 EDT

Ukrainians label summit as 'useless meeting'

Agence France-Presse has been speaking to some ordinary Ukrainians to get their view of the summit, and it’s fair to say they are pretty unimpressed.

Pavlo Nebroev stayed up until the middle of the night in Kharkiv, which has suffered repeated Russian bombardments, to wait for the press conference. The 38-year-old theatre manager said:

I saw the results I expected. I think this is a great diplomatic victory for Putin. He has completely legitimised himself.”

Nebroev, like many Ukrainians, was gobsmacked the meeting could take place without representatives of his country.

This was a useless meeting. Issues concerning Ukraine should be resolved with Ukraine, with the participation of Ukrainians, the president.”

Olya Donik, 36, said she was not surprised by the turn of events as she walked through a sunny park in Kharkiv with Nebroev.

“It ended with nothing. Alright, let’s continue living our lives here in Ukraine,” she said.

“Whether there are talks or not, Kharkiv is being shelled almost every day. Kharkiv definitely doesn’t feel any change,” said Iryna Derkach, a 50-year-old photographer.

We believe in victory, we know it will come, but God only knows who exactly will bring it about”.

Derkach, like many Ukrainians, was suspicious of Trump. “We do our job and don’t pay too much attention to what Trump is doing,” she added.

Pharmacist Larysa Melnyk did not think her country was any closer to seeing peace.

“I don’t think there will be a truce,” she told AFP, adding that even if the guns fall silent, it will only be temporarily.

9h ago07.56 EDT

Russia’s reaction to Donald Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska has been nothing short of jubilant, with Moscow celebrating the fact that the Russian leader met his US counterpart without making concessions and now faces no sanctions despite rejecting Trump’s ceasefire demands.

“The meeting proved that negotiations are possible without preconditions,” wrote former president Dmitry Medvedev on Telegram. He added that the summit showed that talks could continue as Russia wages war in Ukraine.

Trump entered the high-stakes summit warning, “I won’t be happy if I walk away without some form of a ceasefire,” and threatening “severe consequences” if Moscow refused to cooperate.

But after a three-hour meeting with the Russian side that yielded no tangible results, Trump shelved his threats and instead insisted that the meeting was “extremely productive,” even as Putin clung to his maximalist demands for ending the war and announced no concessions on the battlefield, where Russian forces are consolidating key gains in eastern Ukraine.

Read the full article here:

10h ago07.25 EDT

Security guarantees 'essential', says European Commission president

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said in a post on X that strong security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe were “essential” in any peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.

“The EU is working closely with Zelenskyy and the United States to reach a just and lasting peace. Strong security guarantees that protect Ukrainian and European vital security interests are essential,” von der Leyen posted on Saturday.

The EU leaders are emphasising the issue of security guarantees, something Ukraine has been seeking as the minimum feature to secure its future ability to defend itself in the absence of membership of Nato, which is still wants.

Updated at 07.35 EDT

10h ago07.05 EDT

More statements have been issued after the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska ended in no peace agreement.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said in a statement on Saturday that Russia has no intention of ending its war in Ukraine “anytime soon” but that the US “holds the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously”.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said in a statement on X that France would work with the US and partners in the “coalition of the willing” to make progress on a lasting peace with security guarantees. That coalition will meet in the near future, Macron added.

The spokesperson for India’s foreign ministry, Randhir Jaiswal, said on Saturday: “The way forward can only be through dialogue and diplomacy. The world wants to see an early end to the conflict in Ukraine.”

The Slovak prime minister, Robert Fico, who has diverged from most western allies by visiting Moscow twice since last year and refusing to provide official military aid to Ukraine, said in a recorded statement on Facebook: “The coming days will show whether the big players in the Union will support this process … or whether the unsuccessful European strategy of trying to weaken Russia through this conflict with all kinds of literally incredible financial, political or military assistance to Kyiv will continue.”

Updated at 07.21 EDT

1 of 8 See remainder of takeaways HERE

ATTACHMENT TWENTY TWO – FROM USA TODAY

'NO DEAL': TAKEAWAYS FROM TRUMP'S ALASKA SUMMIT WITH PUTIN

By Francesca Chambers and Zac Anderson

WASHINGTON – Vladimir Putin caught a ride in the presidential limousine and achieved recognition on the world stage.

Donald Trump flew more than 4,000 miles and rolled out the red carpet for the Russian leader in Alaska – and left empty-handed after some three hours of negotiations.

A much-hyped summit between Trump and Putin that saw the U.S. president flex his deal-making skills achieved no major breakthrough in peace negotiations over Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The talks culminated in a vague statement to the media in which Putin spoke of an “agreement.” Trump was then left in the awkward position of declaring “no deal” had been reached.

A planned press conference? Called off. The two leaders spoke briefly and answered no questions.

“There were many, many points that we agree on,” Trump said without elaborating. “A couple of big ones that we haven’t quite gotten there,” he added. “So there’s no deal until there’s a deal.”

Trump said he’d be calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO allies on his way home to debrief them on the conversation with his Russian counterpart, who had been isolated by Western leaders after invading Ukraine in 2022.

As the American president, who’d warned of “severe consequences” if a ceasefire wasn’t reached, waved goodbye to the press while boarding Air Force One for Washington, Putin taxied down the runway in the distance.

Putin invokes ‘root causes’ of war, jabs Trump foe Biden

For a television president who regularly fields questions from reporters, Trump’s quick exit after the meeting was abnormal.

The two men spoke for a combined 12 minutes – with Putin going first. He praised Trump for convening the meeting, saying relations between the two countries had fallen to their lowest point since the Cold War.

But he soon brought up old charges about the “root causes” of the conflict that he’s long blamed on NATO enlargement and Ukraine’s alignment with the West.

And while Putin notably said “the security of Ukraine should be secured” and Russia was “prepared to work on that,” he did not say what he had in mind.

“I would like to hope that the agreement that we’ve reached together will help us bring closer that goal and will pave the path towards peace in Ukraine,” Putin added, without saying what it entailed.

He then warned Ukrainian and European leaders not to “throw a wrench in the works” with “backroom dealings to conduct provocations to torpedo the nascent progress.”

“I just don’t think we heard anything that signaled any sort of shift in Russia’s maximal position,” said David Salvo, a former State Department official who served in Russia. 

He cast Putin’s comments as “grandstanding” and said of security guarantees for Ukraine, “I don’t think he’s ready to soften his position quite yet.”

Putin also jabbed at former President Joe Biden and said he agreed with Trump’s assertions that the war never would have happened if the Republican had won in 2020.

Trump said Putin’s comments were “very profound.” He described the meeting as “extremely productive” and said the two sides agreed on “many points” without divulging the details. 

“We didn’t get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there,” Trump said.

Hanging over the summit was a potential ceasefire, which Zelenskyy and European leaders thought could emerge from the talks. 

But expectations fell quickly as Trump talked up potential “land swaps” that have been rejected by Zelenskyy. Trump sought to lower expectations ahead of the summit and cast the conversation as talks about future talks. 

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska told CNN while the summit was happening, “I think the best that we could hope for is that there is a commitment coming out of Putin to a ceasefire with enough contours to it that it is believable that it will be more than just a brief moment to check a box here.”

It was sold in 1867, but some Russians want Alaska back from the US

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Trump pushes Ukraine to agree to 'land swap' with Russia ahead of Putin summit

Zelenskyy rejects conceding land to Russia after Trump suggests "swapping" territories

Trump says US will send Patriot missiles to Ukraine: 'They desperately need' them

The summit ended without any mention of a ceasefire by Putin or Trump, who repeated in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity after the summit that he believed an agreement was in sight.

Trump added: “Now it’s up to President Zelenskyy to get it done.”

He indicated that a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine was part of the discussion.

Putin teases possible business deals with Trump

First, there were joint hockey games. Then, there were films promoting “traditional values.” And at their Alaska summit, Putin made another enticement: potential economic investments.

“It is clear that the U.S. and Russian investment and business cooperation has tremendous potential,” Putin said. “Russia and the U.S. can offer each other so much in trade, digital, high tech and in space exploration. We see that Arctic cooperation is also very possible.”

Accompanying Putin at the summit was Kirill Dmitriev, the special envoy for investment and economic cooperation. The Putin adviser met with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff in Washington in April.

“He’s bringing a lot of business people from Russia. And that’s good, I like that, because they want to do business,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on his way to Alaska. “But they’re not doing business until we get the war settled.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick came with Trump.

Trump later referred to “tremendous Russian business representatives” at the summit and said “everybody wants to deal with us.”

In his Hannity interview, Trump indicated that Putin also tried to flatter him by saying the 2020 election he lost to Biden was “rigged” and fanned baseless claims that the outcome was the result of widespread voter fraud.

Trump rolls out the red carpet for Putin

Putin received a warm reception in Alaska after years of being left out in the cold by Western leaders.

The summit began with Trump giving Putin an outreached hand, as the Russian leader walked down an intersecting red carpet on the tarmac to greet him. Trump clapped his hands in applause as Putin approached.

They shook hands, patted each other’s arms, and walked together, posing for pictures on a platform with a sign reading “Alaska 2025.” In the background: Military planes and personnel and green cloud-covered mountains.

A reporter shouted, “President Putin, will you stop killing civilians?” while Putin stood next to Trump on the platform. He gestured but didn’t say anything.

Trump and Putin rode together, without aides, to the summit in Trump’s limousine.

Gone was the frustration that Trump had expressed throughout the summer over Putin’s reluctance to agree on a peace deal. 

“I’ve always had a fantastic relationship with President Putin, with Vladimir,” Trump said of his Russian counterpart as they d a stage together in Alaska.

Now what? Severe consequences? Secondary Tariffs? Another meeting?

The lack of progress at the Trump-Putin summit raised questions about what comes next.

Trump said he planned to speak with Zelenskyy and NATO leaders to brief them. He again talked about moderating a three-way meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy.

And although he’d warned before the meeting that if Putin wasn’t cooperative, he would face “severe consequences” and threatened tariff hikes on Russia’s top trading partners, for now, he said he was letting China off the hook.

“Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that,” Trump told Hannity. “Now I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don’t have to think about that right now, I think the meeting went very well.”

Trump’s next moves will be closely watched to see if he maintains the friendly posture toward Putin that he took at the summit or takes a firmer approach. 

“By framing it as a positive meeting, in his own mind, it takes the pressure off of himself to make Russia pay a price for continuing the war,” former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst said. “At least for right now.”

Trump told reporters before the meeting that he was “not looking to waste a lot of time and a lot of energy and a lot of money” on negotiations and wanted to see the war quickly wrapped up.

“The wildcard now is whether Trump’s actually going to get tough on Russia, or whether it’s going to be in sort of endless talks and letting Russia stall for time,” said Salvo, managing director for the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund.

ATTACHMENT TWENTY THREE – FROM THE HILL

5 TAKEAWAYS FROM THE TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT

by Rema Rahman and Colin Meyn - 08/15/25 9:58 PM ET

President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin left the world guessing on Friday after a historic summit that yielded no details about what was discussed, what was agreed to and what remaining sticking points remain to ending the war with Ukraine.

The two leaders holed up behind closed doors for around three hours at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. What they talked about, however, remains largely a mystery as the two leaders, standing side-by-side at a joint news conference, revealed very little of what “progress” they said was made. They took no questions from the press.

Here are five takeaways from the summit.

No deal on ceasefire but ‘progress’ made 

Trump at the press conference would only tease the fact that the two leaders had a “productive meeting” and said they agreed on some things, but not others – without offering any details of what was discussed.

“I believe we had a very productive meeting. There were many, many points that we agreed on. Most of them, I would say a couple of big ones that we haven’t quite gotten there, but we’ve made some headway. So there’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump said, adding that he would be calling European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following the summit.

“It’s ultimately up to them,” Trump said.

Putin, for his part, stressed that his nation needs to eliminate what he called the “primary roots” of the conflict, without elaborating on what those were. He acknowledged that some “agreement” was made but also did not offer any details.

“I would like to hope that the agreement that we’ve reached together will help us bring closer that goal and will pave the path towards peace in Ukraine,” Putin said. “We expect that Kyiv and European capitals will perceive that constructively, and that they won’t throw a wrench in the works. They will not make any attempts to use some backroom dealings to conduct provocations to torpedo the nascent progress.”

There was no mention of several high-stakes components on the table, including the U.S. staving off any further sanctions on Russia, a nuclear arms deal and security guarantees to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement.

Trump had also teased the notion of having a second meeting that included Zelensky if the Alaska summit proved successful. The president and Ukrainian leader are expected to meet at the White House on Monday, the leaders d early Saturday.

Trump gives Putin red-carpet treatment

Trump rolled out the red carpet — literally — for Putin’s arrival in the U.S. 

Air Force One arrived at the base first, with Putin’s presidential plane arriving about a half hour later. Both leaders emerged at the same time, walking down a red carpet and greeting each other warmly.

Trump applauded while the Russian president walked to meet him, shaking hands and giving friendly arm taps while the two exchanged pleasantries before posing for photos. Putin later said at the press conference that he greeted Trump by saying “good afternoon, dear neighbor.”

In a remarkable move, Putin stepped into Trump’s armored presidential limousine, known as the beast, and rode with Trump to the site of the summit at the base. Putin was seen laughing with Trump in the back seat as the motorcade drove away from the tarmac. 

The rapport between the two as they greeted one another stood in stark contrast to the sometimes harsh words Trump has had for his Russian counterpart as he struggles to reach a ceasefire deal to end the war with Ukraine.

The meeting gave Putin an equal playing field with Trump.

Putin later spoke first at his joint appearance with Trump, giving him the opportunity to set the tone and deliver a lengthy speech about Russian history and the importance of maintaining relations with the United States.

Much remains a mystery

Despite the talk of progress on both sides, neither Trump nor Putin offered any indication of how Russia and Ukraine had moved closer to a peace deal. 

And the press conference ended before reporters could try to fill in the blanks: Will Trump move ahead with sanctions to pressure Putin? Are there any plans for a second meeting involving Zelensky, as Trump had hoped for? Did they discuss territorial concessions or other contours of a peace deal? 

Maria Popova, an associate professor of political science at McGill University, said the ambiguity left two possibilities. 

“The first one is Trump actually realizes that this is a no-go, that there’s no progress,” in which case he may return to the drawing board with Zelensky and European leaders. 

The more pessimistic possibility for Ukraine is that Trump tries to force Zelensky to accept whatever terms Putin outlined. 

“And when Zelensky and Europe don’t want to take the deal, he will blame them for obstructing peace, and he’ll get angry, and he’ll say that Zelensky is irrational and about to lose his country.”

Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity after the summit, Trump suggested Zelensky would need to make concessions to finalize a deal. 

“I mean, a lot of points were agreed on, but there’s not that much as, one or two pretty significant items, but I think they can be reached,” he said. “Now it’s really up to President Zelensky to get it done. And I would also say the European nations, they have to get involved a little bit, but it’s up to President Zelensky.” 

Carefully choreographed around ‘peace’

Friday’s meeting was carefully choreographed to bolster Trump’s image as a peacemaker. Both the backdrop of the meeting and the press conference were emblazoned with the words “Pursuing Peace.”

The White House this week touted Nobel Peace Prize endorsements from various world leaders, including the heads of state from Israel, Cambodia, Pakistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan — all of whom were involved in conflicts that Trump helped end. 

However, Trump has been unable to halt the war in Ukraine or two of the world’s other major wars: Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, where mass starvation is taking hold, or the brutal civil war in Sudan. 

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday said she’d nominate Trump for the Nobel Prize if he managed to broker peace in Ukraine without giving Russia Ukrainian territory. 

Trump insisted the meeting went well despite having nothing to show for it. 

Kristina Hook, an assistant professor of conflict management at Kennesaw State University, said Trump’s approach to Putin doesn’t appear to be working. 

“Trump’s talk of ‘progress’ seems aimed at generating momentum, but the fundamental obstacle remains: Putin refuses to recognize Ukraine’s sovereignty or its people’s democratic right to choose their future. Until that changes, diplomacy is largely theater,” she said. 

“Until the U.S. exerts real leverage to push Putin off his maximalist aims and toward respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Russia will choose to grind the war on.”

Trump to call Zelensky, world leaders

Trump said he planned to call Zelensky and NATO allies following the meeting, adding that he also expected to speak again to Putin soon. 

Robert Murrett, deputy director of Syracuse University’s Institute for Security Policy and Law, said he was “very encouraged” by Trump’s commitment to keep allies in the loop. And he said the outcome would not come as a surprise in Europe. 

“They had no anticipation for a dramatic step forward, a cease fire, any kind of thing, you know, halfway to a peace agreement,” he said. “I think this is kind of the outcome that most of them expected.”

There was no immediate reaction from Zelensky or European leaders on Friday night following the summit. 

Trump and Putin briefly discussed the location of their next meeting at the end of their joint press conference. 

“Next time in Moscow,” Putin said in English, chuckling. 

“Oh, that’s an interesting one,” Trump said. “I’ll get a little heat on that one, but I, uh, I could see it possibly happening.”

Brett Samuels contributed from Anchorage, Alaska

Updated Aug. 16 at 8:20 a.m. EDT.

ATTACHMENT TWENTY FOUR – FROM FOX

TRUMP REVEALS 10 STRIKING TAKEAWAYS FROM PUTIN SUMMIT IN HANNITY INTERVIEW

President Trump was tight-lipped after his high-stakes summit but offered some key insight with Sean Hannity

By Peter Pinedo August 15, 2025 11:19pm EDT

President Donald Trump was tight-lipped after his high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday but offered some key insight into the meeting to Fox News’ Sean Hannity in an exclusive interview.

Here are the key takeaways from Trump’s highly anticipated meeting with the Russian leader as d with Hannity. 

1. ‘No deal until there’s a deal’

Trump told Hannity that "as far as I’m concerned, there’s no deal until there’s a deal." He noted, however, that "we did make a lot of progress."

2. Putin ‘wants to see it done’

The president noted to Hannity that he believes Putin is not only open to peace but that he "wants to see it done." 

TRUMP SAYS HE 'WON'T BE HAPPY' IF PUTIN DOES NOT AGREE TO A CEASEFIRE IN UKRAINE DURING ALASKA SUMMIT

3. Not prepared to what the sticking point was

Pressed by Hannity to what the "one big issue you don’t agree on" that kept the leaders from walking away with a ceasefire deal, Trump declined to . He said, "No, I’d rather not. I guess somebody’s going to go public with it, they’ll figure it out, but no, I don’t want to do that, I want to see if we can get it done." 

4. Up to Zelenskyy and Europeh

After taking such a major step as to physically meet with the Russian president, Trump said it is now "up to [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy to get it done and maybe the European nations, they have to get involved a little bit."

5. Trump open to trilateral meeting

The president said that he would be open to attending a trilateral meeting with the presidents of Ukraine and Russia, saying, "If they’d like, I’ll be at that meeting. They’re going to set up a meeting now between President Zelenskyy and President Putin and myself, I guess, not that I want to be there, but I want to get it done." 

He added, "I’ll be there." 

PUTIN PRAISES TRUMP’S ‘SINCERE’ PEACE EFFORTS, SIGNALS POSSIBLE US-RUSSIA NUCLEAR DEAL

6. Meeting a ‘10’

Trump said that he would rate the meeting a 10 out of 10, saying, "I think the meeting was a 10 in the sense that we got along great." 

7. Russia respects America now

Asked what he thought finally brought Putin to the negotiating table, Trump answered, "I don’t want to say anything brought him, he’s a very smart guy, nothing brought him to the table, so to speak." 

"I think he respects our country now, he didn’t respect it under Biden, I can tell you that, he had no respect for it." 

8. No war if Trump was in office

Trump also commented that he "was so happy" that Putin d his belief during their joint press conference that the Russia-Ukraine war would have never happened had he been in office at the time. 

ZELENSKYY NOT INVITED TO UPCOMING TRUMP, PUTIN TALKS — WHITE HOUSE SAYS THIS WAS THE REASON

9. Advice to Zelenskyy

Without hesitating, Trump said that his advice to Zelenskyy after Friday’s meeting with Putin would be "make a deal." 

10. 2020 election rigged

Trump shared that Putin told him he believed the 2020 election was rigged because of the widespread mail-in voting, saying, "you can’t have a great democracy with mail-in voting." 

ATTACHMENT TWENTY FIVE – FROM AXIOS

TRUMP: PUTIN SUMMIT PRODUCTIVE BUT "WE DIDN'T GET THERE" ON UKRAINE DEAL

By Dave Lawler

President Trump said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a constructive summit on Friday but "we didn't get there" on a ceasefire or peace deal for Ukraine.

Why it matters: Trump set a ceasefire as the target for this summit, but said that while he and Putin agreed on most of the relevant issues they did not come to an agreement on "the biggest one." He added: "There's no deal until there's a deal."

Dave Lawler

11 hours ago -

World

Trump-Putin summit starts on red carpet, ends in confusion

Two men in suits walk on a platform with large white letters spelling "ALASKA 2025" at an airbase with fighter jets and an Air Force One plane in the background under a cloudy sky.

Friday's summit in Alaska began as a superpower spectacle, then abruptly ended without any indication of what was achieved or where things go from here.

Why it matters: President Trump didn't get the ceasefire he came for, or the public commitment he wanted from Vladimir Putin to meet next with Volodymyr Zelensky. The leaders scrapped a planned lunch and departed early — but not before both declared the meeting a success.

Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo

Updated Aug 13, 2025 -

Trump: "Very severe" consequences for Putin if he refuses ceasefire

Two men stand side by side near a door; one wears a dark suit with red tie and raises a fist, the other wears a black shirt with an emblem. An American flag and soldier are partially visible.

President Trump said Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin must agree to a ceasefire at their summit on Friday or face "very severe consequences."

Why it matters: Trump had previously downplayed the likelihood of major breakthroughs in Alaska, calling it a "feel-out meeting." Now he's a set a concrete objective — and one Putin has repeatedly rebuffed up to now.

Dave Lawler

Updated 23 hours ago -

Trump-Putin summit: Closed-door talks ongoing after red carpet welcome

President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have been meeting behind closed doors for more than two hours following a dramatic arrival ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.

Why it matters: Trump has set a ceasefire in Ukraine as his goal for the summit and said ahead of his arrival that he's "not going to be happy" if no truce is agreed. He's also promised "severe consequences" if Putin doesn't demonstrate he's serious about peace.

ATTACHMENT TWENTY SIX – FROM TIME

TRUMP AND PUTIN DIDN’T MAKE A DEAL, BUT PUTIN STILL WON

By Richard Stengel Aug 15, 2025 11:27 PM ET

During the press conference at the end of his brief and lukewarm summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, an uncharacteristically subdued Donald Trump said something painfully honest: "There's no deal until there's a deal."

There was no deal.

In many ways, Trump and Putin got the show they wanted.  The ubiquitous television graphics, TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT, with fluttering American and Russian flags. The split-screen of Air Force 1 and Russia’s executive plane landing at a remote airport in Alaska, and then the two protagonists walking down a skinny red carpet like the end of a buddy movie. The grip-and-grin handshakes, with Trump patting Putin’s hand in a gesture known to maître d’s everywhere. The cosy ride in "the Beast," a prize not even offered to close allies.

Trump is likely happy because the eyes of the world are upon him and he was executive producing the images on the world’s television screens. (And no one was talking about Jeffrey Epstein). Putin is happy because a Russian president is always happy when they are treated as equal to American presidents. Remember, Barack Obama said Russia was a second-rate, "regional power."

Putin got what he wanted: a summit with an American president, something normally you have to make elaborate compromises to get. An indicted war criminal who cannot travel to over 100 nations, the Russian President literally had a red carpet rolled out for him on United States territory by an American president. And he didn’t have to give up anything for it—he just had to show up.

Read More: The Real Danger of the Trump-Putin Summit

At the press conference, Putin talked about how close Russia was to America (shades of Sarah Palin) and claimed that Russian trade with American has increased by 20%. He made sure to praise Trump in the over-the-top way that has become customary in diplomacy with America. Trump was uncharacteristically restrained and circumspect. Even though Putin had alluded to an agreement, Trump did not do so. The self-professed world’s greatest dealmaker left without a deal. He did, however, get in several references to the “Russia hoax,” while Vlad smirked.

The truth is, Trump needed a deal more than Putin did. “Deals are what I do,” he said, and he didn’t do one.

In a larger way, the nothing-burger outcome exposes the flaws in Trump’s theory of diplomacy. Trump seems to believe personal warmth between leaders will make his adversary more likely to compromise or agree with him. That is naïve and delusional. Earlier this week a White House spokesperson described Trump as a “realist.” This is the classic foreign policy term, in contrast to a foreign policy idealist, whose legacy comes from Woodrow Wilson and his quest for a League of Nations. But Henry Kissinger, the ultimate American realist, said nations have no permanent friends or enemies, they have interests. That’s something Donald Trump doesn’t quite understand. Trump stands for himself. Putin stands for Russia. Putin’s goals are unchanging; his smile and his handshake are fleeting.

Long before Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin wanted to Make Russia Great Again. I spent several hours with Putin in 2006 for TIME’s Person of the Year cover, and it was in that interview that he said the greatest tragedy of the 20^th century was the disintegration of the Soviet Union. I remember we all wondered for a moment whether that was really what he had said, but the transcript bore it out. He believes it, devoutly. He was a KGB officer in Dresden when the Wall came down, and he was bereft.

The Russian President has always wanted to put the Soviet Union back together again. (His foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, was spotted wearing a USSR sweatshirt ahead of the Summit.) Putin believes in a kind of Russian exceptionalism with Russia as the great power between East and West. Putin is nostalgic not just for the Cold War, but the Russian empire of the czars. He has a profound and angry grievance about the West and America. He told me Westerners regard Russians as monkeys. (Yes, he said that.) But then he also told me Russian voters were not sophisticated enough to choose their own leaders. (Yes, he said that too.)

Under his leadership, Russia has been trying to destabilize the West for decades. Just last week the U.S. Justice Department announced that Russian hackers had penetrated the federal court system. Putin has been trying to put space between the US and Europe for decades. In his eyes, West and America are always the aggressors and Russia is always the victim—even when negotiating about the war in Ukraine.

Trump’s Make-or-Break Moment with Putin

Normally, in any wartime negotiation, the country gaining territory does not want to negotiate or give up anything, while the country losing territory wants to negotiate and is willing to compromise. Russia is gaining territory, slowly; Ukraine is losing territory, grudgingly. Russia has a 50-year goal, to re-unite parts of the old Soviet Union; Ukraine has a more immediate goal, to stop the war and not give up any territory to do so.

When Putin said during the press conference that they still needed to address the “root causes” of the conflict, that was a hint to what may have transpired inside. Putin can talk for hours about the idea that Ukraine is not a nation, that the Kievan Rus is the basis of Russia, that the Russian Orthodox Church grew out of the Ukrainian one, and he could have spent the whole time on any of those subjects. And maybe he did.

According to the 2020 Senate Intelligence Committee report, after the TIME Person of the Year cover came out, Trump sent Putin a handwritten note of congratulations to saying, “As you probably heard, I am a big fan of yours!”

Putin is still milking Trump’s fanboy affection. He was the big winner today because he didn't have to compromise before or after the meeting. He got the superpower treatment even though he is a war criminal. He got equivalence with an American president on the world stage. Zelensky won by not losing. Ukraine could have been crippled today, and instead they live to fight another day.

It’s true that no deal is better than a bad deal. But what is the Dealmaker-in-Chief without a deal?

Stengel is an MSNBC analyst and the former Editor of TIME.

ATTACHMENT TWENTY SEVEN – FROM USA TODAY

NATIVE UKRAINIAN LEFT SPEECHLESS AFTER ‘NO DEAL’ SUMMIT

Native Ukrainians disappointed after no deal was reached Trump and Putin's high stakes summit

By Terry Collins

· Ukrainian-American Volodymyr Valchuk expressed disappointment in the lack of progress from the Trump-Putin summit regarding the war in Ukraine.

· Valchuk hopes the outcome of the summit will not result in further loss of Ukrainian land or lives.

· Two Ukrainian teens, Taisiia Grygorova and Sofiia Kopytko, d their experiences and hopes for the war's end.

 Ukrainian-American Volodymyr Valchuk said he already had low expectations for the high-stakes summit between President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. 

But after listening to the world leaders meet in person for the first time in six years to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, Valchuk admitted this was a head-shaker.  

"I’m speechless. I have nothing to say. I really didn’t expect much, but this is even worse than I thought," Valchuk, 46, told USA TODAY. "That’s what I’m feeling right now."

Valchuk, a respiratory therapist who lives in San Rafael, California, said he’s "very disappointed" when Trump said "no deal" was reached to end the three-year Ukraine war.

“At least they could’ve given us a little idea what Putin said the agreement was,” Valchuk said about the summit held in Anchorage, Alaska. “Trump said he will talk to NATO and (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy, but I really don’t know what that means?

“Yeah, I’m disappointed,” said Valchuk, who came from Ukraine to the US to attend college in 1996. “Very disappointed.”

Valchuk, who gained his American citizenship in 2004, said he doesn’t know what will happen next for his homeland.

“I just hope it’s not going to cost Ukraine some of its land and more lives,” Valchuk said. “I hope.” 

'No deal': Takeaways from Trump's Alaska summit with Putin

'What happens next?'

Meanwhile, Valchuck’s friend, Andriy Chemes, 39, who lives in Lviv, Ukraine, shares a similar disappointment. Chemes said on August 16 that many in Ukraine are feeling a collective sadness the day after the summit.

"It’s frustrating because they were talking about a ceasefire or making a deal," the tech marketing specialist said. "Right now, it looks like Trump is just trying to bring Putin back into the global arena with a restored reputation. 

The day's top stories, from sports to movies to politics to world events.

Beneficial for Ukraine, so there was no good news for us, but it was for Russia," Chemes added. "Otherwise, I see no signs of this madness stopping."

Chemes, who has previously spent time working in the US as his wife and 11-year-old daughter still live in California, hopes Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington to meet Trump on Monday will be substantive to getting all three leaders in the same room to discuss ending the war.

"But if Putin refuses to meet with Zelenskyy, then what?" said Chemes, who is back in Ukraine in case he has to serve in the military. "What happens next?"  

How the war looks for two Ukrainian teens currently in the US

For two Ukrainian-born teenagers, Taisiia Grygorova and Sofiia Kopytko, who are spending this summer performing across the East Coast in a play produced by the New Hampshire-based nonprofit Common Man for Ukraine titled "Voices from Ukraine: Stories of War and Hope," they told USA TODAY that no matter what outcome comes from the summit in Anchorage, Alaska, the war can't end soon enough.

Grygorova, 19, who lives in Kharkiv, a city near the Ukrainian-Russian border, said despite the constant rocket attacks, drones, air raids, and explosions, her thoughts are always with the people suffering through the continuous combat.

Grygorova, who's studying journalism at Warsaw International University, said she regularly returns to Kharkiv to visit her parents and four younger siblings, despite the dangers. 

"And every time I go there I prepare myself, 'Taia, you’re going for two weeks, and it’s a 100% chance that you will get under a rocket attack at least four times during this time, but you’ll be fine, your younger brothers and sisters live in this nightmare every day, you can handle two weeks,'" Grygorova said.

Grygorova said her youngest brother, a six-year-old, is supposed to start school this year, but she wonders how with the threat of bombings.

"You will ask, 'What risk?' Well, there is always a possibility that one of those bombs, which are flying over the city, will hit a school where kids are studying," Grygorova said. "My brother is going to study underground, with no sunlight, with no possibility to play outside, to run freely over a football pitch or hear the birds singing."

Grygorova said her mother keeps all of the family documents near the front door, just in case they need to leave their house forever.

"That’s how the war looks for me and my family," Grygorova said.

Sofiia Kopytko, 18, from Chernivtsi, Ukraine, said the war has not only been about territory, the lack of resources and weapons, but also the doctors who work in critical conditions, and families like Grygorova's who live in occupied territories and face death daily as a result of random air strikes.

"Human lives are not statistics, but the most valuable thing that each of us has, and we must protect it," Kopytko said. "After all, you never know what tomorrow holds and whether it will come at all."

Grygorova said she desperately wants the war to end so that people can live their lives in peace.

"I hope that when the war is over, I’ll be able to visit my family without fear," Grygorova said. "I hope that my city will be renovated. I hope I’ll be able to help in the rebuilding of my country, where I want my future kids to grow up."

Kopytko said her wishes are quite simple.

"That there will be no more news of death and destruction, just simple happiness," Kopytko said. "Of course, I can talk about building a career and a family, but for me, these are the components of the happiness I strive for. First and foremost, free people in a free country. In a free Ukraine."

ATTACHMENT TWENTY EIGHT – FROM GUARDIAN U.K.

‘WHAT ABOUT OUR LIVES?’: EMOTIONS RUN HIGH IN FRONTLINE UKRAINIAN CITY OVER CEDING LAND TO RUSSIA

Trump’s talk of ‘land swaps’ as a simple transaction belies grim reality of what it would mean for people in Zaporizhzhia

BY Shaun Walker Fri 15 Aug 2025 00.00 EDT

The city of Zaporizhzhia, an industrial hub in south-east Ukraine, is as good a place as any to grasp the stakes of freezing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine along its current frontlines, or of implementing a “land swap for peace” deal as envisioned by Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

Since Russian troops began rolling into Ukraine in February 2022, Zaporizhzhia, with its broad avenues and Stalin-era apartment blocks, has been a 30-minute drive from the frontline. It has been under near-constant attack from missiles and drones. On Sunday, a Russian guided air bomb hit a bus station, wounding 24 people – just another day of suffering in a city that has known many of them.

Plenty of people here and in other Ukrainian towns close to the frontline are so weary of the sleepless nights and disrupted lives of the past years that they are ready for Kyiv to sign a peace deal, even an imperfect one, if it means the attacks will stop.

But many others have a very different opinion because they know first-hand what it means to give Russia control over Ukrainian territory: arrests, disappearances and the erasure of anything Ukrainian. As Moscow moves swiftly to Russify occupied territory, expelling or arresting active members of society and introducing new media outlets and school curricula heavy on propaganda, a few years of Russian control may make it almost impossible for Ukraine to regain these territories at a later date.

About one in five people living in Zaporizhzhia are internally displaced, from places even closer to the frontline or from occupied parts of Ukraine. They are living in Zaporizhzhia until they are able to go home.

On a recent visit to Zaporizhzhia, in a warehouse building where a group of volunteer women were making camouflage nets for the Ukrainian army there was a loud and resolute chorus of “No!” in response to the question of whether people would be happy to freeze the lines in exchange for peace.

“And what about our homes, our lives, all the things we are waiting to go back for?” asked one of the women, quickly becoming tearful. “Our only hope is for Ukraine to take them back, or we can never go home again.”

Apparently on the agenda at a summit between Putin and Trump in Alaska on Friday is a proposal that goes even further: Putin has reportedly pitched the idea that Ukraine should give up the parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions it still holds, possibly in exchange for small parts of Kharkiv and Sumy regions held by Russia and the promise of a ceasefire – in essence, to swap Ukrainian land for other Ukrainian land.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ruled out the idea that the Ukrainian army would simply walk out of some territories and leave the population to Russian rule. But Trump has suggested it is a good idea, talking of land swaps as though they are an easy and fair solution.

“There’ll be some land swapping going on. I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody. To the good, for the good of Ukraine. Good stuff, not bad stuff. Also, some bad stuff for both,” Trump said on Monday.

This idea of land swaps as a simple transaction belies the grim reality that would be likely to accompany such a move. In most of the discussions over a peace settlement in the Ukraine conflict, the fate of people has appeared to be afterthought, secondary to questions of land, military and security issues. The casual talk of land swaps has taken this even further.

Russia’s blueprint for how it works in occupied areas has been constant: it uses a mix of incentive and coercion to gain cooperation from local dignitaries. A minority of people welcome Russian rule and are happy to collaborate, others do so under pressure, while those who refuse are kicked out or arrested.

In the building of a former technical institute in Zaporizhzhia, the mayors and local councils of towns in the region still under occupation work in exile, one to each room. Most of the mayors have stories of being put under pressure by Russias in the early days of the invasion, with some being arrested and threatened.

In the room for Enerhodar, the town where the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is based, its mayor, Dmytro Orlov, said more than half of the town’s population had left since 2022. He had first been asked nicely, then threatened, to work with Russian occupiers. After his deputy was arrested, he went into hiding and then fled to Zaporizhzhia. “It became obvious I had to leave,” he said.

Back then it was possible to cross the frontline but now it is sealed. On the day the Guardian visited, a man had just arrived at the office asking for help, having done a 10-day drive via Russia, Turkey and Europe to cover the short distance between Enerhodar and Zaporizhzhia. His brother had been jailed for helping the Ukrainian army; he himself had just been released from captivity. He had arrived in Zaporizhzhia with a couple of suitcases and nothing else and was appealing to the local authorities to help him start a new life.

Every day there are new, similar stories as occupation ruins lives and splits up families. Many of those who resisted in the early days are still lost in Russia’s network of torture facilities and prisons for Ukrainian detainees. More recently, those considered “difficult” elements, such as teachers who refuse to teach the Russian curriculum, have been expelled from their homes and banned from “Russian territory” for decades.

Those who have left or been forced out of occupied regions have been replaced by new arrivals from Russia. “The Russians have brought in a huge number of people,” said the regional governor, Ivan Fedorov. Some of them are pensioners from icy parts of Russia who are lured with the promise of a better climate; others are police, prosecutors, teachers and other functionaries who are brought in to prop up the occupation regime.

The idea is that after a decade or two of population influx and the Russian school curriculum, few in these territories will consider themselves in any way Ukrainian. “Their main goal is to change the gene pool of our towns,” Fedorov said.

For many Ukrainians from occupied areas, ceding control to Russia in a peace deal would mean saying goodbye to their homes for ever.

ATTACHMENT TWENTY NINE – FROM NY TIMES

TRUMP BACKS PLAN TO CEDE LAND FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE

After meeting the Russian president, President Trump told European leaders he now favors giving up territory Ukraine controls to Russia to end the fighting, a concession Ukraine has long opposed.

Jim Tankersley Ivan Nechepurenko and Steven Erlanger Aug. 16, 2025 Updated 5:00 p.m. ET

President Trump on Saturday split from Ukraine and key European allies after his summit with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, backing Mr. Putin’s plan for a sweeping peace agreement based on Ukraine ceding territory it controls to Russia, instead of the urgent cease-fire Mr. Trump had said he wanted before the meeting.

Skipping cease-fire discussions would give Russia an advantage in the talks, which are expected to continue on Monday when President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine visits Mr. Trump at the White House. It breaks from a strategy Mr. Trump and European allies, as well as Mr. Zelensky, had agreed to before the U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska.

Mr. Trump told European leaders that he believed a rapid peace deal could be negotiated if Mr. Zelensky agreed to give up the rest of the Donbas region to Russia, even those areas not occupied by Russian troops, according to two senior European officials briefed on the call.

In return, Mr. Putin offered a cease-fire in the rest of Ukraine at current battle lines and a written promise not to attack Ukraine or any European country again, the senior officials said. He has broken similar promises before.

Mr. Trump had threatened stark economic penalties if Mr. Putin left the meeting without a deal to end the war, but he has suspended those threats in the wake of the summit.

The American president’s moves got a chilly reception in Europe, where leaders have time and again seen Mr. Trump reverse positions on Ukraine after speaking with Mr. Putin.

Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social early on Saturday that he had spoken by phone to Mr. Zelensky and some European leaders after his meeting with Mr. Putin. He claimed “it was determined by all” that it was better to go directly to negotiating a peace agreement without first implementing a cease-fire.

European leaders, publicly and privately, made clear that was not the case. They issued a statement that did not echo Mr. Trump’s claim that peace talks were preferable to a cease-fire. Britain, France, Germany and others threatened to increase economic penalties on Russia “as long as the killing in Ukraine continues.”

Mr. Zelensky, who was left out of the Alaska summit, said in a statement that he and Mr. Trump would on Monday “discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war.”

Here’s what else to know:

· Zelensky’s challenge: Ukraine was left scrambling to piece together what Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin had discussed and striving to avoid being sidelined. Mr. Zelensky is heading to Washington on Monday. An official briefed on his call with Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky said Kyiv does not understand why the American president suddenly dropped the demand that a cease-fire precede negotiations. Read more ›

· European response: European leaders moved to support Ukraine and voice caution of Russia. They neither endorsed Mr. Trump’s changed stance on how to achieve peace nor openly contradicted it. A virtual meeting between the leaders of France, Britain, and Germany is set for Sunday.

· Russia’s advantage: Mr. Trump’s swing into alignment with Russia’s vision of ending the war came as Moscow’s forces have the upper hand on the battlefield. Discarding the prospect of a cease-fire allows Russia to press that advantage further. Read more ›

Aug. 16, 2025, 4:12 p.m. ET1 hour ago

Ashley Ahn

Breaking news reporter

Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada praised President Trump for “creating the opportunity to end Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine,” and agreeing to provide security guarantees to Ukraine after a peace deal. He also said Canada would intensify its support for Ukraine and is working closely with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. His statement aligned with much of Europe’s response to the Alaska summit, cautiously avoiding contradicting Trump’s decision to prioritize a sweeping peace deal over an immediate cease-fire, while showing firm support of Ukraine.

Aug. 16, 2025, 2:43 p.m. ET3 hours ago

Michael Schwirtz

Putin keeps talking about the ‘root causes’ of the war. What does he mean?

When he appeared onstage with President Trump after their summit in Alaska, and again on Saturday at the Kremlin, President Vladimir V. Putin trotted out what has become a well-worn turn of phrase, declaring that any solution to the war in Ukraine must address its “root causes.”

Mr. Putin has uttered the phrase — “pervoprichiny” in Russian — in just about every conversation concerning the war going back at least to February, when he used it in his first phone call with Mr. Trump after he returned to the presidency. It has become shorthand for the Russian president’s unwavering vision of Ukraine’s future.

Often, he and his deputies use the phrase with little or no explanation, as if its meaning were self-evident. “We are convinced that for the Ukrainian settlement to be sustainable and long-lasting, all root causes of the crisis must be eliminated,” Mr. Putin said on Friday in Alaska, without elaborating.

What exactly is Mr. Putin talking about? The “root causes” refers to Russia’s justification for the invasion of Ukraine — a concoction of Mr. Putin’s grievances over Ukraine’s political and historical choices that is hard to parse even for Eastern European experts.

But at its heart is Mr. Putins fixation with NATO’s expansion after the Cold War ended into what he believes should be Russia’s sphere of influence, and his desire to have a pliable, pro-Russia government in Kyiv.

Perhaps the closest Mr. Putin came to defining these root causes of late came in June 2024, when he outlined the conditions that he thought must be met for Russia to enter into a cease-fire agreement with Ukraine.

These included Ukrainian withdrawal from four Ukrainian regions Mr. Putin declared officially part of Russia in September 2022, even though his troops do not control all the territory in any of these regions.Ukraine, he said at the time, must also abandon its long-stated aspirations to join NATO, and the West must lift all sanctions imposed on Russia.

Mr. Putin’s continued use of the phrase, despite the exertions of the Trump administration to bring about the war’s end, suggest that for the Russian president little has changed since he first announced the start of what he described was a “special military operation” in the early hours of Feb. 24, 2022.

The Ukrainian leadership under President Volodymyr Zelensky, which he had hoped to decapitate in the war’s first days and replace with a pro-Russia regime, remains in place. And NATO, the expansion of which Mr. Putin described as an existential threat when he sent troops into Ukraine, has only grown larger, gaining Sweden and Finland, which has a long border with Russia.

Aug. 16, 2025, 2:33 p.m. ET3 hours ago

Michael Schwirtz

Eight Baltic and Nordic countries, including NATO’s newest members, Finland and Sweden, declared in a unified statement on Saturday that they would continue to arm Ukraine and bolster their own defenses in the face of Russian aggression.

“Putin cannot be trusted,” they wrote in the statement, released a day after President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia met with President Trump in Alaska. The statement by a group of countries either bordering Russia or close enough to feel Moscow’s threat acutely was much sharper in tone than one released earlier on Saturday by the European Union, and far from the warm reception Putin received in Alaska. No limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces nor should Russia have any say in whether Ukraine joins NATO or the European Union, the Baltic and Nordic statement said, dismissing Putin’s central demands.

Aug. 16, 2025, 2:30 p.m. ET3 hours ago

Peter Baker

Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent and a former Moscow co-bureau chief for The Washington Post, reported from Anchorage.

News Analysis

Trump bows to Putin’s approach on Ukraine.

On the flight to Alaska, President Trump declared that if he did not secure a cease-fire in Ukraine during talks with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, “I’m not going to be happy,” and there would be “severe consequences.”

Just hours later, he got back on Air Force One and departed Alaska without the cease-fire he deemed so critical. Yet he had imposed no consequences, and had pronounced himself so happy with how things went with Mr. Putin that he said “the meeting was a 10.”

Even in the annals of Mr. Trump’s erratic presidency, the Anchorage meeting with Mr. Putin now stands out as a reversal of historic proportions. Mr. Trump abandoned the main goal he brought to his subarctic summit and, as he revealed on Saturday, would no longer even pursue an immediate cease-fire. Instead, he bowed to Mr. Putin’s preferred approach of negotiating a broader peace agreement requiring Ukraine to give up territory.

The net effect was to give Mr. Putin a free pass to continue his war against his neighbor indefinitely without further penalty, pending time-consuming negotiations for a more sweeping deal that appears elusive at best. Instead of a halt to the slaughter — “I’m in this to stop the killing,” Mr. Trump had said on the way to Alaska — the president left Anchorage with pictures of him and Mr. Putin joshing on a red carpet and in the presidential limousine known as the Beast.

“He got played again,” said Ivo Daalder, who was ambassador to NATO under President Barack Obama. “For all the promises of a cease-fire, of severe economic consequences, of being disappointed, it took two minutes on the red carpet and 10 minutes in the Beast for Putin to play Trump again. What a sad spectacle.”

Mr. Trump’s allies focused on his plans to convene a three-way meeting with Mr. Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. “Let me tell you, I’ve never been more hopeful this war can end honorably and justly than I am right now,” Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and a leading hawk on the Ukraine war, said on Fox News Friday night.

The cease-fire that Mr. Trump gave up in Alaska had been so important to him last month that he threatened tough new economic sanctions if Russia did not pause the war within 50 days. Then he moved the deadline up to last Friday. Now there is no cease-fire, no deadline and no sanctions plan.

Mr. Trump, characteristically, declared victory nonetheless, deeming the meeting “a great and very successful day in Alaska.” After calling Mr. Zelensky and European leaders from Air Force One on the way back to Washington, Mr. Trump said he would now try to broker the more comprehensive peace agreement Mr. Putin has sought.

“It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up,” he wrote on social media on Saturday.

He said that Mr. Zelensky would come to Washington for meetings on Monday to pave the way for a joint meeting with Mr. Putin. “If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin,” Mr. Trump said. “Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved.”

Mr. Putin’s conditions for such a long-term peace agreement, however, are so expansive that Ukrainian and European leaders are unlikely to go along. Mr. Putin referred to this during his joint appearance with Mr. Trump in Anchorage after their talks, when he spoke about addressing the “root causes” of the war — his term for years of Russian grievances not just about Ukraine but about the United States, NATO and Europe’s security architecture.

“We are convinced that in order for the Ukrainian settlement to be sustainable and long-term, all the root causes of the crisis, which have been discussed repeatedly, must be eliminated; all of Russia’s legitimate concerns must be taken into account; and a fair balance in the security sphere in Europe and the world as a whole must be restored,” Mr. Putin said in Alaska.

In the past, Mr. Putin has insisted that a comprehensive peace agreement require NATO to pull forces back to its pre-expansion 1997 borders, bar Ukraine from joining the alliance and require Kyiv to not only give up territory in the east but shrink its military. In effect, Mr. Putin aims to reestablish Moscow’s sphere of influence not only in former Soviet territory but to some extent further in Eastern Europe.

President Joseph R. Biden Jr., Mr. Zelensky and European leaders rejected similar demands on the eve of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. But Mr. Trump appears willing to engage in such a discussion, and since his Friday meeting with Mr. Putin, he has sought to shift the burden for reaching an agreement to Ukraine and Europe.

Mr. Trump has long expressed admiration for Mr. Putin and sympathy for his positions. At their most memorable meeting, held in Helsinki in 2018, Mr. Trump famously accepted Mr. Putin’s denial that Russia had intervened in the 2016 election, taking the former K.G.B. officer’s word over the conclusions of American intelligence agencies.

Much like then, the president’s chummy gathering in Alaska on Friday with Mr. Putin, who is now under U.S. sanctions and faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes, has generated ferocious blowback. Some critics compared it to the 1938 conference in Munich, when Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain of Britain surrendered part of Czechoslovakia to Germany’s Adolf Hitler as part of a policy of appeasement.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, once considered the Trump of London, called the Alaska summit meeting “just about the most vomit-inducing episode in all the tawdry history of international diplomacy.”

But Mr. Zelensky and European leaders sought to make the best of the situation. Some were heartened by Mr. Trump’s comments on the way to Alaska suggesting a willingness to have the United States join Europe in offering some sort of security assurance to Ukraine short of NATO membership. He broached that again in his call with them following the meeting.

“We support President Trump’s proposal for a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the U.S.A. and Russia,” Mr. Zelensky said on Saturday. “Ukraine emphasizes that key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain praised the American president. “President Trump’s efforts have brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine,” he said in a statement. “His leadership in pursuit of an end to the killing should be commended.”

What remains unknown is whether Mr. Trump secured any unannounced concessions from Mr. Putin behind the scenes that would ease the way to a peace agreement in the days to come. Mr. Trump talked about “agreement” on a number of unspecified points, and Mr. Putin referred cryptically to an “understanding” between the two of them.

At the moment, however, it does not look like Mr. Putin has made any move toward compromise, even as Mr. Trump has now given up on his bid for an immediate cease-fire. Before the Alaska summit, Russian forces were pounding Ukraine as part of their relentless yearslong assault. And for now, at least, they will continue.

Aug. 16, 2025, 1:05 p.m. ET4 hours ago

Ashley Ahn

Europe moves to back Ukraine after Trump drops cease-fire demand.

Much of Europe moved on Saturday to back Ukraine after President Trump abandoned their joint demand for a cease-fire, but the leaders treaded carefully to not openly contradict Mr. Trump as he aligned himself with Russia’s vision of ending the war.

In a joint statement released after Mr. Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia met in Alaska, European leaders welcomed Mr. Trump’s efforts to stop the war and his declaration that America would offer future security guarantees after a peace deal.

But it did not echo the position Mr. Trump espoused on Saturday morning that conclusive peace talks were now preferable to an immediate cease-fire that would set the stage for negotiations.

“As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia,” the European leaders wrote. “We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia’s war economy until there is a just and lasting peace.”

The statement was signed by leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Finland, Italy, Poland, the European Union and the European Council.

Just days before the summit, Mr. Trump had assured Ukraine and key European allies that he would demand a cease-fire before engaging in serious talks about a more permanent peace deal.

In a complete reversal, Mr. Trump wrote on social media on Saturday that, after speaking with Mr. Putin, he believed a peace agreement would be preferable to a cease-fire. He said he had spoken to European leaders by phone and claimed they d his view.

In their own statements, European leaders steered clear of reiterating their cease-fire demands, suggesting an attempt to avoid contradicting Mr. Trump.

Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, said in a statement that he welcomed “the openness of the United States, alongside Europe, to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal.” Then, as in the joint statement, he said he was determined to keep increasing economic pressure on Russia until the war ends.

In a similar vein, President Emmanuel Macron of France praised America’s readiness to contribute. But he said it was essential to “maintain pressure on Russia as long as its war of aggression continues” and to remember “Russia’s well-established tendency not to honor its own commitments.”

Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister who has an amiable rapport with Mr. Trump, said there was a “glimmer of hope” for efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

In her statement, she said Mr. Trump “took up the Italian idea of security guarantees inspired by Article 5 of NATO.” Under this idea, she said, Ukraine would not become part of NATO, but “a collective security clause” would allow it “to benefit from the support of all its partners, including the U.S., ready to take action if it is attacked again.”

Mr. Zelensky, who will visit the White House on Monday, similarly avoided contradicting the U.S. president’s call for a final peace agreement. But he emphasized the “killings must stop as soon as possible.”

In a subsequent statement posted several hours later, Mr. Zelensky warned that the Kremlin could not be trusted and that Russia could try to launch a new wave of attacks.

“Based on the political and diplomatic situation around Ukraine, and knowing Russia’s treachery, we anticipate that in the coming days the Russian army may try to increase pressure and strikes against Ukrainian positions in order to create more favorable political circumstances for talks with global actors,” he said.

Kaja Kallas, the E.U.’s top diplomat, echoed Mr. Zelensky’s sentiments. On social media, she argued that Mr. Putin wanted to drag out negotiations while making no commitment to stop the killing.

“The harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon,” she said.

A unified statement by Nordic and Baltic countries, including NATO’s newest members, Finland and Sweden, was much sharper in tone than the one released earlier by the other European leaders, and a far cry from the warm reception Mr. Putin was given in Alaska by Mr. Trump.

The leaders said they would continue to arm Ukraine and bolster their own defenses in the face of Russian aggression. The statement, by a group of countries either bordering Russia or close enough to feel Moscow’s threat acutely, said there should be no limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces, nor should Russia have any say in whether Ukraine joins NATO or the European Union.

“Putin cannot be trusted,” the leaders said, calling for Ukraine to have a seat at the negotiation table.

“Ultimately it is Russia’s responsibility to end its blatant violations of international law,” the statement said. “Russia’s aggression and imperialist ambitions are the root causes of this war.”

Michael Schwirtz contributed reporting.

Aug. 16, 2025, 12:48 p.m. ET4 hours ago

The New York Times

With Putin by his side, Trump repeats his claims of a ‘Russia Hoax.’

With President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia by his side, President Trump on Friday suggested the two men were bonded by a d ordeal, or what Mr. Trump called the “Russia hoax.”

“We were interfered with by the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax,” Mr. Trump said during remarks after his meeting in Alaska with Mr. Putin.

Mr. Trump was referring to the investigation during his first term into links between Russia and his presidential campaign in 2016. American intelligence agencies concluded that Mr. Putin had ordered an intelligence operation to benefit Mr. Trump. And Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, determined that Russia had carried out a “sweeping and systematic” attack on the 2016 election.

Mr. Trump has long felt aggrieved by the investigation, and on Friday used his meeting with the Russian leader to draw a link between himself and Mr. Putin.

“I think he’s probably seen things like that during the course of his career. He’s seen — he’s seen it all,” Mr. Trump said. “But we had to put up with the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax. He knew it was a hoax, and I knew it was a hoax.”

He added: “What was done was very criminal, but it made it harder for us to deal as a country, in terms of the business, and all of the things that would like to have dealt with. But we’ll have a good chance when this is over.”

Mr. Trump has largely held back from harsh criticism of the Russian president, despite recent complaints about Russian intransigence in ending the war in Ukraine. His affinity for Mr. Putin was on display after Friday’s summit, as the two men put on a show of friendship but left without a breakthrough in peace negotiations.

Ivan Nechepurenko Aug. 16, 2025, 12:00 p.m. ET5 hours ago

Reporting from Moscow

Upon his return to Moscow, Putin convened top Russian officials at the Kremlin to brief them in televised remarks about the meeting in Alaska. He said his conversation with President Trump had been “very frank and informative,” adding that it brought Russia and the United States “closer to the necessary decisions” to end the war in Ukraine. Putin said that he had talked to Trump about the “root causes” of the war — a euphemism for Russia’s historical grievances toward Ukraine that he has used to justify the invasion. Putin said, as he has in the past, that “the elimination of these root causes should be the basis for a settlement.”

Aug. 16, 2025, 10:33 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Constant Méheut

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine

Zelensky will meet Trump Monday in Washington to discuss ‘all the details.’

After President Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia ended inconclusive peace talks in Alaska, Ukraine was left in a position it knows all too well. It was scrambling to piece together what the two leaders had actually discussed, deciphering what they may have agreed on and striving to avoid being sidelined in peace talks.

A call a few hours later from Mr. Trump filled in some of the gaps. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said the phone discussion, which included European leaders, had been “long and substantive” and covered “the main points” of the American leader’s talks with Mr. Putin. Mr. Zelensky added that he would visit Mr. Trump in Washington on Monday “to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war.”

But even as Mr. Zelensky’s statement suggested a potential path toward a peace deal after months of largely fruitless negotiations, a public statement by Mr. Trump later on Saturday morning raised questions about whether such an opening would be too heavily tilted toward Russia for Ukraine to accept.

Mr. Trump called on social media for a direct peace agreement without securing a cease-fire first, claiming that Mr. Zelensky and European leaders had agreed on the point. His statement was a stark shift from the “principles” agreed upon earlier in the week by Mr. Trump, Mr. Zelensky and his European allies, which called for refusing to discuss peace terms until a cease-fire was in place.

Russia has long pushed for a direct peace deal that would address a broad range of issues and impose onerous demands on Ukraine, including territorial concessions. Avoiding a cease-fire would allow Russia to continue pressing its advantage on the battlefield in the meantime.

An official briefed on the call between Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky said the Ukrainian leader’s trip to Washington would aim to seek clarity from Mr. Trump. Kyiv does not understand why the American president suddenly dropped the demand that a cease-fire precede negotiations.

In a statement, Mr. Zelensky seemed to tread carefully, trying not to openly contradict Mr. Trump.

“We need to achieve a real peace that will be lasting, not just another pause between Russian invasions,” Mr. Zelensky said. But he added that “the killings must stop as soon as possible, and the fire must cease both on the battlefield and in the air, as well as against our port infrastructure,” suggesting that he was still prioritizing a cease-fire.

In statements of their own, European leaders made no mention of having agreed to abandon their demand for a cease-fire. At the same time, the fact that the statements did not include a demand for a cease-fire, as in previous remarks, suggests at the very least an attempt not to antagonize Mr. Trump.

Mr. Trump’s move to aim for a direct peace deal could bring to failure a week of frantic diplomacy in which Kyiv, with European support, had lobbied the American administration to insist that a cease-fire should come first and that Ukraine should not be undercut in the negotiations.

Mr. Trump’s social media post caused a feeling of whiplash among some Ukrainians, who quickly reversed their early assessments of the Alaska summit.

Oleksandr Merezhko, chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the Ukrainian Parliament, had initially expressed some relief, saying that “the situation could have been worse” if Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin had struck a deal behind Ukraine’s back.

He said that a scenario in which “Trump and Putin started together to pressure Ukraine into surrender” could not have been ruled out given Mr. Trump’s history of deference to Mr. Putin.

But after Mr. Trump’s post on Truth Social, Mr. Merezhko changed his view. “In fact, Putin and Trump are starting to force us into surrender,” he said.

Mr. Trump also proposed security guarantees for Ukraine inspired by the collective defense agreement between NATO member countries, which states that any attack on a member is an attack against all, according to Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister.

Under such guarantees, Ukraine’s NATO allies would be “ready to take action” if Russia attacked again. But Mr. Merezhko and other Ukrainian allies said such a formulation was too vague.

“Which countries will agree to consider an attack against Ukraine as an attack against themselves?” Mr. Merezhko asked. “I’d like to believe that we will find such countries, but I’m not sure.”

Mr. Trump, in an interview with Fox News after the meeting with Mr. Putin, also addressed the idea of territorial swaps, saying they were among the points “that we largely have agreed on.” Mr. Trump had said several times over the past week that territorial concessions would be part of a peace agreement, drawing pushback from Mr. Zelensky.

Mr. Zelensky, however, has not entirely ruled out possible land swaps, telling reporters this week that this is “a very complex issue that cannot be separated from security guarantees for Ukraine.”

Mr. Merezhko, who like many Ukrainian officials was left on tenterhooks by the Alaska meeting, watched the post-meeting news conference live from Kyiv at around 2 a.m. local time.

As both Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin offered only vague statements, Mr. Merezhko said it had become clear that no concrete deal had been reached.

He noted that Mr. Putin had again said that any end to the fighting must address the “root causes” of the war, which is Kremlin parlance for a range of issues that include the existence of Ukraine as a fully independent and sovereign nation aligned with the West.

“I think it’s a failure because Putin was again talking about security concerns and used his usual rhetoric,” Mr. Merezhko said as the news conference came to an end. “I don’t see any changes.”

Vadym Prystaiko, a former foreign affairs minister, said in a phone interview that the summit’s brief duration — it lasted just a few hours and broke up ahead of schedule — indicated limited progress toward peace.

He recalled that during cease-fire negotiations in the first Ukraine-Russia war, which started in 2014, he spent 16 hours in a room with Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelensky’s predecessor, Petro Poroshenko.

The cease-fire that was eventually agreed upon did not last, and fighting soon resumed.

“They didn’t manage to sit enough hours to actually go through all the stuff that is needed to reach a deal,” Mr. Prystaiko said of Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin.

In Kyiv, some emerged Saturday morning from a sleepless night following the news with the sense that the war was likely to continue unabated. After the Alaska summit wrapped up, the Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia had continued its assault on Ukraine, launching 85 drones and one ballistic missile overnight. These figures could not be independently verified.

Tetiana Chamlai, a 66-year-old retiree in Kyiv, said the situation with the war would change only if Ukraine was given more military support, to push Russian forces back enough to force Moscow to the negotiating table. “That’s the only way everything will stop,” she said. “I personally do not see any other way out.”

But Vice President JD Vance made clear this past week that the United States was “done” funding Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion. The Trump administration, however, is fine with Ukraine buying American weapons from U.S. companies, and Mr. Zelensky announced this week that Kyiv had secured $1.5 billion in European funding to purchase American arms.

How long the Ukrainian Army can hold against relentless Russian assaults remains uncertain. Moscow’s forces recently broke through a section of the Ukrainian defenses in the eastern Donbas region, and although their advance has been halted, the swift infiltration has underscored the strain on Ukraine’s stretched lines.

Balazs Jarabik, a former European Union diplomat in Kyiv who now works for R. Politik, a political analysis firm, said that Russia’s upper hand on the battlefield had most likely played a role in Mr. Trump’s agreeing to aim for a peace deal rather than a cease-fire.

“Kyiv and Europe must adapt to a new reality shaped by Washington and Moscow,” he said.

Olha Konovalova contributed reporting.

Aug. 16, 2025, 9:57 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Jeanna Smialek

Kaja Kallas, the E.U.’s top diplomat, said in written comments that “the harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon,” arguing that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia wanted to drag out negotiations while making no commitment to stop the killing.

She added that “the U.S. holds the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously” — but it’s clear from the rest of her statement that she didn’t think that was happening yet.

Aug. 16, 2025, 9:32 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Vanessa Friedman

In the end there was no deal, but there was a photo op: a dramatic, well-choreographed image of President Trump not just welcoming President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to Alaska on Friday, but rolling out the red carpet, that now-universal symbol of fame, pageantry and pomp.

The two men clasped hands, and then strode to Mr. Trump’s limo, in complementary dark suits — single-breasted, two-button — matching white shirts and coordinating ties (red for Mr. Trump, burgundy for Mr. Putin), giving the impression of kindred spirits: just two statesmen meeting on the semi-neutral ground of an airport tarmac to go talk cease-fire, their respective planes looming in the background.

That’s the picture that was caught by the waiting cameras, and those are the photos that have gone around the world to accompany reports of the nonproductive meeting.

In the absence of an actual resolution to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they have become the takeaway. And that, said both President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, even before the meeting, was Mr. Putin’s goal in the first place.

“He is seeking, excuse me, photos,” Mr. Zelensky said. “He needs a photo from the meeting with President Trump.”

Why? Because whatever happened afterward, a photo could be publicly seen — and read — as an implicit endorsement.

After all, the Russian president has been a virtual pariah in the West since his full-scale invasion of Ukraine; accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court. Whether or not Mr. Trump was tough with him behind the closed doors of their meeting room — whether or not their talks were, as Mr. Trump later said, “productive” — what has now been preserved for posterity is Mr. Putin’s admission back into the fold.

And of all current world leaders, the only one who understands, and embraces, the power of the image quite as effectively as Mr. Trump is Mr. Putin. Both men have made themselves into caricatures through costume and scenography, the better to capture the popular imagination.

Mr. Trump has done it with his MAGA merch, his red-white-and-blue dressing (the one regularly adopted by members of his cabinet as well as Republicans in Congress), his hair and his showmanship.

Mr. Putin has done it with his orchestrated photo shoots: the ones that capture him braving the snow in Siberia, hugging a polar bear, hunting shirtless. They may look silly (at least from outside) but that doesn’t make them any less effective. Or headline-grabbing.

That Mr. Putin met Mr. Trump in the uniform Mr. Trump embraces made its own kind of statement. The conflict in Ukraine has been in part a battle fought in images for the support of the global imagination; that is why Mr. Zelensky insists on dressing to show solidarity with his fighting forces whenever he speaks to international bodies, be they Congress or the European Union; why his wife posed for the cover of Vogue.

By wearing his suit and tie in Alaska, Mr. Putin cast himself as Mr. Trump’s equal and drew another line between himself and Mr. Zelensky, who famously offended Mr. Trump by wearing his army look to the White House.

Their handshake — which went on for a while and also involved various friendly pats — was a pantomime of acceptance of that idea. And the photo was everyone’s souvenir.

Show more

Aug. 16, 2025, 9:26 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Steven Erlanger

President Trump told European leaders after his meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Friday in Alaska that he supported a plan to end the war in Ukraine by ceding unconquered territory to the Russian invaders, rather than try for a cease-fire, according to two senior European officials who were briefed on the call.

Mr. Trump will discuss that plan with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Monday at the White House, and there were discussions on Saturday about whether other European officials would join him, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private talks.

After his meeting with Mr. Putin, Mr. Trump has dropped his demand for an immediate cease-fire and believes a rapid peace treaty can be negotiated, so long as Mr. Zelensky agrees to cede the rest of the Donbas region to Russia, even those areas not occupied by Russian troops.

Mr. Zelensky and the European leaders have strongly opposed such a concession of unoccupied land, which also contains important defensive lines and is mineral rich. Ukrainian officials have said that a final deal cannot involve Kyiv agreeing to cede any Ukrainian sovereign territory permanently, which would violate the Ukrainian Constitution.

In return, Mr. Putin offered a cease-fire in the rest of Ukraine at current battle lines and a written promise not to attack Ukraine or any European country again, the senior officials said. They pointed out to Mr. Trump that Mr. Putin often broke his written commitments.

It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory, the officials emphasized, adding that international borders must not be changed by force.

Mr. Trump did not mention during the call imposing any further sanctions or economic pressure on Russia, the officials said. But the European leaders emphasized that they would continue sanctions and economic pressure on Russia until the killing stops, one official said.

White House officials did not respond to a request for comment.

On a more positive note, the European officials said, Mr. Trump said that Mr. Putin agreed that Ukraine should have strong security guarantees after a settlement, but not under NATO. American troops might participate, Mr. Trump told the Europeans.

Mr. Putin also asked for guarantees for Russian to become an official language again in Ukraine and security for Russian Orthodox churches, the officials said.

Mr. Trump said he was hopeful on getting a trilateral meeting with Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelensky, the officials said. But Mr. Putin has so far refused to meet with Mr. Zelensky, considering him an illegitimate president of an artificial country.

Jim Tankersley and Maggie Haberman contributed reporting.

Aug. 16, 2025, 7:18 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Constant Méheut

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine

It is noteworthy that Kyiv’s European allies, in their various statements after the Alaska meeting, did not mention the need to reach a cease-fire first. It has been one of their key principles.

The approach could be a way to avoid antagonizing President Trump, who said he wanted a direct peace agreement without securing a cease-fire first.

Aug. 16, 2025, 7:01 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Constant Méheut

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a statement about the negotiations, seemed to tread carefully so as not to openly contradict Trump’s call for a direct peace deal over a cease-fire.

“We need to achieve a real peace that will be lasting, not just another pause between Russian invasions,” he said. But he added that “the killings must stop as soon as possible, and the fire must cease both on the battlefield and in the air, as well as against our port infrastructure,” suggesting that he still prioritizes a cease-fire.

Aug. 16, 2025, 6:52 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Chris Cameron and Maggie Haberman

After his summit with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Friday, President Trump sat down with the Fox News host Sean Hannity to record an interview in which he offered few details about what the two leaders had said about the war in Ukraine, but talked up their personal connection.

“I think the meeting was a 10,” Mr. Trump said after Mr. Hannity asked how he would rate his talks with the Russian president. “In the sense we got along great, and it’s good when two big powers get along, especially when they’re nuclear powers. We’re No. 1 and they’re No. 2 in the world.”

Without sharing any specific information from the meeting in Alaska, Mr. Trump put the onus for securing peace on Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Now it is really up to President Zelensky to get it done,” he said during the interview, which was broadcast later on Fox News. “I would also say the European nations have to get involved a little bit.”

In the interview, Mr. Trump repeatedly praised Mr. Putin, and brought up compliments he received from the Russian leader during the summit.

“I always had a great relationship with President Putin,” Mr. Trump said. “And we would have done great things together.”

He claimed that Mr. Putin had even supported his claim that the 2020 U.S. presidential election, which Mr. Trump lost to Joseph R. Biden Jr., was rigged.

“He said, ‘Your election was rigged because you have mail-in voting,’” Mr. Trump said, adding that Mr. Putin told him that by-mail voting does not exist anywhere else in the world. Whether Mr. Putin actually said that or not, several countries have by-mail voting. And Mr. Trump’s own attorney general in 2020 said his assertions of widespread fraud couldn’t be proven.

During the interview, Mr. Trump mused about a three-way summit between himself, Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Putin but said explicitly, “I didn’t ask about it.” Twenty minutes after saying that, Mr. Trump said he had in fact discussed that with Mr. Putin.

“They both want me there,” Mr. Trump said. “And I will be there.”

Mr. Zelensky said on Saturday that he would travel to Washington on Monday to discuss the war with Mr. Trump.

Earlier on Friday, the Ukrainian leader had criticized Russia’s latest attacks and cast doubt on Mr. Putin’s commitment to ending the war. But Mr. Trump told Mr. Hannity that he thinks the Russian leader wants to “solve the problem.”

He did not acknowledge that Mr. Putin had started the war.

Aug. 16, 2025, 6:45 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Constant Méheut

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine

Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister, said in a statement that “President Trump today took up the Italian idea of security guarantees inspired by Article 5 of NATO.” Under this idea, Ukraine would not become part of NATO, but “a collective security clause” would allow it “to benefit from the support of all its partners, including the U.S., ready to take action if it is attacked again,” Meloni said.

The idea could be appealing to Ukraine, which has long sought strong security guarantees to deter Russia from attacking again. But the devil is in the details. Several Ukrainian lawmakers said Meloni’s talk of “taking action” was too vague.

Aug. 16, 2025, 6:09 a.m. ET Aug. 16, 2025

Jim Tankersley

Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, said in a statement that he welcomed “the openness of the United States, alongside Europe, to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal.” Then he said, as in the joint statement, that he was determined to keep increasing economic pressure on Russia until the war ends.

ATTACHMENT THIRTY – FROM INDEPENDENT U.K.

‘NO DEAL UNTIL THERE’S A DEAL’: TRUMP AND PUTIN COME TO ‘AGREEMENTS’ OVER UKRAINE BUT NO CEASEFIRE

Putin and Trump emerged after closed-door talks in Anchorage, Alaska, stretched almost three hours

By Andrew Feinberg and Rhian Lubin Saturday 16 August 2025 01:02 BST

Putin says Russia wants end to war in Ukraine

The highly anticipated talks between President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin ended with no firm agreement on stopping the three-year war in Ukraine, as both leaders took notably different stances speaking after the high-stakes summit in Alaska.

At what was billed as a press conference following a nearly three-hour meeting between the two leaders and their top aides Friday, Putin attempted to set the terms when he spoke first after both emerged on the stage at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson outside Anchorage.

Putin appeared optimistic about the talks as he said he and Trump had come to ‘agreements’ and described Ukraine — the sovereign nation he invaded and has been pillaging since March 2022 — as Russia’s “brotherly nation” and claimed Russia wants to end the conflict.

By contrast, Trump followed in brief comments and said firmly: “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.”

“I agree with President Trump, as he has said today, that naturally, the security of Ukraine should be ensured as well,” said Putin, via a translator. “Naturally we are prepared to work on that, I would like to hope that the agreement that we've reached together will help us bring closer that goal and will pave the path towards peace in Ukraine.

“We expect that Kyiv and European capitals will perceive that constructively and that they won't throw a wrench in the works," Putin cautioned, before warning Europe against "backroom dealings to conduct provocations to torpedo the nascent progress.”

Trump and Putin greet with handshake at historic summit on Ukraine ceasefire deal

· Trump-Putin meeting live: Putin says he and Trump have reached ‘agreement’ over Ukraine, but Trump says no deal yet

· Does Putin speak English? Politicos and experts weigh in as world wonders what leaders said in backseat of Trump’s Beast

Putin repeated oft-used lines about addressing what he calls the “primary roots, the primary causes of that conflict,”meaning his desire for Ukraine to end any ambitions to integrate with the West by joining the European Union or NATO, and said any settlement in the conflict must “consider all legitimate concerns of Russia and to reinstate a just balance of security in Europe and in world on the whole.”

But moments later, Trump torpedoed Putin's claim to have reached an agreement, telling reporters instead that there were “many points that we agreed on” during the talks but there were still “a couple of big ones that we haven't quite gotten there.”

“So there's no deal until there's a deal,” Trump said.

The president stressed that any future deal would have to receive assent from the Ukrainian government as well as America's NATO allies, and said he'd be “calling up ... the various people that I think are appropriate,” as well as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to read them in on what transpired behind closed doors today.

Trump added that the meeting, in his estimation, had been “very productive” and included “many points” that had been agreed to, and said there was a "good chance" of reaching some sort of accord going forward.

A second meeting has been floated in recent days by Trump but has not been confirmed.

Putin suggested to Trump in English: “Next time in Moscow,” which the president said he could “get a little heat” for but added he could see it “possibly happening.”

The leaders did not take questions from reporters and swiftly walked off the stage.

There was no mention of a possible land swap of Ukrainian territories that Trump previously suggested, which he said would be “to the betterment of both” sides.

The reality that Ukraine will lose territory in a peace agreement has been accepted by Zelensky in recent months.

The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, conceded Friday that Ukraine may have to “give up territory” as a temporary solution towards peace.

“One of the scenarios is… to give up territory. It's not fair. But for the peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution, temporary,” Klitschko told the BBC. But he stressed that the Ukrainian people would "never accept occupation" by Russia.

Russia occupies about a fifth of Ukraine, from the country’s northeast to the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed illegally in 2014.

The front line is vast and cuts across six regions — the active front stretches for at least 1,000 kilometres (680 miles) — but if measured from along the border with Russia, it reaches as far as 2,300 kilometres (1,430 miles).

ATTACHMENT THIRTY ONE – FROM FOX

PUTIN APPEARS TO BE VISIBLY ANNOYED AS REPORTERS BARRAGE HIM AND TRUMP WITH QUESTIONS

Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to meet with President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday

By Rachel Wolf  August 16, 2025 9:58am EDT

Russian President Vladimir Putin was not shy about showing apparent disdain for members of the press who clamored to ask him questions at the high-stakes summit in Alaska.

For President Donald Trump, such media scrutiny was nothing out of the ordinary, but Putin appeared to make it clear he was unhappy with the display. As reporters tried to grab the leaders’ attention, Putin — a former Soviet KGB intelligence officer — seemed to be visibly annoyed.

Heading into the summit, Trump faced pressure from leaders at home and abroad to secure a deal with Putin and end the hostilities. Even former Trump rival Hillary Clinton acknowledged the gravity of the moment, saying she would nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize if he secured a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Despite a rocky relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump has managed to coordinate with both him and Putin.

Before Friday’s U.S.-Russia summit, Zelenskyy met with European leaders and took part in a session of the "Coalition of the Willing," which Vice President JD Vance also attended. Additionally, on Wednesday, Trump met virtually with European leaders to prepare for the pivotal talks.

TRUMP REVEALS 10 STRIKING TAKEAWAYS FROM PUTIN SUMMIT IN HANNITY INTERVIEW

Although Putin and Trump failed to reach a deal Friday, the meeting was widely viewed as a successful step forward.

Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in an exclusive interview that the meeting was "very good" and that Putin "wants to see it done." However, the president declined to what sticking point stopped them from reaching a deal. 

European leaders praised Trump in a joint statement signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and others.

"Leaders welcomed President Trump’s efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine, end Russia’s war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace," the statement read. The leaders also reiterated their stance that "Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Trump in Washington, D.C., on Monday. He said in a post on X that he and Trump will "discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war." 

Trump and Zelenskyy — who was not invited to the Alaska summit — have signaled willingness for a trilateral meeting with Putin. But Putin has shown no movement toward such talks.

On Saturday, Zelenskyy said he urged Trump to strengthen sanctions if Putin refuses to join a trilateral meeting, echoing Trump’s earlier warning that Russia would face "very severe" economic consequences if it derailed the peace process.

ATTACHMENT THIRTY TWO – FROM THE NEW YORK POST

PUTIN TRIES TO WOO TRUMP AT ALASKA MEETING, CLAIMS HE WOULDN’T HAVE INVADED UKRAINE IF BIDEN HADN’T BEEN PRESIDENT

By Caitlin Doornbos and Victor Nava Published Aug. 15, 2025 Updated Aug. 16, 2025, 12:32 a.m. ET

Russian President Vladimir Putin — an ex-KGB agent and master manipulator — attempted to woo President Trump after their hours-long meeting by claiming he would not have invaded Ukraine if former President Biden hadn’t been in office after the “rigged” 2020 election.

”I’d like to remind you that in 2022, during the last contact with the previous administration, I tried to convince my previous American colleague the situation should not be brought to the point of no return when it would come to hostilities,” Putin said following his meeting with Trump. “And I said it quite directly back then.

”That’s a big mistake today, when President Trump is saying that if he was the president back then, there will be no war — and I’m quite sure that it would indeed be, so I can confirm that.”

Trained in strategic communications during his time as a KGB agent for the Soviet Union, Putin is known for attempting to manipulate world leaders with flattery.

”I think that, overall, me and President Trump have built a very good business-like [relationship],” he added.

Trump has often said that he believed Putin would not have invaded if he were president in 2022, but he did not appear to take the dictator’s bait during Friday’s press conference.

While he called Putin’s nine-minute pre-written speech “profound,” Trump did not mention his longstanding talking point after the Russian leader’s assertion.

Instead, Trump subtly reminded Putin that he would not be making any business deals with Russia until the Kremlin ends its three-year war on Ukraine, pointing out the US’ leverage.

“We … have some tremendous Russian business representatives here, and I think everybody wants to deal with us. We’ve become the hottest country anywhere in the world in a very short period of time,” he said. “We look forward to dealing — we’re going to try and get this over with.

“… We’ll have a good chance when this is over.”

However, the president did say he was pleased by Putin’s remarks about Biden when speaking with Fox News’ Sean Hannity after the high-stakes meeting.

“I was very happy to hear him say, if I was president, that war would have never happened,” Trump said.

“It was stupid … Biden was a terrible president in so many ways. He should have never let it happen.”

Behind closed doors, Putin blamed mail-in voting for Trump’s 2020 election loss, the president revealed on “Hannity.”

“You know, Vladimir Putin said something, one of the most interesting things: He said, ‘Your election was rigged because you have mail-in voting,’” he said. “He said, ‘No country has mail-in voting. It’s impossible to have mail-in voting and have honest elections.’

“‘You won that election by so much,’” Putin told the president, according to Trump, “‘You lost it because of mail-in voting.’”

Trump confirmed that Putin provided him with specific reasons behind his invasion of Ukraine during Biden’s administration — but refused to reveal them.

“It doesn’t matter at this point, but this war should never have happened,” he reiterated, before later adding, “I know the reason – it’s gross incompetence.”

ATTACHMENT THIRTY THREE – FROM THE NATIONAL REVIEW

THE ‘NO DEAL’ SUMMIT AND THE PATH TO PEACE IN UKRAINE

August 16, 2025 12:52 PM

The optics of diplomacy are often not for the squeamish. The enthusiasm, whether real, feigned, or a bit of both, with which Donald Trump greeted Vladimir Putin in Alaska made a nauseating contrast with the horrors of daily life in Ukraine.

In a just world, Ukraine would regain the territory stolen from it since 2014, receive massive reparations from Russia, and be admitted to NATO. But Russia will not give up its ill-gotten gains any time soon, whether by force or voluntarily, and it is likely to be years, if ever, before Ukraine will be able to join NATO. Faced with that reality, Western policymakers should concentrate on doing what they can to secure the independence of the 80 percent of Ukraine that remains under Kyiv’s control. If some New York City realtor–style schmooze brings Ukraine closer to that goal, so be it.

The talks themselves yielded little of substance, which was probably why, once Putin and Trump had addressed the media after their meeting, they didn’t take any questions. Despite that, the meeting, described by Trump as “very productive,” was in a sense substantive. There were signs that each man believes that he can do business with the other. The language that Trump used to describe the absence of progress contained no hint of a slammed door: “There were many, many points that we agreed on, most of them, I would say a couple of big ones that we haven’t quite gotten there, but we’ve made some headway.”

The identity of those “big” points remains unknown, however. Putin’s insistence that, while he was “sincerely interested” (how kind) in ending the war, all its “primary causes” had to be eliminated, is a requirement hard to reconcile with genuine Ukrainian independence, and thus peace.

At the same time, despite apparent schmoozing on Putin’s part too (for example, he evidently agreed with Trump that the 2020 election had been stolen), the U.S. president demonstrated that he was, contrary to some fears, prepared to end the talks without an agreement. “There is no deal,” he said, “until there is a deal.”

Nevertheless, Putin can claim wins of more consequence than a photo-op. Above all he dodged any requirement to pay a fresh price for his failure to agree to a cease-fire. This is a significant climbdown by Trump. Earlier he had talked of “very severe consequences” if Putin had failed to agree to a cease-fire at the summit, which followed his demands in late July that Putin should do so within “ten to twelve days” (previously the president had referred to 50 days) or face “very severe” tariffs and other sanctions. These had been expected to include “secondary” sanctions on countries such as China that bought Russian oil (some have already been imposed on India), but further extending such sanctions is off the agenda for “two or three weeks.”

This matters. Without a preliminary cease-fire it will be hard to proceed to the more formal armistice that remains the most likely form of eventual peace deal. Trump’s later comments that it was now up to Ukraine’s President Zelensky (with some help from the Europeans) to secure that cease-fire should not be read too literally.  The president will clearly remain involved in the peace process. But for any American intervention to be successful, before long it will (however chummy the talks in Alaska) have to involve more stick as well as carrot.

Putin almost certainly believes that he can win a war of attrition against Ukraine. Even agreeing to hold these talks was, if only partially, an element in a broader effort to string the U.S. along as Russia’s forces gnaw away at Ukraine. Trump should remember that while patience is a virtue, being a patsy is not. In the aftermath of the meetings, he wants to hold off on further sanctions for now. That’s fine, but, in the absence of progress toward a cease-fire, in fairly short order he should resume turning the sanctions ratchet.

Overall, we can only repeat the views that we set out ahead of the talks. In exchange for a durable armistice, Russia can be handed concessions, however undeserved, above all in the form of the de facto acceptance of its control of the territory that Moscow has seized since 2014 (de jure recognition should remain off the menu unless granted by Ukraine), but also the gradual relaxation of sanctions.

We add that proviso because we remain convinced that Putin’s longer-term ambitions will not be satisfied by merely hanging onto the territory Russia has grabbed since 2014. Accordingly, if any armistice between Moscow and Kyiv is to amount to more than an interlude before Russia returns to the fray, it must be backed up by continued Western support for Ukraine. And the West itself — in the form of a reinvigorated NATO under U.S. leadership — must remain united.

ATTACHMENT THIRTY FOUR – FROM FOX

CHINA EYES TRUMP-PUTIN MEETING, GAUGES WEST’S RESOLVE ON UKRAINE

Security experts warns 'if aggression pays in Europe, deterrence discounts in Asia'

By Caitlin McFall Fox News Published August 16, 2025 8:00am EDT

Security experts are sounding the alarm that China and the rest of the international community are closely watching how President Donald Trump interacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin after their meeting in Alaska Friday.

The White House said in the lead-up to the talks that the meeting was a "listening exercise," and Trump confirmed he would make neither deals nor concessions when speaking with Putin.

But security experts have warned that this meeting will have consequences beyond the war in Ukraine.

"Since China acts as a consistent supporter and enabler of Russia, of course they are watching the talks regarding Ukraine very closely," Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė told Fox News Digital during her trip to Washington, D.C., this week.

"Any concession would no doubt serve as an incentive for the PRC [People’s Republic of China] to undertake a hostile path in the Indo-Pacific as the risk of dire consequences would be perceived as significantly lower." 

Trump said he would call his European and Ukrainian counterparts immediately after the Anchorage-based talks and that he hoped the next step would be for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin to meet in person, possibly along with Trump and other European leaders.

NATO DEFENSE MINISTER SIGNALS ‘ABSOLUTE DISTRUST’ THAT PUTIN WANTS ANY PEACE DEAL AHEAD OF TRUMP SUMMIT

But there also remains speculation over whether the president will look to cut his own deal with Russia, namely in the field of critical minerals, with Trump looking to counter Chinese competition.

Trump on Thursday wouldn’t answer questions about whether he is going to seek a critical minerals deal with Putin, instead telling reporters, "We're going to see what happens with that meeting."

But the optics of Trump cutting a business deal with Russia while Putin refuses to end his deadly ambitions in Ukraine could be seen as aiding Moscow’s war chest and could further signal to Chinese President Xi Jinping that Trump values "deals over deterrence," one East Asian geopolitical strategy expert warned.

"Beijing will read any permissive deal as expanding latitude for gray-zone pressure on Taiwan, which could strain allied trust in perceived U.S. red lines," Craig Singleton, China Program senior director and senior fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.  

"China will exploit that doubt, amplifying a ‘deals-over-deterrence’ narrative and probing coordination gaps from Tokyo and Seoul to Manila.

COULD TRUMP'S MEETING WITH PUTIN BE THE NEXT REAGAN-GORBACHEV MOMENT?

"If Washington is perceived as ‘selling out’ Ukraine, Beijing will learn a simple lesson: Coercion pays and costs are containable," Singleton added. "In that case, Beijing may step up [military] incursions around Taiwan and intensify gray-zone pressure to gauge just how much stability Washington will trade for silence."

But there is one more element to the meetings that has security experts worried – Zelenskyy’s absence. 

Though the meeting was apparently pushed by Putin, who has thus far refused to meet with Zelenskyy despite the Ukrainian president’s calls to do so, his absence when discussing a war taking place on his nation’s soil could speak volumes to China.

"From Beijing’s perspective, leaving Zelenskyy out widens the lane for a face-saving freeze that locks in Russia's battlefield gains, an implicit nod that great powers can revise borders by force," Singleton said. "Beijing will quietly welcome it and note that Washington entertained settlement talks without Kyiv, a precedent it will pocket for Asia."

Ultimately, he argued, "If aggression pays in Europe, deterrence discounts in Asia."

"For Beijing, the Alaska meeting is the message. Great powers bargaining over smaller states normalizes the world order Chinese leader Xi Jinping prefers," Singleton added.

Caitlin McFall is a Reporter at Fox News Digital covering Politics, U.S. and World news.

ATTACHMENT THIRTY FIVE – FROM AL JAZEERA

TRUMP TO MEET UKRAINE’S ZELENSKYY AFTER ‘SUCCESSFUL’ TALKS WITH PUTIN

US president changes his position on Ukraine, saying he prefers a direct peace accord as opposed to ceasefire after Alaska talks.

Published On 16 Aug 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet United States President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on Monday to discuss an end to the more than three-year war in Ukraine, a meeting announced hours after Trump’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska ended without a concrete deal.

In a post on his Truth Social platform after holding phone conversations with European Union and NATO leaders, Trump said the talks with Putin on Friday “went very well”.

Trump-Putin summit ends with no ceasefire deal

“Expectations were low and nothing came out” of Trump-Putin talks

Trump-Putin meeting: Key takeaways from Alaska summit

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,269

“It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up,” Trump wrote.

Speaking to top officials in Moscow a day after the talks in Alaska, Putin said the talks had been “timely” and “very useful”, according to the Kremlin.

“We have not had direct negotiations of this kind at this level for a long time,” he said, adding: “We had the opportunity to calmly and in detail reiterate our position.”

“The conversation was very frank, substantive and, in my opinion, brings us closer to the necessary decisions,” Putin said.

Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid, reporting from Moscow, said the talks have been largely considered a success in Russia.

“Trump’s remarks on the need for a larger peace agreement fall in line with what Putin has been saying for the last few months,” he said.

On Saturday, the Ukrainian leader and his European allies, who have been seeking a ceasefire, welcomed the Trump-Putin talks but emphasised the need for a security guarantee for Kyiv.

Zelenskyy, who was publicly berated by Trump and his officials during his last Oval Office meeting in February, said, “I am grateful for the invitation.” The Ukrainian leader said he had a “long and substantive conversation with Trump” after the summit.

“In my conversation with President Trump, I said that sanctions should be tightened if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia evades an honest end to the war,” the Ukrainian leader said.

He said Ukraine needs a real, long-lasting peace and not “just another pause” between Russian offensives.

“Security must be guaranteed reliably and in the long term, with the involvement of both Europe and the US,” he said on X after a call with the European leaders.

Zelenskyy stressed that territorial issues can only be decided with Ukraine.

Trilateral meeting

In his first public comments after the Alaska talks, Zelenskyy said he supported Trump’s proposal for a meeting involving Ukraine, the US and Russia, adding that Kyiv is “ready for constructive cooperation”.

“Ukraine reaffirms its readiness to work with maximum effort to achieve peace,” the Ukrainian president posted on X.

But Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said on Russian state television on Saturday that a potential meeting involving Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy had not been raised during the US-Russia discussions.

“The topic has not been touched upon yet,” Ushakov said, according to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

Trump rolled out the red carpet on Friday for Putin, who was in the US for the first time in a decade, but he gave little concrete detail afterwards of what was discussed.

Trump said in Alaska that “there’s no deal until there’s a deal” after Putin claimed the two leaders had hammered out an “understanding” on Ukraine and warned Europe not to “torpedo the nascent progress”.

Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford, reporting from Kyiv, said Trump has been heavily criticised by the US media over the meeting in Alaska.

“They are concerned about what has been described as far more of a conciliatory tone by Trump towards Putin without coming out of that meeting with even a ceasefire,” he said.

Stratford said eyes are now on Monday’s meeting in Washington, DC, as Zelenskyy and Trump try to set up a trilateral summit with Putin.

“If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin,” the US president said.

During an interview with the Fox News channel after the talks, Trump insisted that the onus going forward might be on Zelenskyy “to get it done,” but he said there would also be some involvement from European nations.

Meanwhile, several European leaders on Saturday jointly pledged to continue support for Ukraine and maintain pressure on Russia until the war in Ukraine ends.

In a statement, EU leaders, including the French president and German chancellor, outlined key points in stopping the conflict.

They said: “Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine‘s path to the EU and NATO, the statement said. “It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory. International borders must not be changed by force.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday that the US is ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine.

“[The] good news is that America is ready to participate in such security guarantees and is not leaving it to the Europeans alone,” Merz told the German public broadcaster ZDF after being briefed together with other European leaders by Trump on his talks with Putin.

The leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden said in a statement that achieving peace between Ukraine and Russia requires a ceasefire and security guarantees for Ukraine.

“We welcome President Trump’s statement that the US is prepared to participate in security guarantees. No limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or on its cooperation with other countries,” the statement said.

The ebb and flow of the battlefield lines in Ukraine have taken on greater political significance as Trump pushes for an end to the war, with Russia advancing in Donetsk oblast, part of the Donbas region .

Zelenskyy had revealed on Tuesday that Russia wanted Ukraine to withdraw from the the remaining 30 percent of Donetsk that it still controls as part of a deal, stating that he would not agree on the basis that it was unconstitutional and that it would incentivise Russian aggression.

Ahead of Putin’s meeting with Trump, he had played down Russian advances in the region, as its troops reportedly closed in on the strategic town of Pokrovsk, having seized the village of Yablunivka and the settlement of Oleksandrohrad.

On Saturday, as Russia’s Defence Ministry said that it had taken control of the village of Kolodyazi in Donetsk, he maintained in a post on X that Ukrainian troops were “defending our positions along the entire front line”, achieving “successes in some extremely difficult areas in the Donetsk region”.

On other fronts, Russia’s Defence Ministry also said on Saturday that it controlled Vorone in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

The Ukrainian military said that it had pushed Russian forces back by about 2km (1.2 miles) on part of the Sumy front in northern Ukraine, with fighting raging near the villages of Oleksiivka and Yunakivka, which both lie close to the Russian border.

ATTACHMENT THIRTY SIX – FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES

FOX NEWS REPORTER BRUTALLY REVIEWS TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT; SAYS KREMLIN BOSS ‘CAME IN AND STEAMROLLED’ POTUS

By Tuhin Das Mahapatra Published on: Aug 16, 2025 08:02 am IST

The Alaska summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin ended in confusion, with Fox News journalists suggesting Russian Prez dominated the event.

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin's Alaska summit ended in confusion Friday, as Fox News journalists described the joint press conference at a military base as awkward, poorly managed, and politically lopsided.

The summit was billed as a chance to restart talks over Ukraine, where Russia’s invasion has caused immense human suffering and civilian deaths.

ALSO READ| Putin's bizarre reaction to 'when will you stop killing' question before Trump meeting - Watch

Fox News reporter s, ‘Everyone else in this room were surprised’

Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich, reporting directly from the event, did not hold back her assessment. Speaking to Brian Kilmeade, she acknowledged the frustration in the room: “You and me and everyone else in this room were surprised.”

“We were told we would have an opportunity to put questions to both leaders after a joint press conference in the event the meeting went well enough that they could set the stage for a second meeting,” she explained.

“And President Trump said if that didn’t happen, he was likely to call off the joint presser and just address the media solo and send people home. Neither of those things happened.”

What followed stunned Heinrich. “You had Putin come out and address the press first. We are on U.S. soil here. And that left the media scrambling to get their headsets in. Usually, it is the leader of the country, the host country of a summit, that speaks first and addresses. Putin started off in Russian. And we all had to get our heads set on and listen to him rattle off the diatribe about the history of the U.S. and Russia,” she said.

“The way that it felt in the room was not good. It did not seem like things went well, and it seemed like Putin came in and steamrolled, got right into what he wanted to say. And got his photo next to the president and then left.”

Trump's former aide says ‘Putin clearly won’

John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, told CNN, “Trump did not lose, but Putin clearly won.” He argued that the Russian president walked away with the outcomes he wanted: no new sanctions, no firm ceasefire agreement, and no meaningful updates for Ukraine.

“It’s far from over, but I’d say Putin achieved most of what he wanted. Trump achieved very little.”

Notably, following the summit, Trump, in an exclusive interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, said, “Look, as far as I'm concerned, there's no deal until there's a deal. But we did make a lot of progress.”

ATTACHMENT THIRTY SEVEN – FROM OMMCOMM NEWS (INDIA)

WESTERN MEDIA ON VERGE OF COMPLETE MADNESS OVER PUTIN-TRUMP MEETING: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON

August 16, 2025

Moscow: The Western media, which have been broadcasting about Russia’s isolation for three years, are in a state of insanity, bordering on complete madness, against the backdrop of the ceremonial meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Donald Trump in the US held on Friday in Alaska, state media reported quoting Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson.

This statement was made by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, in her Telegram channel, commenting on the meeting of the leaders of the two countries in Alaska, Russian news agency TASS reported.

“Western media are in a state that can be called insanity, bordering on complete madness: for three years they talked about Russia’s isolation, and today they saw the red carpet that greeted the Russian President in the United States,” the diplomat emphasised as reported by TASS.

Earlier, Putin and Trump began a three-on-three meeting without the traditional summit opening remarks open to the press.

The talks themselves are being held behind closed doors.

The Presidents are sitting opposite each other against the backdrop of a brand wall decorated with the words “Alaska 2025” in English and the slogans “Striving for Peace”.

Putin and Trump, on Friday, held a crucial meeting at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Anchorage, Alaska, which is still underway for more than an hour, TASS reported.

The talks are being held in a three-on-three format, but the leaders of the two countries began communicating on the airfield after arriving in Alaska, TASS reported.

Putin and Trump left their planes almost simultaneously and got into the American leader’s Cadillac, where they had a private conversation on the way to the talks.

The Russian leader’s plane landed at the military base at 21:54 Moscow time (10:54 local time), TASS media reported.

Trump’s “Air Force One” landed there shortly before.

The welcoming ceremony on the airfield began at 22:10 Moscow time, and official negotiations with representatives of the delegations of both sides began 15 minutes later.

Earlier on Friday, the red carpet was given a final clean before President Trump stepped out of Air Force One at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to meet Putin to discuss the end of the war in Ukraine.

Despite being arranged in just a few days, Friday’s high-stakes meeting is unfolding with the kind of strict protocol usually seen at long-planned summits.

Everything from the timing of the arrivals to the exact parking spots of the planes has been carefully negotiated.

Neither leader wants to appear to be waiting for the other. While Trump arrived first, he remained on board until Putin was ready to greet him.

The red carpet, a traditional sign of respect, is also framed by a display of US military power four F-22 Raptor fighter jets lined up alongside it.

At events like this, no image or moment is left to chance.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov will accompany President Putin for his landmark talks with US President Trump.

“The Russian officials accompanying President Vladimir Putin in the talks with the US delegation will be foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov,” Russia state media report said, quoting the Kremlin.

This comes after Washington announced at the last minute that the leaders would not be meeting alone.

Wearing his signature red tie, Trump walked down the red carpet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and waited for Putin’s arrival.

Both leaders, dressed in dark suits, shook hands firmly before walking side by side down the carpet, greeted by cheers from people gathered on the tarmac.

Trump offered a brief salute as US military aircraft roared overhead.

The tarmac at Elmendorf Air Base welcomed Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. A red carpet, arranged in an L-shape, leads the way to a platform marked “ALASKA 2025”. Lining the carpet are four F-22 Raptor fighter jets a striking sight, given that squadrons stationed at Elmendorf are tasked with intercepting Russian aircraft that approach US airspace.

According to the White House, Trump met Alaska’s two US Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan along with Governor Mike Dunleavy.

Trump’s one-on-one meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his first term were shrouded in a degree of mystery. With only a translator inside the room, it was often unclear what exactly was discussed.

The addition of two aides to Friday’s session — Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US special envoy Steve Witkoff — could allow for greater clarity once the meeting concludes, particularly if Russia offers an accounting of events that differs from the US perspective.

The White House has said that Trump will not be alone for his meeting with Putin, and will instead be joined by Rubio and Witkoff.

The post-meeting lunch will also be attended by Rubio, Witkoff, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump’s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

(IANS)

ATTACHMENT THIRTY EIGHT – FROM PHILLIPINE NEWS AGENCY

PUTIN, TRUMP COMPLETE 3-HOUR CONSTRUCTIVE, USEFUL TALKS

August 16, 2025, 10:47 am

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Donald Trump of the United States have held closed-door talks in Alaska.

The meeting, which began with a brief conversation on the red carpet on the tarmac in Anchorage, lasted more than three hours.

Putin and Trump made statements to the media after the talks.

Putin suggested their next meeting be held in Moscow, and Trump said it was possible, even though he would have to face strong criticism.

TASS has gathered the key takeaways from what the Russian president said.

Russia-US relations

• The talks with Trump were useful and constructive: "Our talks took place in a trustful and constructive atmosphere and were quite substantive and useful."

• In recent years, Russia-US relations fell "to their lowest since the Cold War," he said. "As you know, Russia and the US have not held summits for over four years, which is a long time. That wasn’t an easy period in bilateral relations, which, let’s face it, fell to their lowest since the Cold War, which benefits neither our countries nor the world in general."

• Russia-US trade started to grow under Trump, even though the growth rate is not high at this point. "Our trade started to grow after the new US administration came to power. So far, it’s merely symbolic, but it’s still a rise of 20 percent. I mean that we have a lot of promising areas for joint work."

• Russia and the US have a lot to offer each other in various areas of cooperation. "Russia-US business and investment cooperation clearly has a lot of potential. Russia and the US have a lot to offer each other in trade, the energy sector, the digital industry, high technology and space exploration. Arctic cooperation also looks relevant, as well as the resumption of interregional ties, particularly between Russia’s Far East and the US West Coast."

Ukraine settlement

• The agreements reached in Alaska "will be the starting point for resolving the Ukraine issue" and improving Russia-US relations.

• Russia has always seen the people of Ukraine as brotherly and the current developments as tragic and painful.

• Russia is interested in putting an end to the Ukraine crisis: "Our country is sincerely interested in ending it all."

• Russia is ready to work to ensure Ukraine’s security: "I agree with President Trump – he has spoken about it today – that Ukraine’s security also needs to be ensured. We are certainly ready to work on that."

• The understanding reached with Trump will pave the way for peace in Ukraine, the Russian leader hopes.

• The conflict in Ukraine would have never started had Donald Trump been the president of the United States in 2022. "I remember that during my last contact with the previous (US) administration in 2022, I tried to convince my then American counterpart that the situation should not be brought to the point of no return, where it would come to hostilities. And I said it quite directly back then that it's a big mistake. Today, when President Trump says that if he had been president, there would have been no war, I'm quite sure that's the way it would have been. I can confirm that."

• An end to the conflict in Ukraine is secured, "the sooner the better."

On good-neighborly relations

• Holding a Russia-US summit in Alaska is logical because the two countries are neighbors: "It’s quite logical to meet here because our countries are close neighbors despite being separated by oceans."

• Russia is grateful to the US for its respect for the memory of the Soviet soldiers buried in Alaska. "Soviet pilots who died during their heroic mission (while flying aircraft from the US to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease Program - TASS) are buried in a military cemetery just a few kilometers from here. We are grateful to the US authorities and citizens for respecting their memory. This is noble and dignified behavior. (TASS)

ATTACHMENT THIRTY NINE – FROM BELTA (BELARUS)

USHAKOV UNSURE OF TIMING FOR NEXT PUTIN-TRUMP MEETING

16 August 2025, 11:26

MINSK, 16 August (BelTA) - Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov stated in his comments to the Russian television that he currently has no information regarding when the next meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. leader Donald Trump might take place, TASS reports.

Responding to the question, the Russian President’s aide said: “I don't know yet”. “The U.S. president said he would call his counterparts and discuss the results of these talks with them,” Yury Ushakov said. “Then we'll decide how to proceed.”

ATTACHMENT FORTY – FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES

TRUMP BACKS PLAN TO CEDE LAND FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE

After meeting the Russian president, President Trump told European leaders he now favors giving up territory Ukraine controls to Russia to end the fighting, a concession Ukraine has long opposed.

Jim Tankersley Ivan Nechepurenko and Steven Erlanger Aug. 16, 2025 Updated 5:00 p.m. ET

President Trump on Saturday split from Ukraine and key European allies after his summit with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, backing Mr. Putin’s plan for a sweeping peace agreement based on Ukraine ceding territory it controls to Russia, instead of the urgent cease-fire Mr. Trump had said he wanted before the meeting.

Skipping cease-fire discussions would give Russia an advantage in the talks, which are expected to continue on Monday when President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine visits Mr. Trump at the White House. It breaks from a strategy Mr. Trump and European allies, as well as Mr. Zelensky, had agreed to before the U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska.

Mr. Trump told European leaders that he believed a rapid peace deal could be negotiated if Mr. Zelensky agreed to give up the rest of the Donbas region to Russia, even those areas not occupied by Russian troops, according to two senior European officials briefed on the call.

In return, Mr. Putin offered a cease-fire in the rest of Ukraine at current battle lines and a written promise not to attack Ukraine or any European country again, the senior officials said. He has broken similar promises before.

Mr. Trump had threatened stark economic penalties if Mr. Putin left the meeting without a deal to end the war, but he has suspended those threats in the wake of the summit.

The American president’s moves got a chilly reception in Europe, where leaders have time and again seen Mr. Trump reverse positions on Ukraine after speaking with Mr. Putin.

Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social early on Saturday that he had spoken by phone to Mr. Zelensky and some European leaders after his meeting with Mr. Putin. He claimed “it was determined by all” that it was better to go directly to negotiating a peace agreement without first implementing a cease-fire.

European leaders, publicly and privately, made clear that was not the case. They issued a statement that did not echo Mr. Trump’s claim that peace talks were preferable to a cease-fire. Britain, France, Germany and others threatened to increase economic penalties on Russia “as long as the killing in Ukraine continues.”

Mr. Zelensky, who was left out of the Alaska summit, said in a statement that he and Mr. Trump would on Monday “discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war.”

Here’s what else to know:

· Zelensky’s challenge: Ukraine was left scrambling to piece together what Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin had discussed and striving to avoid being sidelined. Mr. Zelensky is heading to Washington on Monday. An official briefed on his call with Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky said Kyiv does not understand why the American president suddenly dropped the demand that a cease-fire precede negotiations. Read more ›

· European response: European leaders moved to support Ukraine and voice caution of Russia. They neither endorsed Mr. Trump’s changed stance on how to achieve peace nor openly contradicted it. A virtual meeting between the leaders of France, Britain, and Germany is set for Sunday.

· Russia’s advantage: Mr. Trump’s swing into alignment with Russia’s vision of ending the war came as Moscow’s forces have the upper hand on the battlefield. Discarding the prospect of a cease-fire allows Russia to press that advantage further. Read more ›

Aug. 16, 2025, 4:12 p.m. ET1 hour ago

Ashley Ahn

Breaking news reporter

Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada praised President Trump for “creating the opportunity to end Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine,” and agreeing to provide security guarantees to Ukraine after a peace deal. He also said Canada would intensify its support for Ukraine and is working closely with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. His statement aligned with much of Europe’s response to the Alaska summit, cautiously avoiding contradicting Trump’s decision to prioritize a sweeping peace deal over an immediate cease-fire, while showing firm support of Ukraine.

Aug. 16, 2025, 2:43 p.m. ET3 hours ago

Michael Schwirtz

Putin keeps talking about the ‘root causes’ of the war. What does he mean?

When he appeared onstage with President Trump after their summit in Alaska, and again on Saturday at the Kremlin, President Vladimir V. Putin trotted out what has become a well-worn turn of phrase, declaring that any solution to the war in Ukraine must address its “root causes.”

Mr. Putin has uttered the phrase — “pervoprichiny” in Russian — in just about every conversation concerning the war going back at least to February, when he used it in his first phone call with Mr. Trump after he returned to the presidency. It has become shorthand for the Russian president’s unwavering vision of Ukraine’s future.

Often, he and his deputies use the phrase with little or no explanation, as if its meaning were self-evident. “We are convinced that for the Ukrainian settlement to be sustainable and long-lasting, all root causes of the crisis must be eliminated,” Mr. Putin said on Friday in Alaska, without elaborating.

What exactly is Mr. Putin talking about? The “root causes” refers to Russia’s justification for the invasion of Ukraine — a concoction of Mr. Putin’s grievances over Ukraine’s political and historical choices that is hard to parse even for Eastern European experts.

But at its heart is Mr. Putins fixation with NATO’s expansion after the Cold War ended into what he believes should be Russia’s sphere of influence, and his desire to have a pliable, pro-Russia government in Kyiv.

Perhaps the closest Mr. Putin came to defining these root causes of late came in June 2024, when he outlined the conditions that he thought must be met for Russia to enter into a cease-fire agreement with Ukraine.

These included Ukrainian withdrawal from four Ukrainian regions Mr. Putin declared officially part of Russia in September 2022, even though his troops do not control all the territory in any of these regions.Ukraine, he said at the time, must also abandon its long-stated aspirations to join NATO, and the West must lift all sanctions imposed on Russia.

Mr. Putin’s continued use of the phrase, despite the exertions of the Trump administration to bring about the war’s end, suggest that for the Russian president little has changed since he first announced the start of what he described was a “special military operation” in the early hours of Feb. 24, 2022.

The Ukrainian leadership under President Volodymyr Zelensky, which he had hoped to decapitate in the war’s first days and replace with a pro-Russia regime, remains in place. And NATO, the expansion of which Mr. Putin described as an existential threat when he sent troops into Ukraine, has only grown larger, gaining Sweden and Finland, which has a long border with Russia.

Aug. 16, 2025, 2:33 p.m. ET3 hours ago

Michael Schwirtz

Eight Baltic and Nordic countries, including NATO’s newest members, Finland and Sweden, declared in a unified statement on Saturday that they would continue to arm Ukraine and bolster their own defenses in the face of Russian aggression.

“Putin cannot be trusted,” they wrote in the statement, released a day after President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia met with President Trump in Alaska. The statement by a group of countries either bordering Russia or close enough to feel Moscow’s threat acutely was much sharper in tone than one released earlier on Saturday by the European Union, and far from the warm reception Putin received in Alaska. No limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces nor should Russia have any say in whether Ukraine joins NATO or the European Union, the Baltic and Nordic statement said, dismissing Putin’s central demands.

Aug. 16, 2025, 2:30 p.m. ET3 hours ago

Peter Baker

Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent and a former Moscow co-bureau chief for The Washington Post, reported from Anchorage.

News Analysis

Trump bows to Putin’s approach on Ukraine.

On the flight to Alaska, President Trump declared that if he did not secure a cease-fire in Ukraine during talks with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, “I’m not going to be happy,” and there would be “severe consequences.”

Just hours later, he got back on Air Force One and departed Alaska without the cease-fire he deemed so critical. Yet he had imposed no consequences, and had pronounced himself so happy with how things went with Mr. Putin that he said “the meeting was a 10.”

Even in the annals of Mr. Trump’s erratic presidency, the Anchorage meeting with Mr. Putin now stands out as a reversal of historic proportions. Mr. Trump abandoned the main goal he brought to his subarctic summit and, as he revealed on Saturday, would no longer even pursue an immediate cease-fire. Instead, he bowed to Mr. Putin’s preferred approach of negotiating a broader peace agreement requiring Ukraine to give up territory.

The net effect was to give Mr. Putin a free pass to continue his war against his neighbor indefinitely without further penalty, pending time-consuming negotiations for a more sweeping deal that appears elusive at best. Instead of a halt to the slaughter — “I’m in this to stop the killing,” Mr. Trump had said on the way to Alaska — the president left Anchorage with pictures of him and Mr. Putin joshing on a red carpet and in the presidential limousine known as the Beast.

“He got played again,” said Ivo Daalder, who was ambassador to NATO under President Barack Obama. “For all the promises of a cease-fire, of severe economic consequences, of being disappointed, it took two minutes on the red carpet and 10 minutes in the Beast for Putin to play Trump again. What a sad spectacle.”

Mr. Trump’s allies focused on his plans to convene a three-way meeting with Mr. Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. “Let me tell you, I’ve never been more hopeful this war can end honorably and justly than I am right now,” Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and a leading hawk on the Ukraine war, said on Fox News Friday night.

The cease-fire that Mr. Trump gave up in Alaska had been so important to him last month that he threatened tough new economic sanctions if Russia did not pause the war within 50 days. Then he moved the deadline up to last Friday. Now there is no cease-fire, no deadline and no sanctions plan.

Mr. Trump, characteristically, declared victory nonetheless, deeming the meeting “a great and very successful day in Alaska.” After calling Mr. Zelensky and European leaders from Air Force One on the way back to Washington, Mr. Trump said he would now try to broker the more comprehensive peace agreement Mr. Putin has sought.

“It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up,” he wrote on social media on Saturday.

He said that Mr. Zelensky would come to Washington for meetings on Monday to pave the way for a joint meeting with Mr. Putin. “If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin,” Mr. Trump said. “Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved.”

Mr. Putin’s conditions for such a long-term peace agreement, however, are so expansive that Ukrainian and European leaders are unlikely to go along. Mr. Putin referred to this during his joint appearance with Mr. Trump in Anchorage after their talks, when he spoke about addressing the “root causes” of the war — his term for years of Russian grievances not just about Ukraine but about the United States, NATO and Europe’s security architecture.

“We are convinced that in order for the Ukrainian settlement to be sustainable and long-term, all the root causes of the crisis, which have been discussed repeatedly, must be eliminated; all of Russia’s legitimate concerns must be taken into account; and a fair balance in the security sphere in Europe and the world as a whole must be restored,” Mr. Putin said in Alaska.

In the past, Mr. Putin has insisted that a comprehensive peace agreement require NATO to pull forces back to its pre-expansion 1997 borders, bar Ukraine from joining the alliance and require Kyiv to not only give up territory in the east but shrink its military. In effect, Mr. Putin aims to reestablish Moscow’s sphere of influence not only in former Soviet territory but to some extent further in Eastern Europe.

President Joseph R. Biden Jr., Mr. Zelensky and European leaders rejected similar demands on the eve of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. But Mr. Trump appears willing to engage in such a discussion, and since his Friday meeting with Mr. Putin, he has sought to shift the burden for reaching an agreement to Ukraine and Europe.

Mr. Trump has long expressed admiration for Mr. Putin and sympathy for his positions. At their most memorable meeting, held in Helsinki in 2018, Mr. Trump famously accepted Mr. Putin’s denial that Russia had intervened in the 2016 election, taking the former K.G.B. officer’s word over the conclusions of American intelligence agencies.

Much like then, the president’s chummy gathering in Alaska on Friday with Mr. Putin, who is now under U.S. sanctions and faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes, has generated ferocious blowback. Some critics compared it to the 1938 conference in Munich, when Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain of Britain surrendered part of Czechoslovakia to Germany’s Adolf Hitler as part of a policy of appeasement.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, once considered the Trump of London, called the Alaska summit meeting “just about the most vomit-inducing episode in all the tawdry history of international diplomacy.”

But Mr. Zelensky and European leaders sought to make the best of the situation. Some were heartened by Mr. Trump’s comments on the way to Alaska suggesting a willingness to have the United States join Europe in offering some sort of security assurance to Ukraine short of NATO membership. He broached that again in his call with them following the meeting.

“We support President Trump’s proposal for a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the U.S.A. and Russia,” Mr. Zelensky said on Saturday. “Ukraine emphasizes that key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain praised the American president. “President Trump’s efforts have brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine,” he said in a statement. “His leadership in pursuit of an end to the killing should be commended.”

What remains unknown is whether Mr. Trump secured any unannounced concessions from Mr. Putin behind the scenes that would ease the way to a peace agreement in the days to come. Mr. Trump talked about “agreement” on a number of unspecified points, and Mr. Putin referred cryptically to an “understanding” between the two of them.

At the moment, however, it does not look like Mr. Putin has made any move toward compromise, even as Mr. Trump has now given up on his bid for an immediate cease-fire. Before the Alaska summit, Russian forces were pounding Ukraine as part of their relentless yearslong assault. And for now, at least, they will continue.

Aug. 16, 2025, 1:05 p.m. ET4 hours ago

Ashley Ahn

Europe moves to back Ukraine after Trump drops cease-fire demand.

Much of Europe moved on Saturday to back Ukraine after President Trump abandoned their joint demand for a cease-fire, but the leaders treaded carefully to not openly contradict Mr. Trump as he aligned himself with Russia’s vision of ending the war.

In a joint statement released after Mr. Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia met in Alaska, European leaders welcomed Mr. Trump’s efforts to stop the war and his declaration that America would offer future security guarantees after a peace deal.

But it did not echo the position Mr. Trump espoused on Saturday morning that conclusive peace talks were now preferable to an immediate cease-fire that would set the stage for negotiations.

“As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia,” the European leaders wrote. “We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia’s war economy until there is a just and lasting peace.”

The statement was signed by leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Finland, Italy, Poland, the European Union and the European Council.

Just days before the summit, Mr. Trump had assured Ukraine and key European allies that he would demand a cease-fire before engaging in serious talks about a more permanent peace deal.

In a complete reversal, Mr. Trump wrote on social media on Saturday that, after speaking with Mr. Putin, he believed a peace agreement would be preferable to a cease-fire. He said he had spoken to European leaders by phone and claimed they d his view.

In their own statements, European leaders steered clear of reiterating their cease-fire demands, suggesting an attempt to avoid contradicting Mr. Trump.

Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, said in a statement that he welcomed “the openness of the United States, alongside Europe, to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal.” Then, as in the joint statement, he said he was determined to keep increasing economic pressure on Russia until the war ends.

In a similar vein, President Emmanuel Macron of France praised America’s readiness to contribute. But he said it was essential to “maintain pressure on Russia as long as its war of aggression continues” and to remember “Russia’s well-established tendency not to honor its own commitments.”

Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister who has an amiable rapport with Mr. Trump, said there was a “glimmer of hope” for efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

In her statement, she said Mr. Trump “took up the Italian idea of security guarantees inspired by Article 5 of NATO.” Under this idea, she said, Ukraine would not become part of NATO, but “a collective security clause” would allow it “to benefit from the support of all its partners, including the U.S., ready to take action if it is attacked again.”

Mr. Zelensky, who will visit the White House on Monday, similarly avoided contradicting the U.S. president’s call for a final peace agreement. But he emphasized the “killings must stop as soon as possible.”

In a subsequent statement posted several hours later, Mr. Zelensky warned that the Kremlin could not be trusted and that Russia could try to launch a new wave of attacks.

“Based on the political and diplomatic situation around Ukraine, and knowing Russia’s treachery, we anticipate that in the coming days the Russian army may try to increase pressure and strikes against Ukrainian positions in order to create more favorable political circumstances for talks with global actors,” he said.

Kaja Kallas, the E.U.’s top diplomat, echoed Mr. Zelensky’s sentiments. On social media, she argued that Mr. Putin wanted to drag out negotiations while making no commitment to stop the killing.

“The harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon,” she said.

A unified statement by Nordic and Baltic countries, including NATO’s newest members, Finland and Sweden, was much sharper in tone than the one released earlier by the other European leaders, and a far cry from the warm reception Mr. Putin was given in Alaska by Mr. Trump.

The leaders said they would continue to arm Ukraine and bolster their own defenses in the face of Russian aggression. The statement, by a group of countries either bordering Russia or close enough to feel Moscow’s threat acutely, said there should be no limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces, nor should Russia have any say in whether Ukraine joins NATO or the European Union.

“Putin cannot be trusted,” the leaders said, calling for Ukraine to have a seat at the negotiation table.

“Ultimately it is Russia’s responsibility to end its blatant violations of international law,” the statement said. “Russia’s aggression and imperialist ambitions are the root causes of this war.”

Michael Schwirtz contributed reporting.

Aug. 16, 2025, 12:48 p.m. ET4 hours ago

The New York Times

With Putin by his side, Trump repeats his claims of a ‘Russia Hoax.’

With President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia by his side, President Trump on Friday suggested the two men were bonded by a d ordeal, or what Mr. Trump called the “Russia hoax.”

“We were interfered with by the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax,” Mr. Trump said during remarks after his meeting in Alaska with Mr. Putin.

Mr. Trump was referring to the investigation during his first term into links between Russia and his presidential campaign in 2016. American intelligence agencies concluded that Mr. Putin had ordered an intelligence operation to benefit Mr. Trump. And Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, determined that Russia had carried out a “sweeping and systematic” attack on the 2016 election.

Mr. Trump has long felt aggrieved by the investigation, and on Friday used his meeting with the Russian leader to draw a link between himself and Mr. Putin.

“I think he’s probably seen things like that during the course of his career. He’s seen — he’s seen it all,” Mr. Trump said. “But we had to put up with the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax. He knew it was a hoax, and I knew it was a hoax.”

He added: “What was done was very criminal, but it made it harder for us to deal as a country, in terms of the business, and all of the things that would like to have dealt with. But we’ll have a good chance when this is over.”

Mr. Trump has largely held back from harsh criticism of the Russian president, despite recent complaints about Russian intransigence in ending the war in Ukraine. His affinity for Mr. Putin was on display after Friday’s summit, as the two men put on a show of friendship but left without a breakthrough in peace negotiations.

Ivan Nechepurenko Aug. 16, 2025, 12:00 p.m. ET5 hours ago

Reporting from Moscow

Upon his return to Moscow, Putin convened top Russian officials at the Kremlin to brief them in televised remarks about the meeting in Alaska. He said his conversation with President Trump had been “very frank and informative,” adding that it brought Russia and the United States “closer to the necessary decisions” to end the war in Ukraine. Putin said that he had talked to Trump about the “root causes” of the war — a euphemism for Russia’s historical grievances toward Ukraine that he has used to justify the invasion. Putin said, as he has in the past, that “the elimination of these root causes should be the basis for a settlement.”

Aug. 16, 2025, 10:33 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Constant Méheut

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine

Zelensky will meet Trump Monday in Washington to discuss ‘all the details.’

After President Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia ended inconclusive peace talks in Alaska, Ukraine was left in a position it knows all too well. It was scrambling to piece together what the two leaders had actually discussed, deciphering what they may have agreed on and striving to avoid being sidelined in peace talks.

A call a few hours later from Mr. Trump filled in some of the gaps. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said the phone discussion, which included European leaders, had been “long and substantive” and covered “the main points” of the American leader’s talks with Mr. Putin. Mr. Zelensky added that he would visit Mr. Trump in Washington on Monday “to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war.”

But even as Mr. Zelensky’s statement suggested a potential path toward a peace deal after months of largely fruitless negotiations, a public statement by Mr. Trump later on Saturday morning raised questions about whether such an opening would be too heavily tilted toward Russia for Ukraine to accept.

Mr. Trump called on social media for a direct peace agreement without securing a cease-fire first, claiming that Mr. Zelensky and European leaders had agreed on the point. His statement was a stark shift from the “principles” agreed upon earlier in the week by Mr. Trump, Mr. Zelensky and his European allies, which called for refusing to discuss peace terms until a cease-fire was in place.

Russia has long pushed for a direct peace deal that would address a broad range of issues and impose onerous demands on Ukraine, including territorial concessions. Avoiding a cease-fire would allow Russia to continue pressing its advantage on the battlefield in the meantime.

An official briefed on the call between Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky said the Ukrainian leader’s trip to Washington would aim to seek clarity from Mr. Trump. Kyiv does not understand why the American president suddenly dropped the demand that a cease-fire precede negotiations.

In a statement, Mr. Zelensky seemed to tread carefully, trying not to openly contradict Mr. Trump.

“We need to achieve a real peace that will be lasting, not just another pause between Russian invasions,” Mr. Zelensky said. But he added that “the killings must stop as soon as possible, and the fire must cease both on the battlefield and in the air, as well as against our port infrastructure,” suggesting that he was still prioritizing a cease-fire.

In statements of their own, European leaders made no mention of having agreed to abandon their demand for a cease-fire. At the same time, the fact that the statements did not include a demand for a cease-fire, as in previous remarks, suggests at the very least an attempt not to antagonize Mr. Trump.

Mr. Trump’s move to aim for a direct peace deal could bring to failure a week of frantic diplomacy in which Kyiv, with European support, had lobbied the American administration to insist that a cease-fire should come first and that Ukraine should not be undercut in the negotiations.

Mr. Trump’s social media post caused a feeling of whiplash among some Ukrainians, who quickly reversed their early assessments of the Alaska summit.

Oleksandr Merezhko, chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the Ukrainian Parliament, had initially expressed some relief, saying that “the situation could have been worse” if Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin had struck a deal behind Ukraine’s back.

He said that a scenario in which “Trump and Putin started together to pressure Ukraine into surrender” could not have been ruled out given Mr. Trump’s history of deference to Mr. Putin.

But after Mr. Trump’s post on Truth Social, Mr. Merezhko changed his view. “In fact, Putin and Trump are starting to force us into surrender,” he said.

Mr. Trump also proposed security guarantees for Ukraine inspired by the collective defense agreement between NATO member countries, which states that any attack on a member is an attack against all, according to Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister.

Under such guarantees, Ukraine’s NATO allies would be “ready to take action” if Russia attacked again. But Mr. Merezhko and other Ukrainian allies said such a formulation was too vague.

“Which countries will agree to consider an attack against Ukraine as an attack against themselves?” Mr. Merezhko asked. “I’d like to believe that we will find such countries, but I’m not sure.”

Mr. Trump, in an interview with Fox News after the meeting with Mr. Putin, also addressed the idea of territorial swaps, saying they were among the points “that we largely have agreed on.” Mr. Trump had said several times over the past week that territorial concessions would be part of a peace agreement, drawing pushback from Mr. Zelensky.

Mr. Zelensky, however, has not entirely ruled out possible land swaps, telling reporters this week that this is “a very complex issue that cannot be separated from security guarantees for Ukraine.”

Mr. Merezhko, who like many Ukrainian officials was left on tenterhooks by the Alaska meeting, watched the post-meeting news conference live from Kyiv at around 2 a.m. local time.

As both Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin offered only vague statements, Mr. Merezhko said it had become clear that no concrete deal had been reached.

He noted that Mr. Putin had again said that any end to the fighting must address the “root causes” of the war, which is Kremlin parlance for a range of issues that include the existence of Ukraine as a fully independent and sovereign nation aligned with the West.

“I think it’s a failure because Putin was again talking about security concerns and used his usual rhetoric,” Mr. Merezhko said as the news conference came to an end. “I don’t see any changes.”

Vadym Prystaiko, a former foreign affairs minister, said in a phone interview that the summit’s brief duration — it lasted just a few hours and broke up ahead of schedule — indicated limited progress toward peace.

He recalled that during cease-fire negotiations in the first Ukraine-Russia war, which started in 2014, he spent 16 hours in a room with Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelensky’s predecessor, Petro Poroshenko.

The cease-fire that was eventually agreed upon did not last, and fighting soon resumed.

“They didn’t manage to sit enough hours to actually go through all the stuff that is needed to reach a deal,” Mr. Prystaiko said of Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin.

In Kyiv, some emerged Saturday morning from a sleepless night following the news with the sense that the war was likely to continue unabated. After the Alaska summit wrapped up, the Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia had continued its assault on Ukraine, launching 85 drones and one ballistic missile overnight. These figures could not be independently verified.

Tetiana Chamlai, a 66-year-old retiree in Kyiv, said the situation with the war would change only if Ukraine was given more military support, to push Russian forces back enough to force Moscow to the negotiating table. “That’s the only way everything will stop,” she said. “I personally do not see any other way out.”

But Vice President JD Vance made clear this past week that the United States was “done” funding Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion. The Trump administration, however, is fine with Ukraine buying American weapons from U.S. companies, and Mr. Zelensky announced this week that Kyiv had secured $1.5 billion in European funding to purchase American arms.

How long the Ukrainian Army can hold against relentless Russian assaults remains uncertain. Moscow’s forces recently broke through a section of the Ukrainian defenses in the eastern Donbas region, and although their advance has been halted, the swift infiltration has underscored the strain on Ukraine’s stretched lines.

Balazs Jarabik, a former European Union diplomat in Kyiv who now works for R. Politik, a political analysis firm, said that Russia’s upper hand on the battlefield had most likely played a role in Mr. Trump’s agreeing to aim for a peace deal rather than a cease-fire.

“Kyiv and Europe must adapt to a new reality shaped by Washington and Moscow,” he said.

Olha Konovalova contributed reporting.

Aug. 16, 2025, 9:57 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Jeanna Smialek

Kaja Kallas, the E.U.’s top diplomat, said in written comments that “the harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon,” arguing that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia wanted to drag out negotiations while making no commitment to stop the killing.

She added that “the U.S. holds the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously” — but it’s clear from the rest of her statement that she didn’t think that was happening yet.

Aug. 16, 2025, 9:32 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Vanessa Friedman

In the end there was no deal, but there was a photo op: a dramatic, well-choreographed image of President Trump not just welcoming President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to Alaska on Friday, but rolling out the red carpet, that now-universal symbol of fame, pageantry and pomp.

The two men clasped hands, and then strode to Mr. Trump’s limo, in complementary dark suits — single-breasted, two-button — matching white shirts and coordinating ties (red for Mr. Trump, burgundy for Mr. Putin), giving the impression of kindred spirits: just two statesmen meeting on the semi-neutral ground of an airport tarmac to go talk cease-fire, their respective planes looming in the background.

That’s the picture that was caught by the waiting cameras, and those are the photos that have gone around the world to accompany reports of the nonproductive meeting.

In the absence of an actual resolution to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they have become the takeaway. And that, said both President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, even before the meeting, was Mr. Putin’s goal in the first place.

“He is seeking, excuse me, photos,” Mr. Zelensky said. “He needs a photo from the meeting with President Trump.”

Why? Because whatever happened afterward, a photo could be publicly seen — and read — as an implicit endorsement.

After all, the Russian president has been a virtual pariah in the West since his full-scale invasion of Ukraine; accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court. Whether or not Mr. Trump was tough with him behind the closed doors of their meeting room — whether or not their talks were, as Mr. Trump later said, “productive” — what has now been preserved for posterity is Mr. Putin’s admission back into the fold.

And of all current world leaders, the only one who understands, and embraces, the power of the image quite as effectively as Mr. Trump is Mr. Putin. Both men have made themselves into caricatures through costume and scenography, the better to capture the popular imagination.

Mr. Trump has done it with his MAGA merch, his red-white-and-blue dressing (the one regularly adopted by members of his cabinet as well as Republicans in Congress), his hair and his showmanship.

Mr. Putin has done it with his orchestrated photo shoots: the ones that capture him braving the snow in Siberia, hugging a polar bear, hunting shirtless. They may look silly (at least from outside) but that doesn’t make them any less effective. Or headline-grabbing.

That Mr. Putin met Mr. Trump in the uniform Mr. Trump embraces made its own kind of statement. The conflict in Ukraine has been in part a battle fought in images for the support of the global imagination; that is why Mr. Zelensky insists on dressing to show solidarity with his fighting forces whenever he speaks to international bodies, be they Congress or the European Union; why his wife posed for the cover of Vogue.

By wearing his suit and tie in Alaska, Mr. Putin cast himself as Mr. Trump’s equal and drew another line between himself and Mr. Zelensky, who famously offended Mr. Trump by wearing his army look to the White House.

Their handshake — which went on for a while and also involved various friendly pats — was a pantomime of acceptance of that idea. And the photo was everyone’s souvenir.

Show more

Aug. 16, 2025, 9:26 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Steven Erlanger

President Trump told European leaders after his meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Friday in Alaska that he supported a plan to end the war in Ukraine by ceding unconquered territory to the Russian invaders, rather than try for a cease-fire, according to two senior European officials who were briefed on the call.

Mr. Trump will discuss that plan with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Monday at the White House, and there were discussions on Saturday about whether other European officials would join him, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private talks.

After his meeting with Mr. Putin, Mr. Trump has dropped his demand for an immediate cease-fire and believes a rapid peace treaty can be negotiated, so long as Mr. Zelensky agrees to cede the rest of the Donbas region to Russia, even those areas not occupied by Russian troops.

Mr. Zelensky and the European leaders have strongly opposed such a concession of unoccupied land, which also contains important defensive lines and is mineral rich. Ukrainian officials have said that a final deal cannot involve Kyiv agreeing to cede any Ukrainian sovereign territory permanently, which would violate the Ukrainian Constitution.

In return, Mr. Putin offered a cease-fire in the rest of Ukraine at current battle lines and a written promise not to attack Ukraine or any European country again, the senior officials said. They pointed out to Mr. Trump that Mr. Putin often broke his written commitments.

It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory, the officials emphasized, adding that international borders must not be changed by force.

Mr. Trump did not mention during the call imposing any further sanctions or economic pressure on Russia, the officials said. But the European leaders emphasized that they would continue sanctions and economic pressure on Russia until the killing stops, one official said.

White House officials did not respond to a request for comment.

On a more positive note, the European officials said, Mr. Trump said that Mr. Putin agreed that Ukraine should have strong security guarantees after a settlement, but not under NATO. American troops might participate, Mr. Trump told the Europeans.

Mr. Putin also asked for guarantees for Russian to become an official language again in Ukraine and security for Russian Orthodox churches, the officials said.

Mr. Trump said he was hopeful on getting a trilateral meeting with Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelensky, the officials said. But Mr. Putin has so far refused to meet with Mr. Zelensky, considering him an illegitimate president of an artificial country.

Jim Tankersley and Maggie Haberman contributed reporting.

Aug. 16, 2025, 7:18 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Constant Méheut

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine

It is noteworthy that Kyiv’s European allies, in their various statements after the Alaska meeting, did not mention the need to reach a cease-fire first. It has been one of their key principles.

The approach could be a way to avoid antagonizing President Trump, who said he wanted a direct peace agreement without securing a cease-fire first.

Aug. 16, 2025, 7:01 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Constant Méheut

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a statement about the negotiations, seemed to tread carefully so as not to openly contradict Trump’s call for a direct peace deal over a cease-fire.

“We need to achieve a real peace that will be lasting, not just another pause between Russian invasions,” he said. But he added that “the killings must stop as soon as possible, and the fire must cease both on the battlefield and in the air, as well as against our port infrastructure,” suggesting that he still prioritizes a cease-fire.

Aug. 16, 2025, 6:52 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Chris Cameron and Maggie Haberman

After his summit with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Friday, President Trump sat down with the Fox News host Sean Hannity to record an interview in which he offered few details about what the two leaders had said about the war in Ukraine, but talked up their personal connection.

“I think the meeting was a 10,” Mr. Trump said after Mr. Hannity asked how he would rate his talks with the Russian president. “In the sense we got along great, and it’s good when two big powers get along, especially when they’re nuclear powers. We’re No. 1 and they’re No. 2 in the world.”

Without sharing any specific information from the meeting in Alaska, Mr. Trump put the onus for securing peace on Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Now it is really up to President Zelensky to get it done,” he said during the interview, which was broadcast later on Fox News. “I would also say the European nations have to get involved a little bit.”

In the interview, Mr. Trump repeatedly praised Mr. Putin, and brought up compliments he received from the Russian leader during the summit.

“I always had a great relationship with President Putin,” Mr. Trump said. “And we would have done great things together.”

He claimed that Mr. Putin had even supported his claim that the 2020 U.S. presidential election, which Mr. Trump lost to Joseph R. Biden Jr., was rigged.

“He said, ‘Your election was rigged because you have mail-in voting,’” Mr. Trump said, adding that Mr. Putin told him that by-mail voting does not exist anywhere else in the world. Whether Mr. Putin actually said that or not, several countries have by-mail voting. And Mr. Trump’s own attorney general in 2020 said his assertions of widespread fraud couldn’t be proven.

During the interview, Mr. Trump mused about a three-way summit between himself, Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Putin but said explicitly, “I didn’t ask about it.” Twenty minutes after saying that, Mr. Trump said he had in fact discussed that with Mr. Putin.

“They both want me there,” Mr. Trump said. “And I will be there.”

Mr. Zelensky said on Saturday that he would travel to Washington on Monday to discuss the war with Mr. Trump.

Earlier on Friday, the Ukrainian leader had criticized Russia’s latest attacks and cast doubt on Mr. Putin’s commitment to ending the war. But Mr. Trump told Mr. Hannity that he thinks the Russian leader wants to “solve the problem.”

He did not acknowledge that Mr. Putin had started the war.

Aug. 16, 2025, 6:45 a.m. ETAug. 16, 2025

Constant Méheut

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine

Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister, said in a statement that “President Trump today took up the Italian idea of security guarantees inspired by Article 5 of NATO.” Under this idea, Ukraine would not become part of NATO, but “a collective security clause” would allow it “to benefit from the support of all its partners, including the U.S., ready to take action if it is attacked again,” Meloni said.

The idea could be appealing to Ukraine, which has long sought strong security guarantees to deter Russia from attacking again. But the devil is in the details. Several Ukrainian lawmakers said Meloni’s talk of “taking action” was too vague.

Aug. 16, 2025, 6:09 a.m. ET Aug. 16, 2025

Jim Tankersley

Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, said in a statement that he welcomed “the openness of the United States, alongside Europe, to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal.” Then he said, as in the joint statement, that he was determined to keep increasing economic pressure on Russia until the war ends.

ATTACHMENT FORTY ONE – FROM REUTERS

TRUMP TELLS ZELENSKIY THAT PUTIN WANTS MORE OF UKRAINE, URGES KYIV MAKE A DEAL

By Steve Holland, Andrew Osborn and Tom Balmforth August 16, 2025 5:18 PM EDT

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW/KYIV, Aug 16 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Ukraine should make a deal to end the war with Russia because "Russia is a very big power, and they're not", after a summit where Vladimir Putin was reported to have demanded more Ukrainian land.

After the two leaders met in Alaska on Friday, Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Putin had offered to freeze most front lines if Kyiv ceded all of Donetsk, the industrial region that is one of Moscow's main targets, a source familiar with the matter said.

Zelenskiy rejected the demand, the source said. Russia already controls a fifth of Ukraine, including about three-quarters of Donetsk province, which it first entered in 2014.

Trump also said he agreed with Putin that a peace deal should be sought without the prior ceasefire that Ukraine and its European allies had demanded. That was a change from his position before the summit, when he said would not be happy unless a ceasefire was agreed on.

"It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up," Trump posted on Truth Social.

Zelenskiy said Russia's unwillingness to pause the fighting would complicate efforts to forge a lasting peace. "Stopping the killing is a key element of stopping the war," he said on X.

Nevertheless, Zelenskiy said he would meet Trump in Washington on Monday.

That will evoke memories of a meeting in the White House Oval Office in February, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance gave Zelenskiy a brutal public dressing-down. Trump said a three-way meeting with Putin and Zelenskiy could follow.

Kyiv's European allies welcomed Trump's efforts but vowed to back Ukraine and tighten sanctions on Russia.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and has been gradually advancing for months. The war - the deadliest in Europe for 80 years - has killed or wounded well over a million people from both sides, including thousands of mostly Ukrainian civilians, according to analysts.

RUSSIA LIKELY TO WELCOME TRUMP'S COMMENTS

Trump's various comments on the three-hour meeting with Putin mostly aligned with the public positions of Moscow, which says a full settlement will be complex because positions are "diametrically opposed".

Putin signalled no movement in Russia's long-held demands, which also include a veto on Kyiv's desired membership in the NATO alliance. He made no mention in public of meeting Zelenskiy. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said a three-way summit had not been discussed.

In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Trump signalled that he and Putin had discussed land transfers and security guarantees for Ukraine, and had "largely agreed".

"I think we're pretty close to a deal," he said, adding: "Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they'll say 'no'."

Asked what he would advise Zelenskiy to do, Trump said: "Gotta make a deal."

"Look, Russia is a very big power, and they're not," he added.

Item 1 of 10 U.S. President Donald Trump looks on next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a press conference following their meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.,

NEED FOR SECURITY GUARANTEES FOR UKRAINE

Zelenskiy has consistently said he cannot concede territory without changes to Ukraine's constitution, and Kyiv sees Donetsk's "fortress cities" such as Sloviansk and Kramatorsk as a bulwark against further Russian advances.

Zelenskiy has also insisted on security guarantees, to deter Russia from invading again. He said he and Trump had discussed "positive signals" on the U.S. taking part, and that Ukraine needed a lasting peace, not "just another pause" between Russian invasions.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed what he described as Trump's openness to providing security guarantees to Ukraine under a peace deal. He said security guarantees were "essential to any just and lasting peace."

Putin, who has opposed involving foreign ground forces, said he agreed with Trump that Ukraine's security must be "ensured".

For Putin, just sitting down with Trump represented a victory. He had been ostracised by Western leaders since the start of the war, and just a week earlier had faced a threat of new sanctions from Trump.

'1-0 FOR PUTIN'

Trump spoke to European leaders after returning to Washington. Several stressed the need to keep pressure on Russia.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said an end to the war was closer than ever, thanks to Trump, but said he would impose more sanctions on Russia if the war continues.

European leaders said in a statement that Ukraine must have "ironclad" security guarantees and no limits should be placed on its armed forces or right to seek NATO membership, as Russia has sought.

Some European politicians and commentators were scathing about the summit.

"Putin got his red carpet treatment with Trump, while Trump got nothing," Wolfgang Ischinger, former German ambassador to Washington, posted on X.

Both Russia and Ukraine carried out overnight air attacks, a daily occurrence, while fighting raged on the front.

Trump told Fox he would postpone imposing tariffs on China for buying Russian oil, but he might have to "think about it" in two or three weeks.

He ended his remarks after the summit by telling Putin: "We'll speak to you very soon and probably see you again very soon."

"Next time in Moscow," a smiling Putin responded in English.

Additional reporting by Yulia Dysa, Kanishka Singh, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jeff Mason, Lidia Kelly, Jasper Ward, Costas Pitas, Ismail Shakil, Bhargav Acharya, Alan Charlish, Yuliia Dysa, Pavel Polityuk, Gwladys Fouche, Dave Graham, Paul Sandle, Joshua McElwee, Andreas Rinke, Felix Light and Moscow bureau; Writing by Andy Sullivan, Kevin Liffey, Mark Trevelyan, Joseph Ax and James Oliphant; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Gareth Jones and Cynthia Osterman

Zelenskyy Says He'll Visit White House After Trum

ATTACHMENT FORTY TWO – FROM FRANCE 24

UKRAINE'S ZELENSKY TO MEET TRUMP ON MONDAY AFTER ALASKA SUMMIT FAILS TO SECURE CEASEFIRE

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on Monday after a Russia-US summit ended without an agreement to stop the fighting in Ukraine. If the meeting goes well, Trump said he would then push for a three-way meeting between Russia, Ukraine and the US to try to seal a "peace agreement".

Issued on: 16/08/2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will head to Washington on Monday to discuss "ending the killing and the war" with US President Donald Trump, he announced Saturday, a few hours after a US-Russia summit in Alaska ended without an agreement to stop the fighting in Ukraine.

Trump confirmed the White House meeting and said that “if all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin”.

In a reversal only few hours after meeting his Russian counterpart, Trump said an overall peace agreement, and not a ceasefire, was the best way to end the war. That statement echoed Putin’s view that Russia is not interested in a temporary truce, and instead is seeking a long-term settlement that takes Moscow’s interests into account.

Red carpet welcome but no Ukraine deal: key takeaways from the Trump-Putin summit

Trump and Ukraine’s European allies had been calling for a ceasefire ahead of any negotiations.

Zelensky, who was not invited to Alaska for the summit, said he held a “long and substantive” conversation with Trump early Saturday. He thanked him for an invitation to meet in person in Washington on Monday and said they would “discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war”.

Zelensky to meet Trump after US-Russia summit: What to expect?

It will be Zelensky’s first visit to the US since Trump berated him publicly for being “disrespectful” during an extraordinary Oval Office meeting on Feb. 28.

Red carpet welcome for Putin

Trump rolled out the red carpet on Friday for Putin, who was in the US for the first time in a decade and since the start of his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But he gave little concrete detail afterward of what was discussed. On Saturday, he posted on social media that it “went very well”.

Trump had warned ahead of the summit of “very severe consequences” for Russia if Putin doesn’t agree to end the war.

Zelensky reiterated the importance of involving European leaders, who also were not at the summit.

“It is important that Europeans are involved at every stage to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America,” he said. “We also discussed positive signals from the American side regarding participation in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security.”

The Ukrainian land occupied by Russia at the heart of the Trump-Putin summit

He didn’t elaborate, but Zelensky previously has said that European partners put on hold a proposal to establish a foreign troop presence in Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression because it lacked an American backstop.

Zelensky said he spoke to Trump one-on-one and then in a call with other European leaders. In total, the conversations lasted over 90 minutes.

'No deal until there's a deal'

Trump said in Alaska that “there’s no deal until there’s a deal”, after Putin claimed the two leaders had hammered out an “understanding” on Ukraine and warned Europe not to “torpedo the nascent progress”.

During an interview with Fox News Channel before returning to Washington, Trump insisted the onus going forward might be on Zelensky “to get it done”, but said there would also be some involvement from European nations.

In a statement after speaking to Trump, major European leaders said they were ready to work with Trump and Zelensky toward “a trilateral summit with European support”.

The statement by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the European Union's two top officials said that “Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees” and welcomed US readiness to provide them.

“It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory,” they said. “International borders must not be changed by force.” They did not mention a ceasefire, which they had hoped for ahead of the summit.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said “the harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon”, noting that Moscow's forces launched new attacks on Ukraine even as the delegations met.

“Putin continues to drag out negotiations and hopes he gets away with it. He left Anchorage without making any commitments to end the killing,” she said.

'Mission accomplished'

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the summit confirmed that “while the US and its allies are looking for ways to peace, Putin is still only interested in making the greatest possible territorial gains and restoring the Soviet empire”.

Ukrainian and Russian forces are fighting along a 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) front line. Since spring, Russian troops have accelerated their gains, capturing the most territory since the opening stages of the war.

“Vladimir Putin came to the Alaska summit with the principal goal of stalling any pressure on Russia to end the war,” said Neil Melvin, director of international security at the London-based Royal United Services Institute. “He will consider the summit outcome as mission accomplished.”

Zelensky voiced support for Trump’s proposal for a trilateral meeting with the US and Russia. He said that “key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this”.

But Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said on Russian state television Saturday that a potential meeting of Trump, Putin and Zelensky has not been raised in US-Russia discussions. “The topic has not been touched upon yet,” he said, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

End to Putin's isolation in the West

Zelensky wrote on X that he told Trump that "sanctions should be strengthened if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia tries to evade an honest end to the war“.

Russian officials and media struck a largely positive tone, with some describing Friday’s meeting as a symbolic end to Putin’s isolation in the West.

Former president Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, praised the summit as a breakthrough in restoring high-level dialogue between Moscow and Washington, describing the talks as “calm, without ultimatums and threats”.

Russian attacks on Ukraine continued overnight, using one ballistic missile and 85 Shahed drones, 61 of which were shot down, Ukraine’s air force said. Front-line areas of Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Chernihiv were attacked.

Russia’s defence ministry said its air defences shot down 29 Ukrainian drones over Russia and the Sea of Azov overnight.

ATTACHMENT FORTY THREE – FROM THE WASHINGTON TIMES

TRUMP SAYS PUTIN AVOIDED ‘SEVERE CONSEQUENCES’ FOR NOW

By Kerry Picket - The Washington Times - Saturday, August 16, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin was cooperative enough in looking to end the Ukraine war at the summit on Friday to forestall “severe” sanctions, said President Trump.

Mr. Trump entered the summit in Alaska threatening to bring down the economic hammer on Russia — what he termed “severe consequences” — if Mr. Putin wasn’t serious about working toward a peace deal.

“Well, because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now,” Mr. Trump said on Fox News’ “Hannity” after the sitdown with the Russian president. “I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don’t have to think about that right now.”

He said the meeting “went very well.”

Mr. Trump didn’t give details about what progress was made during his three-hour discussion with Mr. Putin. But he said there was an opportunity to advance the process with three-way peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mr. Putin and himself.

Mr. Trump said Mr. Putin wanted the three-way summit.

Mr. Trump had a range of options open to him if he was not satisfied with what he heard from Mr. Putin in Alaska, including more economic sanctions on Russia and secondary sanctions on its largest oil and gas customers: China and India.

‘We didn’t get there’: Trump says more work to do for Ukraine peace deal after summit with Putin

Putin to test Trump’s dealmaking prowess at Alaska summit

Trump threatens ‘very serious consequences’ if Putin doesn’t move toward peace at Alaska summit

Cutting off that lifeline would be devastating to Russia’s already struggling economy.

At a joint press conference immediately following the summit, Mr. Trump said he and Mr. Putin didn’t reach a concrete deal.

“There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” he said. “We didn’t get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there.”

Mr. Trump said that both sides were close on the “most significant” difference. He did not say what those differences were or how large the gulf remains.

The Russian leader offered a more optimistic view of the meeting. He said Russia sees that the U.S. and Mr. Trump “personally” want to help facilitate the “resolution of the Ukrainian conflict.”

“As I’ve said, the situation in Ukraine has to do with fundamental threats to our security. Moreover, we’ve always considered the Ukrainian nation, and I’ve said it multiple times, a brotherly nation,” Mr. Putin said. “However strange it may sound in these conditions, we have the same roots, and everything that’s happening is a tragedy for us and a terrible wound.”

The war has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides since Mr. Putin, seeking to reestablish Russia’s dominance over its neighbor, launched an invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

ATTACHMENT FORTY FOUR – FROM CNN

PUTIN’S WINS LEAVE TRUMP WITH HARD CHOICES

Analysis by Stephen Collinson

Updated 1 hr 53 min ago

Russian President Vladimir Putin got everything he could have hoped for in Alaska. President Donald Trump got very little — judging by his own pre-summit metrics.

The question now is whether Trump secured any moderate gains or planted seeds for Ukraine’s future security if there’s an eventual peace deal with Russia that were not immediately obvious after Friday’s summit.

And he’s left with some searing strategic questions.

Despite Trump’s claim to have made “a lot of progress” and that the summit was a “10 out of 10,” all signs point to a huge win for the Russian autocrat.

Trump’s lavish stage production of Putin’s arrival Friday, with near-simultaneous exits from presidential jets and red-carpet strolls, provided some image rehabilitation for a leader who is a pariah in the rest of the West and who is accused of war crimes in Ukraine.

And by the end of their meeting, Trump had offered a massive concession to his visitor by adopting the Russian position that peace moves should concentrate on a final peace deal — which will likely take months or years to negotiate — rather than a ceasefire to halt the Russian offensive now. As CNN’s Nick Paton Walsh pointed out, that just gives Putin more time to grind down Ukraine.

Most importantly, Trump has, at least for now, backed away from threats to impose tough new sanctions on Russia and expand secondary sanctions on the nations that buy its oil and therefore bankroll its war. He’d threatened such measures by a deadline that expired last week out of frustration with Putin’s intransigence and a growing belief the Russian leader was “tapping” him along.

This leverage may have brought Putin to Alaska. But Trump seems to have relaxed it for little in return. “Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News after the summit.

Trump briefed European leaders after the summit, telling them that Putin called on Ukraine to yield the roughly a third or so of the Donbas, encompassing the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, that Russia does not currently control. In return, he’d offer to freeze the front lines in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, CNN’s Kevin Liptak reported, citing European officials. This would force Ukraine into an agonizing dilemma. Some analysts fear such a deal would allow Moscow’s forces a platform to launch a future attack.

European leaders also said Trump voiced openness to providing US security guarantees for Ukraine once the war ends. This could be significant because the president has yet to commit to US support for any Western-led peace mission in the country.
But he didn’t specify what kind of backing he’s willing to provide.

Dueling shows of force

Friday’s meeting began with a B-2 stealth bomber and F-22 fighters roaring overhead in a dramatic moment of US superpower signaling.

But Putin one-upped that symbolism by greeting Trump with the words “Good afternoon, dear neighbor,” as he leveraged the summit’s location in Alaska to imply that the two countries had important and immediate mutual interests that should not be disrupted by a distant war in Europe.

For Ukrainians and their European allies — who were shut out of the meeting and whom Trump briefed afterward — there was at least a moment of relief that Trump didn’t sell Kyiv out. The fact that a US-Russia land swap plan didn’t emerge from Alaska is a win for Europe’s emergency pre-summit diplomacy.

Still, Trump hinted that he will pile pressure on Ukraine’s leader when they meet at the White House on Monday. It’s “now up to President Zelensky to get it done,” Trump told Fox News in the friendly post-summit interview, after refusing to answer questions with Putin in what had been billed as a joint press conference.

Trump’s options moving forward

Before the summit, Trump obliterated careful efforts by his staff to lower expectations when he told Fox News, “I won’t be happy if I walk away without some form of a ceasefire.”

The failure to get there is important.

Russia is happy to commit to a detailed peace process with interminable negotiations that would allow it to continue fighting — including in its increasingly successful summer offensive — while it talks. But Ukrainians are desperate for relief from years of Russian drone and missile attacks on civilians as a generation bleeds out on World War I-style battlefields. Peace talks without a ceasefire will leave it open to Russian or US pressure.

Trump’s zeal to work for peace in Ukraine is commendable, even if his repeated public requests for a Nobel Peace Prize raise questions about his ultimate motives. And one upside of the summit is that the US and Russia — the countries with the biggest nuclear arsenals — are talking again.

But the underlying premise of Trump’s peacemaking is that the force of his personality and his supposedly unique status as the world’s greatest dealmaker can end wars. That myth is looking very ragged after his long flight home from Alaska.

And by falling short of his own expectations in the Alaska summit, Trump left himself with some tough calculations about what to do next.

► Does he revert to his previous attempts to pressure Ukraine in search of an imposed peace that would validate Putin’s illegal invasion and legitimize the idea that states can rewrite international borders, thereby reversing a foundation of the post-World War II-era?

► Or as the dust settles, and he seeks to repair damage to his prestige, does he revert to US pressure and sanctions to try to reset Russian calculations? He at least left open the possibility of sticks rather than carrots in his Fox News interview, saying: “I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don’t have to think about that right now.”

► Alternatively, Trump could commit to the Russian vision of talks on a final peace agreement. History shows that this would be neither quick nor honored by the Russians over the long term. He’s hoping for a three-way summit between Putin, Zelensky and himself. That would satisfy his craving for spectacle and big made-for-TV events. But after Friday’s evidence that Russia doesn’t want to end the war, it’s hard to see how it would create breakthroughs.

► Another possibility is that Trump simply gets discouraged or bored with the details and drudgery of a long-term peace process that lacks big, quick wins he can celebrate with his supporters.

“A large part of (Trump) is all about style. There’s not a lot of real enjoyment of getting into the substance of things,” Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy who is now affiliated with the Center for New American Security, said before the summit. “He likes the meringue on top. And I think that’s how you can be manipulated.”

Trump’s style-before-substance strategy clearly backfired in Alaska. Putin appeared far more prepared as Trump winged it. In retrospect, it’s hard to see what the Russian president offered to US envoy Steve Witkoff in the Kremlin that convinced the administration that the Alaska talks were a good idea.

And Russia is clearly playing on Trump’s desire for photo-op moments in the expectation that it can keep him engaged while offering few other concessions.

Trump’s Nobel campaign suffered a setback

Trump may remain the best hope for peace in Ukraine. He can speak directly to Putin, unlike Ukraine or its European allies. Ultimately, US power will be needed to guarantee Ukrainian security, since Europeans lack the capacity to do it alone. And the US retains the capability to hurt Russia and Putin with direct and secondary sanctions.

But Trump has to want to do it. And for now he seems back under Putin’s spell.

The Russian leader’s transparent manipulation of the US president and Trump’s credulity will worry Ukraine. On Fox News, Trump said Putin praised his second term, saying the US was “as hot as a pistol” and he had previously thought the US was “dead.”

Putin also publicly reinforced Trump’s talking point that the invasion three years ago would “never have happened” if he had been president. “I’m quite sure that it would indeed be so. I can confirm that,” said Putin.

Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that he was “so happy” to hear validation from Putin and that the Russian leader had reinforced another one of his false claims, telling him that “you can’t have a great democracy with mail-in voting.” That a US president would take such testimony at face value from a totalitarian strongman is mind-boggling — even more so in the light of US intelligence agency assessments that the Russians interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump win.

Ultimately, events in Alaska drove a hole through a White House claim in a recent statement that Trump is “the President of Peace.” Trump has touted interventions that cooled hostilities in standoffs between India and Pakistan; Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo; Thailand and Cambodia; and Armenia and Azerbaijan to argue he’s forging peace around the globe at an extraordinary clip.

“I seem to have an ability to end them,” Trump said on Fox News of these conflicts.

He does deserve credit for effectively using US influence in these efforts, including with the unique cudgel of US trade benefits. He has saved lives, even if the deals are often less comprehensive than meets the eye.

But his failure so far to end the Ukraine war that he pledged would be so easy to fix — along with US complicity in the humanitarian disaster in Gaza — means a legacy as a peacemaker and the Nobel Prize that he craves remain out of reach.

Once, he predicted he could end the Ukraine war in 24 hours. Despite his bluster, a comment on Fox News shows that after Alaska, he has a better understanding of how hard it will be.

“I thought this would be the easiest of them all and it was the most difficult

ATTACHMENT FORTY FIVE – FROM NBC

ZELENSKYY SAYS HE'LL VISIT WHITE HOUSE AFTER TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT

By NBC News Updated Aug. 16, 2025, 4:10 PM EDT

What to know today

· ZELENSKYY VISIT: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday to discuss ending the war. Zelenskyy has called for a "lasting" peace.

· 'NO DEAL': President Donald Trump returned to Washington early today after failing to secure an agreement on Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin at yesterday's summit in Alaska.

· 'PEACE AGREEMENT' TO COME?: Trump said early today that he and Putin decided to work toward a "Peace Agreement" to finally end the Russia-Ukraine War, and not just a ceasefire.

· ANOTHER MEETING?: Trump said in an interview with Fox News before departing Anchorage that a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy will be arranged by the two countries, and that he'll attend as well. No details on timing or location were provided.

1h ago / 4:10 PM EDT

West Virginia governor deploys hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington

Alexandra Marquez

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Saturday that he is deploying members of the West Virginia National Guard to Washington, D.C., in support of the Trump administration’s efforts to ramp up a military presence in the nation’s capital.

Morrisey’s office said that the National Guard mobilization will include 300-400 troops, plus “mission-essential equipment” and “specialized training.”

“West Virginia is proud to stand with President Trump in his effort to restore pride and beauty to our nation’s capital,” Morrisey, a Republican, said in a statement. “The men and women of our National Guard represent the best of our state, and this mission reflects our d commitment to a strong and secure America.”

The statement also said Morrisey’s decision to deploy his state’s National Guard came after a request from the Trump administration and that the troops would be operating under the command of West Virginia’s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Jim Seward.

2h ago / 3:03 PM EDT

Sens. Graham, Blumenthal float bill that would designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism over missing children

Kristen Welker and Alexandra Marquez

Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., are floating the possibility of introducing a bill in the Senate that, if passed, could designate Russia and Belarus as state sponsors of terrorism over the kidnapping of Ukrainian children, a source familiar with the bill tells NBC News.

The bill cites media reports and estimates from the Ukrainian government that show that Russia and Belarus have taken or displaced tens of thousands of Ukrainian children since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

"The Russian Federation has kidnapped, deported, or displaced Ukrainian children as young as a few months to 17-year-olds, according to reliable reports. President Putin’s regime seeks the ‘'Russification’' of Ukrainian children through kidnapping, deportation, or displacement to destroy their Ukrainian identity," a draft of the bill states. "The Russian puppet state, the Republic of Belarus, has directly supported the kidnapping of Ukrainian children and supported their relocation."

If the bill is introduced and passes, it would give Russia 60 days to prove that the missing children "have been reunited with their families or guardians in a secure environment; and the process of full reintegration of such children into Ukrainian society is underway." Otherwise, the bill directs the secretary of state to designate Russia and Belarus as state sponsors of terrorism.

4h ago / 1:44 PM EDT

Trump engages with Zelenskyy, European leaders on potential U.S.-backed, NATO-like security guarantees for Ukraine

By Vaughn Hillyard and Kristen Welker

According to two senior administration officials and three sources familiar with the discussions, Trump directly engaged with Zelenskyy and European leaders by phone early Saturday morning about the U.S. being party to a potential NATO-like security guarantee for Ukraine as part of a deal struck with Russia. 

“European and American security guarantees were discussed,” one source familiar with the discussions said. “U.S. troops on the ground was not discussed or entertained by [Trump].”

Earlier this week, Zelenskyy told a group of journalists that the U.S. had not yet provided security guarantees.

“The trilateral meeting, after the bilateral one, would involve the United States, Ukraine and Russia. For me, the presence of Europe in one form or another is very important, because ultimately, so far, no one but Europe has provided us with security guarantees,” Zelenskyy said at the time. “Even in financial terms — the financing of our army’s needs, which is itself a security guarantee.”

4h ago / 1:03 PM EDT

Trump hand-delivered letter to Putin from Melania Trump

Monica Alba and Kristen Welker

Trump hand-delivered a personal letter from first lady Melania Trump to Putin on Friday that raised concerns about abducted children from the war in Ukraine, according to two White House officials and a senior administration official. 

Reuters was first to report the letter. 

6h ago / 11:42 AM EDT

Putin says Alaska summit was 'frank' and 'meaningful'

By Alexandra Marquez and Jackson Peck

In remarks to senior political officials in Russia today, Putin offered his thoughts on the Alaska summit, telling officials, "There was an opportunity to calmly and in detail once again state our position."

"Of course, we respect the position of the American administration, which sees the need for a speedy end to hostilities. Well, we would also like this and would like to move on to resolving all issues by peaceful means," he added. "The conversation was very frank, meaningful, and, in my opinion, this brings us closer to the necessary decisions."

8h ago / 9:52 AM EDT

Pro-Trump group sends another fundraising email off of Putin summit

By Lindsey Pipia and Alexandra Marquez

A pro-Trump group today sent another fundraising email to supporters that mentioned the president's meeting with Putin in Alaska.

"I met with Putin in Alaska yesterday! After my meeting with him, I need you to answer just one question… Do you still stand with Donald Trump?" the email reads.

This comes after the group sent an email seeking donations on Friday, ahead of the Alaska summit.

The email read, "I’m meeting with Putin in Alaska! It’s a little chilly. THIS MEETING IS VERY HIGH STAKES for the world. The Democrats would love nothing more than for ME TO FAIL. No one in the world knows how to make deals like me!"

8h ago / 9:48 AM EDT

European leaders praise Trump, reiterate support for Ukraine

By Freddie Clayton

European leaders have praised Trump following the Alaska summit with Putin, while at the same time reiterating their firm support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron said it was essential to “continue supporting Ukraine and to maintain pressure on Russia,” and called for “unwavering security guarantees.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz each welcomed Trump’s efforts to bring the conflict to an end. Meloni emphasized that only Ukraine “will be able to negotiate on the conditions and its territories.”

The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, described Trump’s determination to pursue a peace deal as “vital,” but warned that “the harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon.”

8h ago / 9:27 AM EDT

How Trump’s move away from calls for a Ukraine ceasefire shifts him closer to Putin

By Freddie Clayton

President Donald Trump has promised a “Peace Agreement” to end the war in Ukraine following his summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin, dropping his demand for a ceasefire and sparking fears he is moving closer to Putin’s position.

Trump had phone calls overnight with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — who travels to Washington for talks on Monday — and European leaders.

But the shift in stance has sparked fears that Trump has adopted Putin’s position, as European leaders reiterated that borders cannot change through force and analysts warned of potentially disastrous consequences.

8h ago / 9:05 AM EDT

War 'closer than ever' to end, says British PM Starmer

By Freddie Clayton

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says President Donald Trump has "brought us closer than ever before" to ending the war in Ukraine.

"While progress has been made, the next step must be further talks involving President Zelenskyy," he said in a statement. "The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without him."

Starmer added that he welcomed the "openness of the United States, alongside Europe, to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal."

9h ago / 8:45 AM EDT

Lawmakers divided over Trump-Putin summit

By Freddie Clayton

U.S. lawmakers are divided across the aisle over the outcome of Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, which failed to produce a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine.

Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said on X that the meeting was a "step in the right direction," while Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas said he was "cautiously optimistic," and that Ukraine "must be part of any negotiated settlement."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., posted on X that Trump was "moving us towards PEACE."

But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote that Trump had "rolled out the red carpet" for an "authoritarian thug," saying the President handed Putin "legitimacy, a global stage, zero accountability, and got nothing in return."

His concerns were echoed by Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., who said Trump had treated "a war criminal like royalty."

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Trump Meets Putin

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, at 3:30 pm ET today to discuss the war in Ukraine. The talk—which will be conducted one-on-one with two translators present—will be followed by lunch with their delegations and a joint press conference.

While Putin and Trump have had several phone calls this year, this will be their first in-person meeting since 2018. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not attend, though he did join Trump and other NATO leaders in a virtual meeting Wednesday. During that call, Trump affirmed his commitment to a ceasefire and agreed not to discuss peace deal parameters, including possible territorial divisions, without Ukraine present. Putin reportedly seeks to add US-Russia nuclear arms relations to today’s agenda. Trump told reporters his aim is to secure a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy.

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‘DON’T DELUDE YOURSELVES’: WHY TRUMP’S SUMMIT IN ALASKA CANNOT END PUTIN’S WAR IN UKRAINE

By Simon Shuster Aug 15, 2025 6:00 AM ET

Four summers ago, when the U.S. and Russia last held a summit of their two presidents, one of the officials in charge of organizing it was Eric Green. As Senior Director for Russia and Central Asia at the National Security Council, his phone rang whenever President Biden had a question about Vladimir Putin. In early 2021, it rang often.

For one thing, Putin decided that spring to send tens of thousands of troops to his border with Ukraine, raising fears of an imminent invasion.

At around the same time, Russian hackers launched a series of crippling ransomware attacks against American hospitals and businesses. On top of that, an important nuclear treaty between the U.S. and Russia was about to lapse. So Biden did what his successor, Donald Trump, would end up doing four years later: He invited Putin to meet and talk.

“The context was completely different,” Green told me this week, when I asked about comparisons to the summit Trump is holding with Putin today in Alaska.

Indeed, Russia had not yet invaded Ukraine when Biden met Putin for the last time in June 2021. But on one thing the Russian president has remained stubbornly consistent.

“There is continuity in his views about Ukraine,” Green says. “He wants to control its freedom of action, to dominate it.”

The stated aims of Trump's summit with Putin — such as his idea of “swapping” one piece of Ukrainian territory for another, or the notion of a partial ceasefire — will not address what the Russian leader has long described as the “root causes” of the war. “When he talks about root causes, he’s talking about Ukraine’s existence as a sovereign, independent country,” Green explains. “That’s not Trump’s to give away.” 

Without it, Putin cannot be expected to leave Ukraine in peace. At most, he might pause the fighting — allowing for a temporary truce to let his armies recover and his economy restore some of Russia’s depleted wealth. But seizing some Ukrainian territory would not satisfy Putin’s desire to bring the entire country under Russian control. Vladimir Solovyov, one of the leading propagandists on Russian state TV, made this clear to his millions of viewers this week. “Don’t delude yourselves,” he told them of the summit’s prospects for peace. “This war is for a long time.”

Putin’s objectives were not yet clear to Washington in June 2021. Ahead of that summit, held on neutral ground in Switzerland, on the shores of Lake Geneva, the Russians had pulled most of their forces away from their border with Ukraine, signaling that they wanted to give the U.S. a chance to prevent the outbreak of war. When Biden and Putin emerged from their meeting, however, their positions remained so far apart that the two leaders chose not to appear before the media to talk about the results. “We refused to have a joint press conference with him,” says Green. “We were dealing with an adversary, not a partner.” 

Weeks later, Putin published a lengthy manifesto, arguing that Ukraine belongs by right to Russia and cannot exist as an independent nation. “True sovereignty of Ukraine is possible only in partnership with Russia,” he wrote. 

By end of 2021, Russian troops returned to the border in even greater numbers, and Biden made another attempt to defuse the tensions with a presidential summit. He even offered to discuss issues far beyond Ukraine, such as the future of the NATO alliance and European security.

The Russians responded with a set of demands that the Americans could not even pretend to take seriously. The main one called for the NATO alliance to withdraw from eastern Europe, moving back to where they stood before Putin took power. “NATO needs to pack up its stuff and go back to where it was in 1997,” the lead Russian envoy in talks with the Americans, Sergei Ryabkov, said at the time. 

The U.S. rejected the ultimatum and threatened sanctions, which came into force when Russia invaded in February 2022.

Since then, the only thing that has stopped Putin from taking the whole country has been Ukrainian military force, bolstered by Western weapons. Even battlefield defeats — Kyiv in spring 2022, Kharkiv and Kherson that fall — have not shifted his ambitions.

Today, the war has devolved into a grinding, bloody stalemate centered mostly around the eastern region of the Donbas, where Russian forces have continued making slow territorial gains, mile by mile, despite their own horrifying losses and the wholesale destruction of the towns and cities Putin claims to be liberating. 

Still, Putin insists the “root causes” must be resolved before peace. On Aug. 1, days before Trump confirmed the Alaska summit, Putin repeated: “Our conditions, the goals of Russia, have not changed. The main thing is to uproot the causes of this crisis.”

All the while, the Russian leader has repeated time and again that the “root causes” of the invasion must be addressed before he ends the war. He said it again on August 1, about a week before Trump confirmed his plans for a summit in Alaska. “Our conditions, the goals of Russia, have not changed,” Putin said. “The main thing is to uproot the causes of this crisis.” 

The phrase may sound open to interpretation, but to those who have dealt with him, it is anything but.  

“He has been remarkably consistent on this point,” Green says. Putin wants all of Ukraine — and will use any means necessary to get it. A tactical pause to let Trump play peacemaker is one thing; securing the future of Ukraine is another. Only the Ukrainians, with whatever arms and allies they are able muster, can do that.