President Donald Trump has taken steps to arrange a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin as he hosted key European leaders at the White House.
During a call with Putin, Trump “began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined,” between Zelensky and the Russian leader, he wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.
The call came as Trump discussed “possible exchanges of territory” and security guarantees for Ukraine with seven European leaders on Monday afternoon. Trump previously told reporters he planned to call Putin after his meetings on Monday.
These key leaders included Zelensky, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Their meeting with Trump ended late Monday afternoon, though negotiations continued on site into the evening, CNN reported.
Zelensky, who met with Trump earlier Monday, also invited the president to future peace talks with Putin.
“What is very important is that all the sensitive things...we will discuss on the level of leaders during a trilateral meeting, and President Trump will try to organize such a meeting,” Zelensky said. “And he said that he will come or not come — Ukraine will be happy if you participate.”
“If you both want me there, I will be there,” Trump responded.
In his Truth Social post, Trump said after the Zelensky-Putin meeting he is arranging, he will meet with the two European leaders.
“This was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years,” Trump said.
Read More
Ukraine-Russia latest: Key points
- What you need to know about the Trump-Zelensky meeting
- Trump doesn’t rule out sending US troops to Ukraine as part of peacekeeping efforts
- Reporter addresses Zelensky's suit
- Starmer says crucial Ukraine meeting is about ‘security of the UK’ as European leaders gather at White House
- Analysis: This was worse than the last time Trump met Zelensky. It was also deeply weird
- Trump starts to arrange Zelensky-Putin meeting
Recap: What to know about the Trump-Zelensky talks
Monday 18 August 2025 23:26
,
Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and key European leaders in the White House to discuss an end to the war with Russia.
It came after Trump and Zelensky met in the Oval Office.
Here’s what you need to know about the peace talks:
- Trump, Zelensky and key European leaders are discussing “possible exchanges of territory” and security guarantees for Ukraine, the U.S. president said.
- Zelensky said he’s ready to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin and invited Trump to future peace discussions.
- The U.S. president called Putin while European leaders were gathered at the White House.
- During the call, Trump “began the arrangements for a meeting” between Zelensky and Putin, he wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.
- A trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin and Zelensky is likely. Trump said: “I think when we set that up, when we do — I think it's going to be when, not if — I think you're going to see some very, really positive moves.”
- Trump did not rule out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees for the nation. Trump said he will discuss the topic with the European leaders.
Trump sees bump in approval rating after meeting with Russia’s Putin
03:20
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Rachel Dobkin
President Donald Trump enjoyed a bump in his approval rating after meeting with Vladimir Putin in the hope of securing an end to the Ukraine war last week, according to a new poll.
Although the president did not come away with any definite commitment to peace after three hours of talks with the Russian president and has faced criticism of his handling of the summit, he appears to have improved his standing in the eyes of the American public.
An InsiderAdvantage survey conducted over the weekend finds Trump enjoying the support of 54 percent of respondents, with 44 percent disapproving of his job performance and the remaining 2 percent unsure. According to pollster Nate Silver, InsiderAdvantage slightly favored Trump in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election.
That represents a 4 percent improvement in his approval rating month-on-month, with the president seeing only 50 percent of voters approving of his performance in July in a survey from the same source. That poll came during the period when the Jeffrey Epstein files furore dominated the news cycle.
Read more from Joe Sommerlad:
In pictures: Zelensky at the White House
03:00
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Rachel Dobkin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, along with several other European leaders, met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war.
Here are some photos of Zelensky’s visit:
NATO head calls Trump 'pragmatic peacemaker'
02:40
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Rachel Dobkin
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told Fox News Monday night Donald Trump is a “pragmatic peacemaker” after the president met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several other European leaders.
"Let me say first that this was a very successful day. I agree with you that President Trump is a pragmatic peacemaker, as I think you said,” he told host Laura Ingraham.
Zelensky thanks Trump, European leaders for 'demonstration of genuine unity'
02:20
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Rachel Dobkin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked President Donald Trump and several European leaders who met at the White House today to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, calling it a “demonstration of genuine unity.”
“I thank President Trump for the invitation and for today’s special format of our meeting. I also thank all the leaders who were with us today: Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, Friedrich Merz, Giorgia Meloni, Alexander Stubb, Ursula von der Leyen, Mark Rutte,” Zelensky wrote on X Monday night.
“Today was an important step, a demonstration of genuine unity between Europe and the United States. The leaders personally came to support Ukraine and to discuss everything that will bring us closer to real peace, to a reliable security architecture that will protect Ukraine and all of Europe. We continue our work, coordinating our steps with all allies who strive to end this war with dignity. I thank everyone who is helping.”
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. There were also several meetings in a… pic.twitter.com/YqkdRlyKCI
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 19, 2025
Trump refuses to rule out sending US peacekeepers to Ukraine in peace deal
02:00
,
Rachel Dobkin
Ukraine plans to buy $90 billion in U.S. weapons: Zelensky
01:40
,
Rachel Dobkin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told reporters the discussions between him, President Donald Trump and several other European leaders on Monday involved plans for Ukraine to buy $90 billion in U.S. weapons.
The purchase would be made possible by funding from European nations, and would be part of Ukraine’s security guarantees, CNN reported.
Zelensky said the agreement will be formalized in the coming days.
Trump and European Commission president discussed global issue of missing children
01:30
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Rachel Dobkin
President Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, discussed “the massive Worldwide problem of missing children,” during her visit to the White House on Monday.
“Ursula von der Leyen, the distinguished and Highly Respected President of the European Commission, and I have been discussing the massive Worldwide problem of missing children,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday night after he, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several other European leaders gathered for a meeting about the Russia-Ukraine war.
“This is, likewise, a big subject with my wife, Melania. It is a subject at the top of all lists, and the World will work together to solve it, hopefully bringing them home to their families!”
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of the war crimes of unlawfully deporting children and unlawfully transferring them from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.
While the exact number of missing children over the course of the Russia-Ukraine war remains unclear, the Institute for the Study of War reported in March that Ukraine verified nearly 19,500 children have been deported by Russia.
But the research non-profit said: “The true figure is likely to be much higher because Russia frequently targets vulnerable children without anyone to speak for them.”
German Chancellor questions whether Putin has the 'courage' to attend a peace summit with Ukraine
01:20
,
Rachel Dobkin
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has questioned whether Russian President Vladimir Putin has the “courage” to attend a peace summit with Ukraine.
“A real negotiation can only take place at a summit in which Ukraine itself also participates. Such a summit is only conceivable if the weapons fall silent. I have renewed this demand again today,” Merz wrote on X after White House meetings between him, President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several other European leaders about the Russia-Ukraine war.
Merz continued: “Such a summit must be thoroughly prepared – whether the Russian President will have the courage to attend such a summit: We don’t know. That’s why persuasive efforts are needed.”
Trump said he called Putin after discussions with the European leaders and “began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined,” between the Russian president and Zelensky.
Analysis: Trump broke off his meetings with Europe’s leaders to call his friend in the Kremlin...why?
01:00
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Rachel Dobkin
Sam Kiley writes:
President Donald Trump broke away from talks with Volodymyr Zelensky, the leaders of Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Finland plus the top representatives of Nato and the EU, to call Putin during their multilateral summit on Monday evening.
Trump spent much of this year trying to get a ceasefire agreed in Ukraine. He showed uncharacteristic irritation with Russia’s maximalist demands and over Putin’s refusal to respect calls to down weapons, even for a breather.
Trump threatened economic sanctions, and sanctioned India, the second biggest importer of Russian oil, in an effort to get the Russian leader to comply. Putin, an indicted war criminal, got a trip to Alaska and a summit with the U.S. president where he persuaded Trump that a ceasefire wasn’t necessary.
He also managed to shift the debate about the future of Ukraine to “land swaps” and discussions about what bits of its land Ukraine would surrender in return for vague Trumpian commitments to “security guarantees.”
This makes no sense. Ukraine was invaded. Europe’s leaders each made it clear they backed Ukraine, wanted a ceasefire before any further talks, and that they would buy the weapons America has stopped giving to Ukraine.
Read more...
President Macron says Putin doesn't want peace, just territory
Tuesday 19 August 2025 00:53
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Rachel Dobkin
French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters after Monday’s White House meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t want peace, but rather wants to gain Ukrainian territory.
After meeting with President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several other European leaders about the Russia-Ukraine war, Macron said a “solid and robust peace agreement” was needed, per The New York Times.
But, “I am not convinced that President Putin also wants peace,” Macron said, adding, “His ultimate goal is to gain as much territory as he can, to weaken Ukraine.”
Zelensky speaks to reporters after White House meeting
Tuesday 19 August 2025 00:40
,
Rachel Dobkin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to reporters outside the White House after he met with President Donald Trump and several European leaders Monday.
He said he’s ready to meet face-to-face with Putin about ending the war in Ukraine, but the U.S. might have to apply some pressure to Russia to get that meeting.
Finland's president says Putin agreed to bilateral meeting
Tuesday 19 August 2025 00:33
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Rachel Dobkin
Finland's President Alexander Stubb told CNN Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a bilateral meeting between him and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Stubb said Trump was “testing” a bilateral meeting with Putin during a phone call Monday, and Putin “had agreed to do that meeting.”
But Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin foreign policy aide, merely said that during the call, Trump and Putin discussed “the idea that it would be advisable to explore the possibility of raising the level of representatives of the Ukrainian and Russian sides participating in the negotiations,” per The Washington Post.
Zelensky says he is ready for trilateral Trump and Putin meeting
Tuesday 19 August 2025 00:20
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Rachel Dobkin
UK prime minister comments on Oval Office meeting
Tuesday 19 August 2025 00:05
,
Rachel Dobkin
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was tight-lipped, except for a brief comment, about the closed-door meeting between President Donald Trump and several European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on Monday.
The group first met in front of the cameras in the East Room of the White House and then held a “leaders only” meeting in the Oval Office, according to reports.
When asked by CNN what was agreed to at the closed-door meeting, Starmer said, “Quite a lot.”
World leaders leave the White House after 'marathon meeting'
Monday 18 August 2025 23:56
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Rachel Dobkin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several other world leaders have left the White House after what Fox News host Bret Baier called a “marathon meeting.”
Baier announced that Zelensky would not be able to make his scheduled interview on “Special Report” Monday evening “after this marathon meeting at the White House.”
“They are flying out,” Baier said. “As all these leaders break up and the motorcades are pulling out of the White House currently.”
Zelensky bails out of Fox News interview after White House meeting
Monday 18 August 2025 23:52
,
Rachel Dobkin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was set to do an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier Monday evening, but bailed at the last minute after his meeting with President Donald Trump and several European leaders went on longer than anticipated.
“Just getting word that the Ukrainian president is not going to come here to ‘Special Report’ tonight after this marathon meeting at the White House. They are flying out,” Baier said.
Will Putin agree to a meeting with Trump and Zelensky?
Monday 18 August 2025 23:39
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Rachel Dobkin
It’s unclear if Russian President Vladimir Putin will agree to a meeting with President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump said he called Putin after he met with Zelensky and several other European leaders Monday and “began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined” between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
But Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin foreign policy aide, merely said that during the call, Trump and Putin discussed “the idea that it would be advisable to explore the possibility of raising the level of representatives of the Ukrainian and Russian sides participating in the negotiations,” per The Washington Post.
Full story: Trump and Zelensky met with other world leaders in White House as Russia peace deal inches closer
Monday 18 August 2025 23:30
,
Rachel Dobkin
Donald Trump met with Volodymyr Zelensky and a large group of European leaders who descended on the White House Monday to support Ukraine’s president, bracing for the possibility of another explosive series of meetings that could change the course of his country’s future.
Six months after a volatile Oval Office meeting, and just days after Trump met with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Zelensky was greeted warmly upon his return to the White House, where Trump promised a “reasonable” chance of ending Russia’s war with a commitment to U.S. involvement in a peacekeeping force in Ukraine as a shield against further aggression.
A band of top European leaders — including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte — had rushed to the White House for meetings with Trump before Zelensky’s arrival, hoping to send a last-minute message to the president in Ukraine’s defense and to defend Europe’s interests after more than three years of Russia’s land war into the continent.
Trump, who has fashioned himself as a peacemaker while failing to control two wars in Gaza and Ukraine, has backed Putin’s proposal for Ukraine to cede territory it controls. Before Monday’s meting, he appeared to pressure Zelensky to agree to the autocrat’s demands, claiming Zelensky could end the war “almost immediately, if he wants to.”
Trump says he had 'very good meeting' with European leaders, starts to arrange Zelensky-Putin meeting
Monday 18 August 2025 23:15
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Rachel Dobkin
President Donald Trump said Monday evening he had a “very good meeting” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several other European leaders.
He said he called Russian President Vladimir Putin after the meeting and “began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy.”
Read Trump’s full Truth Social post:
I had a very good meeting with distinguished guests, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron, of France, President Alexander Stubb, of Finland, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, of Italy, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Friedrich Merz, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, in the White House, which ended in a further meeting in the Oval Office.
During the meeting we discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which Guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America. Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine.
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. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself.
Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
No world leaders have left the White House yet
Monday 18 August 2025 23:10
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Rachel Dobkin
Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Peter Doocy said no world leaders have left the White House yet.
He said “a ton of motorcade vehicles” are still at the White House as President Donald Trump hosts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several other European leaders to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war.
Serhiy Nykyforov, a spokesperson for Zelensky, said negotiations have continued in the Oval Office in a “leaders only format,” CNN reported Monday evening.
ICYMI: Zelensky gets even with Marjorie Taylor Greene’s boyfriend over suit jibe
Monday 18 August 2025 22:58
,
Rachel Dobkin
In pictures: Trump's meeting with Zelensky and other European leaders
Monday 18 August 2025 22:49
,
Rachel Dobkin
President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several other European leaders on Friday.
Here are some photos from the gathering:
Meeting with European leaders ends but negotiations continue: report
Monday 18 August 2025 22:14
,
Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump’s meeting with European leaders in the White House has come to an end, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s spokesperson Serhiy Nykyforov told CNN.
However, negotiations are set to continue on site, Nykyforov said.
Trump paused meeting to call Putin: reports
Monday 18 August 2025 22:11
,
Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump paused his meeting with European leaders this afternoon to call Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to reports.
The German newspaper Bild and The Wall Street Journal both reported on the interruption.
Trump caught on hot mic saying he thinks Putin ‘wants to make a deal for me – as crazy as it sounds’
Monday 18 August 2025 22:10
,
Ariana Baio
President Donald Trump signaled that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin “wants to make a deal for me” while quietly speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron shortly before hosting European leaders at the White House on Monday.
Analysis: This was worse than the last time Trump met Zelensky. It was also deeply weird
Monday 18 August 2025 21:55
,
Holly Baxter
After Friday’s red carpet love-in with Russian president Vladimir Putin, President Trump sat down with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky today at the Oval Office to talk peace and the world hoped it would go better than the last White House meeting between the U.S. and Ukraine.
Before meeting with Zelensky, or any other world leaders in town for the event, Trump was already telling reporters that peace could come “almost immediately” if Zelensky ditched NATO and gifted Putin Crimea - the diplomatic equivalent of telling someone to end a mugging by handing over their wallet and the deed to their house.
Keep reading:
Watch: Sam Kiley analyses Trump’s cautious diplomacy with Zelensky as Europe watches
Monday 18 August 2025 21:45
,
Katie Hawkinson
Starmer says crucial Ukraine meeting is about ‘security of the UK’ as European leaders gather at White House
Monday 18 August 2025 21:32
,
Tom Watling
Sir Keir Starmer has described Donald Trump’s White House meeting with Europe’s leaders and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as crucial for the “security of the United Kingdom.”
Sitting in Washington, D.C., alongside seven of Europe’s top leaders, as well as Trump, Sir Keir lauded the meeting as a potentially “historic step” towards ending the war in Ukraine, and shoring up the security of the continent and the UK.
Read more:
Russia reaffirmed opposition to NATO forces in Ukraine following Trump pledge of US involvement in peacekeeping effort
Monday 18 August 2025 21:31
,
Alex Woodward
Following Trump’s assurances that the United States would be involved in peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine, Russia’s Foreign Ministry rejected any idea of deploying NATO troops in Ukraine as any part of security guarantees.
“We reaffirm our repeatedly stated position of categorical rejection of any scenarios involving the presence of a military contingent from NATO countries in Ukraine,” the Foreign Ministry said in its statement.
Before a private meeting with Zelensky at the White House, Trump — asked whether the U.S. would send troops to Ukraine as part of any peacekeeping effort — said the country would be “involved” but did not elaborate.
“We’re going to help them out, also, we’ll be involved,” Trump said. “It’s going to be good. They’re a first line of defense, because they’re there, they're Europe. But we’re going to help them out also. We’ll be involved.
Officials to discuss 'possible exchanges of territory'
Monday 18 August 2025 20:56
,
Alex Woodward
Before a closed-door meeting with Zelensky and European officials, Trump said that the leaders would discuss the possibility of Ukraine ceding territory to Russia as part of a U.S.-led peace effort.
“We also need to discuss the possible exchanges of territory, taking into consideration the current line of contact,” Trump said, referring to the Russian-occupied territory.
“That means the war zone, the war lines that are pretty obvious, very sad, actually, to look at them and negotiating positions,” Trump said.
That will ultimately come down to potential discussions between Zelenksy and Putin, Trump said.
They “are going to work something out,” Trump said.
“Ultimately, this is a decision that can only be made by President Zelensky and by the people of Ukraine working also together in agreement with President Putin,” he added.
Zelensky invites Trump to join further peace talks
Monday 18 August 2025 20:11
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Katie Hawkinson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said President Donald Trump is invited to join his future talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“What is very important is that all the sensitive things...we will discuss on the level of leaders during a trilateral meeting, and President Trump will try to organize such a meeting,” Zelensky said. “And he said that he will come or not come — Ukraine will be happy if you participate.”
“If you both want me there, I will be there,” Trump said.
Zelensky says Trump talk was 'very good'
Monday 18 August 2025 20:06
,
Katie Hawkinson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his talk with President Donald Trump went well.
“I think that we had a very good conversation with President Trump, very good. And it really was the best one, or, sorry, maybe the best one will be in the future,” Zelensky told reporters on Monday.
“We spoke about very sensitive points. The first one is security guarantees, and we are very happy with the president that all the leaders are here. Security in Ukraine depends on the United States, and on you, and on those leaders who are with us,” he added.
Trump previews meeting with European leaders
Monday 18 August 2025 20:01
,
Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump previewed the topics he will discuss with European leaders.
“In a very significant step, President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine, and this is one of the key points that we need to consider, and we're going to be considering that at the table,” Trump said.
“I think that the European nations are going to take a lot of the burden. We're going to help them, and we're going to make it very secure,” Trump added. “We also need to discuss the possible exchanges of territory, taking into consideration the current line of contact. That means the war zone, the war lines, that are pretty obvious.”
Trump reiterated that he wants to have a trilateral meeting between himself, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump meets with European leaders
Monday 18 August 2025 19:58
,
Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump is meeting with several key European leaders at the White House.
This comes after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.
“I'm optimistic that collectively, we can reach an agreement that would deter any future aggression against Ukraine,” Trump said on Monday.
Watch: Zelensky gifts Trump letter from his wife to give to Melania
Monday 18 August 2025 19:55
,
Katie Hawkinson
See it: Trump, Zelensky and European leaders gather for photo
Monday 18 August 2025 19:52
,
Katie Hawkinson
Watch: Zelensky says he is ready for trilateral Trump and Putin meeting
Monday 18 August 2025 19:44
,
Katie Hawkinson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he’s ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump.
Trump said he plans to speak with Putin after today’s talks, and that he also hopes to hold a trilateral meeting.
White House shares photo of Trump-Zelensky meeting
Monday 18 August 2025 19:36
,
Katie Hawkinson
The White House shared a photo of President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meeting in the Oval Office.
Full story: Trump doesn’t rule out sending US troops to Ukraine as part of peacekeeping efforts
Monday 18 August 2025 19:17
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Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump refused to rule out sending American soldiers to enforce any peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
