Russia on Monday (Nov 10) declared that it was delusional to think that Ukraine could win this war, as its military claimed that it had captured three more villages on the front line. These small gains become significant as the frontlines have been effectively frozen for long periods in the almost four-year-long war. Despite Moscow's advantage in manpower and equipment, the territorial gains in Ukraine have been slow and costly.&nbsp;"The Europeans believe that Ukraine can win the war and secure its interests through military means." "This is the deepest delusion indulged in by the Kyiv," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a briefing call with reporters. &nbsp;He claimed that "The situation on the front indicates the opposite."The Russian defence ministry on Monday said that it had seized the villages of Slodkie and Nove in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine and Gnativka in the Donetsk region.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-s-lavrov-hints-at-possible-nuclear-test-on-orders-from-president-putin-1762669917715">Russia's Lavrov says 'preparing' for nuclear test on orders from President Putin</a>&nbsp;Reiterating Moscow's conditions for ending the conflict, Peskov said, Russia has been fighting to protect Russian speakers in the east of Ukraine, to prevent the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) military to blox moving eastwards and to remove "neo-Nazis" from power in Ukraine.Rejecting Russia's claims, Kyiv and its Western partners claimed that the conflict, which claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and is the longest in Europe since World War II, is an imperial-style land grab by Moscow.&nbsp;Meanwhile, speaking about the ongoing negotiation between Russia and the United States, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Washington is struggling to convince Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO allies not to obstruct President Donald Trump's efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-legitimate-right-russia-defends-north-korea-s-ballistic-missile-test-amid-nuke-drama-over-trump-s-remark-details-inside-1762514372066">‘Legitimate right’: Russia defends North Korea's ‘ballistic missile test’ amid nuke drama over Trump's remark. Details inside</a>&nbsp;Lavrov’s remarks come after weeks of failed attempts to organise a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, intended as a follow-up to their August 15 meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.&nbsp;

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Washington is struggling to convince Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO allies not to obstruct President Donald Trump's efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

Russia on Monday (Nov 10) declared that it was delusional to think that Ukraine could win this war, as its military claimed that it had captured three more villages on the front line. These small gains become significant as the frontlines have been effectively frozen for long periods in the almost four-year-long war. Despite Moscow's advantage in manpower and equipment, the territorial gains in Ukraine have been slow and costly. "The Europeans believe that Ukraine can win the war and secure its interests through military means." "This is the deepest delusion indulged in by the Kyiv," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a briefing call with reporters. He claimed that "The situation on the front indicates the opposite." The Russian defence ministry on Monday said that it had seized the villages of Slodkie and Nove in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine and Gnativka in the Donetsk region. Also Read: Russia's Lavrov says 'preparing' for nuclear test on orders from President Putin Reiterating Moscow's conditions for ending the conflict, Peskov said, Russia has been fighting to protect Russian speakers in the east of Ukraine, to prevent the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) military to blox moving eastwards and to remove "neo-Nazis" from power in Ukraine. Rejecting Russia's claims, Kyiv and its Western partners claimed that the conflict, which claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and is the longest in Europe since World War II, is an imperial-style land grab by Moscow. Meanwhile, speaking about the ongoing negotiation between Russia and the United States, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Washington is struggling to convince Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO allies not to obstruct President Donald Trump's efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict. Also Read: ‘Legitimate right’: Russia defends North Korea's ‘ballistic missile test’ amid nuke drama over Trump's remark. Details inside Lavrov’s remarks come after weeks of failed attempts to organise a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, intended as a follow-up to their August 15 meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Washington is struggling to convince Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO allies not to obstruct President Donald Trump's efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

Russia calls Ukraine’s war hopes ‘delusional’, claims capture of three frontline villages

The planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been called off after Moscow presented a formal list of demands that US officials described as ‘maximalist’ in nature, according to reports from Reuters, citing the Financial Times. The summit, originally set for next month in Budapest, was meant to be part of renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions between Washington and Moscow. However, US officials decided to cancel the event after reviewing Russia's conditions, which reportedly included major concessions on sanctions and recognition of Russia's territorial claims.&nbsp;As of now, the White House has not released an official statement regarding the cancellation. There had already been some skepticism surrounding the meeting after an unnamed US official stated earlier this week that there were 'no plans' for a Trump-Putin meeting "in the immediate future."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-odni-rift-tulsi-gabbard-counterintelligence-bill-1761887009287">FBI opposes House plan granting Tulsi Gabbard key counterintelligence role, signalling interagency rift</a>&nbsp;Recently, Trump admitted to feeling ‘frustrated’ with Putin, signaling a shift from his earlier remarks that his “personal chemistry” with the Russian leader could quickly bring an end to the war if he returned to the White House. Furthermore, Trump acknowledged last week that a high-level summit with Putin is unlikely in the near future, despite a senior Kremlin representative meeting with US officials in Florida to discuss potential solutions to the war in Ukraine. Trump added that he didn’t want to "waste his time" on such talks.&nbsp;The US president has spent months trying to mediate a peace agreement between the two countries, but progress has remained out of reach. Calling for an immediate end to the fighting, he suggested that Moscow should retain the areas it currently controls. Speaking to reporters in Florida earlier this month, Trump proposed that the front lines serve as the dividing boundary, arguing that “it’s too complicated” otherwise. He said both armies should halt operations, return home, and put an end to the bloodshed. Trump also acknowledged the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be manipulating him during his efforts to negotiate a settlement between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest cancelled after Washington gets Moscow memo on....

The planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been called off after Moscow presented a formal list of demands that US officials described as ‘maximalist’ in nature, according to reports from Reuters, citing the Financial Times. The summit, originally set for next month in Budapest, was meant to be part of renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions between Washington and Moscow. However, US officials decided to cancel the event after reviewing Russia's conditions, which reportedly included major concessions on sanctions and recognition of Russia's territorial claims. As of now, the White House has not released an official statement regarding the cancellation. There had already been some skepticism surrounding the meeting after an unnamed US official stated earlier this week that there were 'no plans' for a Trump-Putin meeting "in the immediate future." Also Read: FBI opposes House plan granting Tulsi Gabbard key counterintelligence role, signalling interagency rift Recently, Trump admitted to feeling ‘frustrated’ with Putin, signaling a shift from his earlier remarks that his “personal chemistry” with the Russian leader could quickly bring an end to the war if he returned to the White House. Furthermore, Trump acknowledged last week that a high-level summit with Putin is unlikely in the near future, despite a senior Kremlin representative meeting with US officials in Florida to discuss potential solutions to the war in Ukraine. Trump added that he didn’t want to "waste his time" on such talks. The US president has spent months trying to mediate a peace agreement between the two countries, but progress has remained out of reach. Calling for an immediate end to the fighting, he suggested that Moscow should retain the areas it currently controls. Speaking to reporters in Florida earlier this month, Trump proposed that the front lines serve as the dividing boundary, arguing that “it’s too complicated” otherwise. He said both armies should halt operations, return home, and put an end to the bloodshed. Trump also acknowledged the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be manipulating him during his efforts to negotiate a settlement between Russia and Ukraine.

US cancels planned Trump-Putin summit after Russia’s firm stance on Ukraine. Trump says he won't meet Putin unless a peace deal is near

Days after US President Donald Trump cancelled the Budapest meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin has said that it was wrong to talk about cancellation of a meeting. Echoing Trump's ‘won’t waste time' sentiments, Kremlin via state television Vesti reported on its Telegram channel that Presidents cannot meet “just waste their time.” The Kremlin also called the US sanctions on Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft “an unfriendly step.” Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had said that “no precise timeframe was initially set” for Trump-Putin meeting and that “serious preparation" is needed when presidents meet.&nbsp;"Presidents cannot meet for the sake of meeting, they cannot just waste their time, and they are open about that. That's why they instructed (Russian Foreign Minister Sergei) Lavrov and (U.S. Secretary of State Marco) Rubio to prepare this process. The process is complicated," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state TV Kremlin correspondent Pavel Zarubin.&nbsp;Highlighting that &nbsp;Russia seeks to build friendly relations with all countries, including the US, Peskov called sanctions on Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft "an unfriendly step. "Despite the various nuances voiced by the president of the United States, we must still be oriented towards our interests. Our interests are to build good relations with all countries, including the United States," Peskov said. "Of course, the actions that were taken this week were an unfriendly step. They have indeed damaged the prospects for resuscitating our relations. But that does not mean that we should abandon these aspirations. We should do what is favourable to us," Peskov added.<h2>Trump reveals REAL reason why he cancelled Budapest meeting with Putin</h2>Trump on Oct 22 confirmed that his meeting with Russian President Putin has been put on hold. Issuing his remark from the White House, Trump said that he didn’t want a “wasted meeting” with his Russian counterpart. This came after Russia rejected Trump's demand for a ceasefire in the war with Ukraine. “I don’t want to have a wasted meeting, I don’t want to have a waste of time — so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said in remarks at the White House on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The Kremlin denied claims that Putin’s meeting with Trump was canceled, saying it requires preparation by Lavrov and Rubio. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov called new US sanctions on Lukoil and Rosneft “unfriendly” but said Russia still aims for good relations

Days after US President Donald Trump cancelled the Budapest meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin has said that it was wrong to talk about cancellation of a meeting. Echoing Trump's ‘won’t waste time' sentiments, Kremlin via state television Vesti reported on its Telegram channel that Presidents cannot meet “just waste their time.” The Kremlin also called the US sanctions on Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft “an unfriendly step.” Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had said that “no precise timeframe was initially set” for Trump-Putin meeting and that “serious preparation" is needed when presidents meet. "Presidents cannot meet for the sake of meeting, they cannot just waste their time, and they are open about that. That's why they instructed (Russian Foreign Minister Sergei) Lavrov and (U.S. Secretary of State Marco) Rubio to prepare this process. The process is complicated," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state TV Kremlin correspondent Pavel Zarubin. Highlighting that Russia seeks to build friendly relations with all countries, including the US, Peskov called sanctions on Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft "an unfriendly step. "Despite the various nuances voiced by the president of the United States, we must still be oriented towards our interests. Our interests are to build good relations with all countries, including the United States," Peskov said. "Of course, the actions that were taken this week were an unfriendly step. They have indeed damaged the prospects for resuscitating our relations. But that does not mean that we should abandon these aspirations. We should do what is favourable to us," Peskov added. Trump reveals REAL reason why he cancelled Budapest meeting with Putin Trump on Oct 22 confirmed that his meeting with Russian President Putin has been put on hold. Issuing his remark from the White House, Trump said that he didn’t want a “wasted meeting” with his Russian counterpart. This came after Russia rejected Trump's demand for a ceasefire in the war with Ukraine. “I don’t want to have a wasted meeting, I don’t want to have a waste of time — so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said in remarks at the White House on Tuesday.

The Kremlin denied claims that Putin’s meeting with Trump was canceled, saying it requires preparation by Lavrov and Rubio. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov called new US sanctions on Lukoil and Rosneft “unfriendly” but said Russia still aims for good relations

'Cannot just meet to waste time': Kremlin echoes Trump's remark over cancelled meeting with Putin

US President Donald Trump has confirmed on Tuesday (Oct 22) that his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been put on hold. Issuing his remark from the White House, Trump said that he didn’t want a “wasted meeting” with his Russian counterpart. This comes after Russia rejected Trump's demand for a ceasefire in the war with Ukraine.&nbsp;&nbsp;Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Trump’s demand for “an immediate ceasefire, which has suddenly become a topic of discussion again,” was contrary to what was agreed at the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska in August. The Kremlin pressed that its stance on peace remains unchanged. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said that he would join the summit between Trump and Putin in Budapest if he is invited.&nbsp;“I don’t want to have a wasted meeting, I don’t want to have a waste of time — so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said in remarks at the White House on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “No precise timeframe was initially set here” and that “Preparation is needed, serious preparation.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Trump had announced last week that he will be meeting Putin in Budapest, Hungary. However, the meeting was called off after a call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday. The two were set to meet this week or next but the White House said that both had a "productive" call and that a meeting was no longer "necessary." The White House officials also confirmed to Reuters that there are "no plans" for US President Donald Trump to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin “in the immediate future.” The White House did not share any further details on why the talks had been paused.&nbsp;Trump and Putin earlier met in August during a summit in Alaska, which produced no concrete output to end the war in Ukraine. The White House decision to shelve the plans for a second Trump-Putin summit could be as Washington might to avoid another similar scenario. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Trump confirmed that his planned meeting with Russian President Putin is on hold after Russia rejected a ceasefire demand in Ukraine. The White House said no immediate plans exist for rescheduling, but did not speak a word on ceasefire

US President Donald Trump has confirmed on Tuesday (Oct 22) that his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been put on hold. Issuing his remark from the White House, Trump said that he didn’t want a “wasted meeting” with his Russian counterpart. This comes after Russia rejected Trump's demand for a ceasefire in the war with Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Trump’s demand for “an immediate ceasefire, which has suddenly become a topic of discussion again,” was contrary to what was agreed at the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska in August. The Kremlin pressed that its stance on peace remains unchanged. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said that he would join the summit between Trump and Putin in Budapest if he is invited. “I don’t want to have a wasted meeting, I don’t want to have a waste of time — so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said in remarks at the White House on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “No precise timeframe was initially set here” and that “Preparation is needed, serious preparation.” Trump had announced last week that he will be meeting Putin in Budapest, Hungary. However, the meeting was called off after a call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday. The two were set to meet this week or next but the White House said that both had a "productive" call and that a meeting was no longer "necessary." The White House officials also confirmed to Reuters that there are "no plans" for US President Donald Trump to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin “in the immediate future.” The White House did not share any further details on why the talks had been paused. Trump and Putin earlier met in August during a summit in Alaska, which produced no concrete output to end the war in Ukraine. The White House decision to shelve the plans for a second Trump-Putin summit could be as Washington might to avoid another similar scenario.

Trump confirmed that his planned meeting with Russian President Putin is on hold after Russia rejected a ceasefire demand in Ukraine. The White House said no immediate plans exist for rescheduling, but did not speak a word on ceasefire

'We’ll see what happens...': Trump reveals REAL reason why he cancelled Budapest meeting with Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming potential meet with the US counterpart Donald Trump in two weeks in Budapest, Hungary, has a unique problem. Hungary is a European Union (EU) country, which means, like the US, it has banned Russian aircraft in its airspace. Recently, the US had granted Russia special permission to fly Putin to Alaska in his modified Ilyushin Il-96 plane, dubbed the 'Flying Kremlin', but as of now, there's been no official confirmation of the same by the Kremlin.&nbsp;<h2>Why Russian planes can't fly over Hungary, EU?</h2>&nbsp;Days after Russia's military advancement on neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022, the US and the EU imposed a blanket ban on Russian planes in their airspace. The Russian president is not known to travel abroad too much either. With Hungary being landlocked, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as reported by the news outlet BBC, says in the issue of how will Putin travel to the EU country for potential meet up with Trump: "For now, of course, it's not clear. What we do have is the willingness of the presidents to hold such a meeting."&nbsp;Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, however, is the closest to Putin ally in all 27 EU member nations. Orban's foreign minister has told reporters that "we will of course ensure that he can enter Hungary, hold successful talks here, and then return home".&nbsp;<h2>What would be Putin's air route to Hungary?</h2>&nbsp;If Putin decided to travel to Hungary, his special plane would not only need permission from Hungary but also other EU members as well, Looking at the geography, Putin will definitely not enter airspace over Ukraine or Poland - both Hungary's neighbours - given the current situation. Putin is most likely to fly over Black Sea and Turkey then Bulgaria before choosing to fly over from Serbia or Romania to enter Hungary. While there's no permission needed from Serbia, which is not a EU country, Bulgaria and Romania would need to give consent to Putin's plane along with Budapest.

How will Russian President Vladimir Putin get to Budapest to meet his US counterpart, Donald Trump? What route will the ‘Flying Kremlin’, the Russian president’s aircraft, take? Here's all you need to know…

Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming potential meet with the US counterpart Donald Trump in two weeks in Budapest, Hungary, has a unique problem. Hungary is a European Union (EU) country, which means, like the US, it has banned Russian aircraft in its airspace. Recently, the US had granted Russia special permission to fly Putin to Alaska in his modified Ilyushin Il-96 plane, dubbed the 'Flying Kremlin', but as of now, there's been no official confirmation of the same by the Kremlin. Why Russian planes can't fly over Hungary, EU? Days after Russia's military advancement on neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022, the US and the EU imposed a blanket ban on Russian planes in their airspace. The Russian president is not known to travel abroad too much either. With Hungary being landlocked, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as reported by the news outlet BBC, says in the issue of how will Putin travel to the EU country for potential meet up with Trump: "For now, of course, it's not clear. What we do have is the willingness of the presidents to hold such a meeting." Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, however, is the closest to Putin ally in all 27 EU member nations. Orban's foreign minister has told reporters that "we will of course ensure that he can enter Hungary, hold successful talks here, and then return home". What would be Putin's air route to Hungary? If Putin decided to travel to Hungary, his special plane would not only need permission from Hungary but also other EU members as well, Looking at the geography, Putin will definitely not enter airspace over Ukraine or Poland - both Hungary's neighbours - given the current situation. Putin is most likely to fly over Black Sea and Turkey then Bulgaria before choosing to fly over from Serbia or Romania to enter Hungary. While there's no permission needed from Serbia, which is not a EU country, Bulgaria and Romania would need to give consent to Putin's plane along with Budapest.

How will Russian President Vladimir Putin get to Budapest to meet his US counterpart, Donald Trump? What route will the ‘Flying Kremlin’, the Russian president’s aircraft, take? Here's all you need to know…

Putin's potential meet with Trump has an 'air-block'. How will 'Flying Kremlin' get to Budapest?

Russia on Wednesday (Oct 8) said that the momentum towards reaching a ceasefire deal in Ukraine had “largely gone” following Alaska talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. During the summit in Anchorage in August, the two leaders held talks as part of efforts to end the war that has been going on for over three years, but failed to reach any peace agreement till now. The negotiations, which seemed to progress earlier, have since stalled, with both Moscow and Kyiv launching continued strikes into each other’s territories.“Unfortunately, we must admit that the powerful momentum generated by Anchorage in favour of agreements... has largely gone,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, as quoted by Russian news agencies. Ryabkov also accused Europe of wanting to wage a “war to the last Ukrainian”.Read more | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-will-lead-to-destruction-of-relations-putin-warns-us-against-sending-tomahawk-to-ukraine-1759665549208">‘Will lead to destruction of relations’: Putin warns US against sending Tomahawk to Ukraine</a>Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly expressed his growing frustration with Putin, saying he is “very disappointed” with the Russian leader. Despite reaching out to Putin following the Alaska talks, he has failed to draw any major concessions from the Kremlin.Last month, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, saying that Kyiv should try to “take back” all its occupied territory by Russia with the help of Europe and NATO. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance suggested that Washington was considering sending its long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-patriot-system-operating-in-ukraine-zelensky-reveals-israel-delivered-us-made-defence-system-two-more-to-arrive-1758983626909">‘Patriot system operating in Ukraine’: Zelensky reveals Israel delivered US-made defence system, two more to arrive</a>On Sunday (Oct 5), Putin warned Washington that sending Tomahawks to Ukraine would mean a “whole new level of escalation” and would damage Russia’s relationship with the US.Over recent weeks, tensions between Russia and NATO nations have been escalating following several drone sightings in European nations. Despite calls for de-escalation, both sides have been accusing each other of attacking civilians.&nbsp;

Trump has repeatedly expressed his growing frustration with Putin, saying he is “very disappointed” with the Russian leader.

Russia on Wednesday (Oct 8) said that the momentum towards reaching a ceasefire deal in Ukraine had “largely gone” following Alaska talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. During the summit in Anchorage in August, the two leaders held talks as part of efforts to end the war that has been going on for over three years, but failed to reach any peace agreement till now. The negotiations, which seemed to progress earlier, have since stalled, with both Moscow and Kyiv launching continued strikes into each other’s territories. “Unfortunately, we must admit that the powerful momentum generated by Anchorage in favour of agreements... has largely gone,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, as quoted by Russian news agencies. Ryabkov also accused Europe of wanting to wage a “war to the last Ukrainian”. Read more | ‘Will lead to destruction of relations’: Putin warns US against sending Tomahawk to Ukraine Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly expressed his growing frustration with Putin, saying he is “very disappointed” with the Russian leader. Despite reaching out to Putin following the Alaska talks, he has failed to draw any major concessions from the Kremlin. Last month, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, saying that Kyiv should try to “take back” all its occupied territory by Russia with the help of Europe and NATO. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance suggested that Washington was considering sending its long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. Also read | ‘Patriot system operating in Ukraine’: Zelensky reveals Israel delivered US-made defence system, two more to arrive On Sunday (Oct 5), Putin warned Washington that sending Tomahawks to Ukraine would mean a “whole new level of escalation” and would damage Russia’s relationship with the US. Over recent weeks, tensions between Russia and NATO nations have been escalating following several drone sightings in European nations. Despite calls for de-escalation, both sides have been accusing each other of attacking civilians.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his growing frustration with Putin, saying he is “very disappointed” with the Russian leader.

Momentum from Putin-Trump Alaska meet ‘gone’: Russia expresses dim hopes of ending war in Ukraine

Even as he leads a frenzy of diplomacy to end the Ukraine-Russia war, US President Donald Trump appeared to have suggested that Ukraine should be allowed to attack Russia, as a country cannot win a war without going on the offensive, in his opinion. He made this suggestion in a social media post on Thursday (Aug 21), in which he mainly criticised his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden for not giving offensive weapons to Ukraine.<h2>What did Trump say about ‘allowing Ukraine to play offensive’?</h2>Trump, in the Truth Social post, said Ukraine should take a more aggressive military stance. "Biden would not let Ukraine FIGHT BACK, only DEFEND," he noted."It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invader’s country," Trump posted.He used a sports analogy to explain it. "It’s like a great team in sports that has a fantastic defence, but is not allowed to play offensive. There is no chance of winning!"Giving a sense of foreboding, Trump concluded his post with, "Interesting times ahead!!!"<h2>So, is Trump now advocating that Ukraine attack Russia?</h2>The situation is fluid, but Trump is clearly frustrated that his election promise to end the Ukraine war is nowhere near fruition. He had earlier opposed Ukraine attacking inside Russia, calling such moves escalatory. But recent comments appear to suggest that Ukrainian military offensives against Russia could be on the table if talks fail.Earlier, the White House had confirmed speculative reports that Trump discussed with President Volodymyr Zelensky the possibility of Ukraine targeting St Petersburg and Moscow with US-supplied weapons. But in the same breath, the Trump administration stressed that he was just "asking a question, not encouraging further killing."<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-vladimir-putin-volodymyr-zelensky-donbas-nato-security-guarantees-1755793568698">Also read: 'If there is no peace, then there is more war': Putin lists 'three key demands' for ending Ukraine war - What are they?</a><h2>Trump's comments came as Russia cast doubt on Putin-Zelensky direct talks</h2>Since the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, things on the ground have not moved much despite huddles in the White House and elsewhere between Trump, Zelensky, and European leaders.&nbsp;Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was not too forthright about a direct Putin-Zelensky summit, though the White House earlier said Putin had “promised” such a meeting.Lavrov made any possible summit dependent on a 'comprehensive agreement', saying Putin is willing to meet on the understanding that "all issues requiring consideration at the highest level will be thoroughly worked out and experts and ministers will prepare appropriate recommendations."Lavrov also questioned whether Zelensky is a legitimate leader to sign an agreement with Russia. "When it comes to signing future agreements, the question of the legitimacy of the person signing these agreements on the Ukrainian side will be resolved."He also rejected the post-war security discussions led by Europe as "futile."<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-team-held-secret-talks-with-zelensky-opposition-8828805/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-team-held-secret-talks-with-zelensky-opposition-8828805/embed</a><h2>‘One way or other, we'll know in two weeks’: Trump’s uncertainty about future of war</h2>In a sign that his earlier optimism is waning, Trump told radio host Todd Starnes, when asked about an end to the war: "Well... I'll let you know in about, I would say within two weeks, we're going to know one way or the other. After that, we'll have to maybe take a different tack, but we'll see, but we'll know pretty soon."&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-let-s-call-him-right-now-jd-vance-reveals-what-exactly-happened-when-trump-dialled-soft-spoken-putin-during-meeting-with-zelensky-1755734572556">Also read: 'Let’s call him right now...': JD Vance reveals what exactly happened when Trump dialled 'soft-spoken' Putin during meeting with Zelensky</a><h2>Attacks are continuing on both sides amid talks for peace</h2>In spite of the talks, the war is going strong on the ground, with Ukraine attacking Russian installations and Russia continuing to pound Ukrainian targets.Zelenskyy claimed that Russia is "trying to wriggle out of the need to hold a meeting" between him and Putin. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-mea-s-jaishankar-meets-putin-in-moscow-amid-trump-s-tariff-threats-over-russian-oil-purchase-1755786612879">Also read: Indian EAM S Jaishankar meets Putin in Moscow amid Trump’s tariff threats over Russian oil purchase</a>"They do not want to end this war. They continue massive attacks against Ukraine and extremely intense assaults on the front line," he said.

US President Donald Trump appeared to suggest that Ukraine should be allowed to take offensive action against Russia, while criticising his predecessor, Joe Biden for limiting Ukraine to a defensive strategy. Is this a sign of shift in his stance?
 

Even as he leads a frenzy of diplomacy to end the Ukraine-Russia war, US President Donald Trump appeared to have suggested that Ukraine should be allowed to attack Russia, as a country cannot win a war without going on the offensive, in his opinion. He made this suggestion in a social media post on Thursday (Aug 21), in which he mainly criticised his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden for not giving offensive weapons to Ukraine. What did Trump say about ‘allowing Ukraine to play offensive’? Trump, in the Truth Social post, said Ukraine should take a more aggressive military stance. "Biden would not let Ukraine FIGHT BACK, only DEFEND," he noted. "It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invader’s country," Trump posted. He used a sports analogy to explain it. "It’s like a great team in sports that has a fantastic defence, but is not allowed to play offensive. There is no chance of winning!" Giving a sense of foreboding, Trump concluded his post with, "Interesting times ahead!!!" So, is Trump now advocating that Ukraine attack Russia? The situation is fluid, but Trump is clearly frustrated that his election promise to end the Ukraine war is nowhere near fruition. He had earlier opposed Ukraine attacking inside Russia, calling such moves escalatory. But recent comments appear to suggest that Ukrainian military offensives against Russia could be on the table if talks fail. Earlier, the White House had confirmed speculative reports that Trump discussed with President Volodymyr Zelensky the possibility of Ukraine targeting St Petersburg and Moscow with US-supplied weapons. But in the same breath, the Trump administration stressed that he was just "asking a question, not encouraging further killing." Also read: 'If there is no peace, then there is more war': Putin lists 'three key demands' for ending Ukraine war - What are they? Trump's comments came as Russia cast doubt on Putin-Zelensky direct talks Since the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, things on the ground have not moved much despite huddles in the White House and elsewhere between Trump, Zelensky, and European leaders. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was not too forthright about a direct Putin-Zelensky summit, though the White House earlier said Putin had “promised” such a meeting. Lavrov made any possible summit dependent on a 'comprehensive agreement', saying Putin is willing to meet on the understanding that "all issues requiring consideration at the highest level will be thoroughly worked out and experts and ministers will prepare appropriate recommendations." Lavrov also questioned whether Zelensky is a legitimate leader to sign an agreement with Russia. "When it comes to signing future agreements, the question of the legitimacy of the person signing these agreements on the Ukrainian side will be resolved." He also rejected the post-war security discussions led by Europe as "futile." https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-team-held-secret-talks-with-zelensky-opposition-8828805/embed ‘One way or other, we'll know in two weeks’: Trump’s uncertainty about future of war In a sign that his earlier optimism is waning, Trump told radio host Todd Starnes, when asked about an end to the war: "Well... I'll let you know in about, I would say within two weeks, we're going to know one way or the other. After that, we'll have to maybe take a different tack, but we'll see, but we'll know pretty soon." Also read: 'Let’s call him right now...': JD Vance reveals what exactly happened when Trump dialled 'soft-spoken' Putin during meeting with Zelensky Attacks are continuing on both sides amid talks for peace In spite of the talks, the war is going strong on the ground, with Ukraine attacking Russian installations and Russia continuing to pound Ukrainian targets. Zelenskyy claimed that Russia is "trying to wriggle out of the need to hold a meeting" between him and Putin. Also read: Indian EAM S Jaishankar meets Putin in Moscow amid Trump’s tariff threats over Russian oil purchase "They do not want to end this war. They continue massive attacks against Ukraine and extremely intense assaults on the front line," he said.

US President Donald Trump appeared to suggest that Ukraine should be allowed to take offensive action against Russia, while criticising his predecessor, Joe Biden for limiting Ukraine to a defensive strategy. Is this a sign of shift in his stance? &nbsp;

Did Trump just suggest Ukraine should have been ALLOWED TO ATTACK Russia? In slamming Biden, he said it's impossible to win a war without...

Days after US President Donald Trump met Russian and Ukrainian counterparts Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, respectively, to discuss the end to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, US Vice President JD Vance offered a notably calm portrayal of Putin, while underlining that Europe will have to shoulder ‘lion’s share’ of Ukraine’s security. &nbsp;Vance, in an interview, said that Putin comes across as “soft-spoken,” calculated, and highly focused on advancing what he sees as Russia’s interests, and also revealed that the European leaders, including Ukrainian president Zelensky and French President Macron were taken aback when Trump decided to dial Putin while meeting them in the White House. While Vance admitted that he hasn't met Putin face-to-face, he claimed to have communicated with him “several times.” He also noted that Putin respects Trump because he sees him as a leader who puts America’s interests first.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Vance: I have never actually met Putin. I have talked to him on the phone. More soft-spoken than you would necessarily expect. The American media has am image of him. Spot spoken. Very deliberate, very careful. I think fundamentally is he a person who looks out for the… <a href="https://t.co/daLaEWLs3R">pic.twitter.com/daLaEWLs3R</a>&mdash; Acyn (@Acyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1958307741996642323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/the-washington-gambit-trump-juggles-a-putin-call-european-doubts-and-zelensky-s-hopes-for-a-deal-1755580768397">The Washington Gambit: Trump juggles a Putin call, European doubts, and Zelensky’s hopes for a deal</a><h3>How Trump suddenly dialled Putin</h3>During a recent Fox News interview, Vance shared a behind-the-scenes moment from earlier in the week, when US President Trump was meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and several European leaders at the White House. Midway through discussions, Trump decided to call Putin directly. While those around him assumed the call would happen at a later date. Trump reportedly insisted on making the call immediately, asking for the time in Moscow before dialling in. “So, we’re actually in the East Wing of the White House, and the president says, ‘You know, we’ve had a pretty good meeting. I’m going to call Vladimir Putin, see what he says about it,' And everybody’s like, ‘Oh, you’re going to call him next week?’ And he’s like, ‘No, what time is it in Moscow? Let’s call him right now,’” Vance recalled.&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/alaska-without-a-deal-the-trump-putin-summit-and-the-war-that-won-t-end-1755316302755">Alaska without a deal: The Trump–Putin summit and the war that won’t end</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-trump-putin-meet-concludes-after-nearly-3-hours-of-talks-1755322161552/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-trump-putin-meet-concludes-after-nearly-3-hours-of-talks-1755322161552/embed</a>&nbsp;Vance also portrayed an unusual image of the Russian president, saying, “You know that the American media has a particular image of him…He’s soft-spoken in a certain way. He’s very deliberate. He’s very careful. And I think fundamentally, he’s a person who looks out for the interests as he sees it, of Russia.” On the peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Vance said both Trump and he believe face-to-face discussions between the two leaders—Putin and Zelenskyy—could help move stalled negotiations forward. While two main issues remain unresolved—Russia’s demands for certain territories and Ukraine’s need for security guarantees—Vance argued that direct dialogue might help overcome impasses that lower-level negotiators cannot.&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 - See what US prez said</a><h3>Ukraine’s Security and Russia’s Demands Remain the Core Issues</h3>According to Vance, Ukraine’s primary concern is avoiding future Russian aggression and maintaining its territorial sovereignty. On the other side, Russia wants to formalise its control over some territories it currently occupies, and potentially others it does not yet hold. These contrasting demands form the crux of the negotiation, which remains complex and unresolved. Vance made it clear that any future security arrangement for Ukraine should primarily be Europe’s responsibility. While the U.S. is willing to contribute if it helps end the conflict, Vance stressed that European nations must take the lead since the conflict directly affects their continent. He added that Trump prefers to keep American commitments flexible, choosing not to fully commit or rule anything out during negotiations in order to maintain leverage.&nbsp;

US Vice President JD Vance described RUssian President Vladimir Putin as calm and strategic, revealing that Trump unexpectedly called him during Ukraine talks with European leaders. Vance urged direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy and said Europe must lead on Ukraine’s defence

Days after US President Donald Trump met Russian and Ukrainian counterparts Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, respectively, to discuss the end to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, US Vice President JD Vance offered a notably calm portrayal of Putin, while underlining that Europe will have to shoulder ‘lion’s share’ of Ukraine’s security. Vance, in an interview, said that Putin comes across as “soft-spoken,” calculated, and highly focused on advancing what he sees as Russia’s interests, and also revealed that the European leaders, including Ukrainian president Zelensky and French President Macron were taken aback when Trump decided to dial Putin while meeting them in the White House. While Vance admitted that he hasn't met Putin face-to-face, he claimed to have communicated with him “several times.” He also noted that Putin respects Trump because he sees him as a leader who puts America’s interests first.

US Vice President JD Vance described RUssian President Vladimir Putin as calm and strategic, revealing that Trump unexpectedly called him during Ukraine talks with European leaders. Vance urged direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy and said Europe must lead on Ukraine’s defence

'Let’s call him right now...': JD Vance reveals what exactly happened when Trump dialled 'soft-spoken' Putin during meeting with Zelensky

United States President Donald Trump, during his campaign for the presidency, claimed that he would end the Russia-Ukraine war "within 24 to 48 hours" if re-elected. Six months after coming to the White House again, he is still unable to chart out a plan to strike a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine to end the war. While Trump is desperate to turn this failure into an achievement, the Russia-Ukraine peace deal contains more than one contention. Ahead of Trump's high-stakes meeting with Putin this week, the US president hinted at a ‘swap of territories," but his Ukrainian counterpart Zelensky rejected the proposal. After Trump met with both Zelensky and Putin, a territory swap seems the major bone of contention in the peace deal, with the Donbas region serving as the talking point. So, what is it about the Donbas region that both Russia and Ukraine do not want to give up on it?<h2>Russia-Ukraine war and Donbas region</h2>Donbas – Ukraine’s industrial heartland in the east – is rich in coal and heavy industry. As per a report by The Guardian, Russia currently controls around 46,570 square kilometers of the Donbas region, including all of Luhansk and most of Donetsk. However, Ukraine still holds several key cities and strong defensive positions in Donetsk. Over 250,000 civilians remain in the Ukrainian-held areas of the region. Viktor Yanukovych, the former president of Ukraine who was backed by Russia, was born in Donetsk and was based in the Donbas region. He played an indirect role in helping Russia with the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Zelensky banked on anti-Moscow sentiments after the Crimean annexation and defeated Victor in the 2019 Ukrainian election. Almost seven years after Crimea's annexation, when Putin launched an attack on Ukraine, he described it as a military operation to protect the people of the Donbas region.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-zelensky-to-lose-donbas-why-is-it-so-important-to-putin-1755592178998/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-zelensky-to-lose-donbas-why-is-it-so-important-to-putin-1755592178998/embed</a>&nbsp;Like Crimea, Russia justifies the takeover of the region, stating that it has a large Russian-speaking population. The reason for the presence of the Russian-speaking population has been attributed to significant migration during the Soviet era, when the area’s mines and steelworks were developed into a major economic hub of the USSR. Kremlin has long accused Kyiv of discriminating against the people of the Donbas region. Now, as Putin expresses his intention regarding Donbas internationally, Ukraine has warned that conceding Donbas would be like giving Russia a launchpad for deeper advances into central Ukraine.&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-russia-ukraine-peace-plan-meets-crimea-roadblock-why-russia-wants-it-desperately-what-is-its-history-9001857">Trump's Russia-Ukraine peace plan meets Crimea roadblock: Why Russia wants it desperately? What is its history</a><h2>Trump-Zelensky meeting</h2>Trump and Zelensky met in Washington two days after Trump’s much-awaited summit with Putin in Alaska. Their meeting, described as cordial unlike a tense February encounter, focused on long-term security for Ukraine, though NATO membership wasn’t discussed. Trump proposed a future meeting between Zelensky and Putin, possibly with him mediating. He also raised the idea of Ukraine making territorial concessions to Russia, though Zelensky didn’t agree. European leaders, who joined later, emphasised the need for a ceasefire before peace talks, but Trump disagreed, suggesting negotiations could proceed during the ongoing conflict. While Trump appeared confident that Putin wanted a deal, European leaders remained doubtful. The talks marked progress in diplomacy but left key issues unresolved.<h2>Trump-Putin Summit in Alaska&nbsp;</h2>Trump met Putin in Alaska for a private summit focused on ending the war in Ukraine. While no ceasefire or formal agreement emerged, Trump described the talks as "hopeful." He later said Putin showed interest in negotiating a peace deal, possibly to give Trump credit as a peacemaker. The meeting lasted around 40 minutes and set the stage for potential future talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky. Neither leader took any questions from the reporters, but the summit proved to be strong in optics with Putin and Trump shaking hands. However, details remain vague, and European leaders remain cautious about Russia’s true intentions.

Six months into his return, Trump has yet to deliver on his promise to end the Russia-Ukraine war. His proposed territorial swap, focused on Donbas, faces strong resistance from Zelensky. Rich in resources and historically Russian-speaking, Donbas remains a key flashpoint for both sides.

United States President Donald Trump, during his campaign for the presidency, claimed that he would end the Russia-Ukraine war "within 24 to 48 hours" if re-elected. Six months after coming to the White House again, he is still unable to chart out a plan to strike a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine to end the war. While Trump is desperate to turn this failure into an achievement, the Russia-Ukraine peace deal contains more than one contention. Ahead of Trump's high-stakes meeting with Putin this week, the US president hinted at a ‘swap of territories," but his Ukrainian counterpart Zelensky rejected the proposal. After Trump met with both Zelensky and Putin, a territory swap seems the major bone of contention in the peace deal, with the Donbas region serving as the talking point. So, what is it about the Donbas region that both Russia and Ukraine do not want to give up on it? Russia-Ukraine war and Donbas region Donbas – Ukraine’s industrial heartland in the east – is rich in coal and heavy industry. As per a report by The Guardian, Russia currently controls around 46,570 square kilometers of the Donbas region, including all of Luhansk and most of Donetsk. However, Ukraine still holds several key cities and strong defensive positions in Donetsk. Over 250,000 civilians remain in the Ukrainian-held areas of the region. Viktor Yanukovych, the former president of Ukraine who was backed by Russia, was born in Donetsk and was based in the Donbas region. He played an indirect role in helping Russia with the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Zelensky banked on anti-Moscow sentiments after the Crimean annexation and defeated Victor in the 2019 Ukrainian election. Almost seven years after Crimea's annexation, when Putin launched an attack on Ukraine, he described it as a military operation to protect the people of the Donbas region. https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-zelensky-to-lose-donbas-why-is-it-so-important-to-putin-1755592178998/embed Like Crimea, Russia justifies the takeover of the region, stating that it has a large Russian-speaking population. The reason for the presence of the Russian-speaking population has been attributed to significant migration during the Soviet era, when the area’s mines and steelworks were developed into a major economic hub of the USSR. Kremlin has long accused Kyiv of discriminating against the people of the Donbas region. Now, as Putin expresses his intention regarding Donbas internationally, Ukraine has warned that conceding Donbas would be like giving Russia a launchpad for deeper advances into central Ukraine. Read More | Trump's Russia-Ukraine peace plan meets Crimea roadblock: Why Russia wants it desperately? What is its history Trump-Zelensky meeting Trump and Zelensky met in Washington two days after Trump’s much-awaited summit with Putin in Alaska. Their meeting, described as cordial unlike a tense February encounter, focused on long-term security for Ukraine, though NATO membership wasn’t discussed. Trump proposed a future meeting between Zelensky and Putin, possibly with him mediating. He also raised the idea of Ukraine making territorial concessions to Russia, though Zelensky didn’t agree. European leaders, who joined later, emphasised the need for a ceasefire before peace talks, but Trump disagreed, suggesting negotiations could proceed during the ongoing conflict. While Trump appeared confident that Putin wanted a deal, European leaders remained doubtful. The talks marked progress in diplomacy but left key issues unresolved. Trump-Putin Summit in Alaska Trump met Putin in Alaska for a private summit focused on ending the war in Ukraine. While no ceasefire or formal agreement emerged, Trump described the talks as "hopeful." He later said Putin showed interest in negotiating a peace deal, possibly to give Trump credit as a peacemaker. The meeting lasted around 40 minutes and set the stage for potential future talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky. Neither leader took any questions from the reporters, but the summit proved to be strong in optics with Putin and Trump shaking hands. However, details remain vague, and European leaders remain cautious about Russia’s true intentions.

Six months into his return, Trump has yet to deliver on his promise to end the Russia-Ukraine war. His proposed territorial swap, focused on Donbas, faces strong resistance from Zelensky. Rich in resources and historically Russian-speaking, Donbas remains a key flashpoint for both sides.

Donbas becomes root cause of contention amid Russia-Ukraine peace talks: Why Putin calls it a part of Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday to talk about ending the war in Ukraine. Several European leaders also came to Washington, just days after Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which did not bring a ceasefire. Even though Trump sounded hopeful, and European leaders were more cautious, by Monday evening there were no clear promises of security guarantees or a peace deal.<h2>Here are the main points from the talks:</h2>1. A Putin-Zelensky meeting on the cards?After the summit, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he had called Putin to start planning a meeting between the Russian leader and Zelensky. Trump said that after this one-on-one meeting, there could be a three-way meeting where the US president would also join.A Putin adviser later said that Trump and Putin had spoken for 40 minutes on Monday. Before the European leaders met Trump in the East Room of the White House, a hot mic caught a private chat between Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. “I think he wants to make a deal. I think he wants to make a deal for me. You understand that? As crazy as that sounds,” Trump told Macron, speaking about Putin.&nbsp;(Here, Trump is suggesting that Putin might agree to talks mainly to give Trump the credit of being a peacemaker, rather than out of genuine interest in ending the war.) It is still uncertain how easy it will be to bring the two bitter enemies together at the negotiating table for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. For months, Zelensky has been asking to meet Putin, mainly to prove that Russia is not serious about peace, since he believes the Kremlin has no real interest in such talks. Moscow has repeatedly rejected the idea of a Putin-Zelensky meeting. A Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, gave a noncommittal statement on Monday night, saying it might be “worthwhile” to “explore the possibility” of sending higher-level representatives from the Russian and Ukrainian delegations for talks.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-zelensky-meet-zelensky-said-thank-you-eight-times-in-oval-office-remarks-1755575931099/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-zelensky-meet-zelensky-said-thank-you-eight-times-in-oval-office-remarks-1755575931099/embed</a>&nbsp;2. Europeans push back as Trump backs away from ceasefireTrump suggested that a ceasefire might not be needed before starting peace talks to end the war.In the past, Ukraine has been clear that stopping the fighting is a must before any further talks with Russia, and before working on a long-term settlement. A ceasefire is usually easier to agree on than a full peace deal, which could take many months of negotiations, while Russia’s attacks would likely continue. “I don’t know that it’s necessary,” Trump said about a ceasefire. But European leaders pushed back, with the strongest response coming from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. (This means that while Trump was downplaying the need for a ceasefire, European leaders — especially Merz — strongly disagreed, insisting that stopping the fighting first is essential before any real peace talks can begin.) “I can’t imagine that the next meeting would happen without a ceasefire,” Merz said. “So, let’s work on that and let’s try to put pressure on Russia.” When asked to speak, Zelensky did not repeat his earlier calls for a ceasefire.&nbsp;3. Trump engaged in some shuttle diplomacy with PutinPresident Joseph R. Biden Jr. (the former US president before Trump’s return to office) once called Putin a “murderous dictator,” but Trump has always shown a more positive view of the Russian president. On Monday, Trump continued to present Putin as being serious about ending the war he had started. At one point, Trump even paused his meeting with the European leaders in the East Room of the White House to call the Russian leader. Afterward, Trump brought Zelensky and the European leaders into the Oval Office to explain his discussion with Putin, according to President Alexander Stubb of Finland, as reported by New York Times.&nbsp;

4. Trump hints at security guaranteesTrump told Zelensky that the US would help guarantee Ukraine’s security in any deal to end the war, though he did not say exactly how. The US president did not promise troops on the ground, but when reporters asked if the guarantees could include American military in Ukraine, Trump did not rule it out. He said Europe was the “first line of defence”, but added that “we’ll be involved.” (This means Trump believes Europe should take the lead in defending Ukraine, but the US will also play a role and not stay out completely.) “We’ll give them good protection,” the president said. This was the strongest statement yet from Trump on security guarantees, which are seen as crucial for any deal with Russia. He also said that during last week’s Alaska summit, Putin had agreed that there would be security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any peace deal. At a news conference after Monday’s meetings, Zelensky said that part of the security guarantee would include a $90 billion (₹7.83 lakh crore / £67 billion) arms deal between the US and Ukraine. He said this would include US weapons that Ukraine does not yet have, such as aviation systems, anti-missile systems, “and other things I will not disclose.” Zelensky also said the US would buy Ukrainian drones, which would help fund local production of these unmanned aircraft.The Ukrainian president told reporters that security guarantees for Kyiv would likely be finalised within 10 days.&nbsp;5. Zelensky launches charm offensiveAfter his tense visit to the Oval Office in February, the Ukrainian president made a big effort to impress his American hosts — even saying “thank you” six times in the first few minutes, according to BBC. During his last visit to the White House, Zelensky was scolded by Vice-President JD Vance for not showing enough gratitude for US support. This time, Zelensky wore a dark suit instead of his usual military uniform, which previously drew a joke from Trump that his guest was “all dressed up today.” Zelensky also tried to build personal ties during the meeting by giving Trump a letter from Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska to be passed on to US First Lady Melania Trump. “It’s not to you — [it’s] to your wife,” Zelensky told Trump. European leaders also increased their praise for Trump before their joint meeting, crediting him for bringing them together at the table. “I really want to thank you for your leadership,” said Nato chief Mark Rutte. Italian PM Giorgia Meloni said that earlier there was no sign Russia wanted peace, but now “something had changed” because of Trump. Despite the positive words, the Europeans also warned that they feel vulnerable to any future Russian aggression. French President Emmanuel Macron told the leaders: “When we talk about security guarantees, we are also talking about the security of the European continent.”

Trump hosted European leaders after meeting Putin in Alaska. He proposed a Putin-Zelensky meeting and hinted at US security guarantees for Ukraine. Europeans insisted on a ceasefire first. Zelensky launched a charm offensive, while Trump engaged in direct talks with Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday to talk about ending the war in Ukraine. Several European leaders also came to Washington, just days after Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which did not bring a ceasefire. Even though Trump sounded hopeful, and European leaders were more cautious, by Monday evening there were no clear promises of security guarantees or a peace deal. Here are the main points from the talks: 1. A Putin-Zelensky meeting on the cards? After the summit, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he had called Putin to start planning a meeting between the Russian leader and Zelensky. Trump said that after this one-on-one meeting, there could be a three-way meeting where the US president would also join. A Putin adviser later said that Trump and Putin had spoken for 40 minutes on Monday. Before the European leaders met Trump in the East Room of the White House, a hot mic caught a private chat between Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. “I think he wants to make a deal. I think he wants to make a deal for me. You understand that? As crazy as that sounds,” Trump told Macron, speaking about Putin. (Here, Trump is suggesting that Putin might agree to talks mainly to give Trump the credit of being a peacemaker, rather than out of genuine interest in ending the war.) It is still uncertain how easy it will be to bring the two bitter enemies together at the negotiating table for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. For months, Zelensky has been asking to meet Putin, mainly to prove that Russia is not serious about peace, since he believes the Kremlin has no real interest in such talks. Moscow has repeatedly rejected the idea of a Putin-Zelensky meeting. A Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, gave a noncommittal statement on Monday night, saying it might be “worthwhile” to “explore the possibility” of sending higher-level representatives from the Russian and Ukrainian delegations for talks. https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-zelensky-meet-zelensky-said-thank-you-eight-times-in-oval-office-remarks-1755575931099/embed 2. Europeans push back as Trump backs away from ceasefire Trump suggested that a ceasefire might not be needed before starting peace talks to end the war. In the past, Ukraine has been clear that stopping the fighting is a must before any further talks with Russia, and before working on a long-term settlement. A ceasefire is usually easier to agree on than a full peace deal, which could take many months of negotiations, while Russia’s attacks would likely continue. “I don’t know that it’s necessary,” Trump said about a ceasefire. But European leaders pushed back, with the strongest response coming from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. (This means that while Trump was downplaying the need for a ceasefire, European leaders — especially Merz — strongly disagreed, insisting that stopping the fighting first is essential before any real peace talks can begin.) “I can’t imagine that the next meeting would happen without a ceasefire,” Merz said. “So, let’s work on that and let’s try to put pressure on Russia.” When asked to speak, Zelensky did not repeat his earlier calls for a ceasefire. 3. Trump engaged in some shuttle diplomacy with Putin President Joseph R. Biden Jr. (the former US president before Trump’s return to office) once called Putin a “murderous dictator,” but Trump has always shown a more positive view of the Russian president. On Monday, Trump continued to present Putin as being serious about ending the war he had started. At one point, Trump even paused his meeting with the European leaders in the East Room of the White House to call the Russian leader. Afterward, Trump brought Zelensky and the European leaders into the Oval Office to explain his discussion with Putin, according to President Alexander Stubb of Finland, as reported by New York Times.

Trump hosted European leaders after meeting Putin in Alaska. He proposed a Putin-Zelensky meeting and hinted at US security guarantees for Ukraine. Europeans insisted on a ceasefire first. Zelensky launched a charm offensive, while Trump engaged in direct talks with Putin.

The Washington Gambit: Trump juggles a Putin call, European doubts, and Zelensky’s hopes for a deal

US President Donald Trump's meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, was followed by a flurry of reactions from around the world. Here's what the world leaders had to say about the historic meeting:<h2>EU calls for strong guarantees for Ukraine and Europe</h2>European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said security guarantees were “essential” in any peace deal. “The EU is working closely with Zelensky and the United States to reach a just and lasting peace. Strong security guarantees that protect Ukrainian and European vital security interests are essential,” she wrote on X.<h2>Macron pushes coalition efforts</h2>French President Emmanuel Macron said France would work with the US and partners in the “coalition of the willing” to push for a peace framework with firm guarantees. He confirmed the coalition would convene soon to continue talks.<h2>India urges dialogue over conflict</h2>India’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, reiterated New Delhi’s position on diplomacy. “The way forward can only be through dialogue and diplomacy. The world wants to see an early end to the conflict in Ukraine,” he said.<h2>Slovakia questions European strategy</h2>Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has met Putin twice in the past year, criticised Europe’s current approach. He said in a Facebook statement, “The coming days will show whether the big players in the Union will support this process … or whether the unsuccessful European strategy of trying to weaken Russia through this conflict with all kinds of literally incredible financial, political or military assistance to Kyiv will continue.”<h2>Italy highlights Trump’s move on security guarantees</h2>Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described security guarantees as the “most interesting developments” from the Alaska summit. She added that Trump had backed the Italian proposal of guarantees “inspired by Nato’s article 5”, Reuters reported.<h2>UK praises Trump’s role but insists Zelensky must be part of peace</h2>British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised Trump’s efforts. “President Trump’s efforts have brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. His leadership in pursuit of an end to the killing should be commended,” he said. Starmer stressed that President Zelensky must be included in the next phase of negotiations. “The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without him,” he added.<h2>Joint European statement backs trilateral summit</h2>A European Council statement signed by Macron, Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Council President António Costa and von der Leyen welcomed Trump’s role but insisted Ukraine must be at the table. “As President Trump said ‘there’s no deal until there’s a deal’. The next step must now be further talks including President Zelensky, whom he will meet soon,” it read.<h2>Poland warns of “decisive phase”</h2>Polish President Donald Tusk issued a stark warning, calling Putin a “cunning and ruthless player.” He said, “The game for Ukraine’s future, Poland’s security, and all of Europe has entered a decisive phase. Today, it is even clearer that Russia respects only the strong.”<h2>Trump fails to secure ceasefire but eyes future talks</h2>US President Donald Trump confirmed that no ceasefire was reached in Alaska after three hours of talks with Putin. He insisted his focus was now on securing a “full peace agreement.” Zelensky announced he would travel to Washington on Monday, while European leaders signalled readiness to toughen sanctions on Moscow after consulting Trump and holding their own lengthy discussions.

President Trump's meeting with Russian President Putin led to many reactions from leaders around the world. Here's what the world leaders had to say about the historic meeting:

US President Donald Trump's meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, was followed by a flurry of reactions from around the world. Here's what the world leaders had to say about the historic meeting: EU calls for strong guarantees for Ukraine and Europe European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said security guarantees were “essential” in any peace deal. “The EU is working closely with Zelensky and the United States to reach a just and lasting peace. Strong security guarantees that protect Ukrainian and European vital security interests are essential,” she wrote on X. Macron pushes coalition efforts French President Emmanuel Macron said France would work with the US and partners in the “coalition of the willing” to push for a peace framework with firm guarantees. He confirmed the coalition would convene soon to continue talks. India urges dialogue over conflict India’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, reiterated New Delhi’s position on diplomacy. “The way forward can only be through dialogue and diplomacy. The world wants to see an early end to the conflict in Ukraine,” he said. Slovakia questions European strategy Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has met Putin twice in the past year, criticised Europe’s current approach. He said in a Facebook statement, “The coming days will show whether the big players in the Union will support this process … or whether the unsuccessful European strategy of trying to weaken Russia through this conflict with all kinds of literally incredible financial, political or military assistance to Kyiv will continue.” Italy highlights Trump’s move on security guarantees Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described security guarantees as the “most interesting developments” from the Alaska summit. She added that Trump had backed the Italian proposal of guarantees “inspired by Nato’s article 5”, Reuters reported. UK praises Trump’s role but insists Zelensky must be part of peace British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised Trump’s efforts. “President Trump’s efforts have brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. His leadership in pursuit of an end to the killing should be commended,” he said. Starmer stressed that President Zelensky must be included in the next phase of negotiations. “The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without him,” he added. Joint European statement backs trilateral summit A European Council statement signed by Macron, Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Council President António Costa and von der Leyen welcomed Trump’s role but insisted Ukraine must be at the table. “As President Trump said ‘there’s no deal until there’s a deal’. The next step must now be further talks including President Zelensky, whom he will meet soon,” it read. Poland warns of “decisive phase” Polish President Donald Tusk issued a stark warning, calling Putin a “cunning and ruthless player.” He said, “The game for Ukraine’s future, Poland’s security, and all of Europe has entered a decisive phase. Today, it is even clearer that Russia respects only the strong.” Trump fails to secure ceasefire but eyes future talks US President Donald Trump confirmed that no ceasefire was reached in Alaska after three hours of talks with Putin. He insisted his focus was now on securing a “full peace agreement.” Zelensky announced he would travel to Washington on Monday, while European leaders signalled readiness to toughen sanctions on Moscow after consulting Trump and holding their own lengthy discussions.

President Trump's meeting with Russian President Putin led to many reactions from leaders around the world. Here's what the world leaders had to say about the historic meeting:

'Game for Ukraine’s future entered decisive phase': How did world react to 'historic' Trump-Putin meeting?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of continuing its attacks and showing no intent to end the war, just hours before US President Donald Trump meets Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska. “There is no order, nor any signals from Moscow that it is preparing to end this war… they are also killing on the day of the negotiations,” Zelensky said in a video message shared on social media.<h2>Ukraine places hopes on Washington’s role</h2>Zelensky said Kyiv will be “counting on America” during the high-stakes summit, which he views as a potential stepping stone to a future three-way meeting involving Ukraine, the US and Russia. “The key thing is that this meeting should open up a real path toward a just peace and a substantive discussion between leaders in a trilateral format – Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian side,” he said.“It is time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America. We are ready, as always, to work as productively as possible.” The Ukrainian president added that he was awaiting an intelligence assessment on “the current intentions of the Russian side and its preparations for the meeting in Alaska.”<h2>Fighting intensifies in Donetsk region</h2>Zelensky also reported heavy clashes in the eastern Donetsk region, where Ukrainian forces are resisting Russian attempts to advance near Pokrovsk. He said Kyiv had moved to strengthen the defence of Dobropillia and surrounding areas, noting that “the Russian army continues to suffer significant losses in its attempts to secure more favourable political positions for the Russian leadership at the meeting&nbsp;in&nbsp;Alaska.”<h2>Trump-Putin meet in Alaska today</h2>US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet today in Anchorage, Alaska, at 3:30 p.m. ET. The US president will personally welcome Putin when his plane lands in Alaska on Friday, the Kremlin confirmed. “At exactly 11:00 local time (1900 GMT), the president is scheduled to land. President Trump will meet him at the plane,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state media.

President Zelensky accused Moscow of continuing attacks ahead of the Trump-Putin summit, saying there’s no sign Russia wants peace. He added that Kyiv is “counting on America” for support.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of continuing its attacks and showing no intent to end the war, just hours before US President Donald Trump meets Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska. “There is no order, nor any signals from Moscow that it is preparing to end this war… they are also killing on the day of the negotiations,” Zelensky said in a video message shared on social media. Ukraine places hopes on Washington’s role Zelensky said Kyiv will be “counting on America” during the high-stakes summit, which he views as a potential stepping stone to a future three-way meeting involving Ukraine, the US and Russia. “The key thing is that this meeting should open up a real path toward a just peace and a substantive discussion between leaders in a trilateral format – Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian side,” he said. “It is time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America. We are ready, as always, to work as productively as possible.” The Ukrainian president added that he was awaiting an intelligence assessment on “the current intentions of the Russian side and its preparations for the meeting in Alaska.” Fighting intensifies in Donetsk region Zelensky also reported heavy clashes in the eastern Donetsk region, where Ukrainian forces are resisting Russian attempts to advance near Pokrovsk. He said Kyiv had moved to strengthen the defence of Dobropillia and surrounding areas, noting that “the Russian army continues to suffer significant losses in its attempts to secure more favourable political positions for the Russian leadership at the meeting in Alaska.” Trump-Putin meet in Alaska today US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet today in Anchorage, Alaska, at 3:30 p.m. ET. The US president will personally welcome Putin when his plane lands in Alaska on Friday, the Kremlin confirmed. “At exactly 11:00 local time (1900 GMT), the president is scheduled to land. President Trump will meet him at the plane,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state media.

President Zelensky accused Moscow of continuing attacks ahead of the Trump-Putin summit, saying there’s no sign Russia wants peace. He added that Kyiv is “counting on America” for support.

‘Moscow still killing on day of Trump-Putin meeting’: Zelensky says Russia 'doesn't want to end war'; Kyiv is ‘counting on America’

Ahead of the high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov interacted with the media in Anchorage on Friday (Aug 15) and confirmed he had visited Alaska before. When asked about US President Trump's remark suggesting a 25 per cent chance of talks failing, Lavrov said Russia avoids predicting outcomes but will present its clear position regarding the ongoing war with Ukraine. He highlighted that the Russian side has already made progress through discussions with Trump’s Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff. His statement also brushed aside reports claiming that Witkoff misunderstood statements made by Putin during his visit. Lavrov expressed hope for continued productive talks. When asked if he felt nervous, Lavrov simply replied, "What’s that?" indicating confidence.&nbsp;“We never try to anticipate the outcome or make any guesses. What we do know, however, is that we have arguments we can contribute to the discussion and that our position is clear. We will present it. President Vladimir Putin has mentioned this fact. Steve Witkoff spoke on behalf of President Donald Trump. I hope that we will be able to continue this productive conversation tomorrow,” Lavrov said.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">💬 Sergey <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lavrov?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lavrov</a>’s answers to media questions, Anchorage: We never try to anticipate the outcome of negotiations. What we do know, however, is that we have arguments we can contribute to the discussion and that our position is clear. We will present it.<a href="https://t.co/hBwFSEm9Xf">https://t.co/hBwFSEm9Xf</a> <a href="https://t.co/uamb1npPd4">pic.twitter.com/uamb1npPd4</a>&mdash; MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) <a href="https://twitter.com/mfa_russia/status/1956261038879387913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Trump-Putin Alaska meet</h2>It was confirmed on Friday (Aug 8) that Trump will meet with Putin on August 15 to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. The US had proposed a tri-party meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelensky, but Putin expressed his reservations about the same. Trump has said that he would know within two minutes of the meeting with Putin if he is interested in ending the Russia-Ukraine war. The White House also said that meeting with Putin will be a ‘listening exercise’ for the US president. Moreover, a day ahead of the scheduled meeting in Alaska, Trump said that there is a 25 per cent chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting, while emphasising that both leaders would have to meet a second time for a deal to be done. Notably, this will be the first in-person summit between Trump and Putin after their last meeting at the Helsinki Summit in 2018 in Finland. They met briefly at the 2019 G20 Summit in Osaka, but no formal summit was held.

Ahead of meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, declined to speculate on the outcome of US-Russia talks. He emphasised Russia's clear stance on war with Ukraine

Ahead of the high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov interacted with the media in Anchorage on Friday (Aug 15) and confirmed he had visited Alaska before. When asked about US President Trump's remark suggesting a 25 per cent chance of talks failing, Lavrov said Russia avoids predicting outcomes but will present its clear position regarding the ongoing war with Ukraine. He highlighted that the Russian side has already made progress through discussions with Trump’s Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff. His statement also brushed aside reports claiming that Witkoff misunderstood statements made by Putin during his visit. Lavrov expressed hope for continued productive talks. When asked if he felt nervous, Lavrov simply replied, "What’s that?" indicating confidence. “We never try to anticipate the outcome or make any guesses. What we do know, however, is that we have arguments we can contribute to the discussion and that our position is clear. We will present it. President Vladimir Putin has mentioned this fact. Steve Witkoff spoke on behalf of President Donald Trump. I hope that we will be able to continue this productive conversation tomorrow,” Lavrov said.

Ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, declined to speculate on the outcome of US-Russia talks. He emphasised Russia's clear stance on war with Ukraine

'We never try...': What Russia said on Trump's '25% chances of talks failing' remark ahead of Alaska meeting with Putin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (August 14) stressed that tariffs against India may have influenced Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to talks in Alaska. In an interview with Fox News Radio, Trump hinted that this could be a "probable" reason for Putin to meet him.The US president stressed that "everything has an impact", adding that secondary tariffs against India "essentially took them out of buying oil from Russia."Notably, Trump imposed massive tariffs on India earlier this month. Initially, it started with 25 per cent, but later Trump imposed additional tariffs, making it 50 per cent, citing New Delhi's import of Russian oil amid the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.India "probably" had a role in Putin agreeing to meet. "When I told India, which essentially took them out of buying oil from Russia, that we’re going to charge you, because you’re dealing with Russia on oil purchases, India was the second largest. And getting pretty close to China, China is the largest. And as you know, there was something in the works for that," he said.Trump further said that later, Russia called and said they wanted to meet him."Certainly, when you lose your second largest customer and you're probably going to lose your first largest customer, I think that probably has a role," the US president said.Trump continued saying that Russia respects the US now, adding that he didn't respect it under Biden.Stressing that the US is the "hottest country anywhere in the world", Trump started lauding America as he said, “Everybody’s moving back to the United States. Car companies, AI companies, Everybody’s moving back. They’re all starting their factories now. The odds are we’ve never had anything like this. It is truly the golden age of America, but he respects our country now.”

The US president stressed that "everything has an impact", adding that secondary tariffs against India "essentially took them out of buying oil from Russia."

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (August 14) stressed that tariffs against India may have influenced Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to talks in Alaska. In an interview with Fox News Radio, Trump hinted that this could be a "probable" reason for Putin to meet him. The US president stressed that "everything has an impact", adding that secondary tariffs against India "essentially took them out of buying oil from Russia." Notably, Trump imposed massive tariffs on India earlier this month. Initially, it started with 25 per cent, but later Trump imposed additional tariffs, making it 50 per cent, citing New Delhi's import of Russian oil amid the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. India "probably" had a role in Putin agreeing to meet. "When I told India, which essentially took them out of buying oil from Russia, that we’re going to charge you, because you’re dealing with Russia on oil purchases, India was the second largest. And getting pretty close to China, China is the largest. And as you know, there was something in the works for that," he said. Trump further said that later, Russia called and said they wanted to meet him. "Certainly, when you lose your second largest customer and you're probably going to lose your first largest customer, I think that probably has a role," the US president said. Trump continued saying that Russia respects the US now, adding that he didn't respect it under Biden. Stressing that the US is the "hottest country anywhere in the world", Trump started lauding America as he said, “Everybody’s moving back to the United States. Car companies, AI companies, Everybody’s moving back. They’re all starting their factories now. The odds are we’ve never had anything like this. It is truly the golden age of America, but he respects our country now.”

The US president stressed that "everything has an impact", adding that secondary tariffs against India "essentially took them out of buying oil from Russia."

Is India the reason behind Putin agreeing for peace talks? Trump REVEALS what led to Alaska meeting

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Aug 13) blasted at “fake news” media over its coverage of his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine ceasefire talks in Alaska on Friday (Aug 15). Trump also slammed “fired losers and really dumb people like John Bolton in a fiery post on his Truth Social platform. The US president’s remarks on “very unfair media” came hours before he is set to hold talks with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.&nbsp;“Very unfair media is at work on my meeting with Putin. Constantly quoting fired losers and really dumb people like John Bolton, who just said that, even though the meeting is on American soil, ‘Putin has already won.’” Trump wrote on Truth Social.&nbsp;John Bolton, former US National Security Advisor (NSA), had criticised Trump’s tariff on India over its Russian oil purchase, saying that his move could push India closer to China and Russia. He added that trade duties are intended to hurt India, but will spoil years of the relationship between the country and the United States.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gravitas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gravitas</a> | Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton offers deep insights into the geopolitical stakes surrounding the high-level Alaska summit.<a href="https://twitter.com/MollyGambhir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MollyGambhir</a> reports<a href="https://twitter.com/AmbJohnBolton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmbJohnBolton</a>, Former U.S. National Security Advisor, brings you his insights <a href="https://t.co/XqjT671O8B">pic.twitter.com/XqjT671O8B</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1955329483810148578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Trump further added the post, “What’s that all about? We are winning on EVERYTHING. The Fake News is working overtime (No tax on overtime!). If I got Moscow and Leningrad free, as part of the deal with Russia, the Fake News would say that I made a bad deal!”&nbsp;“But now they’ve been caught. Look at all of the real news that’s coming out about their CORRUPTION. They are sick and dishonest people, who probably hate our Country. But it doesn’t matter because we are winning on everything!!! MAGA,” the US president said.&nbsp;Ahead of his Alaska talks with Putin, Trump said on Monday (Aug 11) that he is expecting a “constructive conversation”. The US President has also hinted that a ceasefire deal to end the war in Ukraine could involve “land swapping.” Meanwhile, Zelensky has ruled out territorial concessions to Russia.&nbsp;Trump is set to speak with Zelensky and other European leaders on Wednesday (Aug 13). The Ukrainian president is in Berlin for the German-hosted virtual meeting two days before the US president meets his Russian counterpart in Alaska.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Aug 13) slammed “fake news” media over its coverage ahead of Ukraine talks in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Aug 13) blasted at “fake news” media over its coverage of his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine ceasefire talks in Alaska on Friday (Aug 15). Trump also slammed “fired losers and really dumb people like John Bolton in a fiery post on his Truth Social platform. The US president’s remarks on “very unfair media” came hours before he is set to hold talks with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “Very unfair media is at work on my meeting with Putin. Constantly quoting fired losers and really dumb people like John Bolton, who just said that, even though the meeting is on American soil, ‘Putin has already won.’” Trump wrote on Truth Social. John Bolton, former US National Security Advisor (NSA), had criticised Trump’s tariff on India over its Russian oil purchase, saying that his move could push India closer to China and Russia. He added that trade duties are intended to hurt India, but will spoil years of the relationship between the country and the United States.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Aug 13) slammed “fake news” media over its coverage ahead of Ukraine talks in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

‘If I got Moscow and Leningrad free…’: Trump attacks ‘fake news’ media ahead of Alaska talks with Putin on Ukraine war

United States President Donald Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. Both the leaders will discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war with the White House, saying that it will be a 'listening exercise for Trump. The US president earlier said that he would know in 'two minutes' if Putin wants to end the war with Ukraine or not. The US has hinted that the peace deal between Ukraine and Russia would include 'land swapping,' a proposal that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denied.&nbsp;The exact location for the meeting between Trump and Putin was revealed by two White House officials in conversation with CNN. The US military location houses an Air Force base and an Army fort, which merged in 2010. Earlier, Trump mistakenly said that he would go to Russia to meet Putin. The CNN said that the White House did not want Putin to be at a US military base, but organisers suggested this as the apt location. The final word from the Trump admin is not out yet.&nbsp;&nbsp;Read More |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-planning-kim-jong-un-style-summit-with-putin-will-he-walk-into-russia-here-s-what-we-know-1754981472493"> Trump planning Kim Jong Un-style summit with Putin: Will he 'walk' into Russia? Here's what we know</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russian-president-putin-reaches-out-to-allies-holds-call-with-kim-jong-to-discuss-alaska-summit-1755065970314/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/russian-president-putin-reaches-out-to-allies-holds-call-with-kim-jong-to-discuss-alaska-summit-1755065970314/embed</a>&nbsp;<h2>Importance of Alaska&nbsp;</h2>Choosing Alaska as the venue for the Trump-Putin meeting carries strong symbolic weight. Once part of the Russian Empire, Alaska still bears traces of Russian cultural influence, including the Russian Orthodox Church. The US purchased the territory in 1867 for $7.2 million, a deal mocked at the time as "Seward's folly." &nbsp;The location may appeal to Trump’s affinity for grand gestures.. Trump has also been invited to visit Russia, suggesting a follow-up trip to Moscow is possible if optics play a key role. The White House’s venue choice subtly nods to shared history while offering a neutral US setting with strategic symbolism.<h2>Trump-Putin meeting</h2>It was confirmed on Friday (Aug 8) that Trump will meet with Putin on August 15 to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. Both the Kremlin and the White House confirmed the summit. The US had proposed a tri-party meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelensky, but Putin expressed his reservations about the same. Trump has now said that he would know withing two minutes of the meeting with Putin if he is interested in ending the Russia-Ukraine war. This will be the first in-person summit between Trump and Putin after they last held the Helsinki Summit in 2018 in Finland. They met briefly at the 2019 G20 Summit in Osaka, but no formal summit was held.

US President Donald Trump will meet Russian President Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war. The White House calls it a “listening exercise.” Final confirmation of the venue is pending.

United States President Donald Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. Both the leaders will discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war with the White House, saying that it will be a 'listening exercise for Trump. The US president earlier said that he would know in 'two minutes' if Putin wants to end the war with Ukraine or not. The US has hinted that the peace deal between Ukraine and Russia would include 'land swapping,' a proposal that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denied. The exact location for the meeting between Trump and Putin was revealed by two White House officials in conversation with CNN. The US military location houses an Air Force base and an Army fort, which merged in 2010. Earlier, Trump mistakenly said that he would go to Russia to meet Putin. The CNN said that the White House did not want Putin to be at a US military base, but organisers suggested this as the apt location. The final word from the Trump admin is not out yet. Read More | Trump planning Kim Jong Un-style summit with Putin: Will he 'walk' into Russia? Here's what we know https://www.wionews.com/videos/russian-president-putin-reaches-out-to-allies-holds-call-with-kim-jong-to-discuss-alaska-summit-1755065970314/embed Importance of Alaska Choosing Alaska as the venue for the Trump-Putin meeting carries strong symbolic weight. Once part of the Russian Empire, Alaska still bears traces of Russian cultural influence, including the Russian Orthodox Church. The US purchased the territory in 1867 for $7.2 million, a deal mocked at the time as "Seward's folly." The location may appeal to Trump’s affinity for grand gestures.. Trump has also been invited to visit Russia, suggesting a follow-up trip to Moscow is possible if optics play a key role. The White House’s venue choice subtly nods to shared history while offering a neutral US setting with strategic symbolism. Trump-Putin meeting It was confirmed on Friday (Aug 8) that Trump will meet with Putin on August 15 to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. Both the Kremlin and the White House confirmed the summit. The US had proposed a tri-party meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelensky, but Putin expressed his reservations about the same. Trump has now said that he would know withing two minutes of the meeting with Putin if he is interested in ending the Russia-Ukraine war. This will be the first in-person summit between Trump and Putin after they last held the Helsinki Summit in 2018 in Finland. They met briefly at the 2019 G20 Summit in Osaka, but no formal summit was held.

US President Donald Trump will meet Russian President Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war. The White House calls it a “listening exercise.” Final confirmation of the venue is pending.

Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska: Exact location REVEALED as US president preps to discuss Russia-Ukraine war

As US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin prepare to meet in Alaska on 15 August, Ukraine is bracing for decisions that could shape its future, without its direct involvement. “It’s not entirely clear what happens next,” a source in the President’s Office told the Kyiv Independent. “But it’s clear that we’re about to be a little bit sold out,” they added.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-his-personal-victory-zelensky-says-trump-putin-meet-is-a-win-for-russia-here-s-why-1755027468953">'His personal victory': Zelensky says Trump-Putin meet is a win for Russia - Here's why</a>Speaking at a closed-door briefing with journalists, President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed caution over the Anchorage talks. “Meaningful and productive talks about us without us won’t work,” he said. “I don’t know what they (the US and Russia) will talk about without us. Probably, they have their own bilateral track,” he added.<h2>Russian gains ahead of negotiations</h2>The summit comes as Russian forces advance in Donetsk Oblast, pushing towards Dobropillia, an area considered safe just a month earlier. Zelensky said the timing was deliberate. “The purpose of this advance is clear to us: by Aug. 15, to create a certain information backdrop ahead of Putin’s meeting with Trump… suggesting that Russia is moving forward and Ukraine is losing ground,” he noted. For the Ukrainian president, the meeting represents a “personal victory” for Putin, giving him the chance to “break out of isolation” on US soil and delay sanctions. “He is seeking, excuse me, photographs. He needs a photo from his meeting with President Trump,” Zelensky added.<h2>Lawmakers warn of a political spectacle</h2>Oleksandr Merezhko, head of Ukraine’s parliamentary committee on international policy, described the summit as potentially “a political show.” “In this case, since Trump is a non-classical president and a non-classical diplomat, his meeting at the highest level may be just for show,” he told the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine’s allies have reaffirmed their support for its territorial integrity after Trump publicly floated the idea of a “territory swap” and reports surfaced that Putin wanted a complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donetsk and Luhansk.<h2>Ceasefire signals, but uncertainty over terms</h2>Zelensky revealed that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from talks with Putin, indicated Russia might agree to a ceasefire. But Kyiv remains unsure about the conditions. The Ukrainian leader said there is a “high likelihood” that Putin will demand a withdrawal from Donetsk and Luhansk, something Trump may implicitly endorse by saying, “The Ukrainians will have to do it.”<h2>Zelensky vows no troop withdrawal</h2>Zelensky insisted Ukraine would keep pushing for a ceasefire, security guarantees, and direct participation in any territorial talks. He firmly rejected pulling troops out of Donetsk and Luhansk, warning it would open the door to future Russian offensives. “I haven’t heard anything, not a single proposal that would guarantee a new war won’t start tomorrow,” he said. “He (Putin) doesn’t want a sovereign Ukraine. That’s what this whole game is about.”

Speaking at a closed-door briefing with journalists, President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed caution over the Anchorage talks. “Meaningful and productive talks about us without us won’t work,” he said.

As US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin prepare to meet in Alaska on 15 August, Ukraine is bracing for decisions that could shape its future, without its direct involvement. “It’s not entirely clear what happens next,” a source in the President’s Office told the Kyiv Independent. “But it’s clear that we’re about to be a little bit sold out,” they added. Also read: 'His personal victory': Zelensky says Trump-Putin meet is a win for Russia - Here's why Speaking at a closed-door briefing with journalists, President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed caution over the Anchorage talks. “Meaningful and productive talks about us without us won’t work,” he said. “I don’t know what they (the US and Russia) will talk about without us. Probably, they have their own bilateral track,” he added. Russian gains ahead of negotiations The summit comes as Russian forces advance in Donetsk Oblast, pushing towards Dobropillia, an area considered safe just a month earlier. Zelensky said the timing was deliberate. “The purpose of this advance is clear to us: by Aug. 15, to create a certain information backdrop ahead of Putin’s meeting with Trump… suggesting that Russia is moving forward and Ukraine is losing ground,” he noted. For the Ukrainian president, the meeting represents a “personal victory” for Putin, giving him the chance to “break out of isolation” on US soil and delay sanctions. “He is seeking, excuse me, photographs. He needs a photo from his meeting with President Trump,” Zelensky added. Lawmakers warn of a political spectacle Oleksandr Merezhko, head of Ukraine’s parliamentary committee on international policy, described the summit as potentially “a political show.” “In this case, since Trump is a non-classical president and a non-classical diplomat, his meeting at the highest level may be just for show,” he told the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine’s allies have reaffirmed their support for its territorial integrity after Trump publicly floated the idea of a “territory swap” and reports surfaced that Putin wanted a complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donetsk and Luhansk. Ceasefire signals, but uncertainty over terms Zelensky revealed that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from talks with Putin, indicated Russia might agree to a ceasefire. But Kyiv remains unsure about the conditions. The Ukrainian leader said there is a “high likelihood” that Putin will demand a withdrawal from Donetsk and Luhansk, something Trump may implicitly endorse by saying, “The Ukrainians will have to do it.” Zelensky vows no troop withdrawal Zelensky insisted Ukraine would keep pushing for a ceasefire, security guarantees, and direct participation in any territorial talks. He firmly rejected pulling troops out of Donetsk and Luhansk, warning it would open the door to future Russian offensives. “I haven’t heard anything, not a single proposal that would guarantee a new war won’t start tomorrow,” he said. “He (Putin) doesn’t want a sovereign Ukraine. That’s what this whole game is about.”

Speaking at a closed-door briefing with journalists, President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed caution over the Anchorage talks. “Meaningful and productive talks about us without us won’t work,” he said.

'About to be sold out': Ukraine on edge ahead of Trump-Putin meet; Zelensky warns against deals 'about Kyiv without Kyiv'

White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday (August 12) said that the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be a "listening exercise" for the US president. This comes just two days ahead of their meeting in Alaska, where the two leaders will discuss the Russia-Ukraine war and peace proposals.The meeting between Trump and Putin will take place in Anchorage, Alaska, the White House spokesperson announced on Tuesday.When asked about why Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited to the Alaska Summit, Leavitt replied that the meeting came at Putin's request, relayed to Trump by special envoy Steve Witkoff after he visited Moscow."The goal of this meeting for the president is to walk away with a better understanding of how we can end this war," Leavitt told reporters.A reporter asked if Zelensky has given Trump any red lines ahead of talks with Putin. She replied, "The president has deep respect for all parties that are involved in this conflict and are trying to bring this conflict to an end."Leavitt added, "I think this is a listening exercise for the president. Look, only one party that's involved in this war is going to be present. And so this is for the president to go and to get, again, a more firm and better understanding of how we can hopefully bring this war to an end."“Sitting face to face, rather than speaking over the telephone, will give this president the best indication of how to end this war and where this is headed,” she said.On selecting Alaska as the meeting point, the White House spokesperson said, "The president is very honored and looks forward to hosting President Putin on American soil."A reporter asked Leavitt about Trump's verbal slip-up yesterday during the briefing, when he mistakenly said that he plans to go to Russia, instead of Alaska.Leavitt said Trump's plans to go to Alaska, but did not close the door to him visiting Putin in Russia down the road. "Perhaps there are plans in the future to travel to Russia and on Friday, the president will be meeting with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska, as you know," she said.

The meeting between Trump and Putin will take place in Anchorage, Alaska, the White House spokesperson announced on Tuesday.

White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday (August 12) said that the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be a "listening exercise" for the US president. This comes just two days ahead of their meeting in Alaska, where the two leaders will discuss the Russia-Ukraine war and peace proposals. The meeting between Trump and Putin will take place in Anchorage, Alaska, the White House spokesperson announced on Tuesday. When asked about why Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited to the Alaska Summit, Leavitt replied that the meeting came at Putin's request, relayed to Trump by special envoy Steve Witkoff after he visited Moscow. "The goal of this meeting for the president is to walk away with a better understanding of how we can end this war," Leavitt told reporters. A reporter asked if Zelensky has given Trump any red lines ahead of talks with Putin. She replied, "The president has deep respect for all parties that are involved in this conflict and are trying to bring this conflict to an end." Leavitt added, "I think this is a listening exercise for the president. Look, only one party that's involved in this war is going to be present. And so this is for the president to go and to get, again, a more firm and better understanding of how we can hopefully bring this war to an end." “Sitting face to face, rather than speaking over the telephone, will give this president the best indication of how to end this war and where this is headed,” she said. On selecting Alaska as the meeting point, the White House spokesperson said, "The president is very honored and looks forward to hosting President Putin on American soil." A reporter asked Leavitt about Trump's verbal slip-up yesterday during the briefing, when he mistakenly said that he plans to go to Russia, instead of Alaska. Leavitt said Trump's plans to go to Alaska, but did not close the door to him visiting Putin in Russia down the road. "Perhaps there are plans in the future to travel to Russia and on Friday, the president will be meeting with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska, as you know," she said.

The meeting between Trump and Putin will take place in Anchorage, Alaska, the White House spokesperson announced on Tuesday.

'Only one party involved': Trump-Putin meeting a 'listening exercise' for US president

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that a peace deal with Russia that does not address the real issues would not last and would only embolden Moscow to seize more territory. Speaking after a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Zelensky said the two discussed “the current diplomatic situation and the opportunities it opens up now.”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-it-takes-two-to-tango-trump-says-he-ll-know-in-two-minutes-if-ukraine-ceasefire-deal-with-putin-is-possible-1754930345060">‘It takes two to tango’: Trump says he’ll know in TWO minutes if Ukraine ceasefire deal with Putin is possible</a><h2>Peace without Ukraine’s input ‘impossible’</h2>Zelensky also addressed recent talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He stressed that while such discussions may be important for their bilateral relations, they could not make decisions about Ukraine without Ukrainian involvement. “As for the talks, in any case they are important at the level of leaders. But it is impossible to talk about Ukraine without Ukraine, and no one will accept it,” Zelensky told the Youth Here forum in Kyiv. He added, “The conversation between the president of the United States … and Putin may certainly be important for their bilateral track, but they cannot accept anything about Ukraine without us.”<h2>Erdoğan backs Ukraine’s stance on negotiations</h2>According to Zelensky, Erdoğan made it clear that “any negotiations without Ukraine will not bring lasting peace.” “We understand all risks and threats equally. An imitated rather than genuine peace will not hold for long and will only encourage Russia to seize even more territory,” Zelensky said.Erdoğan’s office confirmed that he welcomed progress in earlier peace talks held in Istanbul but hoped for meaningful steps towards a ceasefire in future rounds. The Turkish leader also expressed readiness to host a summit involving the leaders of Ukraine, the United States and Russia.<h2>Close ties with Türkiye</h2>In a post on X, Zelensky described his talks with Erdoğan as “friendly and substantive,” expressing appreciation for Türkiye’s “sincere and warm attitude” toward Ukraine and its role as a mediator. He said Ukraine was prepared for “any format of meeting aimed at stopping the killings and ending the war” and noted that preparations were underway for high-level events during the upcoming UN General Assembly, with Turkish participation under discussion.

Ukrainian President Zelensky insists peace must address core issues and include Ukraine's input, warning that sidelining Ukraine in talks with Russia risks emboldening Moscow and undermining lasting resolution.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that a peace deal with Russia that does not address the real issues would not last and would only embolden Moscow to seize more territory. Speaking after a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Zelensky said the two discussed “the current diplomatic situation and the opportunities it opens up now.” Also read: ‘It takes two to tango’: Trump says he’ll know in TWO minutes if Ukraine ceasefire deal with Putin is possible Peace without Ukraine’s input ‘impossible’ Zelensky also addressed recent talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He stressed that while such discussions may be important for their bilateral relations, they could not make decisions about Ukraine without Ukrainian involvement. “As for the talks, in any case they are important at the level of leaders. But it is impossible to talk about Ukraine without Ukraine, and no one will accept it,” Zelensky told the Youth Here forum in Kyiv. He added, “The conversation between the president of the United States … and Putin may certainly be important for their bilateral track, but they cannot accept anything about Ukraine without us.” Erdoğan backs Ukraine’s stance on negotiations According to Zelensky, Erdoğan made it clear that “any negotiations without Ukraine will not bring lasting peace.” “We understand all risks and threats equally. An imitated rather than genuine peace will not hold for long and will only encourage Russia to seize even more territory,” Zelensky said. Erdoğan’s office confirmed that he welcomed progress in earlier peace talks held in Istanbul but hoped for meaningful steps towards a ceasefire in future rounds. The Turkish leader also expressed readiness to host a summit involving the leaders of Ukraine, the United States and Russia. Close ties with Türkiye In a post on X, Zelensky described his talks with Erdoğan as “friendly and substantive,” expressing appreciation for Türkiye’s “sincere and warm attitude” toward Ukraine and its role as a mediator. He said Ukraine was prepared for “any format of meeting aimed at stopping the killings and ending the war” and noted that preparations were underway for high-level events during the upcoming UN General Assembly, with Turkish participation under discussion.

Ukrainian President Zelensky insists peace must address core issues and include Ukraine's input, warning that sidelining Ukraine in talks with Russia risks emboldening Moscow and undermining lasting resolution.

'Impossible to talk about Ukraine without Ukraine': Zelensky warns 'unjust peace' would let Russia grab more land

Leaders of the European Union have come forth to appreciate and welcome Donald Trump’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. He, who is familiar with being referred to as the ‘peacemaker’ and in recent times recognised for calling for a ceasefire between war-torn countries. The US president has credited himself for India-Pakistan conflict, claims which the former isn’t aligned with. With that, Trump has said he has stopped five wars in five months. He also, ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear facilities before declaring peace. While the statement by EU comes before the Trump-Putin summit, Hungary has dissociated it from it.&nbsp;“We, the Leaders of the European Union, welcome the efforts of President Trump towards ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and achieving a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine. A just and lasting peace that brings stability and security must respect international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and that international borders must not be changed by force," the statement read&nbsp;It also highlighted that the people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future. Since February 2022, the death toll due to the conflict has only mounted. Three years on, the situation for people of Ukraine has only been going downhill. “The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has wider implications for European and international security. We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests.”&nbsp;The EU showed willingness to collaborate with the US and other countries to provide assistance to Ukraine including ‘political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support’ as Kyiv is exercising its inherent right of self-defence

Leaders of the European Union have come forth to appreciate and welcome Donald Trump’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. 

Leaders of the European Union have come forth to appreciate and welcome Donald Trump’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. He, who is familiar with being referred to as the ‘peacemaker’ and in recent times recognised for calling for a ceasefire between war-torn countries. The US president has credited himself for India-Pakistan conflict, claims which the former isn’t aligned with. With that, Trump has said he has stopped five wars in five months. He also, ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear facilities before declaring peace. While the statement by EU comes before the Trump-Putin summit, Hungary has dissociated it from it. “We, the Leaders of the European Union, welcome the efforts of President Trump towards ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and achieving a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine. A just and lasting peace that brings stability and security must respect international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and that international borders must not be changed by force," the statement read It also highlighted that the people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future. Since February 2022, the death toll due to the conflict has only mounted. Three years on, the situation for people of Ukraine has only been going downhill. “The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has wider implications for European and international security. We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests.” The EU showed willingness to collaborate with the US and other countries to provide assistance to Ukraine including ‘political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support’ as Kyiv is exercising its inherent right of self-defence

Leaders of the European Union have come forth to appreciate and welcome Donald Trump’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.&nbsp;

EU sans Hungary welcomes Trump's effort to end  'Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine'

United States Donald Trump, during a press conference on Monday (Aug 11), said that he will be going to Russia to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also said that he will know about Putin's intention regarding the Ukraine war in "two minutes." However, his statement saying that he would travel to Russia was quickly picked up on social media, with netizens asking about the 'real' plans. Some also asked if the US is planning to give away Alaska for Putin to stop the Ukraine war.<h2>What Trump said?</h2>“It's embarrassing for me to be up here,” the President told reporters. “I’m going to see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday.” As Trump's video surfaced online, a user on X asked if Trump thinks Alaska is in Russia. One of the users also said that the media would have trolled former President Joe Biden had he made the gaffe.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Just imagine if Biden had said this: Trump: &quot;I&#39;m going to see Putin. I&#39;m going to Russia on Friday.&quot; Trump is going to Alaska on Friday — which has not been part of Russia since 1867. Where the hell are you, <a href="https://twitter.com/jaketapper?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jaketapper</a>? Enough is enough. <a href="https://t.co/lSdJyO6mzf">pic.twitter.com/lSdJyO6mzf</a>&mdash; Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisDJackson/status/1954920804543529413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Was Alaska a part of Russia?</h2>The United States bought Alaska from Russia 150 years ago. The story begins when Danish explorer Vitus Bering discovered Alaska accidentally during the exploration of the Bering Strait. He was on an expedition for Tsarist Russia. According to AFP, in 1799, Tsar Paul I established the Russian-American Company to take advantage of the lucrative fur trade. However, the indigenous people were targeted, and the seals and sea otters were overexploited. As the economy went down, the Russian Empire decided to let go of Alaska. In 1867, the Russian Empire sold the territory to Washington for $7.2. At that time, the purchase was criticised and termed as 'Seward's folly' after the deal's mastermind, William Seward.&nbsp;However, the Russian influence in the area stayed as the Russian Orthodox Church was already established in Alaska. Famously stated by former Alaska governor Sarah Palin in 2008 - "You can see Russia from land here in Alaska." While it is not possible to see Russia from the Alaskan mainland, two islands facing each other in the Bering Strait are separated by just 2.5 miles. However, Russia does not have any plan to reclaim Alaska with Putin saying in 2014 that Alaska is "too cold".<h2>Trump-Putin meeting over Ukraine-Russia war</h2>It was confirmed on Friday (Aug 8) that Trump will meet with Putin on August 15 to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin confirmed the summit in an online statement. The two leaders will "focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis," Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said. Trump said that the highly anticipated meeting would take place in Alaska. He also suggested that the deal would include some exchange of land. Earlier, the US had proposed that there should be a tri-party meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelensky. Russian President Putin said he is ready to meet Trump, but expressed his reservations about meeting Zelensky at this stage. Now, critics say that if reports are true and if Witkoff did not understand Putin's stance on land-swap, then the meeting between Trump and Putin might turn out to be inconclusive despite both leaders meeting after 2018.

Donald Trump mistakenly said that he would meet Putin in Russia and claimed he would understand Putin's Ukraine war intentions in "two minutes." His remark sparked social media buzz, with jokes about giving Alaska to Russia and comparisons to how Biden would be treated for a similar gaffe

United States Donald Trump, during a press conference on Monday (Aug 11), said that he will be going to Russia to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also said that he will know about Putin's intention regarding the Ukraine war in "two minutes." However, his statement saying that he would travel to Russia was quickly picked up on social media, with netizens asking about the 'real' plans. Some also asked if the US is planning to give away Alaska for Putin to stop the Ukraine war. What Trump said? “It's embarrassing for me to be up here,” the President told reporters. “I’m going to see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday.” As Trump's video surfaced online, a user on X asked if Trump thinks Alaska is in Russia. One of the users also said that the media would have trolled former President Joe Biden had he made the gaffe.

Donald Trump mistakenly said that he would meet Putin in Russia and claimed he would understand Putin's Ukraine war intentions in "two minutes." His remark sparked social media buzz, with jokes about giving Alaska to Russia and comparisons to how Biden would be treated for a similar gaffe

Is Alaska in Russia? Trump makes embarrassing mistake ahead of meeting with Putin - Watch

US President Donald Trump has confirmed he will consult with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders before his planned talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Praising his European counterparts as “great people, great leaders,” Trump claimed they are “tired” of the ongoing conflict and “want to get back to spending money on their countries.”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-the-history-politics-and-strategy-why-trump-picked-alaska-for-putin-talks-and-not-washington-or-new-york-1754848857540">'The history, politics and strategy': Why Trump picked Alaska for Putin talks, and not Washington or New York</a><h2>‘They rely on me’ says Trump of European leaders</h2>Trump said he has an “extremely good” relationship with leaders across Europe, joking: “There are a lot of European leaders, but they rely on me.” “So I’m talking to the European leaders, I’ll be talking to President Zelensky. I’m going to get everybody’s ideas. I go into that thing fully loaded right up there, and we’re going to see what happens,” he said. The president added that he sees two possible outcomes from his meeting with Putin, “It could be a good meeting, and we’ll go a step further. We’ll get it done. I’d like to see a ceasefire very, very quickly, very quick. I’d like to see it immediately.”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-it-takes-two-to-tango-trump-says-he-ll-know-in-two-minutes-if-ukraine-ceasefire-deal-with-putin-is-possible-1754930345060">‘It takes two to tango’: Trump says he’ll know in TWO minutes if Ukraine ceasefire deal with Putin is possible</a><h2>Germany to host virtual talks with EU and NATO leaders</h2>Earlier, Berlin confirmed that Chancellor Friedrich Merz will hold “virtual talks” involving leaders from Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the UK, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The discussions will include Zelensky and will be followed by a separate call with Trump and his vice-president, JD Vance.<h2>Peace talks and pressure on Russia on the agenda</h2>A statement from Merz’s office said the talks will explore “further options for exerting pressure on Russia” and prepare “possible peace negotiations,” including discussions on “related issues of territorial claims and security.” Trump said he hopes these consultations will pave the way for “great success” in the upcoming discussions with Putin.

Trump plans to consult Zelensky and European leaders before meeting Putin, aiming for a quick ceasefire. He praised European leaders, emphasised strong ties, and sought input for productive talks.

US President Donald Trump has confirmed he will consult with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders before his planned talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Praising his European counterparts as “great people, great leaders,” Trump claimed they are “tired” of the ongoing conflict and “want to get back to spending money on their countries.” Also read: 'The history, politics and strategy': Why Trump picked Alaska for Putin talks, and not Washington or New York ‘They rely on me’ says Trump of European leaders Trump said he has an “extremely good” relationship with leaders across Europe, joking: “There are a lot of European leaders, but they rely on me.” “So I’m talking to the European leaders, I’ll be talking to President Zelensky. I’m going to get everybody’s ideas. I go into that thing fully loaded right up there, and we’re going to see what happens,” he said. The president added that he sees two possible outcomes from his meeting with Putin, “It could be a good meeting, and we’ll go a step further. We’ll get it done. I’d like to see a ceasefire very, very quickly, very quick. I’d like to see it immediately.” Also read: ‘It takes two to tango’: Trump says he’ll know in TWO minutes if Ukraine ceasefire deal with Putin is possible Germany to host virtual talks with EU and NATO leaders Earlier, Berlin confirmed that Chancellor Friedrich Merz will hold “virtual talks” involving leaders from Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the UK, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The discussions will include Zelensky and will be followed by a separate call with Trump and his vice-president, JD Vance. Peace talks and pressure on Russia on the agenda A statement from Merz’s office said the talks will explore “further options for exerting pressure on Russia” and prepare “possible peace negotiations,” including discussions on “related issues of territorial claims and security.” Trump said he hopes these consultations will pave the way for “great success” in the upcoming discussions with Putin.

Trump plans to consult Zelensky and European leaders before meeting Putin, aiming for a quick ceasefire. He praised European leaders, emphasised strong ties, and sought input for productive talks.

'Europe is tired of the war’: Trump to call Zelensky and Europe ahead of Putin meeting

US President Donald Trump on Monday (August 11) described his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin as “a feel out meeting,” but believes the Russian leader “wants to get it over with.” “I’m going in to speak to Vladimir Putin, and I’m going to be telling him, you have got to end this war, you got to end it,” he said. Trump added that he hoped for “a constructive” discussion and planned to brief European leaders shortly after.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-the-history-politics-and-strategy-why-trump-picked-alaska-for-putin-talks-and-not-washington-or-new-york-1754848857540">'The history, politics and strategy': Why Trump picked Alaska for Putin talks, and not Washington or New York</a><h2>Calls planned to European leaders after Putin talks</h2>“Then after that meeting, immediately, maybe as I’m flying out, maybe as I’m leaving the room, I’ll be calling the European leaders who I get along with very well,” Trump said. He noted that he maintains a “great relationship” with European leaders and with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but stressed he “very, very severely” disagrees with Zelensky’s actions. “This is a war that should have never happened … but I’ll be speaking to Zelensky. The next meeting will be with Zelensky and Putin, or Zelensky and Putin with me there if they need me,” he added.<h2>Frustration over Zelensky’s stance on land swap</h2>Trump expressed irritation with Zelensky’s insistence on constitutional approval for certain negotiations. He said, “I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelensky was saying, Well, I have to get constitutional approval. I mean, he’s got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap?” He claimed that “there’ll be some land swapping going on” as part of any settlement, a mix of “good” and “bad” for both sides due to “very uneven” territorial lines.<h2>Deal-making ‘up to Ukraine’</h2>Trump insisted that while he could broker a framework, the decision would rest with Kyiv. “I’m going to meet with him [Putin]. We’re going to see what the parameters are, and then I’m going to call up President Zelensky and the European leaders … and I’m going to tell them what kind of a deal. I’m not going to make a deal. It’s not up to me to make a deal. I think a deal should be made for both,” he added.<h2>Confident he’ll know within minutes if a deal is possible</h2>Asked about Zelensky’s attendance at the Friday summit, Trump replied: “I would say he could go, but he’s gone to a lot of meetings.” Regarding the Putin meeting, he said, “Probably in the first two minutes, I’ll know exactly whether or not a deal can be [made].” When asked why, Trump responded, “Because that’s what I do. I make deals.” Ultimately, he said, “I’d like to see a ceasefire. I’d like to see the best deal that could be made for both parties. You know, it takes two to tango, right?”

Trump called his upcoming Putin meeting a "feel out meeting," aiming to urge ending the war. He plans follow-up calls with European leaders and hopes for talks involving Zelensky soon.

US President Donald Trump on Monday (August 11) described his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin as “a feel out meeting,” but believes the Russian leader “wants to get it over with.” “I’m going in to speak to Vladimir Putin, and I’m going to be telling him, you have got to end this war, you got to end it,” he said. Trump added that he hoped for “a constructive” discussion and planned to brief European leaders shortly after. Also read: 'The history, politics and strategy': Why Trump picked Alaska for Putin talks, and not Washington or New York Calls planned to European leaders after Putin talks “Then after that meeting, immediately, maybe as I’m flying out, maybe as I’m leaving the room, I’ll be calling the European leaders who I get along with very well,” Trump said. He noted that he maintains a “great relationship” with European leaders and with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but stressed he “very, very severely” disagrees with Zelensky’s actions. “This is a war that should have never happened … but I’ll be speaking to Zelensky. The next meeting will be with Zelensky and Putin, or Zelensky and Putin with me there if they need me,” he added. Frustration over Zelensky’s stance on land swap Trump expressed irritation with Zelensky’s insistence on constitutional approval for certain negotiations. He said, “I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelensky was saying, Well, I have to get constitutional approval. I mean, he’s got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap?” He claimed that “there’ll be some land swapping going on” as part of any settlement, a mix of “good” and “bad” for both sides due to “very uneven” territorial lines. Deal-making ‘up to Ukraine’ Trump insisted that while he could broker a framework, the decision would rest with Kyiv. “I’m going to meet with him [Putin]. We’re going to see what the parameters are, and then I’m going to call up President Zelensky and the European leaders … and I’m going to tell them what kind of a deal. I’m not going to make a deal. It’s not up to me to make a deal. I think a deal should be made for both,” he added. Confident he’ll know within minutes if a deal is possible Asked about Zelensky’s attendance at the Friday summit, Trump replied: “I would say he could go, but he’s gone to a lot of meetings.” Regarding the Putin meeting, he said, “Probably in the first two minutes, I’ll know exactly whether or not a deal can be [made].” When asked why, Trump responded, “Because that’s what I do. I make deals.” Ultimately, he said, “I’d like to see a ceasefire. I’d like to see the best deal that could be made for both parties. You know, it takes two to tango, right?”

Trump called his upcoming Putin meeting a "feel out meeting," aiming to urge ending the war. He plans follow-up calls with European leaders and hopes for talks involving Zelensky soon.

‘It takes two to tango’: Trump says he’ll know in TWO minutes if Ukraine ceasefire deal with Putin is possible

&nbsp;During the press conference on Monday (Aug 11), when the US President Donald Trump announced that he is invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, he also mentioned his upcoming meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday (Aug 15). However, the 79-year-old president seemed to have forgotten that Alaska has not been a part of Russia since 1867.In an embarrassing remark, Trump said, “I’m going to see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday.”&nbsp;Alaska was sold to the United States from Russia on March 30, 1867, for $7.2 million and has been a territory of the US since. The agreement was finalised by the US Secretary of State William Seward and Russian Minister Edouard de Stoeckl. The treaty was approved by the Senate on April 9, and it was officially transferred on October 18, 1867.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">&quot;I&#39;m going to Russia on Friday,” U.S. President Donald Trump on the upcoming summit with Russian President Putin in Alaska, an erstwhile Russian territory that US purchased in 1867<a href="https://t.co/tWRHEa9OWx">pic.twitter.com/tWRHEa9OWx</a> <a href="https://t.co/EVU62aUXmB">https://t.co/EVU62aUXmB</a>&mdash; Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1954926064247181508?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Social media reacts</h2>The president’s remarks have gone viral on social media, with netizens mocking him.&nbsp;“He thinks Alaska is in Russia?” a social media user asked. Another said, “Alaska is in Russia? Is this joker completely mad?” One person wrote, “Did Trump just give back Alaska to Russia. If so, then I am sure he is gonna give Ukraine too.” Another joked, “Is he giving Alaska back to Russia for a ceasefire?”&nbsp;“Slipped out… is he gifting Alaska to Putin?” said one user, while another posted, “We’re so cooked. He might give Alaska away accidentally in the negotiations.”&nbsp;<h2>Trump-Putin meet</h2>&nbsp;Trump said on Monday (Aug 11) that he is expecting a “constructive conversation” ahead of his meeting with Putin at their upcoming Alaska summit on Friday (Aug 15).&nbsp;“I’m going to speak to Vladimir Putin and I’m going to be telling him ‘you’ve got to end this war,’” Trump said at a White House press conference. He added that he’d “like to see a ceasefire very, very quickly.”&nbsp;The US President further stated that he would speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders right after he meets with Putin. He also expressed his disappointment with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for ruling out territorial concessions to Russia. He reiterated his earlier statement on land swap, saying, “There’ll be some land swapping going on.

US President Donald Trump has seemed to have forgotten that Alaska is no longer a part of Russia, from which the US purchased the territory. Since 1867, Alaska has been a part of the US.

During the press conference on Monday (Aug 11), when the US President Donald Trump announced that he is invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, he also mentioned his upcoming meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday (Aug 15). However, the 79-year-old president seemed to have forgotten that Alaska has not been a part of Russia since 1867. In an embarrassing remark, Trump said, “I’m going to see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday.” Alaska was sold to the United States from Russia on March 30, 1867, for $7.2 million and has been a territory of the US since. The agreement was finalised by the US Secretary of State William Seward and Russian Minister Edouard de Stoeckl. The treaty was approved by the Senate on April 9, and it was officially transferred on October 18, 1867.

US President Donald Trump has seemed to have forgotten that Alaska is no longer a part of Russia, from which the US purchased the territory. Since 1867, Alaska has been a part of the US.

Did Trump forget Alaska is a US territory? Says meeting Putin in Russia ahead of talks in Alaska

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Monday that Russia cannot be allowed to challenge borders ‘with impunity’, and European leaders must “remain united in their approach”. Briefing the Polish media after this weekend’s consultations among European leaders, Tusk said, “Russia must not be allowed to benefit from its Ukraine invasion, and it must be clear that you cannot change borders with force.” “For Poland and our European partners, it must be clear that you cannot change borders with force,” he added and said Russia must not be allowed to benefit from its Ukraine invasion.&nbsp;“The West, including European countries, will not accept Russian demands, which simply amount to the seizure of Ukrainian territory,” Tusk said, and warned against Russia getting the idea that it can challenge other countries’ borders “with impunity.”&nbsp;Tusk then drew on Polish history to repeat the principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”“From history, we know—and Poland has often been a victim of this—that when the great powers decided about other countries without the participation of those countries in negotiations, the consequences were grave.”&nbsp;<h2>‘US has pledged to consult European partners before meeting Putin’</h2>&nbsp;Tusk also shared that the US has pledged to consult with European partners before the meeting with Putin on Friday.He added that the importance of maintaining the integrity of Ukraine’s territory “is not just a matter of solidarity with our neighbour, but also of our own security.”The Polish PM further said that parts of Putin’s proposal on territory appear to be “one-sided”.&nbsp;<h2>Kallas calls snap meeting of EU foreign ministers on Ukraine</h2>&nbsp;The EU’s top diplomat,Kaja Kallas, has convened a snap meeting of all EU foreign ministers on Monday to discuss next steps. Responding to the planned bilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kallas said that any deal between the US and Russia should involve Ukraine and the EU.&nbsp;“The US has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously. Any deal between the US and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraine’s and the whole of Europe’s security,” said Kallas who is vice-president of the European Commission.&nbsp;The meeting of EU foreign ministers will be held virtually, and the developments in the Middle East and Gaza will also be reviewed.Kallas said that international law “is clear: all temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine” and warned that a negotiated settlement must not set the stage for further aggression against Ukraine, the transatlantic alliance, or Europe.&nbsp;Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has also said that any negotiations to end the war in Ukraine must include Kyiv. “Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work,” he said.&nbsp;A Russian ceasefire proposal has suggested trading the Ukrainian territories of Donetsk and Luhansk for a full ceasefire. Ukrainian and European officials have reportedly responded to Russia's ceasefire proposal with a counterproposal.

Polish PM Donald Tusk said that the US has pledged to consult with European partners before the meeting with Putin on Friday. He added that the importance of maintaining the integrity of Ukraine’s territory “is not just a matter of solidarity with our neighbour, but also of our own security.”

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Monday that Russia cannot be allowed to challenge borders ‘with impunity’, and European leaders must “remain united in their approach”. Briefing the Polish media after this weekend’s consultations among European leaders, Tusk said, “Russia must not be allowed to benefit from its Ukraine invasion, and it must be clear that you cannot change borders with force.” “For Poland and our European partners, it must be clear that you cannot change borders with force,” he added and said Russia must not be allowed to benefit from its Ukraine invasion. “The West, including European countries, will not accept Russian demands, which simply amount to the seizure of Ukrainian territory,” Tusk said, and warned against Russia getting the idea that it can challenge other countries’ borders “with impunity.” Tusk then drew on Polish history to repeat the principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” “From history, we know—and Poland has often been a victim of this—that when the great powers decided about other countries without the participation of those countries in negotiations, the consequences were grave.” ‘US has pledged to consult European partners before meeting Putin’ Tusk also shared that the US has pledged to consult with European partners before the meeting with Putin on Friday. He added that the importance of maintaining the integrity of Ukraine’s territory “is not just a matter of solidarity with our neighbour, but also of our own security.” The Polish PM further said that parts of Putin’s proposal on territory appear to be “one-sided”. Kallas calls snap meeting of EU foreign ministers on Ukraine The EU’s top diplomat,Kaja Kallas, has convened a snap meeting of all EU foreign ministers on Monday to discuss next steps. Responding to the planned bilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kallas said that any deal between the US and Russia should involve Ukraine and the EU. “The US has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously. Any deal between the US and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraine’s and the whole of Europe’s security,” said Kallas who is vice-president of the European Commission. The meeting of EU foreign ministers will be held virtually, and the developments in the Middle East and Gaza will also be reviewed. Kallas said that international law “is clear: all temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine” and warned that a negotiated settlement must not set the stage for further aggression against Ukraine, the transatlantic alliance, or Europe. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has also said that any negotiations to end the war in Ukraine must include Kyiv. “Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work,” he said. A Russian ceasefire proposal has suggested trading the Ukrainian territories of Donetsk and Luhansk for a full ceasefire. Ukrainian and European officials have reportedly responded to Russia's ceasefire proposal with a counterproposal.

Polish PM Donald Tusk said that the US has pledged to consult with European partners before the meeting with Putin on Friday. He added that the importance of maintaining the integrity of Ukraine’s territory “is not just a matter of solidarity with our neighbour, but also of our own security.”

Russia cannot be allowed to challenge borders ‘with impunity’: Poland’s PM Tusk

All eyes are on the Alaska summit of US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine war. European leaders issued a joint statement this past weekend asking Ukraine's participation in the talks. Ahead of Trump's press conference on Monday (Aug 11) where he's likely to talk about Friday's summit, his deputy JD Vance said the Americans are tired of arming Ukraine against Russia. Here's how things are unfolding amid intense diplomacy.<h2>Europe scrambles ahead of Trump-Putin summit, wants to avoid side deal</h2>European leaders are seeking to speak with Trump before the Putin talks in order to avoid a side deal that omits the presence of Ukraine on the table.They're afraid that the summit could marginalise Ukraine from peace talks. The European concerns arise from fears that Trump may pressure Ukraine to make territorial concessions while chasing a peace deal.In a joint statement on Saturday, leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, the UK, and the EU declared that the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.&nbsp;"We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force,” they said in a joint statement that also called for a “just and lasting peace,” &nbsp;with “robust and credible” security guarantees for Ukraine.German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Europe hoped and expected that Zelenskyy will be included in the Alaska talks.NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Trump’s willingness to impose secondary sanctions on Russia and increase US weapons flow. &nbsp;“Next Friday will be important because it will be about testing Putin — how serious he is — on bringing this terrible war to an end," he said.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-european-leaders-urge-more-pressure-on-russia-russia-ukraine-war-1754822637209/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-european-leaders-urge-more-pressure-on-russia-russia-ukraine-war-1754822637209/embed</a>&nbsp;<h2>Buy US weapons if you're so concerned: JD Vance's blunt reply to Europeans ahead of Trump-Putin summit</h2>In blunt remarks, Vice President JD Vance asked the Europeans to foot the bill if they want to fund the Ukrainian war machine. “Americans, I think, are sick of continuing to send their money, their tax dollars,” &nbsp;He told Fox News channel in an interview. &nbsp;“If the Europeans want to step up and actually buy the weapons from American producers, we're OK with that — but we're not going to fund it ourselves anymore.”<h2>What do Russia and Ukraine want to end the war?</h2>Trump's idea of “some swapping of territories" is causing concern. The White House said Trump was open to a three-way meeting with Zelensky “at a later time,” while Vance claimed that Putin had agreed to meet Zelenskyy but that scheduling remained an issue.Russia wants Ukraine to cede eastern and southern territories, abandon its NATO aspirations, and accept military limitations in exchange for Russian withdrawal of forces.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not relenting. He said the end of the war "must be fair”, &nbsp;rejecting any territory concessions to Russia.Zelenskyy said the Ukrainians "will not give their land to the occupier.”&nbsp; “We will not give Russia any awards for what it has done.”<h2>Political divisions in Washington ahead of Trump- Putin summit</h2>Washington politicians are divided on the Trump administration’s approach. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen slammed the president for missing his own deadline on further Russia sanctions, saying, “Setting deadlines and blowing through them deeply undermines America’s credibility.”&nbsp;On the other hand, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham defended the president’s strategy, saying Trump "is going to go to meet Putin from a position of strength, that he’s going to look out for Europe and Ukrainian needs to end this war honourably.”Graham also agreed to the territorial concessions, saying, “There will be some land swaps at the end.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

In blunt remarks, Vice President JD Vance asked the Europeans to buy weapons from the US if they want to fund the Ukrainian war machine.


All eyes are on the Alaska summit of US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine war. European leaders issued a joint statement this past weekend asking Ukraine's participation in the talks. Ahead of Trump's press conference on Monday (Aug 11) where he's likely to talk about Friday's summit, his deputy JD Vance said the Americans are tired of arming Ukraine against Russia. Here's how things are unfolding amid intense diplomacy. Europe scrambles ahead of Trump-Putin summit, wants to avoid side deal European leaders are seeking to speak with Trump before the Putin talks in order to avoid a side deal that omits the presence of Ukraine on the table. They're afraid that the summit could marginalise Ukraine from peace talks. The European concerns arise from fears that Trump may pressure Ukraine to make territorial concessions while chasing a peace deal. In a joint statement on Saturday, leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, the UK, and the EU declared that the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. "We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force,” they said in a joint statement that also called for a “just and lasting peace,” with “robust and credible” security guarantees for Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Europe hoped and expected that Zelenskyy will be included in the Alaska talks. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Trump’s willingness to impose secondary sanctions on Russia and increase US weapons flow. “Next Friday will be important because it will be about testing Putin — how serious he is — on bringing this terrible war to an end," he said. https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-european-leaders-urge-more-pressure-on-russia-russia-ukraine-war-1754822637209/embed Buy US weapons if you're so concerned: JD Vance's blunt reply to Europeans ahead of Trump-Putin summit In blunt remarks, Vice President JD Vance asked the Europeans to foot the bill if they want to fund the Ukrainian war machine. “Americans, I think, are sick of continuing to send their money, their tax dollars,” He told Fox News channel in an interview. “If the Europeans want to step up and actually buy the weapons from American producers, we're OK with that — but we're not going to fund it ourselves anymore.” What do Russia and Ukraine want to end the war? Trump's idea of “some swapping of territories" is causing concern. The White House said Trump was open to a three-way meeting with Zelensky “at a later time,” while Vance claimed that Putin had agreed to meet Zelenskyy but that scheduling remained an issue. Russia wants Ukraine to cede eastern and southern territories, abandon its NATO aspirations, and accept military limitations in exchange for Russian withdrawal of forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not relenting. He said the end of the war "must be fair”, rejecting any territory concessions to Russia. Zelenskyy said the Ukrainians "will not give their land to the occupier.” “We will not give Russia any awards for what it has done.” Political divisions in Washington ahead of Trump- Putin summit Washington politicians are divided on the Trump administration’s approach. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen slammed the president for missing his own deadline on further Russia sanctions, saying, “Setting deadlines and blowing through them deeply undermines America’s credibility.” On the other hand, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham defended the president’s strategy, saying Trump "is going to go to meet Putin from a position of strength, that he’s going to look out for Europe and Ukrainian needs to end this war honourably.” Graham also agreed to the territorial concessions, saying, “There will be some land swaps at the end.”

In blunt remarks, Vice President JD Vance asked the Europeans to buy weapons from the US if they want to fund the Ukrainian war machine. &nbsp;

All Eyes on Alaska: European leaders want to speak to Trump before Putin summit, Vance says US tired of funding Ukraine military

US President Donald Trump will meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska on August 15, to finalise a peace deal to end the ongoing Ukraine war. However, even before their meeting, Ukraine's Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that his country won't give up their land to 'occupiers.' This, despite the US saying that a deal between Russia and Ukraine will include 'land swapping.' Now, critics have said Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff might be the key reason for the misunderstanding between Trump and Putin regarding the deal.&nbsp;&nbsp;Steve Witkoff met Putin in Moscow for three hours. Kremlin said that Putin held "constructive" talks with Witkoff, while Trump said Witkoff held a “highly productive” meeting with Putin and that “great progress was made!” Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a TV interview that the US now has a better understanding of what conditions would be required for Russia to end the war.&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite these official statements, Michael McFaul, who served in the Barack Obama administration, including as US ambassador to the Russian Federation, slammed Witkoff for sharing conflicting narratives about Putin's intentions in several calls with European leaders last week. Witkoff reportedly told European leaders that Moscow will withdraw from the southern regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in exchange for full control of Donetsk Oblast, reported The Wall Street Journal. However, a day later,&nbsp;Witkoff said that Putin would withdraw and freeze the front line. In yet another call, Witkoff said that the Russian leader wanted Ukraine to withdraw from Donetsk in exchange for a ceasefire. Garry Kasparov, Russian political activist said, "Like so most of Trump's appointees, Witkoff's only qualification is that Trump is sure he will put Trump's personal interests and desires over American national interests without a second thought. Of course, he's incompetent."<h2>Trump-Putin meeting</h2>It was confirmed on Friday (Aug 8) that Trump will meet with Putin on August 15 to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin confirmed the summit in an online statement. The two leaders will "focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis," Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said. Trump said that the highly anticipated meeting would take place in Alaska. He also suggested that the deal would include some exchange of land. Earlier, the US had proposed that there should be a tri-party meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelensky. Russian President Putin said he is ready to meet Trump, but expressed his reservations about meeting Zelensky at this stage. Now, critics say that if reports are true and if Witkoff did not understand Putin's stance on land-swap, then the meeting between Trump and Putin might turn out to be inconclusive despite both leaders meeting after 2018.

US President Donald Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska. Both sides have confirmed the meeting and the wrold is looking at a possible peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. But will it be a reality?

US President Donald Trump will meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska on August 15, to finalise a peace deal to end the ongoing Ukraine war. However, even before their meeting, Ukraine's Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that his country won't give up their land to 'occupiers.' This, despite the US saying that a deal between Russia and Ukraine will include 'land swapping.' Now, critics have said Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff might be the key reason for the misunderstanding between Trump and Putin regarding the deal. Steve Witkoff met Putin in Moscow for three hours. Kremlin said that Putin held "constructive" talks with Witkoff, while Trump said Witkoff held a “highly productive” meeting with Putin and that “great progress was made!” Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a TV interview that the US now has a better understanding of what conditions would be required for Russia to end the war. Despite these official statements, Michael McFaul, who served in the Barack Obama administration, including as US ambassador to the Russian Federation, slammed Witkoff for sharing conflicting narratives about Putin's intentions in several calls with European leaders last week. Witkoff reportedly told European leaders that Moscow will withdraw from the southern regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in exchange for full control of Donetsk Oblast, reported The Wall Street Journal. However, a day later, Witkoff said that Putin would withdraw and freeze the front line. In yet another call, Witkoff said that the Russian leader wanted Ukraine to withdraw from Donetsk in exchange for a ceasefire. Garry Kasparov, Russian political activist said, "Like so most of Trump's appointees, Witkoff's only qualification is that Trump is sure he will put Trump's personal interests and desires over American national interests without a second thought. Of course, he's incompetent." Trump-Putin meeting It was confirmed on Friday (Aug 8) that Trump will meet with Putin on August 15 to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin confirmed the summit in an online statement. The two leaders will "focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis," Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said. Trump said that the highly anticipated meeting would take place in Alaska. He also suggested that the deal would include some exchange of land. Earlier, the US had proposed that there should be a tri-party meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelensky. Russian President Putin said he is ready to meet Trump, but expressed his reservations about meeting Zelensky at this stage. Now, critics say that if reports are true and if Witkoff did not understand Putin's stance on land-swap, then the meeting between Trump and Putin might turn out to be inconclusive despite both leaders meeting after 2018.

US President Donald Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska. Both sides have confirmed the meeting and the world is looking at a possible peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. But will it be a reality?

Trump-Putin meeting to be inconclusive due to Witkoff's misunderstanding? Here's why he's being called 'incompetent'

US President Donald Trump is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday (August 15), and they chose Alaska as their place of choice for their business, and it is anything but random. From 1737 until 1867, Alaska was part of the Russian Empire, separated from the rest of Russia yet sharing a border with another country. Tsar Alexander II sold the territory to the United States for $7.2 million, a move designed to keep it out of British hands and strengthen ties with Washington.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-hopes-zelensky-is-at-the-table-during-trump-putin-meet-in-alaska-1754843008498">'There will finally be a ceasefire': Germany 'hopes' Zelensky is at the table during Trump-Putin meet in Alaska</a><h2>From wartime ally to cultural legacy</h2>During the Second World War, Fairbanks played a vital role in the Lend-Lease programme, which saw US aircraft and supplies sent to the Soviet Union. Today, Alaska remains the “most Russian” of US states, home to Orthodox churches, Russian place names, and descendants of settlers known as Old Believers.<h2>Keeping intermediaries away</h2>For Trump, Alaska is not only about history. By picking the most remote US state, far from any Euro-Atlantic capital, he avoids the presence of intermediaries such as Türkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan or the UAE’s Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose involvement could alter the tone of the summit. The isolation also underscores Trump’s distance from NATO allies and Democratic critics, many of whom are sceptical of any breakthrough with Moscow.<h2>Security and legal considerations</h2>Alaska’s sparse population makes it easier for security teams to guard against terrorist threats or provocations. It also sidesteps any complications linked to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Putin, as the US does not recognise the ICC’s jurisdiction.<h2>The Arctic factor</h2>As America’s only Arctic state, Alaska plays into the strategic interests of both Washington and Moscow. The two powers have overlapping concerns in the high north, from shipping routes like the Northern Sea Route to offshore oil and gas reserves. Projects in the Arctic could foster cooperation, though the region could just as easily become another front for military rivalry.<h2>Ukraine’s war in the background</h2>The conflict in Ukraine will overshadow the talks. Western reports have suggested potential territorial swaps, with Russia potentially offering concessions in some regions in return for Ukraine’s withdrawal from others. Alaska, with its own history of a major territorial transfer, serves as a symbolic place to discuss such possibilities.<h2>A test for direct diplomacy</h2>This summit is more than a meeting. It is a return to direct talks without mediators, a nod to shared history, and a chance to explore whether Washington and Moscow can work together where their interests align. Alaska’s story began as Russian, became American, and now could serve as the stage for a new chapter in US–Russia relations.

Presidents Trump and Putin will meet in Alaska, a symbolic choice due to its Russian imperial history and cultural legacy. Alaska once linked both nations and still reflects strong Russian influence today.

US President Donald Trump is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday (August 15), and they chose Alaska as their place of choice for their business, and it is anything but random. From 1737 until 1867, Alaska was part of the Russian Empire, separated from the rest of Russia yet sharing a border with another country. Tsar Alexander II sold the territory to the United States for $7.2 million, a move designed to keep it out of British hands and strengthen ties with Washington. Also read: 'There will finally be a ceasefire': Germany 'hopes' Zelensky is at the table during Trump-Putin meet in Alaska From wartime ally to cultural legacy During the Second World War, Fairbanks played a vital role in the Lend-Lease programme, which saw US aircraft and supplies sent to the Soviet Union. Today, Alaska remains the “most Russian” of US states, home to Orthodox churches, Russian place names, and descendants of settlers known as Old Believers. Keeping intermediaries away For Trump, Alaska is not only about history. By picking the most remote US state, far from any Euro-Atlantic capital, he avoids the presence of intermediaries such as Türkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan or the UAE’s Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose involvement could alter the tone of the summit. The isolation also underscores Trump’s distance from NATO allies and Democratic critics, many of whom are sceptical of any breakthrough with Moscow. Security and legal considerations Alaska’s sparse population makes it easier for security teams to guard against terrorist threats or provocations. It also sidesteps any complications linked to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Putin, as the US does not recognise the ICC’s jurisdiction. The Arctic factor As America’s only Arctic state, Alaska plays into the strategic interests of both Washington and Moscow. The two powers have overlapping concerns in the high north, from shipping routes like the Northern Sea Route to offshore oil and gas reserves. Projects in the Arctic could foster cooperation, though the region could just as easily become another front for military rivalry. Ukraine’s war in the background The conflict in Ukraine will overshadow the talks. Western reports have suggested potential territorial swaps, with Russia potentially offering concessions in some regions in return for Ukraine’s withdrawal from others. Alaska, with its own history of a major territorial transfer, serves as a symbolic place to discuss such possibilities. A test for direct diplomacy This summit is more than a meeting. It is a return to direct talks without mediators, a nod to shared history, and a chance to explore whether Washington and Moscow can work together where their interests align. Alaska’s story began as Russian, became American, and now could serve as the stage for a new chapter in US–Russia relations.

Presidents Trump and Putin will meet in Alaska, a symbolic choice due to its Russian imperial history and cultural legacy. Alaska once linked both nations and still reflects strong Russian influence today.

'The history, politics and strategy': Why Trump picked Alaska for Putin talks, and not Washington or New York

Germany expects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to take part in a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. The meeting is aimed at finding a resolution to the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine, but Kyiv and European leaders have insisted Ukraine must be directly involved in any negotiations. “We hope and assume that the government of Ukraine, that President Zelensky, will be involved in this meeting,” Merz told German broadcaster ARD.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-will-happen-at-trump-putin-meeting-moscow-to-push-ukraine-to-cede-territory-us-likely-to-back-kyiv-to-oppose-1754765227471">What will happen at Trump-Putin meeting? Moscow to push Ukraine to cede territory, US likely to back, Kyiv to oppose</a><h2>Talks to secure Zelensky’s presence</h2>Merz said Berlin is working closely with Washington to secure Zelensky’s attendance. “We cannot accept in any case that territorial questions are discussed or even decided between Russia and America over the heads of Europeans and Ukrainians,” he stressed. “I assume that the American government sees it the same way,” he added.The chancellor said he hopes the Alaska talks can achieve “significant progress” towards peace and even deliver a breakthrough. “We hope that there will be a breakthrough on Friday,” Merz said. “Above all, that there will finally be a ceasefire and that there can be peace negotiations in Ukraine,” he added.<h2>Previous talks failed to yield results</h2>So far, three rounds of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine this year have failed to produce results. Tens of thousands have died and millions have been displaced since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Putin, in power for over 25 years, has ruled out meeting Zelensky at this stage. He maintains that the invasion was needed to protect Russian speakers in Ukraine and safeguard Russia’s security.<h2>Zelensky still pushing for three-way summit</h2>Zelensky has been calling for a direct three-way summit involving himself, Trump and Putin, arguing that only face-to-face talks with the Russian leader can open a path to peace.

Ahead of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that he hopes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gets a seat at the table during the meeting in Alaska.

Germany expects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to take part in a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. The meeting is aimed at finding a resolution to the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine, but Kyiv and European leaders have insisted Ukraine must be directly involved in any negotiations. “We hope and assume that the government of Ukraine, that President Zelensky, will be involved in this meeting,” Merz told German broadcaster ARD. Also read: What will happen at Trump-Putin meeting? Moscow to push Ukraine to cede territory, US likely to back, Kyiv to oppose Talks to secure Zelensky’s presence Merz said Berlin is working closely with Washington to secure Zelensky’s attendance. “We cannot accept in any case that territorial questions are discussed or even decided between Russia and America over the heads of Europeans and Ukrainians,” he stressed. “I assume that the American government sees it the same way,” he added. The chancellor said he hopes the Alaska talks can achieve “significant progress” towards peace and even deliver a breakthrough. “We hope that there will be a breakthrough on Friday,” Merz said. “Above all, that there will finally be a ceasefire and that there can be peace negotiations in Ukraine,” he added. Previous talks failed to yield results So far, three rounds of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine this year have failed to produce results. Tens of thousands have died and millions have been displaced since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Putin, in power for over 25 years, has ruled out meeting Zelensky at this stage. He maintains that the invasion was needed to protect Russian speakers in Ukraine and safeguard Russia’s security. Zelensky still pushing for three-way summit Zelensky has been calling for a direct three-way summit involving himself, Trump and Putin, arguing that only face-to-face talks with the Russian leader can open a path to peace.

Ahead of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that he hopes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gets a seat at the table during the meeting in Alaska.

'There will finally be a ceasefire': Germany 'hopes' Zelensky is at the table during Trump-Putin meet in Alaska

Just days after Washington doubled tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil, New Delhi has welcomed the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The leaders will meet in Alaska on 15 August in a bid to end the war in Ukraine, in what is being described as a possible breakthrough. Announcing the summit on Friday, Trump said, “there’ll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both” Ukraine and Russia, but offered no further details.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-is-racing-to-rally-allies-ahead-of-trump-putin-talks-here-why-1754746273322">'Important that Russians don't succeed in deceiving': Zelensky is racing to rally allies ahead of Trump–Putin talks - Here why</a>The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it “welcomes the decision of the two leaders meeting in Alaska” and hopes it will help pave the way for peace. Referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier remark that “this is not an era of war”, the ministry reaffirmed that India supports the summit and is ready to assist efforts towards ending the conflict.<h2>Zelensky rejects territorial swap idea</h2>However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that any deal struck without Kyiv’s participation will not lead to real peace. He stressed that Ukraine’s borders are “non-negotiable” and no land would be surrendered to Russia. “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier,” Zelensky wrote on social media, adding, “Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing. The war cannot be ended without us, without Ukraine.”<h2>Calls for united action from allies</h2>Zelensky has urged Ukraine’s partners to take “clear steps” towards achieving lasting peace. In a phone call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he stressed the need for maximum coordination among allies. National security advisers from Ukraine’s partners, including the US, EU nations, and the UK, met in Britain on Saturday to align their positions before the Trump-Putin talks. Following a separate conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky cautioned, “It is truly important that the Russians do not succeed in deceiving anyone again.”

Despite recent US tariffs, India welcomed the upcoming Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, viewing it as a potential step toward ending the Ukraine war and reaffirming its support for peaceful resolution efforts.

Just days after Washington doubled tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil, New Delhi has welcomed the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The leaders will meet in Alaska on 15 August in a bid to end the war in Ukraine, in what is being described as a possible breakthrough. Announcing the summit on Friday, Trump said, “there’ll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both” Ukraine and Russia, but offered no further details. Also read: 'Important that Russians don't succeed in deceiving': Zelensky is racing to rally allies ahead of Trump–Putin talks - Here why The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it “welcomes the decision of the two leaders meeting in Alaska” and hopes it will help pave the way for peace. Referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier remark that “this is not an era of war”, the ministry reaffirmed that India supports the summit and is ready to assist efforts towards ending the conflict. Zelensky rejects territorial swap idea However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that any deal struck without Kyiv’s participation will not lead to real peace. He stressed that Ukraine’s borders are “non-negotiable” and no land would be surrendered to Russia. “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier,” Zelensky wrote on social media, adding, “Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing. The war cannot be ended without us, without Ukraine.” Calls for united action from allies Zelensky has urged Ukraine’s partners to take “clear steps” towards achieving lasting peace. In a phone call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he stressed the need for maximum coordination among allies. National security advisers from Ukraine’s partners, including the US, EU nations, and the UK, met in Britain on Saturday to align their positions before the Trump-Putin talks. Following a separate conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky cautioned, “It is truly important that the Russians do not succeed in deceiving anyone again.”

Despite recent US tariffs, India welcomed the upcoming Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, viewing it as a potential step toward ending the Ukraine war and reaffirming its support for peaceful resolution efforts.

‘Not an era of war’: India welcomes Trump-Putin Alaska talks; Zelensky warns against ‘decisions without Ukraine’

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