The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Friday (August 22) searched the Maryland home of former US National Security Adviser John Bolton as part of a high-profile national security investigation about classified documents. The raid took place earlier (around 7:00 AM) at his residence in Bethesda, near Washington, according to media reports. FBI Director Kash Patel hinted about the action in a post on his X, saying, that no one is above the law. “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote in his post on X.<h2>Who is John Bolton?</h2>John Robert Bolton, born on 20 November 1948, is an American lawyer, diplomat, policy adviser and political commentator. He served as the US Ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to 2006 and later served as a national security adviser when Donald Trump was first elected as the US president. He served from 2018-2019. He often clashed with Democrats and Republicans over his foreign policy.<h2>What is the case?</h2>The investigation is reportedly linked to some high-profile classified files; this issue was first opened during Trump's first term but was later paused under the rule of former US President Joe Biden. Bolton was previously accused of disclosing the sensitive details in his 2020 memoir (a nonfiction work written by an individual about their own life) - The Room Where It Happened. The Trump administration tried to stop the book’s release by claiming that it contained national security secrets. But later, a court allowed the publication of the book.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bolton has not spoken publicly about the raid. Since leaving the Trump administration, he has often criticised Trump’s foreign policy and national security decisions.&nbsp;Last week, in a post on his X, Bolton criticised Trump and wrote, "When Trump slapped tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, but not China, which also purchases Russian oil, it may have pushed India further into the Beijing-Moscow axis. This lack of focus by the Trump Admin is an unforced error."&nbsp;Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said that he had no idea about this raid on John Bolton's office and home.

The investigation is likely linked to some high-profile classified files; this issue was first opened during Trump's first term but was later paused under former US President Joe Biden.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Friday (August 22) searched the Maryland home of former US National Security Adviser John Bolton as part of a high-profile national security investigation about classified documents. The raid took place earlier (around 7:00 AM) at his residence in Bethesda, near Washington, according to media reports. FBI Director Kash Patel hinted about the action in a post on his X, saying, that no one is above the law. “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote in his post on X. Who is John Bolton? John Robert Bolton, born on 20 November 1948, is an American lawyer, diplomat, policy adviser and political commentator. He served as the US Ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to 2006 and later served as a national security adviser when Donald Trump was first elected as the US president. He served from 2018-2019. He often clashed with Democrats and Republicans over his foreign policy. What is the case? The investigation is reportedly linked to some high-profile classified files; this issue was first opened during Trump's first term but was later paused under the rule of former US President Joe Biden. Bolton was previously accused of disclosing the sensitive details in his 2020 memoir (a nonfiction work written by an individual about their own life) - The Room Where It Happened. The Trump administration tried to stop the book’s release by claiming that it contained national security secrets. But later, a court allowed the publication of the book. Bolton has not spoken publicly about the raid. Since leaving the Trump administration, he has often criticised Trump’s foreign policy and national security decisions. Last week, in a post on his X, Bolton criticised Trump and wrote, "When Trump slapped tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, but not China, which also purchases Russian oil, it may have pushed India further into the Beijing-Moscow axis. This lack of focus by the Trump Admin is an unforced error." Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said that he had no idea about this raid on John Bolton's office and home.

The investigation is likely linked to some high-profile classified files; this issue was first opened during Trump's first term but was later paused under former US President Joe Biden.

Who is John Bolton? Why FBI raided home of Trump's former national security adviser

Russian President Vladimir Putin has outlined his key conditions for peace in Ukraine, sparking global attention and debates on the future of the conflict.


Russia-Ukraine War: Putin Reveals Key Conditions for Peace in Ukraine, What Are They?

Despite pressure from the US, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that no meeting has been planned between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russia's Minister Lavrov accused Zelensky of refusing several principles necessary for peace.&nbsp;Lavrov said that the Ukrainian president was presented with several principles and said "no" to everything.The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday there was "no meeting planned" between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, despite US attempts to organise the summit.&nbsp;"There is no meeting planned," he said in an interview with US broadcaster NBC News, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "ready to meet with Zelensky when the agenda would be ready for a summit".&nbsp;In an interview with NBC, Lavrov said that at this moment, no meeting is planned between Russian and Ukrainian leaders, but added that Putin is ready to meet Zelensky "when a summit is prepared".&nbsp;“President Trump suggested, after Anchorage, several points which we share, and on some of them, we agreed to be…to show some flexibility,” he said, referring to the Aug. 15 meeting with Putin in Alaska.&nbsp;Lavrov continued that when Trump brought those issues to the meeting in the US, it was very clear to everybody that there are several principles which Washington believes must be accepted, including "no NATO membership, discussion of territorial issues".&nbsp;The Trump administration has been pushing to secure a summit between the two leaders, following his meeting with both of them individually.&nbsp;Russia, on the one side, has expressed no rush for any meeting with Zelensky, but the Ukrainian president has asked to meet Putin in person, to bring an end to the war.&nbsp;Not just this, Russia also launched one of its biggest aerial attacks on Ukraine, including an attack on an American electronics facility.&nbsp;Earlier on Thursday, Zelensky said Russia was trying to "wriggle out" of holding a meeting as he accused them of continuing "massive attacks" on Ukraine.

Russia's foreign minister on Friday said that no meeting has been planned between Putin and Zelensky. This comes after Trump has been pushing hard to secure peace in the region and proposing the idea of Putin-Zelensky summit. 

Despite pressure from the US, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that no meeting has been planned between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russia's Minister Lavrov accused Zelensky of refusing several principles necessary for peace. Lavrov said that the Ukrainian president was presented with several principles and said "no" to everything. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday there was "no meeting planned" between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, despite US attempts to organise the summit. "There is no meeting planned," he said in an interview with US broadcaster NBC News, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "ready to meet with Zelensky when the agenda would be ready for a summit". In an interview with NBC, Lavrov said that at this moment, no meeting is planned between Russian and Ukrainian leaders, but added that Putin is ready to meet Zelensky "when a summit is prepared". “President Trump suggested, after Anchorage, several points which we share, and on some of them, we agreed to be…to show some flexibility,” he said, referring to the Aug. 15 meeting with Putin in Alaska. Lavrov continued that when Trump brought those issues to the meeting in the US, it was very clear to everybody that there are several principles which Washington believes must be accepted, including "no NATO membership, discussion of territorial issues". The Trump administration has been pushing to secure a summit between the two leaders, following his meeting with both of them individually. Russia, on the one side, has expressed no rush for any meeting with Zelensky, but the Ukrainian president has asked to meet Putin in person, to bring an end to the war. Not just this, Russia also launched one of its biggest aerial attacks on Ukraine, including an attack on an American electronics facility. Earlier on Thursday, Zelensky said Russia was trying to "wriggle out" of holding a meeting as he accused them of continuing "massive attacks" on Ukraine.

Russia's foreign minister on Friday said that no meeting has been planned between Putin and Zelensky. This comes after Trump has been pushing hard to secure peace in the region and proposing the idea of Putin-Zelensky summit.&nbsp;

Trump's efforts in vain? Russia says 'no meeting planned' between Putin, Zelensky

US President Donald Trump, who has been in constant pursuit of bagging a Nobel Peace Prize, discovered how biology works on August 21. Giving a speech in Washington, DC, where around 300 officers from the DC Metropolitan Police, the FBI, the National Guard, homeland security investigations, the DEA, ATF, and US Marshals Service were present, the American president informed that grass has a life too. This was in a series of promises he made for DC, which, in his opinion, has witnessed more crimes than ever before. Standing &nbsp;at the United States Park police headquarters in Anacostia, Trump said, “One of the things we are going to be redoing is your parks. I’m very good at grass ‘cause I have a lot of golf courses all over the place. I know more about grass than any human being I think anywhere in the world."&nbsp;"And we are going to be re-grassing all of your parks, all brand-new new sprinkler systems, the best that you can buy. Just like Augusta. No dead- it’ll look like Augusta. It will look like, more importantly, Trump national golf club, that’s even better," Trump added. Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/supreme-court-s-major-verdict-allows-trump-to-cut-around-800mn-of-research-funding-in-anti-dei-push-1755811728794">Supreme Court's major verdict - Allows Trump to cut around $800mn of research funding in anti-DEI push</a> And then came the groundbreaking discovery by the American president. “We’re going to have all brand-new, beautiful grass. You know, like everything else, grass has a life. Do you know that? Grass has a life. You know, we have a life, and grass has a life. And the grass here died about 40 years ago," Trump said. In addition, Trump announced that he had brought “great hamburgers cooked by the White House” with him for the officers present there. “I’ll eat with you and we’re going to have a little fun, we’re going to celebrate, then we’re going to get back to work and we’re going to take care of these criminals," he said.

Donald Trump, on August 21, gave a speech to the officers of the police department and the FBI, along with others, in Washington, DC, and said that, among his plans to make the capital city better, bringing more grass is one. 



US President Donald Trump, who has been in constant pursuit of bagging a Nobel Peace Prize, discovered how biology works on August 21. Giving a speech in Washington, DC, where around 300 officers from the DC Metropolitan Police, the FBI, the National Guard, homeland security investigations, the DEA, ATF, and US Marshals Service were present, the American president informed that grass has a life too. This was in a series of promises he made for DC, which, in his opinion, has witnessed more crimes than ever before. Standing at the United States Park police headquarters in Anacostia, Trump said, “One of the things we are going to be redoing is your parks. I’m very good at grass ‘cause I have a lot of golf courses all over the place. I know more about grass than any human being I think anywhere in the world." "And we are going to be re-grassing all of your parks, all brand-new new sprinkler systems, the best that you can buy. Just like Augusta. No dead- it’ll look like Augusta. It will look like, more importantly, Trump national golf club, that’s even better," Trump added. Also read: Supreme Court's major verdict - Allows Trump to cut around $800mn of research funding in anti-DEI push And then came the groundbreaking discovery by the American president. “We’re going to have all brand-new, beautiful grass. You know, like everything else, grass has a life. Do you know that? Grass has a life. You know, we have a life, and grass has a life. And the grass here died about 40 years ago," Trump said. In addition, Trump announced that he had brought “great hamburgers cooked by the White House” with him for the officers present there. “I’ll eat with you and we’re going to have a little fun, we’re going to celebrate, then we’re going to get back to work and we’re going to take care of these criminals," he said.

Donald Trump, on August 21, gave a speech to the officers of the police department and the FBI, along with others, in Washington, DC, and said that, among his plans to make the capital city better, bringing more grass is one.

'Grass has a life. Did you know that?': Donald Trump discovers biology

The US Supreme Court on Thursday (August 21) enabled the Trump administration to cancel hundreds of millions of dollars in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants linked to diversity initiatives. This came in opposition to a Boston judge who earlier declared the cancellation of the Trump administration illegal and blocked it.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/supreme-court-s-major-verdict-allows-trump-to-cut-around-800mn-of-research-funding-in-anti-dei-push-1755811728794">Supreme Court's major verdict - Allows Trump to cut around $800mn of research funding in anti-DEI push</a> Five of the court’s six Republican-appointed justices sided with the administration: Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. This is the 18th time the apex court has at least partially granted an emergency bid during Trump’s second term.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-grass-has-a-life-did-you-know-that-donald-trump-discovers-biology-1755815441244">'Grass has a life. Did you know that?': Donald Trump discovers biology</a>&nbsp;Gorsuch was the most pointed in his criticism, accusing the judge and several others of defying the high court. “Lower court judges may sometimes disagree with this Court’s decisions, but they are never free to defy them,” Gorsuch wrote.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-doesn-t-have-courage-to-meet-zelensky-german-chancellor-says-here-s-what-russian-president-says-1755558363160">Putin doesn't have 'courage' to meet Zelensky? German Chancellor says. Here's what Russian president says</a>&nbsp;US District Judge William Young, an appointee of former President Reagan, blocked the cuts in June in response to lawsuits filed by health groups and 16 Democratic state attorneys general.The Trump administration argued that Young had no right to block the cancellation. Moreover, the Justice Department had accused the judge of defying the Supreme Court’s ruling. “This case is not closed. The district court flouted vertical stare decisis by following this Court’s dissenters over the majority,” the Justice Department wrote.

The US Supreme Court on Thursday (August 21) enabled the Trump administration to cancel hundreds of millions of dollars in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants linked to diversity initiatives. 

The US Supreme Court on Thursday (August 21) enabled the Trump administration to cancel hundreds of millions of dollars in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants linked to diversity initiatives. This came in opposition to a Boston judge who earlier declared the cancellation of the Trump administration illegal and blocked it. Also read: Supreme Court's major verdict - Allows Trump to cut around $800mn of research funding in anti-DEI push Five of the court’s six Republican-appointed justices sided with the administration: Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. This is the 18th time the apex court has at least partially granted an emergency bid during Trump’s second term. Also read: 'Grass has a life. Did you know that?': Donald Trump discovers biology Gorsuch was the most pointed in his criticism, accusing the judge and several others of defying the high court. “Lower court judges may sometimes disagree with this Court’s decisions, but they are never free to defy them,” Gorsuch wrote. Also read: Putin doesn't have 'courage' to meet Zelensky? German Chancellor says. Here's what Russian president says US District Judge William Young, an appointee of former President Reagan, blocked the cuts in June in response to lawsuits filed by health groups and 16 Democratic state attorneys general. The Trump administration argued that Young had no right to block the cancellation. Moreover, the Justice Department had accused the judge of defying the Supreme Court’s ruling. “This case is not closed. The district court flouted vertical stare decisis by following this Court’s dissenters over the majority,” the Justice Department wrote.

The US Supreme Court on Thursday (August 21) enabled the Trump administration to cancel hundreds of millions of dollars in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants linked to diversity initiatives.&nbsp;

Supreme Court's major verdict - Allows Trump to cut around $800mn of research funding in anti-DEI push

Trump loyalist and far-right activist Laura Loomer's name is making rounds on the internet for her controversial statements after the US State Department halted her visitor visa for people from Gaza. Loomer, who gained prominence in US President Donald Trump's second term, is not new to controversies, but beyond her extreme ideology, very little information is public about other aspects of her life, such as her net worth.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-ally-laura-loomer-wants-xi-mingze-daughter-of-xi-jinping-deported-from-us-amid-america-crackdown-on-chinese-students-1748697745424">Trump-ally Laura Loomer wants daughter of Xi Jinping deported from US, claims ‘she is in Massachusetts’</a><h2>What is Laura Loomer's net worth?</h2>Loomer's net worth is estimated between $10 million and $11 million, though exact numbers are not clear by the source. Loomer’s income comes from multiple factors like paid speaking events, political donations, online influencer, brand deals and her podcast.She is known for her provocative activism and loyal fan base in conservative (political ideology that emphasises the preservation of traditional institutions, values and social structures) politics.&nbsp;She gained attention as a political agitator (a person who tries to persuade people to take part in a political protest) and online personality. Despite facing setbacks and bans from major social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), she has continued to stay close to Trump. In April, Trump himself praised her as a great patriot and said he sometimes listens to her ideas.<h2>Who is Laura Loomer?</h2>Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and strong supporter of Donald Trump, has gained an unexpected influence during Trump’s second term. Although she holds no official government position, she is able to shape policy decisions from outside the White House. She often calls herself both a ‘proud Islamophobe’ and a loyalty enforcer for Trump’s MAGA movement.&nbsp;Recently, the US State Department announced it would pause visitor visas for people from Gaza while reviewing its process for humanitarian and medical entries. Loomer quickly claimed credit for the move, arguing that families arriving from Gaza were a national security threat. She particularly targeted HEAL Palestine, a nonprofit organisation that helps Palestinian children suffering from serious injuries, trauma, and malnutrition receive treatment in the US.&nbsp;On social media, Loomer questioned how so many Palestinians were able to obtain US visas and claimed these individuals were "unvetted Palestinians" and part of a "national security threat". She even suggested that Gaza women become pregnant during war in hopes of securing visas and anchor babies in the United States.&nbsp;

Loomer is known for her provocative activism and loyal fan base in conservative politics. She gained attention as a political agitator and online personality.

Trump loyalist and far-right activist Laura Loomer's name is making rounds on the internet for her controversial statements after the US State Department halted her visitor visa for people from Gaza. Loomer, who gained prominence in US President Donald Trump's second term, is not new to controversies, but beyond her extreme ideology, very little information is public about other aspects of her life, such as her net worth. Also Read - Trump-ally Laura Loomer wants daughter of Xi Jinping deported from US, claims ‘she is in Massachusetts’ What is Laura Loomer's net worth? Loomer's net worth is estimated between $10 million and $11 million, though exact numbers are not clear by the source. Loomer’s income comes from multiple factors like paid speaking events, political donations, online influencer, brand deals and her podcast. She is known for her provocative activism and loyal fan base in conservative (political ideology that emphasises the preservation of traditional institutions, values and social structures) politics. She gained attention as a political agitator (a person who tries to persuade people to take part in a political protest) and online personality. Despite facing setbacks and bans from major social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), she has continued to stay close to Trump. In April, Trump himself praised her as a great patriot and said he sometimes listens to her ideas. Who is Laura Loomer? Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and strong supporter of Donald Trump, has gained an unexpected influence during Trump’s second term. Although she holds no official government position, she is able to shape policy decisions from outside the White House. She often calls herself both a ‘proud Islamophobe’ and a loyalty enforcer for Trump’s MAGA movement. Recently, the US State Department announced it would pause visitor visas for people from Gaza while reviewing its process for humanitarian and medical entries. Loomer quickly claimed credit for the move, arguing that families arriving from Gaza were a national security threat. She particularly targeted HEAL Palestine, a nonprofit organisation that helps Palestinian children suffering from serious injuries, trauma, and malnutrition receive treatment in the US. On social media, Loomer questioned how so many Palestinians were able to obtain US visas and claimed these individuals were "unvetted Palestinians" and part of a "national security threat". She even suggested that Gaza women become pregnant during war in hopes of securing visas and anchor babies in the United States.

Loomer is known for her provocative activism and loyal fan base in conservative politics. She gained attention as a political agitator and online personality.

How much does Trump’s far-right supporter Laura Loomer earn? Check her net worth inside

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (August 21) blasted former President Joe Biden for his way of handling the Russia-Ukraine war, saying that he did not let Ukraine fight back, but only defend. This comes after Trump held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin this month, to discuss ways to bring peace in the region.Trump took to Truth Social, saying that it is "very hard" to win a war without attacking an "invaders country"."It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invaders country. It’s like a great team in sports that has a fantastic defense, but is not allowed to play offense," the US president said."There is no chance of winning! It is like that with Ukraine and Russia," he added.Further slamming Biden, Trump wrote, "Crooked and grossly incompetent Joe Biden would not let Ukraine FIGHT BACK, only DEFEND. How did that work out?"He again boasted that if he had been the president, the Russia-Ukraine war would not have happened in the first place. "ZERO CHANCE. Interesting times ahead," he wrote.Notably, under the Biden administration's policy, Ukraine could not launch long-range American-made missiles into Russia. However, it changed in November last year.Trump, after holding talks with the Ukrainian president and European leaders, has asked Putin and Zelensky to meet and hold talks.Earlier on Wednesday, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine without involving Russia were a “road to nowhere”. He further slammed the European leaders for making “clumsy attempts” to change US President Donald Trump’s position on Ukraine, accusing the bloc of trying to “aggressively escalate” the situation.“The West understands perfectly well that seriously discussing security guarantees without the Russian Federation is a utopia, a road to nowhere,” Lavrov told reporters on Wednesday. “We cannot agree that it is now suggested to solve collective security issues without the Russian Federation.”

Trump on Thursday slammed former President Joe Biden for his handling of Russia-Ukraine war, saying that winning the war is "very hard" without attacking an "invaders country". 

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (August 21) blasted former President Joe Biden for his way of handling the Russia-Ukraine war, saying that he did not let Ukraine fight back, but only defend. This comes after Trump held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin this month, to discuss ways to bring peace in the region. Trump took to Truth Social, saying that it is "very hard" to win a war without attacking an "invaders country". "It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invaders country. It’s like a great team in sports that has a fantastic defense, but is not allowed to play offense," the US president said. "There is no chance of winning! It is like that with Ukraine and Russia," he added. Further slamming Biden, Trump wrote, "Crooked and grossly incompetent Joe Biden would not let Ukraine FIGHT BACK, only DEFEND. How did that work out?" He again boasted that if he had been the president, the Russia-Ukraine war would not have happened in the first place. "ZERO CHANCE. Interesting times ahead," he wrote. Notably, under the Biden administration's policy, Ukraine could not launch long-range American-made missiles into Russia. However, it changed in November last year. Trump, after holding talks with the Ukrainian president and European leaders, has asked Putin and Zelensky to meet and hold talks. Earlier on Wednesday, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine without involving Russia were a “road to nowhere”. He further slammed the European leaders for making “clumsy attempts” to change US President Donald Trump’s position on Ukraine, accusing the bloc of trying to “aggressively escalate” the situation. “The West understands perfectly well that seriously discussing security guarantees without the Russian Federation is a utopia, a road to nowhere,” Lavrov told reporters on Wednesday. “We cannot agree that it is now suggested to solve collective security issues without the Russian Federation.”

Trump on Thursday slammed former President Joe Biden for his handling of Russia-Ukraine war, saying that winning the war is "very hard" without attacking an "invaders country".&nbsp;

'No chance of winning': Trump slams 'grossly incompetent' Biden over handling Russia-Ukraine war

The US embassy has contradicted US President Donald Trump's $21 million funding claim for voter turnout in India via USAID. According to the Indian Parliament papers, on July 2, the US Embassy shared data that covered USAID funding in India from 2014 to 2024, including details of implementing partners, objectives, and key accomplishments of each activity undertaken. The US Embassy clarified to India that USAID did not receive or allocate $21 million for voter turnout efforts in India between 2014 and 2024, nor did it conduct any such activities. The Embassy informed the Indian side that “USAID/India did not receive or provide funding of $21 million for voter turnout in India from fiscal years 2014 to 2024, nor has it implemented any voter turnout-related activities in India.” The Embassy further conveyed to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) that it plans to bring all USAID operations to a close by August 15 this year.&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/trump-s-treatment-of-india-draws-fire-from-us-foreign-policy-experts-1755741539502">Trump’s treatment of India draws fire from US foreign policy experts</a>&nbsp;Trump repeatedly claimed in early 2025 that the Biden administration, through USAID, allocated $21 million to boost voter turnout in India, suggesting it was intended to influence elections. This claim originated from a February 16, 2025, announcement by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which listed the $21 million as part of $723 million in canceled foreign aid, including funds for voter turnout in India.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">&quot;$21 million for voter turnout in India. Why are we caring about India turnout? We got enough problems&quot;, Donald Trump again points to USAID funding for voter turnout in India; Says, &quot;it&#39;s a kickback scheme, you know&quot; Spoke at Republican Gov Conference <a href="https://t.co/ggnIAXBfDx">pic.twitter.com/ggnIAXBfDx</a>&mdash; Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1892774916790882352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-trump-imposed-tariffs-on-india-citing-russian-oil-purchase-press-secretary-leavitt-reveals-real-reason-1755664123235">Why Trump imposed tariffs on India citing Russian oil purchase? Press Secretary Leavitt reveals REAL reason</a>&nbsp;Trump made these remarks at various events, including a Republican Governors Association meeting and a Governors Working Session, framing the funding as a "kickback scheme" and questioning why the U.S. would fund voter turnout abroad when domestic turnout needed attention.&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-ramping-up-russian-oil-purchase-amid-trump-s-tariff-threats-reports-claim-drop-in-indian-demand-1755713810586">China ramping up Russian oil purchase amid Trump’s tariff threats? Reports claim drop in Indian demand</a>

The US Embassy refuted Trump's claim that $21M was spent via USAID to boost voter turnout in India, stating no such funding existed from 2014–2024. Trump had cited a DOGE report to allege a "kickback scheme" under Biden, but the Embassy confirmed no voter-related activities were funded.

The US embassy has contradicted US President Donald Trump's $21 million funding claim for voter turnout in India via USAID. According to the Indian Parliament papers, on July 2, the US Embassy shared data that covered USAID funding in India from 2014 to 2024, including details of implementing partners, objectives, and key accomplishments of each activity undertaken. The US Embassy clarified to India that USAID did not receive or allocate $21 million for voter turnout efforts in India between 2014 and 2024, nor did it conduct any such activities. The Embassy informed the Indian side that “USAID/India did not receive or provide funding of $21 million for voter turnout in India from fiscal years 2014 to 2024, nor has it implemented any voter turnout-related activities in India.” The Embassy further conveyed to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) that it plans to bring all USAID operations to a close by August 15 this year. Read More | Trump’s treatment of India draws fire from US foreign policy experts Trump repeatedly claimed in early 2025 that the Biden administration, through USAID, allocated $21 million to boost voter turnout in India, suggesting it was intended to influence elections. This claim originated from a February 16, 2025, announcement by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which listed the $21 million as part of $723 million in canceled foreign aid, including funds for voter turnout in India.

The US Embassy refuted Trump's claim that $21M was spent via USAID to boost voter turnout in India, stating no such funding existed from 2014–2024. Trump had cited a DOGE report to allege a "kickback scheme" under Biden, but the Embassy confirmed no voter-related activities were funded.

US embassy contradicts Trump's '$21 million for voter turnout in India' claim

Amid ongoing talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on India to end the Russia-Ukraine war. At a press briefing, Leavitt said that the US president has applied strong public pressure to end the war, including sanctions on India. She emphasised the President's clear stance on seeking a swift resolution and rejected suggestions to delay meetings by another month. She also claimed that Trump used trade to stop the conflict between India and Pakistan - despite India's categorical rejection of the statement. Leavitt stated that Trump used trade as powerful leverage to help bring the conflict to a close. Leavitt's statement came after White House trade adviser Peter Navarro claimed that India's 'financial support' is helping Russia in the war against Ukraine.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">VIDEO | Washington DC: Addressing a press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt refers to sanctions on India while talking about ending Russia-Ukraine war. She says, &quot;The President has put tremendous public pressure to bring this war to a close. He has taken… <a href="https://t.co/ShZJMTO9oV">pic.twitter.com/ShZJMTO9oV</a>&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1957874220849066199?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/zelensky-says-he-is-ready-to-hold-elections-lays-out-conditions-for-fresh-polls-wion-1755636242301/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/zelensky-says-he-is-ready-to-hold-elections-lays-out-conditions-for-fresh-polls-wion-1755636242301/embed</a><h2>Trump's trade war and India's response</h2>Trump, on July 31, imposed modified tariffs on its trading partners, citing an ongoing national emergency. The US had paused the April 2 tariffs, giving countries a window of 90 days to sign a trade deal with America. In the new tariffs, the Trump administration imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India. Trump then announced an additional tariff of 25 per cent on India for buying Russian oil and warned about doing the same with other nations.&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-ukraine-peace-deal-would-get-him-to-heaven-yes-you-read-it-right-1755641955305">Trump says Ukraine peace deal would get him to HEAVEN- yes, you read it right</a>&nbsp;On August 4, India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that its energy imports are necessary to ensure affordable prices for consumers, driven by global market conditions. It criticized other nations for trading with Russia while unfairly targeting India, despite lacking similar vital needs. Meanwhile, in what seemed to be a response to Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he won't compromise the interests of farmers, dairy farmers and fishermen of his country, even if he has to pay a price for it. He echoed the same sentiments in his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15. “Modi will stand like a wall against any move that harms them,” he said. Delivering a strong message, he reaffirmed his government's commitment to protecting the interests of India's agricultural community.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs and sanctions on India to pressure for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Her statement came after Trump met Putin and Zelensky this week

Amid ongoing talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on India to end the Russia-Ukraine war. At a press briefing, Leavitt said that the US president has applied strong public pressure to end the war, including sanctions on India. She emphasised the President's clear stance on seeking a swift resolution and rejected suggestions to delay meetings by another month. She also claimed that Trump used trade to stop the conflict between India and Pakistan - despite India's categorical rejection of the statement. Leavitt stated that Trump used trade as powerful leverage to help bring the conflict to a close. Leavitt's statement came after White House trade adviser Peter Navarro claimed that India's 'financial support' is helping Russia in the war against Ukraine.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs and sanctions on India to pressure for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Her statement came after Trump met Putin and Zelensky this week

Why Trump imposed tariffs on India citing Russian oil purchase? Press Secretary Leavitt reveals REAL reason

Indians and other immigrants hoping to live and work legally in the United States will now face a new hurdle: screening for "anti-Americanism." The policy, announced Tuesday (Aug 19) by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has already raised concerns among critics about whether it gives officials too much freedom to reject applicants based on personal, subjective judgment rather than clear standards.<h2>What does this ‘anti-Americanism’ screening mean?</h2>Under the new screening rule, immigration officers have now been instructed to weigh whether a green card applicant has "endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused" anti-American, terrorist, or antisemitic views.In a statement, Matthew Tragesser, a USCIS spokesman, defended the move, saying that American "benefits" like the green card and citizenship "should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies". Calling the rights to work and live in America "privileges", he asserted that immigration benefits are "not a right".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-just-dance-vance-newsom-taunts-trump-s-vp-jd-vance-with-new-nickname-says-not-even-his-eyeliner-lines-1755506542466">'Just Dance Vance': Newsom taunts Trump's VP JD Vance with new nickname, says 'Not even his eyeliner lines…'</a><h2>But, what exactly is 'anti-Americanism'?</h2>It remains unclear what, exactly, will qualify as "anti-Americanism." No definitions were provided, leaving critics uneasy about how the rule will be enforced. However, going by Trump's recent moves, it could be postulated that candidates with “woke” ideologies would not be welcome in the US.Elizabeth Jacobs, director of regulatory affairs and policy at the Centre for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for immigration restrictions, said the government is signalling a tougher stance on behaviour and ideology, but noted officers still retain broad discretion. “The message is that the U.S. and immigration agencies are going to be less tolerant of anti-Americanism or antisemitism when making immigration decisions,” she explained.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-pushes-zelensky-putin-for-one-on-one-peace-talks-says-it-ll-be-better-but-will-he-crash-the-meeting-1755656335352">Trump says 'better' if Zelensky-Putin talks happen one-on-one, without him — but will he crash the meeting?</a><h2>Critics flag possibilities of bias</h2>That lack of clarity has critics worried that bias could creep into the process. Jane Lilly Lopez, a sociology professor at Brigham Young University, said the policy risks opening the door to prejudice. "For me, the really big story is they are opening the door for stereotypes and prejudice and implicit bias to take the wheel in these decisions. That’s really worrisome," she said, as quoted by ABC News.Trump's immigration crackdownAlso read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alien-attack-in-november-harvard-scientist-flags-mysterious-object-hurtling-towards-earth-1753526257304">Alien attack in November? Harvard scientists warn mysterious object hurtling towards Earth</a>The latest directive follows other changes undertaken by the Trump administration since its inauguration. Other moves include social media vetting and assessing applications for "good moral character" in naturalisation cases. Applicants now have to show "not simply the absence of misconduct" but also evidence of positive contributions to society. "It means you are going to just do a whole lot more work to provide evidence that you meet our standards," Lopez said.<h2>Indians in America</h2>Every year, hundreds of thousands of Indians immigrate to the US. According to the Migration Policy Institute, as of 2023, over 2.9 million Indian immigrants lived in the United States. This makes America the second most popular global destination for Indians after the United Arab Emirates.

The US has introduced a new immigration policy requiring immigrants looking to work in America to be screened for "anti-Americanism". Here's what it means for you.

Indians and other immigrants hoping to live and work legally in the United States will now face a new hurdle: screening for "anti-Americanism." The policy, announced Tuesday (Aug 19) by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has already raised concerns among critics about whether it gives officials too much freedom to reject applicants based on personal, subjective judgment rather than clear standards. What does this ‘anti-Americanism’ screening mean? Under the new screening rule, immigration officers have now been instructed to weigh whether a green card applicant has "endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused" anti-American, terrorist, or antisemitic views. In a statement, Matthew Tragesser, a USCIS spokesman, defended the move, saying that American "benefits" like the green card and citizenship "should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies". Calling the rights to work and live in America "privileges", he asserted that immigration benefits are "not a right". Also read | 'Just Dance Vance': Newsom taunts Trump's VP JD Vance with new nickname, says 'Not even his eyeliner lines…' But, what exactly is 'anti-Americanism'? It remains unclear what, exactly, will qualify as "anti-Americanism." No definitions were provided, leaving critics uneasy about how the rule will be enforced. However, going by Trump's recent moves, it could be postulated that candidates with “woke” ideologies would not be welcome in the US. Elizabeth Jacobs, director of regulatory affairs and policy at the Centre for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for immigration restrictions, said the government is signalling a tougher stance on behaviour and ideology, but noted officers still retain broad discretion. “The message is that the U.S. and immigration agencies are going to be less tolerant of anti-Americanism or antisemitism when making immigration decisions,” she explained. Also read | Trump says 'better' if Zelensky-Putin talks happen one-on-one, without him — but will he crash the meeting? Critics flag possibilities of bias That lack of clarity has critics worried that bias could creep into the process. Jane Lilly Lopez, a sociology professor at Brigham Young University, said the policy risks opening the door to prejudice. "For me, the really big story is they are opening the door for stereotypes and prejudice and implicit bias to take the wheel in these decisions. That’s really worrisome," she said, as quoted by ABC News. Trump's immigration crackdown Also read | Alien attack in November? Harvard scientists warn mysterious object hurtling towards Earth The latest directive follows other changes undertaken by the Trump administration since its inauguration. Other moves include social media vetting and assessing applications for "good moral character" in naturalisation cases. Applicants now have to show "not simply the absence of misconduct" but also evidence of positive contributions to society. "It means you are going to just do a whole lot more work to provide evidence that you meet our standards," Lopez said. Indians in America Every year, hundreds of thousands of Indians immigrate to the US. According to the Migration Policy Institute, as of 2023, over 2.9 million Indian immigrants lived in the United States. This makes America the second most popular global destination for Indians after the United Arab Emirates.

The US has introduced a new immigration policy requiring immigrants looking to work in America to be screened for "anti-Americanism". Here's what it means for you.

Indians (and other immigrants) hoping to live in the US will now be screened for 'anti-Americanism'. Here's what it means

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Aug 19) lashed out at America's museums, labelling them "the last remaining segment of 'WOKE'," in a bizarre rant on his social media platform Truth Social. Slamming museums which are often described as places that "bring history to life", Trump said that the American museums were solely focused on "how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been" without talking about America or as he called it "the ‘HOTTEST’ Country in the World". His social media rant has earned him a fitting reply from Congressional Black Caucus Whip Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who reminded the POTUS, “Slavery WAS bad, Donald.”<h2>Donald Trump vs History</h2>Declaring that America's museums are the "last remaining segment of woke", Trump has vowed to overhaul them. Singling out the Smithsonian Institution, which he has made the subject of his social media posts quite a bit lately, Trump accused the institution of being "OUT OF CONTROL" for documenting slavery and historical injustice. In his Tuesday rant on Truth Social, Trump claimed museums just fixate on "how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been" instead of highlighting "success", "brightness and "the future."He then revealed that he has instructed his attorneys "to go through the Museums, and start the exact same process that has been done with Colleges and Universities". In his usual rhyming style, Trump then proclaimed: "This Country cannot be WOKE, because WOKE IS BROKE." The 79-year-old president has previously targeted universities that resisted his push to scrap diversity and inclusion programmes, cutting off Harvard from federal funding. His latest post about 'woke' museums seems to be hinting at a similar strategy for Washington's Smithsonian museums, which are largely funded by the government.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-rewriting-history-smithsonian-removes-reference-to-his-two-impeachments-from-presidency-exhibit-1754125629073">Trump rewriting history? Smithsonian removes reference to his two impeachments from presidency exhibit</a><h2>'Slavery WAS bad, Donald'</h2>Trump's bizarre whitewashing complaints drew fire from Democrats. In a post on X, California Congress representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove, whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, hit back: "Slavery WAS bad, Donald. It's absurd that this even needs to be said".She continued, "We don’t whitewash history...we learn from it." The congresswoman then warned Trump that he can "keep trying to rewrite the past" but "@TheBlackCaucus won’t let you get away with it".<h2>So, what are Donald Trump's plans for museums?</h2>In his latest post slamming the Smithsonian, Trump did not elaborate on how exactly he intends for American museums to display "the future." What's more, what he meant by forcing museums to display "the future" also remains a mystery.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/next-step-in-trump-ification-of-us-smithsonian-exhibits-face-patriotic-purge-ahead-of-america-s-250th-anniversary-1755071050214">Next step in Trump-ification of US? Smithsonian exhibits face ‘patriotic’ purge ahead of America's 250th anniversary</a>It must be noted that President Trump's war against "woke" culture is anything but new. Recently, the Smithsonian has felt political heat quite a bit. Just last month, the White House ordered it to erase references to Trump's two impeachments from the National Museum of American History's "A Glorious Burden" exhibit. The museum briefly removed them, then restored them, insisting the edits were cosmetic, not political.

Trump has now turned his “anti-woke” crusade on US museums, blasting them for focusing on slavery and injustice instead of celebrating America as the “hottest country in the world.” Here's what he said in his latest social media rant targeting the Smithsonian.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Aug 19) lashed out at America's museums, labelling them "the last remaining segment of 'WOKE'," in a bizarre rant on his social media platform Truth Social. Slamming museums which are often described as places that "bring history to life", Trump said that the American museums were solely focused on "how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been" without talking about America or as he called it "the ‘HOTTEST’ Country in the World". His social media rant has earned him a fitting reply from Congressional Black Caucus Whip Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who reminded the POTUS, “Slavery WAS bad, Donald.” Donald Trump vs History Declaring that America's museums are the "last remaining segment of woke", Trump has vowed to overhaul them. Singling out the Smithsonian Institution, which he has made the subject of his social media posts quite a bit lately, Trump accused the institution of being "OUT OF CONTROL" for documenting slavery and historical injustice. In his Tuesday rant on Truth Social, Trump claimed museums just fixate on "how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been" instead of highlighting "success", "brightness and "the future." He then revealed that he has instructed his attorneys "to go through the Museums, and start the exact same process that has been done with Colleges and Universities". In his usual rhyming style, Trump then proclaimed: "This Country cannot be WOKE, because WOKE IS BROKE." The 79-year-old president has previously targeted universities that resisted his push to scrap diversity and inclusion programmes, cutting off Harvard from federal funding. His latest post about 'woke' museums seems to be hinting at a similar strategy for Washington's Smithsonian museums, which are largely funded by the government. Also read | Trump rewriting history? Smithsonian removes reference to his two impeachments from presidency exhibit 'Slavery WAS bad, Donald' Trump's bizarre whitewashing complaints drew fire from Democrats. In a post on X, California Congress representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove, whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, hit back: "Slavery WAS bad, Donald. It's absurd that this even needs to be said". She continued, "We don’t whitewash history...we learn from it." The congresswoman then warned Trump that he can "keep trying to rewrite the past" but "@TheBlackCaucus won’t let you get away with it". So, what are Donald Trump's plans for museums? In his latest post slamming the Smithsonian, Trump did not elaborate on how exactly he intends for American museums to display "the future." What's more, what he meant by forcing museums to display "the future" also remains a mystery. Also read | Next step in Trump-ification of US? Smithsonian exhibits face ‘patriotic’ purge ahead of America's 250th anniversary It must be noted that President Trump's war against "woke" culture is anything but new. Recently, the Smithsonian has felt political heat quite a bit. Just last month, the White House ordered it to erase references to Trump's two impeachments from the National Museum of American History's "A Glorious Burden" exhibit. The museum briefly removed them, then restored them, insisting the edits were cosmetic, not political.

Trump has now turned his “anti-woke” crusade on US museums, blasting them for focusing on slavery and injustice instead of celebrating America as the “hottest country in the world.” Here's what he said in his latest social media rant targeting the Smithsonian.

Trump vs history: POTUS tells museums to stop saying 'how bad Slavery was,' slams 'WOKE-ness' in bizarre rant

United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has defended US action against India and explained why US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on New Delhi and not Beijing, despite China doing trade with Russia. In an interview, Bessent said that China’s increase in Russian oil imports from 13 per cent to 16 per cent is modest and reflects diversification, while India’s rise from less than 1 per cent to about 42 per cent is seen as profiteering. Bessent criticised India for making $16 billion in excess profits by buying cheap Russian oil and reselling it during the war, calling this practice the "Indian arbitrage" and labelling it unacceptable. His response came a day after White House trade adviser Peter Navarro doubled down on his attack on New Delhi for purchasing Russian oil and has criticised New Delhi for cosying up to China and Russia.&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-ukraine-peace-deal-would-get-him-to-heaven-yes-you-read-it-right-1755641955305">Trump says Ukraine peace deal would get him to HEAVEN- yes, you read it right</a>&nbsp;“China importing Russian oil is sub-optimal. But if you go back and look, before the 2022 invasion, 13% of China’s oil was already coming from Russia and now it’s 16%. So China has a diversified input of their oil. If you go back and look back, India had less than 1% of their oil (coming from Russia) and now it’s up to, I believe, 42%. So India is just profiteering,” Bessent said. Earlier on Wednesday, Navarro also claimed that India's crude oil imports from Russia after 2022 was not for meeting domestic consumption and that Indian refiners for “profiteering” by purchasing Russian discounted oil and exporting the processed petroleum products to Europe, Africa and Asia. Meanwhile, Bessent noted that the current situation with China is stable, as the two largest economies have recently agreed to extend a pause in their ongoing trade conflict over tariffs.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/breaking-india-china-agree-on-new-steps-for-boundary-talks-in-a-boost-to-bilateral-ties-wion-1755629027363/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/breaking-india-china-agree-on-new-steps-for-boundary-talks-in-a-boost-to-bilateral-ties-wion-1755629027363/embed</a>&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-pushes-zelensky-putin-for-one-on-one-peace-talks-says-it-ll-be-better-but-will-he-crash-the-meeting-1755656335352">Trump says 'better' if Zelensky-Putin talks happen one-on-one, without him — but will he crash the meeting?</a><h2>Trump's trade war and India's response</h2>On July 31, President Trump imposed modified tariffs, including a 25% tariff on India, citing a national emergency. This followed a pause on earlier tariffs, which allowed countries 90 days to negotiate trade deals with the US. Trump added another 25% tariff on India specifically for buying Russian oil and warned other nations against similar actions. In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated on August 4 that its energy imports are essential to ensure affordable prices amid global market conditions. The ministry criticised other countries for trading with Russia while unfairly targeting India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded firmly, emphasising he would not compromise the interests of farmers, dairy farmers, and fishermen, even at a cost. During his Independence Day speech on August 15, Modi reaffirmed his commitment to protecting India’s agricultural community, declaring he would stand resolutely against any move harming them.&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-trump-imposed-tariffs-on-india-citing-russian-oil-purchase-press-secretary-leavitt-reveals-real-reason-1755664123235">Why Trump imposed tariffs on India citing Russian oil purchase? Press Secretary Leavitt reveals REAL reason</a>&nbsp;

US Treasury Secretary Bessent defended tariffs on India, citing India’s rise in Russian oil imports from under 1 per cent to 42 per cent as profiteering, unlike China’s modest increase. This comes after White House trade adviser Peter Navarro slammed India on the same issue

United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has defended US action against India and explained why US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on New Delhi and not Beijing, despite China doing trade with Russia. In an interview, Bessent said that China’s increase in Russian oil imports from 13 per cent to 16 per cent is modest and reflects diversification, while India’s rise from less than 1 per cent to about 42 per cent is seen as profiteering. Bessent criticised India for making $16 billion in excess profits by buying cheap Russian oil and reselling it during the war, calling this practice the "Indian arbitrage" and labelling it unacceptable. His response came a day after White House trade adviser Peter Navarro doubled down on his attack on New Delhi for purchasing Russian oil and has criticised New Delhi for cosying up to China and Russia. Read More | Trump says Ukraine peace deal would get him to HEAVEN- yes, you read it right “China importing Russian oil is sub-optimal. But if you go back and look, before the 2022 invasion, 13% of China’s oil was already coming from Russia and now it’s 16%. So China has a diversified input of their oil. If you go back and look back, India had less than 1% of their oil (coming from Russia) and now it’s up to, I believe, 42%. So India is just profiteering,” Bessent said. Earlier on Wednesday, Navarro also claimed that India's crude oil imports from Russia after 2022 was not for meeting domestic consumption and that Indian refiners for “profiteering” by purchasing Russian discounted oil and exporting the processed petroleum products to Europe, Africa and Asia. Meanwhile, Bessent noted that the current situation with China is stable, as the two largest economies have recently agreed to extend a pause in their ongoing trade conflict over tariffs. https://www.wionews.com/videos/breaking-india-china-agree-on-new-steps-for-boundary-talks-in-a-boost-to-bilateral-ties-wion-1755629027363/embed Read More | Trump says 'better' if Zelensky-Putin talks happen one-on-one, without him — but will he crash the meeting? Trump's trade war and India's response On July 31, President Trump imposed modified tariffs, including a 25% tariff on India, citing a national emergency. This followed a pause on earlier tariffs, which allowed countries 90 days to negotiate trade deals with the US. Trump added another 25% tariff on India specifically for buying Russian oil and warned other nations against similar actions. In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated on August 4 that its energy imports are essential to ensure affordable prices amid global market conditions. The ministry criticised other countries for trading with Russia while unfairly targeting India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded firmly, emphasising he would not compromise the interests of farmers, dairy farmers, and fishermen, even at a cost. During his Independence Day speech on August 15, Modi reaffirmed his commitment to protecting India’s agricultural community, declaring he would stand resolutely against any move harming them. Read More | Why Trump imposed tariffs on India citing Russian oil purchase? Press Secretary Leavitt reveals REAL reason

US Treasury Secretary Bessent defended tariffs on India, citing India’s rise in Russian oil imports from under 1 per cent to 42 per cent as profiteering, unlike China’s modest increase. This comes after White House trade adviser Peter Navarro slammed India on the same issue

Why US imposed tariffs on India and not China? Trump's Treasury Secretary explains

Amid back-to-back meetings of United States President Donald Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin and European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the White House shared an image of the US President showing his MAGA hats to world leaders. The image went viral on social media, with Trump supporters praising him for showing strength in front of leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and his critics claiming that it is a subtle message to the world that Trump might not leave the White House. At a summit largely focused on the war in Ukraine, Trump unexpectedly turned the spotlight onto himself by unveiling a collection of slogan-bearing hats to European leaders. While Trump has yet not been able to strike a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war that he claimed he would end in two days, his photo-op sends a deeper political message to his base in the US and the leaders of the world.&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-otherwise-i-don-t-care-trump-says-good-relationship-with-putin-only-matters-if-it-ends-ukraine-war-us-president-trump-zelensky-meeting-1755619698630">Trump says 'good relationship' with Putin only matters if it ends Ukraine war</a><h2>What message did Trump want to give world leaders by showing off his hats?</h2>Critics commented that the gesture, though seemingly lighthearted, carried deeper political undertones. The caps bore phrases such as “4 More Years,” “Trump 2028,” and “Trump Was Right About Everything” and “Gulf of America”. For Trump, who has long used the red MAGA hat as a signature symbol of his movement, these new versions were not mere accessories but statements of intent in front of the world leaders, critics claimed. By showcasing them in such a setting, Trump seems to have accomplished several goals. He reinforced his personal brand, ensured he dominated the stage, and created a moment where the spotlight shifted to him and his ambitions and not the diplomatic discussions. More importantly, the move was aimed at an audience beyond the summit room—his supporters back in the United States. The images resonate with his base, energising them with signals of strength and continuity.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/zelensky-says-he-is-ready-to-hold-elections-lays-out-conditions-for-fresh-polls-wion-1755636242301/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/zelensky-says-he-is-ready-to-hold-elections-lays-out-conditions-for-fresh-polls-wion-1755636242301/embed</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Almost as if Trump is seeding the idea. <a href="https://t.co/eFhIFC1npF">https://t.co/eFhIFC1npF</a> Trump is making it a point to show off his “4 more years” and “Trump 2028” hats to every world leader that visits the White House. <a href="https://t.co/T1OB5KPnvQ">pic.twitter.com/T1OB5KPnvQ</a>&mdash; Nancy Chester (@AmethystNancy) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmethystNancy/status/1957866464859549980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Republican president has time and again expressed his desire to run for the presidency for the third time, even suggesting methods to achieve it. In an interview in April, he agreed that his Vice President, JD Vance, can run for the Presidency and give up the post after the elections to pave the way for him. He also suggested that his legal team can find ways to interpret the 22nd Amendment. The US Constitution under the 22nd Amendment bars any individual from running for the presidency for the third time. More recently, Trump changed his stance on running for the presidency for the third time and hinted at Vance and Marco Rubio's team for 2028. However, the deliberate step by the White House to share a photo of Trump showing MAGA hats to world leaders with ‘Trump 2028’ visible at the top, reignited conversations around Trump's wish to be the president for the third time.&nbsp;

At a Ukraine-focused summit, Trump drew attention by displaying hats with slogans like “4 More Years” and “Trump 2028” to world leaders. Critics say it was a strategic move to shift focus to his political ambitions and send a message of strength to his supporters back home.

Amid back-to-back meetings of United States President Donald Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin and European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the White House shared an image of the US President showing his MAGA hats to world leaders. The image went viral on social media, with Trump supporters praising him for showing strength in front of leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and his critics claiming that it is a subtle message to the world that Trump might not leave the White House. At a summit largely focused on the war in Ukraine, Trump unexpectedly turned the spotlight onto himself by unveiling a collection of slogan-bearing hats to European leaders. While Trump has yet not been able to strike a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war that he claimed he would end in two days, his photo-op sends a deeper political message to his base in the US and the leaders of the world. Read More | Trump says 'good relationship' with Putin only matters if it ends Ukraine war What message did Trump want to give world leaders by showing off his hats? Critics commented that the gesture, though seemingly lighthearted, carried deeper political undertones. The caps bore phrases such as “4 More Years,” “Trump 2028,” and “Trump Was Right About Everything” and “Gulf of America”. For Trump, who has long used the red MAGA hat as a signature symbol of his movement, these new versions were not mere accessories but statements of intent in front of the world leaders, critics claimed. By showcasing them in such a setting, Trump seems to have accomplished several goals. He reinforced his personal brand, ensured he dominated the stage, and created a moment where the spotlight shifted to him and his ambitions and not the diplomatic discussions. More importantly, the move was aimed at an audience beyond the summit room—his supporters back in the United States. The images resonate with his base, energising them with signals of strength and continuity. https://www.wionews.com/videos/zelensky-says-he-is-ready-to-hold-elections-lays-out-conditions-for-fresh-polls-wion-1755636242301/embed

At a Ukraine-focused summit, Trump drew attention by displaying hats with slogans like “4 More Years” and “Trump 2028” to world leaders. Critics say it was a strategic move to shift focus to his political ambitions and send a message of strength to his supporters back home.

Trump shows 'Trump 2028' hats to European leaders amid Russia-Ukraine war discussion: What message was he sending

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Aug 19) suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin should hold a direct meeting without his involvement. Speaking during an appearance on "The Mark Levin Show" on Tuesday evening, he said that he had a "very successful meeting" with President Zelensky and that he thinks "it would be better if they met without me, just to see — I want to see what goes on." "You know, they had a hard relationship very bad, very bad relationship," he noted, adding that he would step in if needed.<h2>Will Trump be part of the Zelensky-Putin meeting?</h2>Trump proposed that the presidents of the two enemy nations should have the much-anticipated peace talks one on one, without him. However, he commented that if required, "and it probably would be", he would step in. “And now we'll see how they do. And if necessary — and it probably would be — but if necessary, I'll go, and I'll probably be able to get it closed. I just want to see what happens at the meeting. So they're in the process of setting it up, and we're going to see what happens.”This comes as Trump, in a Fox News interview, revealed that he wanted to bring peace between Ukraine and Russia so that he could "get to heaven".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/volodymyr-zelensky-a-dictator-or-popular-war-president-ukrainian-prez-says-elections-impossible-during-war-but-could-he-win-if-held-1755564255636">Zelensky, a 'dictator' or popular war president? Ukrainian Prez tells Trump elections impossible during war — but could he win if held?</a><h2>Preparation for Putin-Zelensky meeting underway</h2>White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, meanwhile, has confirmed that preparations for a potential Zelensky-Putin meeting are underway, with "many options" for a location being explored. Multiple European countries have offered to host the talks. Switzerland and Austria said they would allow Putin to attend discussions despite the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant. French President Emmanuel Macron also floated the idea of holding a peace summit in a neutral European country, possibly Switzerland.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-promises-zelensky-security-guarantees-but-will-ukraine-be-forced-into-land-concessions-here-s-what-was-said-during-vital-washington-meet-1755568835632">Trump promises Zelensky security guarantees, but will Ukraine be forced into land concessions? Here's what was said during vital Washington meet</a>Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated his willingness to meet Zelensky on a phone call with Trump. Talking to Fox News, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Putin telling Trump that he would agree to sit down with Zelensky was "a big deal".He stated that "I mean, I’m not saying they’re going to leave that room best friends. I’m not saying they’re going to leave that room with a peace deal. But I think the fact that people are now talking to each other – this wasn’t happening for three and a half years. This was a stalemated war of death and destruction."<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/zelensky-trump-meet-behind-the-scenes-and-smiles-at-the-white-house-1755626325532/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/zelensky-trump-meet-behind-the-scenes-and-smiles-at-the-white-house-1755626325532/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trump said Ukraine’s Zelensky and Russia’s Putin should meet one-on-one without him, though he’s ready to step in “if necessary”. The White House confirmed preparations are underway, with multiple European nations offering to host. 

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Aug 19) suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin should hold a direct meeting without his involvement. Speaking during an appearance on "The Mark Levin Show" on Tuesday evening, he said that he had a "very successful meeting" with President Zelensky and that he thinks "it would be better if they met without me, just to see — I want to see what goes on." "You know, they had a hard relationship very bad, very bad relationship," he noted, adding that he would step in if needed. Will Trump be part of the Zelensky-Putin meeting? Trump proposed that the presidents of the two enemy nations should have the much-anticipated peace talks one on one, without him. However, he commented that if required, "and it probably would be", he would step in. “And now we'll see how they do. And if necessary — and it probably would be — but if necessary, I'll go, and I'll probably be able to get it closed. I just want to see what happens at the meeting. So they're in the process of setting it up, and we're going to see what happens.” This comes as Trump, in a Fox News interview, revealed that he wanted to bring peace between Ukraine and Russia so that he could "get to heaven". Also read | Zelensky, a 'dictator' or popular war president? Ukrainian Prez tells Trump elections impossible during war — but could he win if held? Preparation for Putin-Zelensky meeting underway White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, meanwhile, has confirmed that preparations for a potential Zelensky-Putin meeting are underway, with "many options" for a location being explored. Multiple European countries have offered to host the talks. Switzerland and Austria said they would allow Putin to attend discussions despite the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant. French President Emmanuel Macron also floated the idea of holding a peace summit in a neutral European country, possibly Switzerland. Also read | Trump promises Zelensky security guarantees, but will Ukraine be forced into land concessions? Here's what was said during vital Washington meet Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated his willingness to meet Zelensky on a phone call with Trump. Talking to Fox News, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Putin telling Trump that he would agree to sit down with Zelensky was "a big deal". He stated that "I mean, I’m not saying they’re going to leave that room best friends. I’m not saying they’re going to leave that room with a peace deal. But I think the fact that people are now talking to each other – this wasn’t happening for three and a half years. This was a stalemated war of death and destruction." https://www.wionews.com/videos/zelensky-trump-meet-behind-the-scenes-and-smiles-at-the-white-house-1755626325532/embed

Trump said Ukraine’s Zelensky and Russia’s Putin should meet one-on-one without him, though he’s ready to step in “if necessary”. The White House confirmed preparations are underway, with multiple European nations offering to host.&nbsp;

Trump says 'better' if Zelensky-Putin talks happen one-on-one, without him — but will he crash the meeting?

The White House officially made an account on the social media platform TikTok on August 19. The Trump administration is all set to take advantage of the 150 million US users to spread the messages of the American president. Trump has always praised the app for how it helped him gain popularity among young voters when he defeated Democrat Kamala Harris in the November 2024 presidential election. “The Trump administration is committed to communicating the historic successes President Trump has delivered to the American people with as many audiences and platforms as possible," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said as the site went live."President Trump’s message dominated TikTok during his presidential campaign, and we’re excited to build upon those successes and communicate in a way no other administration has before,” she said.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-doesn-t-have-courage-to-meet-zelensky-german-chancellor-says-here-s-what-russian-president-says-1755558363160">Putin doesn't have 'courage' to meet Zelensky? German Chancellor says. Here's what Russian president says</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">👀👀👀<a href="https://t.co/zwDqYQR3PP">https://t.co/zwDqYQR3PP</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1957926495923347724?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, a White House official told Reuters that the account under the name @whitehouse, began operation on Tuesday evening, with the aim of communicating the president's policies.&nbsp;&nbsp;This came after a wave of panic in June when Trump announced the app will be blocked in the US after June 19.&nbsp;"The president has said he’s willing to (announce another extension) if it has to happen,” a government official familiar with Trump’s thinking told On The Money of The Post on Tuesday (June 3). The official further said that China is using TikTok as a “bargaining chip,” noting, “The Chinese just want to hold this up as leverage in the trade talks.”&nbsp;"It’ll be protected. It’ll be very strongly protected. But if it needs an extension, I would be willing to give it an extension,” Trump had told NBC News while agreeing that he has a “little sweet spot” for TikTok in his heart.

The White House officially made an account on the social media platform TikTok on August 19. The Trump administration is all set to take advantage of the 150 million US users to spread the messages of the American president.

The White House officially made an account on the social media platform TikTok on August 19. The Trump administration is all set to take advantage of the 150 million US users to spread the messages of the American president. Trump has always praised the app for how it helped him gain popularity among young voters when he defeated Democrat Kamala Harris in the November 2024 presidential election. “The Trump administration is committed to communicating the historic successes President Trump has delivered to the American people with as many audiences and platforms as possible," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said as the site went live. "President Trump’s message dominated TikTok during his presidential campaign, and we’re excited to build upon those successes and communicate in a way no other administration has before,” she said. Also read: Putin doesn't have 'courage' to meet Zelensky? German Chancellor says. Here's what Russian president says

The White House officially made an account on the social media platform TikTok on August 19. The Trump administration is all set to take advantage of the 150 million US users to spread the messages of the American president.

White House is now on TikTok? How will Trump leverage the 150mn US users

Two bank executives, who worked during the presidential period of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, have made one of the big revelations of their terms in the White House. The bank officials, on the condition of anonymity, talked to Fox News and claimed that both Obama and Biden pressured them to deny services to conservatives like Donald Trump. The bombshell revelation came after the current American president's expected executive order to outlaw debanking. "Those pressures were very, very real. When your regulator gives you a suggestion, it’s not a suggestion; it’s an order. The political stuff is very real, those pressures are real," a senior banking executive told the American news channel.&nbsp;The officials said that the regulators under the Obama and Biden administration exploited the federal laws to fulfill their political objectives. One of the executives claimed that banks were pressured to deny services to certain industries as part of Operation Choke Point and Operation Choke Point 2.0.&nbsp;"When there’s ambiguity in the law, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and for a long time the beholder was the Obama and Biden administration," the official said.&nbsp;Operation Coke Point was a task force whose aim was to "choke out" legal companies disfavored by the Obama administration. It worked with bank regulators to label certain industries, including firearms sales, as "high risk."&nbsp;Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/brahmaputra-dam-terrorism-and-taiwan-here-s-what-chinese-fm-wang-yi-s-discussed-during-his-visit-to-india-5-points-pm-narendra-modi-jaishankar-1755616731606"> Brahmaputra dam, terrorism and Taiwan: Here's what Chinese FM Wang Yi discussed during his visit to India | 5 points</a>&nbsp;Donald Trump ended the force in 2017 during his first term in theWhite House. But, a House Financial Services Committee accused last week that Joe Biden had rebooted the initiative and targeted crypto firms for debanking as part of "Operation Choke Point 2.0."<h2>Melania was targeted as well?</h2>First lady Melania Trump wrote in her memoir that she and her son Barron were debanked, as well. "I was shocked and dismayed to learn that my long‑time bank decided to terminate my account and deny my son the opportunity to open a new one.… This decision appeared to be rooted in political discrimination, raising serious concerns about civil rights violations," Melania wrote.<h2>'Brian was kissing my a** when I was president'</h2>Talking at an interview with the CNBC on Tuesday (August 5), the American president gave his own example, saying he had "many accounts" loaded with cash, but the banks did not take him as a customer.&nbsp;A journalist questioned Trump, "The Wall Street Journal is reporting that you're preparing an order to punish banks that discriminate against conservatives, including potentially the Bank of America ... Can you tell us about that executive order, what's in that?"&nbsp;The US president responded, saying, "Well, they did discriminate. I had JP Morgan Chase, and I had hundreds of millions of dollars in cash. I can see they want to do something bad if you don't have any money; they took people out. But now I'll give you an amazing example. I had hundreds of millions, I had many, many accounts, loaded up with cash, &nbsp;and they told me, 'I'm sorry, sir. We can't have you. You have 20 days to get out.' I said you gotta be kidding. I have been with you for 35-40 years."&nbsp;"I was never in this situation before. I never had anything like it," he added. He continued saying, "I call up Bank of America routinely and I speak to him, I speak to couple of people, and they had zero interest ... Brian (CEO of the bank) was kissing my a** when I was president and when I called him after I was president, to deposit, a billion dollars plus and a lot of other things ... he said 'we can't do it, no' ... and that's because the banks discriminated against me very badly, and I was very good to the banks," Trump added.&nbsp;What is debanking?&nbsp;Debanking is a practice under which banks either close the accounts and deny their services to individuals or businesses, often with no explanation. It was first introduced in the US under federal anti-money laundering laws and regulations. &nbsp;

As per two unnamed bank executives, Barack Obamaba and Joe Biden exploited the deferred laws to debank conservatives like Donald Trump to attain their political objectives. 

Two bank executives, who worked during the presidential period of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, have made one of the big revelations of their terms in the White House. The bank officials, on the condition of anonymity, talked to Fox News and claimed that both Obama and Biden pressured them to deny services to conservatives like Donald Trump. The bombshell revelation came after the current American president's expected executive order to outlaw debanking. "Those pressures were very, very real. When your regulator gives you a suggestion, it’s not a suggestion; it’s an order. The political stuff is very real, those pressures are real," a senior banking executive told the American news channel. The officials said that the regulators under the Obama and Biden administration exploited the federal laws to fulfill their political objectives. One of the executives claimed that banks were pressured to deny services to certain industries as part of Operation Choke Point and Operation Choke Point 2.0. "When there’s ambiguity in the law, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and for a long time the beholder was the Obama and Biden administration," the official said. Operation Coke Point was a task force whose aim was to "choke out" legal companies disfavored by the Obama administration. It worked with bank regulators to label certain industries, including firearms sales, as "high risk." Also read: Brahmaputra dam, terrorism and Taiwan: Here's what Chinese FM Wang Yi discussed during his visit to India | 5 points Donald Trump ended the force in 2017 during his first term in theWhite House. But, a House Financial Services Committee accused last week that Joe Biden had rebooted the initiative and targeted crypto firms for debanking as part of "Operation Choke Point 2.0." Melania was targeted as well? First lady Melania Trump wrote in her memoir that she and her son Barron were debanked, as well. "I was shocked and dismayed to learn that my long‑time bank decided to terminate my account and deny my son the opportunity to open a new one.… This decision appeared to be rooted in political discrimination, raising serious concerns about civil rights violations," Melania wrote. 'Brian was kissing my a** when I was president' Talking at an interview with the CNBC on Tuesday (August 5), the American president gave his own example, saying he had "many accounts" loaded with cash, but the banks did not take him as a customer. A journalist questioned Trump, "The Wall Street Journal is reporting that you're preparing an order to punish banks that discriminate against conservatives, including potentially the Bank of America ... Can you tell us about that executive order, what's in that?" The US president responded, saying, "Well, they did discriminate. I had JP Morgan Chase, and I had hundreds of millions of dollars in cash. I can see they want to do something bad if you don't have any money; they took people out. But now I'll give you an amazing example. I had hundreds of millions, I had many, many accounts, loaded up with cash, and they told me, 'I'm sorry, sir. We can't have you. You have 20 days to get out.' I said you gotta be kidding. I have been with you for 35-40 years." "I was never in this situation before. I never had anything like it," he added. He continued saying, "I call up Bank of America routinely and I speak to him, I speak to couple of people, and they had zero interest ... Brian (CEO of the bank) was kissing my a** when I was president and when I called him after I was president, to deposit, a billion dollars plus and a lot of other things ... he said 'we can't do it, no' ... and that's because the banks discriminated against me very badly, and I was very good to the banks," Trump added. What is debanking? Debanking is a practice under which banks either close the accounts and deny their services to individuals or businesses, often with no explanation. It was first introduced in the US under federal anti-money laundering laws and regulations.

As per two unnamed bank executives, Barack Obamaba and Joe Biden exploited the deferred laws to debank conservatives like Donald Trump to attain their political objectives.

'It’s not a suggestion, it’s an order': Obama, Biden pressured banks to deny services to Trump?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the White House on Monday wearing an all-black suit without a tie, a change of style after months of criticism over his usual military-inspired outfits. Trump greeted him warmly, placing an arm around his shoulder and praising the choice of clothing. “I can’t believe it, I love it,” the US president said as they entered the Oval Office.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-zelensky-meet-white-house-asked-ukrainian-officials-what-zelensky-attire-for-his-meeting-with-trump-here-s-what-he-ll-wear-1755532243563">Suit or no suit? White House asked Ukrainian officials what will be Zelensky's attire for his meeting with Trump - Here’s what he’ll wear</a><h2>Trump and Zelensky share a joke about the outfit</h2>As reporters called out questions, one told Zelensky, “You look fabulous in that suit!” Trump quickly replied, “I said the same thing!” drawing laughs before the two leaders headed inside. Zelensky’s outfit, the same black jacket he wore at a NATO summit in the Netherlands in June, included a black shirt, but still no tie.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-vladimir-putin-volodymyr-zelensky-trump-zelensky-meeting-today-1755517878848">Is 'western bullying' real reason for Ukraine war? Putin reveals 'root causes' behind Moscow's invasion of Kyiv</a><h2>White House checked ahead of time</h2>According to US officials, the White House had asked whether Zelensky would wear a suit for the high-profile meeting with Trump and top European leaders. One Trump advisor joked to Axios that “it would be a good sign for peace” if Zelensky suited up for the occasion, but added they never expected him to wear a tie.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-planning-attack-on-ukraine-during-trump-zelensky-meeting-air-raid-sirens-sound-in-kyiv-as-russian-mig-31-takes-off-1755535410816">Russia planning attack on Ukraine during Trump-Zelensky meeting? Air raid sirens sound in Kyiv as Russian MiG-31 takes off</a><h2>Past tensions over Zelensky’s attire</h2>This latest appearance comes months after a tense February meeting between the two men, when Trump openly mocked the Ukrainian leader’s military dress. At the time, he told reporters, “he’s all dressed up today.” That visit spiralled into a shouting match, though Trump’s irritation went far beyond Zelensky’s fashion choices.

Zelensky arrived at the White House in a black suit without a tie, shifting from his usual military look. Trump praised his attire, warmly welcoming him into the Oval Office.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the White House on Monday wearing an all-black suit without a tie, a change of style after months of criticism over his usual military-inspired outfits. Trump greeted him warmly, placing an arm around his shoulder and praising the choice of clothing. “I can’t believe it, I love it,” the US president said as they entered the Oval Office. Also read: Suit or no suit? White House asked Ukrainian officials what will be Zelensky's attire for his meeting with Trump - Here’s what he’ll wear Trump and Zelensky share a joke about the outfit As reporters called out questions, one told Zelensky, “You look fabulous in that suit!” Trump quickly replied, “I said the same thing!” drawing laughs before the two leaders headed inside. Zelensky’s outfit, the same black jacket he wore at a NATO summit in the Netherlands in June, included a black shirt, but still no tie. Also read: Is 'western bullying' real reason for Ukraine war? Putin reveals 'root causes' behind Moscow's invasion of Kyiv White House checked ahead of time According to US officials, the White House had asked whether Zelensky would wear a suit for the high-profile meeting with Trump and top European leaders. One Trump advisor joked to Axios that “it would be a good sign for peace” if Zelensky suited up for the occasion, but added they never expected him to wear a tie. Also read: Russia planning attack on Ukraine during Trump-Zelensky meeting? Air raid sirens sound in Kyiv as Russian MiG-31 takes off Past tensions over Zelensky’s attire This latest appearance comes months after a tense February meeting between the two men, when Trump openly mocked the Ukrainian leader’s military dress. At the time, he told reporters, “he’s all dressed up today.” That visit spiralled into a shouting match, though Trump’s irritation went far beyond Zelensky’s fashion choices.

Zelensky arrived at the White House in a black suit without a tie, shifting from his usual military look. Trump praised his attire, warmly welcoming him into the Oval Office.

'I can’t believe it, I love it': Trump reacts as Zelensky ditches military gear for all-black suit

President Donald Trump said on Monday (August 18) he will sign an executive order aimed at removing mail-in ballots and voting machines ahead of next year’s midterm elections. He claimed he would lead “a movement” to restore what he described as fairness in American voting.<h2>Attacking mail-in ballots and machines</h2>“I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly Inaccurate, Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES, which cost Ten Times more than accurate and sophisticated Watermark Paper, which is faster, and leaves NO DOUBT, at the end of the evening, as to who WON, and who LOST, the Election,” Trump wrote in a social media post. Trump has long argued that mail-in ballots and voting machines are vulnerable to election fraud, although there is no evidence of it happening in the US.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-did-the-unthinkable-trump-blames-biden-for-bringing-china-and-russia-close-1755514013533">'Did the unthinkable': Trump blames Biden for bringing China and Russia close</a><h2>Claiming America is alone on mail-in voting</h2>The president argued that the United States is the only country still using mail-in voting. “All others gave it up because of the MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD ENCOUNTERED. WE WILL BEGIN THIS EFFORT, WHICH WILL BE STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY CHEAT AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, by signing an EXECUTIVE ORDER to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections,” he added.<h2>Why Democrats support mail-in balloting?</h2>Mail-in balloting widens access to voting to people who struggle or are unable to vote in person, such as the elderly and disabled. Democrats argue that ending it would sideline a large number of voters.<h2>States versus federal power</h2>Trump also insisted that state governments cannot act independently on elections. “Remember, the States are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do,” he wrote, linking Democrats to what he called “HORRIBLE Radical Left policies.”An executive order like that would likely face a legal challenge from states, since the Constitution gives them the power to run federal elections. However, Congress can still set rules through laws.<h2>Trump pledges to fight</h2>“I, AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WILL FIGHT LIKE HELL TO BRING HONESTY AND INTEGRITY BACK TO OUR ELECTIONS. THE MAIL-IN BALLOT HOAX, USING VOTING MACHINES THAT ARE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISASTER, MUST END, NOW!!! REMEMBER, WITHOUT FAIR AND HONEST ELECTIONS, AND STRONG AND POWERFUL BORDERS, YOU DON’T HAVE EVEN A SEMBLANCE OF A COUNTRY,” he added.

Donald Trump announced plans to sign an executive order banning mail-in ballots and voting machines, claiming they’re unreliable, despite no evidence of widespread election fraud in the US.

President Donald Trump said on Monday (August 18) he will sign an executive order aimed at removing mail-in ballots and voting machines ahead of next year’s midterm elections. He claimed he would lead “a movement” to restore what he described as fairness in American voting. Attacking mail-in ballots and machines “I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly Inaccurate, Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES, which cost Ten Times more than accurate and sophisticated Watermark Paper, which is faster, and leaves NO DOUBT, at the end of the evening, as to who WON, and who LOST, the Election,” Trump wrote in a social media post. Trump has long argued that mail-in ballots and voting machines are vulnerable to election fraud, although there is no evidence of it happening in the US. Also read: 'Did the unthinkable': Trump blames Biden for bringing China and Russia close Claiming America is alone on mail-in voting The president argued that the United States is the only country still using mail-in voting. “All others gave it up because of the MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD ENCOUNTERED. WE WILL BEGIN THIS EFFORT, WHICH WILL BE STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY CHEAT AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, by signing an EXECUTIVE ORDER to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections,” he added. Why Democrats support mail-in balloting? Mail-in balloting widens access to voting to people who struggle or are unable to vote in person, such as the elderly and disabled. Democrats argue that ending it would sideline a large number of voters. States versus federal power Trump also insisted that state governments cannot act independently on elections. “Remember, the States are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do,” he wrote, linking Democrats to what he called “HORRIBLE Radical Left policies.” An executive order like that would likely face a legal challenge from states, since the Constitution gives them the power to run federal elections. However, Congress can still set rules through laws. Trump pledges to fight “I, AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WILL FIGHT LIKE HELL TO BRING HONESTY AND INTEGRITY BACK TO OUR ELECTIONS. THE MAIL-IN BALLOT HOAX, USING VOTING MACHINES THAT ARE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISASTER, MUST END, NOW!!! REMEMBER, WITHOUT FAIR AND HONEST ELECTIONS, AND STRONG AND POWERFUL BORDERS, YOU DON’T HAVE EVEN A SEMBLANCE OF A COUNTRY,” he added.

Donald Trump announced plans to sign an executive order banning mail-in ballots and voting machines, claiming they’re unreliable, despite no evidence of widespread election fraud in the US.

'TOTAL DISASTER': Trump to revolutionise voting? US president says he will ‘get rid of’ mail-in ballots, controversial voting machines

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet US President Donald Trump on Monday (August 18), as the two leaders aim to discuss the Russia-Ukraine peace and ceasefire deal to put an end to the killings of thousands of people. Zelensky will be accompanied by other European leaders to the White House.&nbsp;This comes after Trump held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week. The two leaders discussed the Russia-Ukraine war; however, no ceasefire or peace deal was announced following their meeting.&nbsp;On late Sunday night, the Ukrainian president arrived in Washington as he announced on his social media X. He wrote, "Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS &nbsp;for the invitation. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting."&nbsp;Later, the White House released the schedule for the Trump-Zelensky meeting at the White House, along with the European leaders.<h2>Schedule</h2>12:00 pm ET (9:30 pm IST) - EU leaders to arriveThe European leaders are expected to arrive at the White House at the South Portico, ahead of the high-stakes meeting.&nbsp;1:00 pm ET (10:30 pm IST) - Trump to greet Zelensky The US president will greet his Ukrainian counterpart after the EU leaders' arrival. Soon after that, they will head for the meeting in the Oval Office.&nbsp;2:15 pm ET (11:45 pm IST) - Trump to greet European leaders&nbsp; Trump will greet other European leaders in the State Dining Room an hour after he began his Oval Office meeting with Zelensky.&nbsp;2:30 pm ET (12 am IST) - Family photo 15 minutes after the greetings, the US president and European leaders will take a family photo together in the Cross Hall.&nbsp;3:00 pm ET (12:15 am IST) - Trump, Zelensky, EU leaders meeting Trump, Zelensky, and other European leaders will then head into their own high-stakes meeting in the East Room of the White House.&nbsp;<h2>Who all are attending the Trump-Zelensky meet?</h2><ul><li>UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer</li><li>Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni</li><li>French President Emmanuel Macron</li><li>German Chancellor Friedrich Merz</li><li>Finnish President Alexander Stubb</li><li>European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen&nbsp;</li><li>Nato secretary general Mark Rutte</li></ul><h2>Agenda for meeting</h2>Laying out the goal for the White House meeting, &nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said that the goal is to recall what unites Ukraine, Europe, and the United States, pointing to Russia.&nbsp;"There can be no territorial discussions about Ukraine without Ukrainian leaders," the French president stressed.He added that if partners are weak with Russia, they create preconditions for future conflicts.&nbsp;In order to have a “lasting peace deal for Ukraine, Ukraine needs a strong army", he said, adding that European allies want "Ukraine’s territorial integrity to be respected” and that “Ukraine must be represented in any talks on Ukraine’s future.”&nbsp;Macron stressed that the goal for talks is to " present a united front between Ukraine and its European allies", further warning that “if we show weakness today in front of Russia, we are laying the ground for future conflict.”

On late Sunday night, the Ukrainian president arrived in Washington as he announced on his social media X. Later, the White House released the schedule for the Trump-Zelensky meeting at the White House.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet US President Donald Trump on Monday (August 18), as the two leaders aim to discuss the Russia-Ukraine peace and ceasefire deal to put an end to the killings of thousands of people. Zelensky will be accompanied by other European leaders to the White House. This comes after Trump held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week. The two leaders discussed the Russia-Ukraine war; however, no ceasefire or peace deal was announced following their meeting. On late Sunday night, the Ukrainian president arrived in Washington as he announced on his social media X. He wrote, "Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS for the invitation. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting." Later, the White House released the schedule for the Trump-Zelensky meeting at the White House, along with the European leaders. Schedule 12:00 pm ET (9:30 pm IST) - EU leaders to arrive The European leaders are expected to arrive at the White House at the South Portico, ahead of the high-stakes meeting. 1:00 pm ET (10:30 pm IST) - Trump to greet Zelensky The US president will greet his Ukrainian counterpart after the EU leaders' arrival. Soon after that, they will head for the meeting in the Oval Office. 2:15 pm ET (11:45 pm IST) - Trump to greet European leaders Trump will greet other European leaders in the State Dining Room an hour after he began his Oval Office meeting with Zelensky. 2:30 pm ET (12 am IST) - Family photo 15 minutes after the greetings, the US president and European leaders will take a family photo together in the Cross Hall. 3:00 pm ET (12:15 am IST) - Trump, Zelensky, EU leaders meeting Trump, Zelensky, and other European leaders will then head into their own high-stakes meeting in the East Room of the White House. Who all are attending the Trump-Zelensky meet? UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni French President Emmanuel Macron German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Finnish President Alexander Stubb European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Nato secretary general Mark Rutte Agenda for meeting Laying out the goal for the White House meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said that the goal is to recall what unites Ukraine, Europe, and the United States, pointing to Russia. "There can be no territorial discussions about Ukraine without Ukrainian leaders," the French president stressed. He added that if partners are weak with Russia, they create preconditions for future conflicts. In order to have a “lasting peace deal for Ukraine, Ukraine needs a strong army", he said, adding 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 stressed that the goal for talks is to " present a united front between Ukraine and its European allies", further warning that “if we show weakness today in front of Russia, we are laying the ground for future conflict.”

On late Sunday night, the Ukrainian president arrived in Washington as he announced on his social media X. Later, the White House released the schedule for the Trump-Zelensky meeting at the White House.

Trump-Zelensky meet: Here's the full schedule and agenda - Who all are attending the high-stakes summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to allow “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine from the United States as part of a potential peace deal during his summit with President Donald Trump, senior envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN. “We agreed to robust security guarantees that I would describe as game-changing,” Witkoff said, likening the arrangement to NATO’s Article 5 protection. He explained that this mechanism would offer Ukraine defence commitments similar to NATO’s collective security clause, without the country formally joining the alliance, a long-standing Russian red line.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-will-the-ukraine-war-end-here-are-the-two-possible-futures-after-trump-putin-summit-1755428286504">How will the Ukraine war end? Here are the two possible futures after Trump-Putin summit</a><h2>How would the security guarantee work?</h2>According to Witkoff, the deal would mean the United States and European partners could provide “Article 5-like language” to deter any future Russian aggression. “Putin has said that a red flag is NATO admission,” Witkoff told CNN. “Assuming that the Ukrainians could agree to that and could live with that… we were able to win the following concession that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection,” he added.Witkoff stressed that it was “the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree” to such a clause. He added that Putin had also accepted the idea of “legislative enshrinement” to guarantee Russia would not invade Ukraine or other European countries again.<h2>What did Putin demand in return?</h2>Despite the breakthrough, Putin reportedly repeated demands for territorial concessions. European officials said Trump told them afterwards that the Russian leader insisted Ukraine hand over the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. In exchange, Putin suggested he would freeze the front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia and pledge not to launch further attacks. He also stuck to his condition that Ukraine scale back its military, abandon NATO ambitions and remain neutral, which he described as addressing the “root causes” of the war.<h2>Why does this matter for a peace deal?</h2>Witkoff said the talks made more progress than previous efforts, with Moscow showing “accommodation more than we’ve seen in the past, certainly more than we saw in the last administration.” “We are intent on trying to hammer out a peace deal that ends the fighting permanently very, very quickly. Quicker than a ceasefire,” he said. “We cut through all kinds of issues that would have to be discussed and agreed to during a ceasefire,” he added. So far, the Kremlin has not publicly responded to the Trump team’s description of the summit.

Putin reportedly agreed to US-backed “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine, similar to NATO’s Article 5, during talks with Trump, offering defence assurances without Ukraine formally joining the alliance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to allow “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine from the United States as part of a potential peace deal during his summit with President Donald Trump, senior envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN. “We agreed to robust security guarantees that I would describe as game-changing,” Witkoff said, likening the arrangement to NATO’s Article 5 protection. He explained that this mechanism would offer Ukraine defence commitments similar to NATO’s collective security clause, without the country formally joining the alliance, a long-standing Russian red line. Also read: How will the Ukraine war end? Here are the two possible futures after Trump-Putin summit How would the security guarantee work? According to Witkoff, the deal would mean the United States and European partners could provide “Article 5-like language” to deter any future Russian aggression. “Putin has said that a red flag is NATO admission,” Witkoff told CNN. “Assuming that the Ukrainians could agree to that and could live with that… we were able to win the following concession that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection,” he added. Witkoff stressed that it was “the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree” to such a clause. He added that Putin had also accepted the idea of “legislative enshrinement” to guarantee Russia would not invade Ukraine or other European countries again. What did Putin demand in return? Despite the breakthrough, Putin reportedly repeated demands for territorial concessions. European officials said Trump told them afterwards that the Russian leader insisted Ukraine hand over the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. In exchange, Putin suggested he would freeze the front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia and pledge not to launch further attacks. He also stuck to his condition that Ukraine scale back its military, abandon NATO ambitions and remain neutral, which he described as addressing the “root causes” of the war. Why does this matter for a peace deal? Witkoff said the talks made more progress than previous efforts, with Moscow showing “accommodation more than we’ve seen in the past, certainly more than we saw in the last administration.” “We are intent on trying to hammer out a peace deal that ends the fighting permanently very, very quickly. Quicker than a ceasefire,” he said. “We cut through all kinds of issues that would have to be discussed and agreed to during a ceasefire,” he added. So far, the Kremlin has not publicly responded to the Trump team’s description of the summit.

Putin reportedly agreed to US-backed “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine, similar to NATO’s Article 5, during talks with Trump, offering defence assurances without Ukraine formally joining the alliance.

Putin agreed to ‘NATO-style’ security guarantees for Ukraine? Top US envoy's 'game-changing' revelation ahead of Trump-Zelensky meet

US President Donald Trump's cryptic post with his four-letter post on Truth Social has sent the internet into a buzz. While writing several posts regarding his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on his platform, Trump wrote the word ‘Bela’ in a post. After writing this word by Trump, it left netizens wondering about the possible meaning of the word written by the president.&nbsp;Currently, there appears to be no direct link between the term 'Bela' and the President of the United States. Hence, it seems a typo was made by the POTUS while sharing multiple posts on the platform. However, a double “l,” the term translates to “beautiful” in Italian (“bella”), but it remains unclear what escalated the post.&nbsp;After internet sleuths got onto the task following Trump's post, a Reddit user said that Trump, or his social media team, might be denoting the word to the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) law in South Africa, which is reportedly controversial.<h3>Netizens draw the typo with infamous “covfefe” tweet</h3>The term also began trending on the social media platform X (Formerly known as Twitter). It also sparked a series of posts on X with a person drawing comparisons to his infamous 2017 “covfefe” tweet. California Gov.&nbsp;The office of Gavin Newsom mocked Donald Trump with jabs at his “tiny hands,” while The Lincoln Project dubbed it the new “covfefe.” Trump critic George Conway also weighed in, calling “bela” a blend of the earlier post, as speculation swirled over its meaning and intent.&nbsp;Meanwhile, before the seemingly incomprehensible word, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED! President DJT”.&nbsp;He also added, “If I got Russia to give up Moscow as part of the Deal, the Fake News, and their PARTNER, the Radical Left Democrats, would say I made a terrible mistake and a very bad deal. That’s why they are the FAKE NEWS! Also, they should talk about the 6 WARS, etc., I JUST STOPPED!!! MAGA.”&nbsp;

Donald Trump's post with a typo on Truth Social set the social media buzz, creating suspense. However, a double “l” in the word translates to “beautiful” in Italian (“bella”), but it remains unclear what escalated the post.

US President Donald Trump's cryptic post with his four-letter post on Truth Social has sent the internet into a buzz. While writing several posts regarding his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on his platform, Trump wrote the word ‘Bela’ in a post. After writing this word by Trump, it left netizens wondering about the possible meaning of the word written by the president. Currently, there appears to be no direct link between the term 'Bela' and the President of the United States. Hence, it seems a typo was made by the POTUS while sharing multiple posts on the platform. However, a double “l,” the term translates to “beautiful” in Italian (“bella”), but it remains unclear what escalated the post. After internet sleuths got onto the task following Trump's post, a Reddit user said that Trump, or his social media team, might be denoting the word to the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) law in South Africa, which is reportedly controversial. Netizens draw the typo with infamous “covfefe” tweet The term also began trending on the social media platform X (Formerly known as Twitter). It also sparked a series of posts on X with a person drawing comparisons to his infamous 2017 “covfefe” tweet. California Gov. The office of Gavin Newsom mocked Donald Trump with jabs at his “tiny hands,” while The Lincoln Project dubbed it the new “covfefe.” Trump critic George Conway also weighed in, calling “bela” a blend of the earlier post, as speculation swirled over its meaning and intent. Meanwhile, before the seemingly incomprehensible word, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED! President DJT”. He also added, “If I got Russia to give up Moscow as part of the Deal, the Fake News, and their PARTNER, the Radical Left Democrats, would say I made a terrible mistake and a very bad deal. That’s why they are the FAKE NEWS! Also, they should talk about the 6 WARS, etc., I JUST STOPPED!!! MAGA.”

Donald Trump's post with a typo on Truth Social set the social media buzz, creating suspense. However, a double “l” in the word translates to “beautiful” in Italian (“bella”), but it remains unclear what escalated the post.

What is 'Bela'? Donald Trump’s mysterious 'covfefe-esque' four-letter post leaves netizens confused

The Russian propaganda has been actively using a new "tactic" to lie about the gains of Ukrainian territory. Ukraine's Intelligence Directorate claimed that they are using this tactic to spread misinformation, staging captures of settlements to create an illusion of success.&nbsp;Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in a post on Telegram, wrote that the Russian propaganda is sending small groups to bypass the position of the Ukrainian defenders.&nbsp;"Russian propaganda is actively using a new tactic to spread disinformation – staged 'captures' of settlements to create the illusion of success at the front," they stated.&nbsp;"To do this, the enemy sends small groups with Russian flags (“twos”) to bypass the positions of the Ukrainian defenders. Some of them manage to infiltrate individual settlements and shoot short videos that supposedly confirm the “capture” of the territory," they added.&nbsp;The GUR further stated that such videos are used for “victorious” reports to the Kremlin leadership and "distributed in the media in order to put pressure on Ukrainian society."&nbsp;They added that earlier, "the enemy" distributed another such video from the village of Andriyivka-Klevtsove.&nbsp;As shown in the video, the fighters of the “Russian Volunteer Corps” as part of the “Timur Special Unit” of the GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and soldiers of the 5th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade, are demonstrating the real state of affairs in the village.&nbsp;"We will remind that a similar group of “standard bearers” in the village of Zeleny Gay was recently liquidated by fighters of the “Brotherhood” unit as part of the “Timur Special Unit” of the GUR," it added.&nbsp;According to analysts, the Russian propaganda might be doing this to prove to Trump that Russia is overrunning Zelensky's forces in the Donetsk region as he battles to negotiate a peace deal with Putin.&nbsp;

Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in a post on Telegram, wrote that the Russian propaganda is sending small groups to bypass the position of the Ukrainian defenders.

The Russian propaganda has been actively using a new "tactic" to lie about the gains of Ukrainian territory. Ukraine's Intelligence Directorate claimed that they are using this tactic to spread misinformation, staging captures of settlements to create an illusion of success. Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in a post on Telegram, wrote that the Russian propaganda is sending small groups to bypass the position of the Ukrainian defenders. "Russian propaganda is actively using a new tactic to spread disinformation – staged 'captures' of settlements to create the illusion of success at the front," they stated. "To do this, the enemy sends small groups with Russian flags (“twos”) to bypass the positions of the Ukrainian defenders. Some of them manage to infiltrate individual settlements and shoot short videos that supposedly confirm the “capture” of the territory," they added. The GUR further stated that such videos are used for “victorious” reports to the Kremlin leadership and "distributed in the media in order to put pressure on Ukrainian society." They added that earlier, "the enemy" distributed another such video from the village of Andriyivka-Klevtsove. As shown in the video, the fighters of the “Russian Volunteer Corps” as part of the “Timur Special Unit” of the GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and soldiers of the 5th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade, are demonstrating the real state of affairs in the village. "We will remind that a similar group of “standard bearers” in the village of Zeleny Gay was recently liquidated by fighters of the “Brotherhood” unit as part of the “Timur Special Unit” of the GUR," it added. According to analysts, the Russian propaganda might be doing this to prove to Trump that Russia is overrunning Zelensky's forces in the Donetsk region as he battles to negotiate a peace deal with Putin.

Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in a post on Telegram, wrote that the Russian propaganda is sending small groups to bypass the position of the Ukrainian defenders.

A tactic to fool Trump? Putin's troops creating illusions of 'staged captures' of Ukrainian territory

U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at “progress” in his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, just days before his upcoming meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday. 


Breaking: Trump Teases 'Progress' In Putin Talks Ahead of Zelensky Meet on Monday

After Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's summit in Alaska, many Russians believe that it could pave the way for the end of fighting in Ukraine, which began with the Russian invasion in February 2022.&nbsp;With the landing of Putin in the United States, the isolation of the Western countries of the Russian leader ended.&nbsp;Russian pensioner Lyudmila said she was glued to the coverage of Vladimir Putin's trip to Alaska on Friday. She said it was impressive&nbsp;and hoped that a deal could end the fighting.&nbsp;Even though no conclusive&nbsp;agreement was reached between the two leaders, she had said they would. She also had high hopes for Trump, the mercurial leader.&nbsp;"I am sure, sure, they will reach an agreement because Trump... is not stupid," Lyudmila said.&nbsp;"He understands our country has greatness and status," she added.&nbsp;Vladimir Putin appeared confident in Alaska and asked Donald Trump to visit Russia.&nbsp;"Next time, in Moscow," he said, exhibiting a rare use of English.&nbsp;Lyudmila and other Muscovites AFP spoke to said they hoped it would happen. "We are waiting for it, we invite you!" she said.&nbsp;Russian television projected the visit as a major diplomatic victory for Moscow.&nbsp;Alexander, a teacher at an aviation institute, said Moscow and Donald Trump can find a common ground on Ukraine. However, the European Union leaders are dead set against the Russian position on Ukraine.&nbsp;Ukraine and the EU leaders fear that Moscow and the US might strike a deal without them at the negotiating table.&nbsp;The 39-year-old said the EU leaders will not change their position. "It will be a little harder with the Europeans," he said, adding that he welcomes dialogue with Donald Trump.&nbsp;Vadim, a 35-year-old agriculture specialist, accused European leaders of being "hysterical" about the summit. He, however, was positive about the US-Russia engagement. "I really want to believe in this," he said.&nbsp;"Everyone wants it," he added.&nbsp;Vitaly Romanov was hopeful for Russia after the meeting.&nbsp;"There is hope that something will go in the better direction, in favour of Russia, of the nation and the people who are fighting, and maybe it will all end," he said.&nbsp;Yelena, a 36-year-old accountant, however, said it was very hard to say if it could bring an end to the hostilities.

After Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's summit in Alaska, many Russians believe that it could pave the way for the end of fighting in Ukraine, which began with the Russian invasion in February 2022.

After Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's summit in Alaska, many Russians believe that it could pave the way for the end of fighting in Ukraine, which began with the Russian invasion in February 2022. With the landing of Putin in the United States, the isolation of the Western countries of the Russian leader ended. Russian pensioner Lyudmila said she was glued to the coverage of Vladimir Putin's trip to Alaska on Friday. She said it was impressive and hoped that a deal could end the fighting. Even though no conclusive agreement was reached between the two leaders, she had said they would. She also had high hopes for Trump, the mercurial leader. "I am sure, sure, they will reach an agreement because Trump... is not stupid," Lyudmila said. "He understands our country has greatness and status," she added. Vladimir Putin appeared confident in Alaska and asked Donald Trump to visit Russia. "Next time, in Moscow," he said, exhibiting a rare use of English. Lyudmila and other Muscovites AFP spoke to said they hoped it would happen. "We are waiting for it, we invite you!" she said. Russian television projected the visit as a major diplomatic victory for Moscow. Alexander, a teacher at an aviation institute, said Moscow and Donald Trump can find a common ground on Ukraine. However, the European Union leaders are dead set against the Russian position on Ukraine. Ukraine and the EU leaders fear that Moscow and the US might strike a deal without them at the negotiating table. The 39-year-old said the EU leaders will not change their position. "It will be a little harder with the Europeans," he said, adding that he welcomes dialogue with Donald Trump. Vadim, a 35-year-old agriculture specialist, accused European leaders of being "hysterical" about the summit. He, however, was positive about the US-Russia engagement. "I really want to believe in this," he said. "Everyone wants it," he added. Vitaly Romanov was hopeful for Russia after the meeting. "There is hope that something will go in the better direction, in favour of Russia, of the nation and the people who are fighting, and maybe it will all end," he said. Yelena, a 36-year-old accountant, however, said it was very hard to say if it could bring an end to the hostilities.

Vladimir Putin appeared confident in Alaska and asked Donald Trump to visit Russia.

'Trump not stupid': What Russians said about his Atlanta talks with Vladimir Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he pressed Donald Trump to toughen sanctions on Russia if Moscow refuses to engage in genuine peace talks or blocks a proposed trilateral summit. “In my conversation with President Trump, I said that sanctions should be strengthened if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia tries to evade an honest end to the war. Sanctions are an effective tool,” Zelensky said. He also insisted that “all issues important to Ukraine must be discussed with Ukraine’s participation, and no issue, particularly territorial ones, can be decided without Ukraine”.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-for-peace-agreement-says-ceasefire-agreement-will-not-end-horrific-russia-ukraine-war-putin-zelensky-1755335547844">Trump says ‘Peace Agreement’, not ceasefire, will end Russia-Ukraine war</a><h2>Zelensky’s conditions for peace</h2>The Ukrainian leader called for an immediate ceasefire on the ground and in the air, the release of prisoners of war, and the return of children taken by Russia.“Killings must stop as soon as possible, the fire must cease both on the battlefield and in the sky, as well as against our port infrastructure,” he said, adding that “all Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians must be released, and the children abducted by Russia must be returned”. Zelensky underlined that security guarantees must be “reliable and long term, with the involvement of both Europe and the US.”<h2>Trump and Putin meet in Alaska</h2>US President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin at an air base in Alaska, but the three-hour talks failed to produce a ceasefire. Trump said instead he would now pursue a broader peace agreement that includes Ukraine. “A great and very successful day in Alaska!” Trump wrote afterwards, saying European leaders backed his proposal for a three-way meeting with Putin and Zelensky.<h2>Europe signals support</h2>European leaders, who had feared being sidelined by the Alaska summit, later held their own discussions and said they supported the idea of a trilateral summit. “We are also ready to work with President Trump and President Zelensky towards a trilateral summit with European support,” they said in a joint statement.They also vowed to keep pressure on Moscow, “As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia. 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.”<h2>What comes next?</h2>Zelensky is set to travel to Washington on Monday for further talks after Trump briefed him on the Alaska meeting. European leaders including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO chief Mark Rutte and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen joined Trump and Zelensky on a post-summit&nbsp;call.

Ukrainian President Zelensky urged Trump to toughen sanctions on Russia if peace talks fail, demanding a ceasefire, POW release, child repatriation, and lasting security guarantees involving Europe and the US.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he pressed Donald Trump to toughen sanctions on Russia if Moscow refuses to engage in genuine peace talks or blocks a proposed trilateral summit. “In my conversation with President Trump, I said that sanctions should be strengthened if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia tries to evade an honest end to the war. Sanctions are an effective tool,” Zelensky said. He also insisted that “all issues important to Ukraine must be discussed with Ukraine’s participation, and no issue, particularly territorial ones, can be decided without Ukraine”. Also read: Trump says ‘Peace Agreement’, not ceasefire, will end Russia-Ukraine war Zelensky’s conditions for peace The Ukrainian leader called for an immediate ceasefire on the ground and in the air, the release of prisoners of war, and the return of children taken by Russia.“Killings must stop as soon as possible, the fire must cease both on the battlefield and in the sky, as well as against our port infrastructure,” he said, adding that “all Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians must be released, and the children abducted by Russia must be returned”. Zelensky underlined that security guarantees must be “reliable and long term, with the involvement of both Europe and the US.” Trump and Putin meet in Alaska US President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin at an air base in Alaska, but the three-hour talks failed to produce a ceasefire. Trump said instead he would now pursue a broader peace agreement that includes Ukraine. “A great and very successful day in Alaska!” Trump wrote afterwards, saying European leaders backed his proposal for a three-way meeting with Putin and Zelensky. Europe signals support European leaders, who had feared being sidelined by the Alaska summit, later held their own discussions and said they supported the idea of a trilateral summit. “We are also ready to work with President Trump and President Zelensky towards a trilateral summit with European support,” they said in a joint statement. They also vowed to keep pressure on Moscow, “As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia. 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.” What comes next? Zelensky is set to travel to Washington on Monday for further talks after Trump briefed him on the Alaska meeting. European leaders including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO chief Mark Rutte and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen joined Trump and Zelensky on a post-summit call.

Ukrainian President Zelensky urged Trump to toughen sanctions on Russia if peace talks fail, demanding a ceasefire, POW release, child repatriation, and lasting security guarantees involving Europe and the US.

'Nothing can be decided without Ukraine': Zelensky tells Trump no peace deal without Kyiv as Europe backs trilateral summit with Putin

The Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended without a ceasefire or peace deal on Ukraine. Trump briefed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky soon after, as Kyiv and Europe closely watch the next steps in the conflict.


Trump-Putin Meet: No Ceasefire, No Deal : Takeaways from Summit 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to the Trump-Putin meeting, stating that U.S. President Donald Trump briefed him on the discussions. Zelensky is scheduled to meet the U.S. President in Washington to discuss the next steps in resolving the ongoing conflict with Russia and exploring potential diplomatic solutions.


BREAKING: Zelensky Reacts to Trump-Putin Talks, To Meet US President in Washington 

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.

<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>

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!

US President Donald Trump has said he will be “unhappy” if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire soon after their summit in Alaska. “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. Everyone said it can’t be today, but I’m just saying I want the killing to stop,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. Trump said there was “nothing set in stone” ahead of the talks but stressed that a ceasefire was among the “certain things” he hoped to secure.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-moscow-still-killing-on-day-of-trump-putin-meeting-zelensky-says-russia-doesn-t-want-to-end-war-kyiv-is-counting-on-america-1755275152891">‘Moscow still killing on day of Trump-Putin meeting’: Zelensky says Russia 'doesn't want to end war'; Kyiv is ‘counting on America’</a><h2>‘Europe’s not telling me what to do’</h2>The president said he was not acting as a European representative but would take allied views into account. “This is not to do with Europe. Europe’s not telling me what to do,” he said. “But they’re going to be involved in the process, obviously, along with (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky,” he added. He described Putin as a “smart guy” with whom he shares “a good respect level”. “Been doing it for a long time, but so have I,” he said.<h2>‘I’m in this to stop the killing’</h2>Trump said his priority was halting the conflict, pointing to recent heavy losses. “They lost last week 7011 people, almost all soldiers; 36 people in a town which got hit by a missile. Over 7,000 soldiers. It’s crazy,” he said. While he noted that the US is profiting from weapons sales to NATO allies, Trump insisted that was not his main concern. “What I do care about is they lost last week 7011 people… it’s crazy,” he said.<h2>Push for trilateral summit</h2>Trump has repeatedly said his ultimate goal is to arrange a three-way meeting between himself, Putin and Zelensky “almost immediately”. He told Fox News he would be able to judge within minutes whether the Alaska talks would succeed and was ready to walk away “real fast” if they did not go well. The president added he was not there to negotiate on Ukraine’s behalf but to “get Putin to the table”.<h2>Warning of severe consequences for Russia</h2>Trump repeated his earlier warning that Russia could face “severe consequences” if it shows no willingness to end the war. “Economically severe. It will be very severe. I’m not doing this for my health, okay, I don’t need it. I’d like to focus on our country, but I’m doing this to save a lot of lives,” he said.

President Trump said he wants a rapid ceasefire after meeting Putin, warning he’ll be “unhappy” if it doesn’t happen. He added Europe won’t dictate terms but will be involved.

US President Donald Trump has said he will be “unhappy” if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire soon after their summit in Alaska. “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. Everyone said it can’t be today, but I’m just saying I want the killing to stop,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. Trump said there was “nothing set in stone” ahead of the talks but stressed that a ceasefire was among the “certain things” he hoped to secure. Also read: ‘Moscow still killing on day of Trump-Putin meeting’: Zelensky says Russia 'doesn't want to end war'; Kyiv is ‘counting on America’ ‘Europe’s not telling me what to do’ The president said he was not acting as a European representative but would take allied views into account. “This is not to do with Europe. Europe’s not telling me what to do,” he said. “But they’re going to be involved in the process, obviously, along with (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky,” he added. He described Putin as a “smart guy” with whom he shares “a good respect level”. “Been doing it for a long time, but so have I,” he said. ‘I’m in this to stop the killing’ Trump said his priority was halting the conflict, pointing to recent heavy losses. “They lost last week 7011 people, almost all soldiers; 36 people in a town which got hit by a missile. Over 7,000 soldiers. It’s crazy,” he said. While he noted that the US is profiting from weapons sales to NATO allies, Trump insisted that was not his main concern. “What I do care about is they lost last week 7011 people… it’s crazy,” he said. Push for trilateral summit Trump has repeatedly said his ultimate goal is to arrange a three-way meeting between himself, Putin and Zelensky “almost immediately”. He told Fox News he would be able to judge within minutes whether the Alaska talks would succeed and was ready to walk away “real fast” if they did not go well. The president added he was not there to negotiate on Ukraine’s behalf but to “get Putin to the table”. Warning of severe consequences for Russia Trump repeated his earlier warning that Russia could face “severe consequences” if it shows no willingness to end the war. “Economically severe. It will be very severe. I’m not doing this for my health, okay, I don’t need it. I’d like to focus on our country, but I’m doing this to save a lot of lives,” he said.

President Trump said he wants a rapid ceasefire after meeting Putin, warning he’ll be “unhappy” if it doesn’t happen. He added Europe won’t dictate terms but will be involved.

'I want to see a ceasefire, rapidly': Trump says he will be ‘unhappy’ if no deal is reached today ahead of Putin talks

The Kremlin expresses hope that the Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will produce meaningful results, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and broader US-Russia relations.


Trump-Putin Meet: Kremlin Hopes Alaska Summit Brings Result

Hillary Clinton revealed on the Raging Moderates podcast that she would “honestly” nominate Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, but only if he successfully brings an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.


Breaking: Hillary Clinton Says She Would Support Trump for Nobel Peace Prize- With a Catch

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