Vladimir Putin has told Donald Trump that Ukraine must withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region if Russia is to end its war. The Russian president made this demand during their meeting in Alaska on Friday, according to a report by Financial Times. Putin suggested that if Ukraine gave up Donetsk, he would agree to freeze the rest of the frontline, particularly in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian troops already hold large areas.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-told-trump-russia-would-end-war-if-ukraine-gave-up-this-region-why-it-s-so-important-1755361075167">Putin told Trump Russia would end war if Ukraine gave up THIS region: Why it’s so important?</a><h2>How did Trump respond?</h2>The next day, Trump relayed Putin’s position to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders during a call. He urged them to abandon the push for a ceasefire, saying a full peace agreement was the only way to end the war. “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 on Truth Social after the call with leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron. Trump added, “If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin.”<h2>Why Donetsk matters?</h2>Donetsk has been partially under Russian control for more than a decade. Moscow currently controls around 70 per cent of the region, but Ukraine still holds a crucial western strip of cities that are key to its eastern defences. Giving up Donetsk would hand Russia its biggest prize since the invasion began and cement Moscow’s fastest advance since last November.<h2>What is Zelensky’s position?</h2>Sources close to Zelensky said he would not agree to hand over Donetsk. However, he is open to discussing territory with Trump when they meet in Washington on Monday. They added that he may also consider a three-way meeting with Trump and Putin. The Kremlin has denied that such a trilateral meeting was discussed in Anchorage.<h2>Why is Europe worried?</h2>Before the Alaska talks, European leaders were already anxious after Trump hinted at land swaps as part of a peace deal. They had been reassured when Trump said he would press Putin to halt hostilities first, warning of “severe consequences” if he refused. Instead, the three-hour meeting produced no ceasefire and gave Putin, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, a rare chance to appear on the global stage. He was greeted by Trump with a red carpet and light-hearted exchanges before the talks began.

Putin told Trump Russia would end the war if Ukraine gave up Donetsk. Trump urged Zelensky and European leaders to pursue a full peace deal instead of a ceasefire, seeking lasting resolution.

Vladimir Putin has told Donald Trump that Ukraine must withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region if Russia is to end its war. The Russian president made this demand during their meeting in Alaska on Friday, according to a report by Financial Times. Putin suggested that if Ukraine gave up Donetsk, he would agree to freeze the rest of the frontline, particularly in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian troops already hold large areas. Also read: Putin told Trump Russia would end war if Ukraine gave up THIS region: Why it’s so important? How did Trump respond? The next day, Trump relayed Putin’s position to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders during a call. He urged them to abandon the push for a ceasefire, saying a full peace agreement was the only way to end the war. “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 on Truth Social after the call with leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron. Trump added, “If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin.” Why Donetsk matters? Donetsk has been partially under Russian control for more than a decade. Moscow currently controls around 70 per cent of the region, but Ukraine still holds a crucial western strip of cities that are key to its eastern defences. Giving up Donetsk would hand Russia its biggest prize since the invasion began and cement Moscow’s fastest advance since last November. What is Zelensky’s position? Sources close to Zelensky said he would not agree to hand over Donetsk. However, he is open to discussing territory with Trump when they meet in Washington on Monday. They added that he may also consider a three-way meeting with Trump and Putin. The Kremlin has denied that such a trilateral meeting was discussed in Anchorage. Why is Europe worried? Before the Alaska talks, European leaders were already anxious after Trump hinted at land swaps as part of a peace deal. They had been reassured when Trump said he would press Putin to halt hostilities first, warning of “severe consequences” if he refused. Instead, the three-hour meeting produced no ceasefire and gave Putin, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, a rare chance to appear on the global stage. He was greeted by Trump with a red carpet and light-hearted exchanges before the talks began.

Putin told Trump Russia would end the war if Ukraine gave up Donetsk. Trump urged Zelensky and European leaders to pursue a full peace deal instead of a ceasefire, seeking lasting resolution.

Putin told Trump Russia would end war if Ukraine gave up THIS region: Why it’s so important?

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday (Aug 15) displayed a wide range of expressions as, during a media interaction alongside US President Donald Trump in Alaska, he was questioned on civilian killings in Ukraine. Faced with pointed questions, the Russian leader was seen reacting animatedly, even as he pretended not to be able to hear or understand the questions. Videos of the moment are now going viral.<h2>What happened?</h2>Sitting under a banner emblazoned with the words -- written only in English -- "Pursuing Peace", the Russian president faced a barrage of questions, including on the reports of civilian killings in Ukraine. Grinning widely, Putin appeared to be joking with reporters as he and Trump met in Anchorage, Alaska. Videos of the interaction are going viral on social media. Watch it here:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Russian President Vladimir Putin showed a wide range of facial expressions as he reacted to questions from journalists during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Putin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Putin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DonaldTrump?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DonaldTrump</a> <a href="https://t.co/N1KWxisHfl">pic.twitter.com/N1KWxisHfl</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1956476202304020654?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-brushes-off-question-about-civilian-killings-in-ukraine-trump-criticised-for-red-carpet-welcome-to-war-criminal-watch-1755302259384">Putin dodges question on civilian killings in Ukraine; Trump smirks. Watch!</a>Putin faced immediate questioning about the war when a reporter loudly and repeatedly yelled, "When will you stop killing civilians?" However, the Russian president did not react and brushed off the question.&nbsp;<h2>Trump rolls out the red carpet for Putin's welcome</h2>On X, netizens were quick to slam Trump for rolling out the red carpet for Putin. One user, posting a video of the pair's interaction at the Elmendorf Air Base, said, “This will be remembered as one of the most disgraceful moments in US presidential history.” Slamming the "literal red carpet the Trump administration rolled out for" a "war criminal".&nbsp;This was the first time Putin, who faces an international arrest warrant, set foot on Western soil since ordering the invasion of Ukraine. The warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the Russian president's role in the alleged forced deportation of Ukrainian children. Reports claim that amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow has "stolen" thousands of Ukrainian children and has subjected them to "Russification".According to Kyiv, more than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the start of Moscow's offensive in February 2022. The war-torn nation has alleged that many of these children have reportedly been placed in institutions and foster homes.Russia has vehemently denied these allegations. Additionally, given that Russia is not a member of the ICC, the country has dismissed the validity of the arrest warrant and called it "void". &nbsp;

Putin, seated beside Trump at the Alaska summit under a "Pursuing Peace" banner, dodged questions on civilian killings in Ukraine with animated expressions and grins. Clips of the exchange are now viral on social media. Watch it here.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday (Aug 15) displayed a wide range of expressions as, during a media interaction alongside US President Donald Trump in Alaska, he was questioned on civilian killings in Ukraine. Faced with pointed questions, the Russian leader was seen reacting animatedly, even as he pretended not to be able to hear or understand the questions. Videos of the moment are now going viral. What happened? Sitting under a banner emblazoned with the words -- written only in English -- "Pursuing Peace", the Russian president faced a barrage of questions, including on the reports of civilian killings in Ukraine. Grinning widely, Putin appeared to be joking with reporters as he and Trump met in Anchorage, Alaska. Videos of the interaction are going viral on social media. Watch it here:

Putin, seated beside Trump at the Alaska summit under a "Pursuing Peace" banner, dodged questions on civilian killings in Ukraine with animated expressions and grins. Clips of the exchange are now viral on social media. Watch it here.

'Pursuing Peace'? Putin grins, laughs off Ukraine civilian deaths question — watch viral video

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Aug 15) welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Anchorage, Alaska, with a red carpet reception at the start of their much-anticipated summit. As the leaders briefly posed for photographers before heading inside, fielding pointed questions from reporters along the way, the Russian president was seen deliberately avoiding questions on the civilian killings in Ukraine.<h2>Putin ignores pointed question</h2>Video from the much-anticipated meeting shows one journalist asking Putin when Russia would stop killing civilians in Ukraine, a question that appeared to have caught the Russian president off guard, who then pretended not to hear the question.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-pursuing-peace-putin-grins-laughs-off-ukraine-civilian-deaths-question-watch-the-viral-video-donald-trump-alaska-summit-1755303474816">'Pursuing Peace'? Putin laughs off Ukraine civilian deaths question — Watch</a>In a moment which has been noted by netizens, US President Trump, who, in recent days, has penalised India and other Russian trade partners for purchasing oil from Moscow, was meanwhile seen smirking. Glancing at Putin, Trump then exchanged a few words in a private, murmured conversation before he proceeded to place a hand on his counterpart’s back, steering him toward the presidential limousine, "The Beast."On X, netizens were quick to slam Trump for his reaction and for the red carpet put in place for Putin. One user, posting a video of the interaction, said, "This will be remembered as one of the most disgraceful moments in US presidential history". Slamming the "literal red carpet the Trump administration rolled out for" a "war criminal".

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This will will be remembered as one of the most disgraceful moments in U.S. presidential history. In Anchorage, Alaska, Putin brushes off a question about killing civilians. Trump smirks, then drapes his arm around him while they both stand on the literal red carpet the Trump… <a href="https://t.co/ucRwc9bxkK">pic.twitter.com/ucRwc9bxkK</a>&mdash; Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdKrassen/status/1956453442404360298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Inside the venue, under the summit's banner "Pursuing Peace," the pair again posed for the press and faced reporters alongside their delegations. There, Putin was once more pressed about civilian casualties in Ukraine, prompting Trump to abruptly end the photo op with a "thank you" to reporters.

The Alaska summit comes as the war in Ukraine nears its third year, with US–Russia tensions at their highest since the Cold War.

Trump and Putin’s Alaska summit kicked off with controversy, as the Russian president sidestepped a question on civilian killings in Ukraine. Trump’s smirk and red carpet welcome drew heavy criticism online, with some calling it one of the most disgraceful moments in US presidential history.

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Aug 15) welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Anchorage, Alaska, with a red carpet reception at the start of their much-anticipated summit. As the leaders briefly posed for photographers before heading inside, fielding pointed questions from reporters along the way, the Russian president was seen deliberately avoiding questions on the civilian killings in Ukraine. Putin ignores pointed question Video from the much-anticipated meeting shows one journalist asking Putin when Russia would stop killing civilians in Ukraine, a question that appeared to have caught the Russian president off guard, who then pretended not to hear the question. Also read | 'Pursuing Peace'? Putin laughs off Ukraine civilian deaths question — Watch In a moment which has been noted by netizens, US President Trump, who, in recent days, has penalised India and other Russian trade partners for purchasing oil from Moscow, was meanwhile seen smirking. Glancing at Putin, Trump then exchanged a few words in a private, murmured conversation before he proceeded to place a hand on his counterpart’s back, steering him toward the presidential limousine, "The Beast." On X, netizens were quick to slam Trump for his reaction and for the red carpet put in place for Putin. One user, posting a video of the interaction, said, "This will be remembered as one of the most disgraceful moments in US presidential history". Slamming the "literal red carpet the Trump administration rolled out for" a "war criminal".

Trump and Putin’s Alaska summit kicked off with controversy, as the Russian president sidestepped a question on civilian killings in Ukraine. Trump’s smirk and red carpet welcome drew heavy criticism online, with some calling it one of the most disgraceful moments in US presidential history.

Putin brushes off question about civilian killings in Ukraine; Trump smirks. Watch!

A B2 bomber and fighter jets flew over them as Vladimir Putin was walking on the tarmac of a US airbase as he joined US President Donald Trump for the Alaska 2025 summit on the Ukraine war on Friday (Aug 15). Was it a threat or a mark of respect? The internet is interpreting it differently.<h2>B2 bomber diplomacy: Was the US sending Putin a message?</h2>After the initial greetings, as the presidents were walking a red carpet on the tarmac, Putin could not help but turn his head as the five jets made quite a noise while flying above the two leaders. There was a B-2 stealth bomber and a squadron of F-22 Raptors thundering overhead.&nbsp;<h2>Fear factor: A flyover with bite</h2>The flyby wasn’t just a coincidence, with analysts noting it as a clear power play. The US was most likely flexing its nuclear muscles right before the Ukraine war negotiations.The B2s aren't your average jets: they're ultra-rare, nuclear-capable, and were used in June in a strike on Iran, which Trump claimed had destroyed its nuclear programme. Now they're buzzing over Putin.<h2>Trump had already warned of ‘consequences’</h2>Trump had used words like ‘Putin can’t mess with me' and talked about “very severe consequences” if the talks fail. The bombers were quite possibly an amplification of that messaging.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/breaking-trump-sets-realistic-expectations-ahead-of-meeting-with-putin-1755281637527/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/breaking-trump-sets-realistic-expectations-ahead-of-meeting-with-putin-1755281637527/embed</a><h2>B2 bombers for Putin a ‘humiliation move’?</h2>Some on X called it a “humiliation move,” with others pointing out that hosting the summit in Alaska—a former Russian territory—was itself a rubbing of salt for Russia.Some others called it a Cold War flashback and a psychological tactic, a throwback to the muscle-flexing days of the US vs the Soviet Union.One observer termed it a “dangerous game of flex and bluff.”<h2>Putin got a &nbsp;VIP welcome, but with wings</h2>There's a section of social media users who think the fighter jets were a display of honour to the visiting head of state.&nbsp;The body language was not easy to decipher: Trump clapped and welcomed Putin, and the two were all smiles. Putin appeared to grin when the fighter jets flew overhead.<h2>Theatre or tactic?</h2>It could be a bit of both respect and a show of strength.&nbsp;Technically, the jets were part of an ongoing US exercise, but the timing was way too perfect to ignore.The Pentagon has not made any comments on the same.Was Trump sending the message: I'm here to talk, but brought the bombers just in case? &nbsp;We will know in a few hours.

Some social media users called it a “humiliation move,” with others pointing out that hosting the summit in Alaska—a former Russian territory—was itself a rubbing of salt for Russia. 

A B2 bomber and fighter jets flew over them as Vladimir Putin was walking on the tarmac of a US airbase as he joined US President Donald Trump for the Alaska 2025 summit on the Ukraine war on Friday (Aug 15). Was it a threat or a mark of respect? The internet is interpreting it differently. B2 bomber diplomacy: Was the US sending Putin a message? After the initial greetings, as the presidents were walking a red carpet on the tarmac, Putin could not help but turn his head as the five jets made quite a noise while flying above the two leaders. There was a B-2 stealth bomber and a squadron of F-22 Raptors thundering overhead. Fear factor: A flyover with bite The flyby wasn’t just a coincidence, with analysts noting it as a clear power play. The US was most likely flexing its nuclear muscles right before the Ukraine war negotiations. The B2s aren't your average jets: they're ultra-rare, nuclear-capable, and were used in June in a strike on Iran, which Trump claimed had destroyed its nuclear programme. Now they're buzzing over Putin. Trump had already warned of ‘consequences’ Trump had used words like ‘Putin can’t mess with me' and talked about “very severe consequences” if the talks fail. The bombers were quite possibly an amplification of that messaging. https://www.wionews.com/videos/breaking-trump-sets-realistic-expectations-ahead-of-meeting-with-putin-1755281637527/embed B2 bombers for Putin a ‘humiliation move’? Some on X called it a “humiliation move,” with others pointing out that hosting the summit in Alaska—a former Russian territory—was itself a rubbing of salt for Russia. Some others called it a Cold War flashback and a psychological tactic, a throwback to the muscle-flexing days of the US vs the Soviet Union. One observer termed it a “dangerous game of flex and bluff.” Putin got a VIP welcome, but with wings There's a section of social media users who think the fighter jets were a display of honour to the visiting head of state. The body language was not easy to decipher: Trump clapped and welcomed Putin, and the two were all smiles. Putin appeared to grin when the fighter jets flew overhead. Theatre or tactic? It could be a bit of both respect and a show of strength. Technically, the jets were part of an ongoing US exercise, but the timing was way too perfect to ignore. The Pentagon has not made any comments on the same. Was Trump sending the message: I'm here to talk, but brought the bombers just in case? We will know in a few hours.

Some social media users called it a “humiliation move,” with others pointing out that hosting the summit in Alaska—a former Russian territory—was itself a rubbing of salt for Russia.&nbsp;

Scare tactic? B-2 bomber, fighter jets buzz Putin as he arrives for summit with Trump on Ukraine war

Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump's electoral rival in the 2016 US elections, said earlier this week that she would nominate the Republican President for the Nobel Peace Prize if he could manage to negotiate&nbsp;a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine after he met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Her condition, however, is that the US mustn't appear to capitulate to Putin.&nbsp;Speaking to the “Raging Moderates” podcast on Wednesday, Clinton said Trump has nothing to gain by "capitulating to Putin".&nbsp;Hillary Clinton said she was aware of Trump's fixation with getting the Nobel Peace Prize. She said she would herself nominate him if he manages to secure a fair deal for Ukraine from Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;She told the podcast that the Alaska summit could prove to be an opportunity for Donald Trump to tell Putin that there can't be an exchange&nbsp;of territory. She said he should tell Putin that there needs to be a ceasefire, and he should withdraw from the territory he seized.&nbsp;“If President Trump were the architect of that, I’d nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize, because my goal here is to not allow capitulation to Putin aided and abetted by the United States,” she said.&nbsp;Clinton said Putin wants to destroy the United States and the Western alliance. She said Trump won't be meeting with a friend but an “adversary”.&nbsp;"And the best thing that could come out of this, frankly, is probably nothing, nothing agreed to except a real strengthening of President Trump’s understanding that Putin is not someone you can make a deal with and expect it to last," she added.&nbsp;Putin will be touching down on the soil of a Western country for the first time since 2022, when he ordered an invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;He will meet Donald Trump aboard his plane at the US military base in Alaska.&nbsp;Trump and the Kremlin have both said there could be a second meeting, involving Ukraine, if the Alaska meeting bears fruit.

Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump's electoral rival in the 2016 US elections, said earlier this week that she would nominate the Republican President for the Nobel Peace Prize if he could manage to negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine after he met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump's electoral rival in the 2016 US elections, said earlier this week that she would nominate the Republican President for the Nobel Peace Prize if he could manage to negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine after he met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Her condition, however, is that the US mustn't appear to capitulate to Putin. Speaking to the “Raging Moderates” podcast on Wednesday, Clinton said Trump has nothing to gain by "capitulating to Putin". Hillary Clinton said she was aware of Trump's fixation with getting the Nobel Peace Prize. She said she would herself nominate him if he manages to secure a fair deal for Ukraine from Vladimir Putin. She told the podcast that the Alaska summit could prove to be an opportunity for Donald Trump to tell Putin that there can't be an exchange of territory. She said he should tell Putin that there needs to be a ceasefire, and he should withdraw from the territory he seized. “If President Trump were the architect of that, I’d nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize, because my goal here is to not allow capitulation to Putin aided and abetted by the United States,” she said. Clinton said Putin wants to destroy the United States and the Western alliance. She said Trump won't be meeting with a friend but an “adversary”. "And the best thing that could come out of this, frankly, is probably nothing, nothing agreed to except a real strengthening of President Trump’s understanding that Putin is not someone you can make a deal with and expect it to last," she added. Putin will be touching down on the soil of a Western country for the first time since 2022, when he ordered an invasion of Ukraine. He will meet Donald Trump aboard his plane at the US military base in Alaska. Trump and the Kremlin have both said there could be a second meeting, involving Ukraine, if the Alaska meeting bears fruit.

Hillary Clinton said she was aware of Trump's fixation with getting the Nobel Peace Prize.

Hillary Clinton agrees to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize, puts one condition

Before leaving for Alaska to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump on Friday responded to a query on whether his country will provide a security guarantee to Ukraine if Moscow agrees to a peace deal. He sounded non-committal, saying no security will be provided in the form of NATO.&nbsp;"Not in the form of NATO because that's not going to, you know, there are certain things that aren't going to happen," he said.&nbsp;He, however, said that security guarantees are a possibility, with help from Europe. He, however, didn't elaborate further.&nbsp;Donald Trump further said that territorial swaps will also be discussed in the meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. However, he said Ukraine would make a decision in this regard ultimately.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-putin-meet-ukraine-trump-says-there-will-be-no-decisions-on-ukraine-s-territory-without-ukraine-ahead-of-meeting-with-putin-1755264006195">Also read: 'Putin wanted all of Ukraine': Trump says there will be NO decisions on Ukraine's territory without Ukraine ahead of meeting with Putin</a>&nbsp;Donald Trump further said he would not meet with Putin to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine. He Putin would have taken the entire Ukraine if Trump wasn't the President.&nbsp;Putin will arrive in a Western bloc country for the first time since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.&nbsp;Trump had said earlier this week that there would be a 25 per cent chance that the meeting wouldn't be successful.&nbsp;Zelensky told Trump and European leaders in a call on Tuesday that they should be prepared to impose sanctions on Moscow if Putin doesn't agree to an immediate ceasefire.&nbsp;Trump said he is meeting Putin to get Russia and Ukraine "at the table".&nbsp;Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, however, said that Moscow wouldn't forecast the outcome of the Trump-Putin meeting.&nbsp;Zelensky had told Trump and the European leaders that Putin isn't interested in peace.

Before leaving for Alaska to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump on Friday responded to a query on whether his country will provide a security guarantee to Ukraine if Moscow agrees to a peace deal. 

Before leaving for Alaska to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump on Friday responded to a query on whether his country will provide a security guarantee to Ukraine if Moscow agrees to a peace deal. He sounded non-committal, saying no security will be provided in the form of NATO. "Not in the form of NATO because that's not going to, you know, there are certain things that aren't going to happen," he said. He, however, said that security guarantees are a possibility, with help from Europe. He, however, didn't elaborate further. Donald Trump further said that territorial swaps will also be discussed in the meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. However, he said Ukraine would make a decision in this regard ultimately. Also read: 'Putin wanted all of Ukraine': Trump says there will be NO decisions on Ukraine's territory without Ukraine ahead of meeting with Putin Donald Trump further said he would not meet with Putin to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine. He Putin would have taken the entire Ukraine if Trump wasn't the President. Putin will arrive in a Western bloc country for the first time since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trump had said earlier this week that there would be a 25 per cent chance that the meeting wouldn't be successful. Zelensky told Trump and European leaders in a call on Tuesday that they should be prepared to impose sanctions on Moscow if Putin doesn't agree to an immediate ceasefire. Trump said he is meeting Putin to get Russia and Ukraine "at the table". Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, however, said that Moscow wouldn't forecast the outcome of the Trump-Putin meeting. Zelensky had told Trump and the European leaders that Putin isn't interested in peace.

Trump will meet Putin on his plane at a US military base in Alaska.

Will the US give Ukraine security guarantees? Donald Trump's 'NATO' reply

US President Donald Trump sparked conversations about his cognitive health after mistakenly referring to the Russian city of St. Petersburg as “Leningrad” in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. The gaffe fueled speculation about possible dementia, as it came days after Trump mistakenly said that he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia, instead of Alaska. Netizens were quick to point out that Leningrad officially reverted to its historic name in 1991, following a city referendum. Some users noted the irony, recalling Trump’s 1987 visit to both Moscow and Leningrad when he sought to expand his real estate empire in Russia. The series of missteps raised questions about Trump’s mental sharpness ahead of the high-stakes summit with the Russian president.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Dementia? <a href="https://t.co/8sOMP9hwNh">pic.twitter.com/8sOMP9hwNh</a>&mdash; Sarah Longwell (@SarahLongwell25) <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahLongwell25/status/1955604315596345368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Trump in Leningrad, circa 1987. His head is still there, circa 2025 <a href="https://t.co/MBVyGljHbP">pic.twitter.com/MBVyGljHbP</a>&mdash; ITDUDE Fella (@The_Real_ITDUDE) <a href="https://twitter.com/The_Real_ITDUDE/status/1955624125008859317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>‘If I got Moscow and Leningrad free…’</h2>US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Aug 13) blasted at “fake news” media over its coverage of his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine ceasefire talks in Alaska on Friday (Aug 15). Trump also slammed “fired losers and really dumb people like John Bolton in a fiery post on his Truth Social platform. Trump wrote, “What’s that all about? We are winning on EVERYTHING. The Fake News is working overtime (No tax on overtime!). If I got Moscow and Leningrad free, as part of the deal with Russia, the Fake News would say that I made a bad deal!”<h2>Trump-Putin meeting</h2>It was confirmed on Friday (Aug 8) that Trump will meet with Putin on August 15 to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. Both the Kremlin and the White House confirmed the summit. The US had proposed a tri-party meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelensky, but Putin expressed his reservations about the same. Trump has now said that he would know withing two minutes of the meeting with Putin if he is interested in ending the Russia-Ukraine war. This will be the first in-person summit between Trump and Putin after they last held the Helsinki Summit in 2018 in Finland. They met briefly at the 2019 G20 Summit in Osaka, but no formal summit was held.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-trump-warns-of-severe-consequences-if-putin-doesn-t-end-ukraine-war-1755159222604/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-trump-warns-of-severe-consequences-if-putin-doesn-t-end-ukraine-war-1755159222604/embed</a><h2>Trump diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency</h2>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday revealed that Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a blood circulation issue, after “mild swelling was noticed in his lower legs.” Leavitt was addressing concerns over visible swelling in President Trump’s ankles and bruising on his hand when she made the disclosure and said that it was assessed to be “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin” as a preventative heart-health measure.<h2>Donald Trump's health report</h2> In April this year, the White House released a report by its physician stating Trump is in "excellent cognitive and physical health." In the first annual physical of his second presidential term, Trump was also found to have scarring "on the right ear from a gunshot wound", after an assassination attempt last July. "President Trump remains in excellent health, exhibiting robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and general physical function," his doctor, Captain Sean Barbabella, said in a memo. At 78, Trump is the oldest president to take office.

Trump sparked concerns about his cognitive health after calling St. Petersburg “Leningrad” on Truth Social and mistakenly saying he'd meet Putin in Russia, not Alaska. Users noted Leningrad’s renaming in 1991 and recalled Trump’s 1987 Russia visit.

US President Donald Trump sparked conversations about his cognitive health after mistakenly referring to the Russian city of St. Petersburg as “Leningrad” in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. The gaffe fueled speculation about possible dementia, as it came days after Trump mistakenly said that he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia, instead of Alaska. Netizens were quick to point out that Leningrad officially reverted to its historic name in 1991, following a city referendum. Some users noted the irony, recalling Trump’s 1987 visit to both Moscow and Leningrad when he sought to expand his real estate empire in Russia. The series of missteps raised questions about Trump’s mental sharpness ahead of the high-stakes summit with the Russian president.

Trump sparked concerns about his cognitive health after calling St. Petersburg “Leningrad” on Truth Social and mistakenly saying he'd meet Putin in Russia, not Alaska. Users noted Leningrad’s renaming in 1991 and recalled Trump’s 1987 Russia visit.

St Petersburg or 'Leningrad'? Trump sparks dementia rumours ahead of meeting with Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump are set to meet on Friday (August 15) in Alaska to discuss the future of the Russia-Ukraine war and peace efforts. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov on Thursday detailed the agenda of the meeting, along with the timings.&nbsp;Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that no "document" will be issued by Russia and the US after the Trump-Putin talks tomorrow.&nbsp;"(A document) is not expected. Nothing has been prepared," TASS news agency cites Peskov. He added that given "there will be a joint news conference, the president will of course outline the set of agreements (and) understandings that he will manage to achieve".<h2>Timings&nbsp;</h2>The talks between the two leaders are scheduled to begin at 22:30 Moscow time (7:30 GMT/1 am IST) in Alaska, at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base.<h2>Agenda&nbsp;</h2>Trump and Putin are expected to discuss ways to settle the Ukraine conflict during their talks in Alaska on Friday, the Kremlin aide said. The central topic between the two leaders will be the resolution of the Ukraine crisis. Following the meeting between Putin and Trump, they will be giving a joint press conference, Ushakov confirmed.&nbsp;Initially, Putin and Trump will first hold a one-on-one meeting, and later, with the participation of delegations. The Russian delegation will include Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Ushakov himself, and presidential envoy for international investment and economic cooperation Kirill Dmitriev.&nbsp;&nbsp;As confirmed by Ushakov, the negotiations will be attended by five members of the delegations from each side.&nbsp;Moreover, not just the Ukraine peace talks, the leaders are also expected to address bilateral cooperation, including economic and trade relations. Earlier on Wednesday, Trump suggested future negotiations could involve land swaps and potentially a follow-up summit with Putin as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.&nbsp;Yesterday, during the virtual call with Trump, Zelensky said that he told US President Donald Trump and European leaders during the virtual call that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “bluffing”, adding that the Russian leader doesn’t “want peace”.&nbsp;He further urged more sanctions on Russia if it rejects the ceasefire during the talks in Alaska on August 15. “We hope that the central topic at the meeting will be a ceasefire. An immediate ceasefire,” Zelensky said, adding, “Sanctions must be in place and must be strengthened if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire."&nbsp;

The central topic between the two leaders will be the resolution of the Ukraine crisis. Following the meeting between Putin and Trump, they will be giving a joint press conference, Ushakov confirmed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump are set to meet on Friday (August 15) in Alaska to discuss the future of the Russia-Ukraine war and peace efforts. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov on Thursday detailed the agenda of the meeting, along with the timings. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that no "document" will be issued by Russia and the US after the Trump-Putin talks tomorrow. "(A document) is not expected. Nothing has been prepared," TASS news agency cites Peskov. He added that given "there will be a joint news conference, the president will of course outline the set of agreements (and) understandings that he will manage to achieve". Timings The talks between the two leaders are scheduled to begin at 22:30 Moscow time (7:30 GMT/1 am IST) in Alaska, at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base. Agenda Trump and Putin are expected to discuss ways to settle the Ukraine conflict during their talks in Alaska on Friday, the Kremlin aide said. The central topic between the two leaders will be the resolution of the Ukraine crisis. Following the meeting between Putin and Trump, they will be giving a joint press conference, Ushakov confirmed. Initially, Putin and Trump will first hold a one-on-one meeting, and later, with the participation of delegations. The Russian delegation will include Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Ushakov himself, and presidential envoy for international investment and economic cooperation Kirill Dmitriev. As confirmed by Ushakov, the negotiations will be attended by five members of the delegations from each side. Moreover, not just the Ukraine peace talks, the leaders are also expected to address bilateral cooperation, including economic and trade relations. Earlier on Wednesday, Trump suggested future negotiations could involve land swaps and potentially a follow-up summit with Putin as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Yesterday, during the virtual call with Trump, Zelensky said that he told US President Donald Trump and European leaders during the virtual call that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “bluffing”, adding that the Russian leader doesn’t “want peace”. He further urged more sanctions on Russia if it rejects the ceasefire during the talks in Alaska on August 15. “We hope that the central topic at the meeting will be a ceasefire. An immediate ceasefire,” Zelensky said, adding, “Sanctions must be in place and must be strengthened if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire."

The central topic between the two leaders will be the resolution of the Ukraine crisis. Following the meeting between Putin and Trump, they will be giving a joint press conference, Ushakov confirmed.

Trump-Putin talks: US, Russian leaders to hold one-on-one meeting in Alaska—Check timings and agenda inside

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday rated his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders as "10 out of 10". He also spoke about his scheduled meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, saying if all goes well, they could hold a second meeting involving Zelenskyy. He, however, warned Putin of severe consequences if he didn't stop the war in Ukraine.&nbsp;"There will be severe consequences if Putin doesn't stop the war," Trump said, hours after the call.&nbsp;"We had a good call. Zelenskyy&nbsp;was on call. I will rate it as 10," he added.&nbsp;Donald Trump called the Ukraine-Russia conflict Joe Biden's war.&nbsp;"I am going to meet Putin and will call Zelenskyy&nbsp;and other leaders. We will have a second meeting -- which will be a good chance for us all. This war is Biden's war. I am here to stop this war, to stop the killings of thousands of soldiers," he said.&nbsp;Donald Trump claimed that he had stopped five wars so far. He said he, Putin, and Zelenskyy can have a second meeting if all goes well.&nbsp;"We are going to meet...second meeting if the first meeting goes ok. We can have a quick second between Putin and Zelenskyy," he added.&nbsp;After the call today, Volodymyr Zelensky called for sanctions against Russia if it doesn't agree to an immediate ceasefire in the Donald Trump-Vladimir Putin talks.&nbsp;The talks are scheduled on Friday in Alaska.&nbsp;"We hope that the central topic at the meeting will be a ceasefire. An immediate ceasefire. Sanctions must be in place and must be strengthened if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire," Zelenskyy added, speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.&nbsp;He also told Trump and European leaders during the call that Putin isn't interested in peace.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday rated his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders as “10 out of 10”. 

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday rated his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders as "10 out of 10". He also spoke about his scheduled meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, saying if all goes well, they could hold a second meeting involving Zelenskyy. He, however, warned Putin of severe consequences if he didn't stop the war in Ukraine. "There will be severe consequences if Putin doesn't stop the war," Trump said, hours after the call. "We had a good call. Zelenskyy was on call. I will rate it as 10," he added. Donald Trump called the Ukraine-Russia conflict Joe Biden's war. "I am going to meet Putin and will call Zelenskyy and other leaders. We will have a second meeting -- which will be a good chance for us all. This war is Biden's war. I am here to stop this war, to stop the killings of thousands of soldiers," he said. Donald Trump claimed that he had stopped five wars so far. He said he, Putin, and Zelenskyy can have a second meeting if all goes well. "We are going to meet...second meeting if the first meeting goes ok. We can have a quick second between Putin and Zelenskyy," he added. After the call today, Volodymyr Zelensky called for sanctions against Russia if it doesn't agree to an immediate ceasefire in the Donald Trump-Vladimir Putin talks. The talks are scheduled on Friday in Alaska. "We hope that the central topic at the meeting will be a ceasefire. An immediate ceasefire. Sanctions must be in place and must be strengthened if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire," Zelenskyy added, speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin. He also told Trump and European leaders during the call that Putin isn't interested in peace.

Donald Trump said there could be a second meeting with Putin if all goes well.&nbsp;

Ahead of Alaska meeting, Trump warns Putin of 'severe consequences if he doesn't stop' Ukraine war

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (August 13) held a virtual call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European allies ahead of his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump stressed that he wants a ceasefire in Ukraine during the Putin meeting.&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron, after the call, said that Trump told European leaders that he “wanted to obtain a ceasefire in Ukraine during a meeting with Putin.” He further stressed that any territorial exchange in Ukraine “must only be discussed with Ukraine".&nbsp; “The American will is to obtain a ceasefire,” Macron said, adding that “the exchange with President Trump allowed him to declare his intentions for the meeting on the 15 August and allowed us to very clearly explain our expectations.” &nbsp;Following the call, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Zelensky were briefing the media. Merz said that the European leaders are determined to make the Trump-Putin summit a "success".&nbsp;&nbsp;“Us Europeans therefore do what we can to set the course for this meeting in the right way,” he said, adding that Zelensky has been involved in the preparations throughout.&nbsp;He further said that Ukraine must be at the table at the next meeting. While talking about the territorial issue, Merz stressed the European principle that “borders must not be changed through violence”.&nbsp;“We made it clear that Ukraine must be at the table at the next meeting. We want things to go in the right sequence: We want a ceasefire at the very beginning, and then a framework agreement must be drawn up. If Ukraine is prepared to talk about territorial negotiations, then we need to make sure that there are no violent changes to the border,” Merz said.&nbsp;“We need robust security guarantees for Kyiv and there need to be Ukrainian forces there in order to defend the sovereignty of the country, and they also need to be able to depend on Western aid for that," he added.&nbsp;“The strategy is based on supporting Ukraine and putting pressure on Russia. So if in Alaska there’s no movement on the Russian side, then the US and the Europeans need to increase the pressure.”&nbsp;"There is hope that something is moving. There’s hope that there could be peace in Ukraine," he added.&nbsp;

Following the call, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Zelensky were briefing the media. Merz said that the European leaders are determined to make the Trump-Putin summit a "success". 

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (August 13) held a virtual call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European allies ahead of his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump stressed that he wants a ceasefire in Ukraine during the Putin meeting. French President Emmanuel Macron, after the call, said that Trump told European leaders that he “wanted to obtain a ceasefire in Ukraine during a meeting with Putin.” He further stressed that any territorial exchange in Ukraine “must only be discussed with Ukraine". “The American will is to obtain a ceasefire,” Macron said, adding that “the exchange with President Trump allowed him to declare his intentions for the meeting on the 15 August and allowed us to very clearly explain our expectations.” Following the call, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Zelensky were briefing the media. Merz said that the European leaders are determined to make the Trump-Putin summit a "success". “Us Europeans therefore do what we can to set the course for this meeting in the right way,” he said, adding that Zelensky has been involved in the preparations throughout. He further said that Ukraine must be at the table at the next meeting. While talking about the territorial issue, Merz stressed the European principle that “borders must not be changed through violence”. “We made it clear that Ukraine must be at the table at the next meeting. We want things to go in the right sequence: We want a ceasefire at the very beginning, and then a framework agreement must be drawn up. If Ukraine is prepared to talk about territorial negotiations, then we need to make sure that there are no violent changes to the border,” Merz said. “We need robust security guarantees for Kyiv and there need to be Ukrainian forces there in order to defend the sovereignty of the country, and they also need to be able to depend on Western aid for that," he added. “The strategy is based on supporting Ukraine and putting pressure on Russia. So if in Alaska there’s no movement on the Russian side, then the US and the Europeans need to increase the pressure.” "There is hope that something is moving. There’s hope that there could be peace in Ukraine," he added.

Following the call, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Zelensky were briefing the media. Merz said that the European leaders are determined to make the Trump-Putin summit a "success".&nbsp;

‘Wants ceasefire, but no territory deal without...': Here's what Trump, Zelensky and EU allies discussed on virtual call

US President Donald Trump is here to end wars, Tammy Bruce US State Department spokesperson, reiterated on August 12. When asked why America is granting Putin, a leader ‘charged with war crimes’, a summit. In response, Bruce said, “The President is not operating on what something might look like. He’s operating on how to stop obscene carnage among innocent civilians in Ukraine. And that is – he took some heat when he started talking to Putin. Because Biden hadn’t talked to him for three years.”&nbsp;Trump, in the past, has also mentioned his goal and aim to stop wars across the world. He noted that he has stopped five wars in five months. And now, he is looking to end the Russia-Ukraine war. He had initially paused aid to Kyiv but later started the transfer of munitions required to defend its land.“You don’t make peace through performative actions or theater; you make it by talking to people. And this is what he’s committed to. This is the end goal. The end goal is not performance or perception; it’s getting the job done,” Bruce continued.&nbsp;“And I’m honored that I can be here and at least be a part of reminding people – because he’s done – we know him. It’s – he’s a remarkable achiever, not just in business but in knowing people and knowing how to get what he wants. And he wants peace, and he wants an end to carnage around the world. And this country is in this position now because of him and because of the power of the American people, and we’re going to use it,” she added.&nbsp;When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law allowing citizens aged 60 and above to go to the frontline to fight the war against Russia, the US president was asked why America is funding a country that is 'scrapping the bottom of the barrel population'. This also highlights Trump's earlier statement that mentioned he was against the killing of people. To which the president promptly responded with 'this is Biden's war' which 'should have never happened, would have never happened'. He was confident as he said none of this would have happened if he were the president.&nbsp;&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump is here to end wars, Tammy Bruce US State Department spokesperson, reiterated on August 12. 

US President Donald Trump is here to end wars, Tammy Bruce US State Department spokesperson, reiterated on August 12. When asked why America is granting Putin, a leader ‘charged with war crimes’, a summit. In response, Bruce said, “The President is not operating on what something might look like. He’s operating on how to stop obscene carnage among innocent civilians in Ukraine. And that is – he took some heat when he started talking to Putin. Because Biden hadn’t talked to him for three years.” Trump, in the past, has also mentioned his goal and aim to stop wars across the world. He noted that he has stopped five wars in five months. And now, he is looking to end the Russia-Ukraine war. He had initially paused aid to Kyiv but later started the transfer of munitions required to defend its land. “You don’t make peace through performative actions or theater; you make it by talking to people. And this is what he’s committed to. This is the end goal. The end goal is not performance or perception; it’s getting the job done,” Bruce continued. “And I’m honored that I can be here and at least be a part of reminding people – because he’s done – we know him. It’s – he’s a remarkable achiever, not just in business but in knowing people and knowing how to get what he wants. And he wants peace, and he wants an end to carnage around the world. And this country is in this position now because of him and because of the power of the American people, and we’re going to use it,” she added. When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law allowing citizens aged 60 and above to go to the frontline to fight the war against Russia, the US president was asked why America is funding a country that is 'scrapping the bottom of the barrel population'. This also highlights Trump's earlier statement that mentioned he was against the killing of people. To which the president promptly responded with 'this is Biden's war' which 'should have never happened, would have never happened'. He was confident as he said none of this would have happened if he were the president.

US President Donald Trump is here to end wars, Tammy Bruce US State Department spokesperson, reiterated on August 12.&nbsp;

You don't peace through performative actions or theater: White House on Russia Ukraine war

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