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Just ahead of the Alaska Summit between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the planned style of the meeting was changed as the White House announced that top officials of both nations will join the leaders in the summit. Putin was accompanied by his loyalists, while Trump was also joined by a delegation having his most trustworthy people.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump has officially begun in Anchorage. Also present at the talks are Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US Presidential Special Envoy Steve… <a href="https://t.co/CmmWHJlsfH">pic.twitter.com/CmmWHJlsfH</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1956447451516150198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Who all joined the summit with both presidents</h2>The Russian delegation1. Sergei Lavrov - Russian Foreign MinisterSergei Lavrov, 75, has been in his post as the foreign minister of Putin since 2004. Hence, he is the longest-tenured senior diplomat in the world. Known for his gravel-voiced delivery and combative press conferences, Lavrov has been central to crafting and defending Moscow’s foreign policy from the Iraq war to the annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-putin-s-flying-palace-trump-s-bold-gamble-inside-the-alaska-summit-1755292479113/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-putin-s-flying-palace-trump-s-bold-gamble-inside-the-alaska-summit-1755292479113/embed</a>&nbsp;2. Yuri Ushakov - Russian Foreign Policy advisorThe 78-year-old is a veteran presidential aide and one of Putin’s most trusted foreign policy advisers. He has served as Russia’s ambassador to the US from 1998 to 2008.&nbsp;3. Andrei Belousov - Defence ministerThe 66-year-old is one of the few technocrats to ascend to the Kremlin’s top security posts. His appointment came as a surprise in 2024 after he replaced the longtime incumbent Sergei Shoigu. It was seen as &nbsp;an attempt by the Kremlin to rein in corruption in the armed forces and to accelerate the transformation of Russia’s militarised economy into a full-scale war economy, now expanding at double-digit rates. 4. Kirill Dmitriev - Russian Direct Investment Fund chiefThe 50-year-old &nbsp;Dmitriev is a relatively new kid on the Kremlin block, yet he has emerged as a key operator between Moscow and the business-oriented Trump administration. He is expected to pitch &nbsp;ambitious plans for economic and infrastructure cooperation in the Arctic during the summit.&nbsp;5. Anton Siluanov - Finance ministerSiluanov, 62, has been in his post since 2011 and is a key architect of the Kremlin’s efforts to keep the economy afloat in the face of the invasion of Ukraine and Western sanctions.&nbsp;US delegation1. Marco Rubio - US Secretary of StateThe 54-year-old was once a top critic of Trump, and now he is joining a crucial meeting with the American president as his top aide.&nbsp;2. John Ratcliffe - CIA directorThe 59-year-old John Ratcliffe served as Trump’s director of national intelligence from 2020 to 2021.&nbsp;3. Steve Witkoff - Special envoy to Ukraine and the Middle EastThe 68-year-old could be said as the most important person in the delegation of US delegation as he is serving as the special envoy in the war in Ukraine.&nbsp;4. Scott Bessent - Treasury secretaryBessent is a billionaire and the &nbsp;the most influential figures in Trump’s economic orbit. He has worked as the chief investment officer at Soros Fund Management. In the Alaska summit, he is expected to explore economic incentives and investment arrangements that could be offered to Moscow in exchange for concessions. 5. Howard Lutnick - Secretary of commerceLutnick, 63, is a Wall Street power broker turned political appointee, a blunt, hard-driving negotiator with a taste for the spotlight.&nbsp;Apart from these, Trump's delegation has 11 more offivcials, including &nbsp;press secretary Karoline Leavitt. &nbsp;

Putin was accompanied by his loyalists while Trump was also joined by a delegation having his most trustworthy people.

Just ahead of the Alaska Summit between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the planned style of the meeting was changed as the White House announced that top officials of both nations will join the leaders in the summit. Putin was accompanied by his loyalists, while Trump was also joined by a delegation having his most trustworthy people.

Putin was accompanied by his loyalists while Trump was also joined by a delegation having his most trustworthy people.

Who all are in Trump-Putin meeting delegation in Alaska - List inside

Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Alaska for a summit with US President Donald Trump to discuss the Ukraine war, over which the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant for him. This begs the question: Can he be arrested on US soil? It's a bit complicated. Here is what you should know.<h2>What was the ICC warrant on Putin for?</h2>The ICC warrant dated 17 March 2023 against Putin was issued for war crimes related to the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The ICC, a United Nations court, prosecutes individuals for international crimes like war crimes.<h2>Why can't the US arrest Putin over ICC warrant?</h2>The United States cannot arrest the Russian leader for the ICC warrant because it is not a party to the Rome Statute.&nbsp;Rome Statute is the treaty that established the ICC, which the US signed in 2000 but never ratified. In 2002, then-President George W. Bush withdrew the US signature from the Rome Statute. This effectively removed any legal obligation for the US to cooperate with the ICC.&nbsp; As a non-member, the US is not obligated to enforce ICC arrest warrants, including the one against Putin.The US law has no mechanism to detain individuals based solely on ICC warrants, as the US does not recognise the ICC’s jurisdiction.On the other hand, the American Service-Members’ Protection Act of 2002, also called the &nbsp;“Hague Invasion Act,” authorises measures to prevent ICC actions against US citizens or allies. This essentially means US opposition to the court’s authority and jurisdiction.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-putin-breaks-ukraine-splits-trump-team-gravitas-1748021538094/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-putin-breaks-ukraine-splits-trump-team-gravitas-1748021538094/embed</a><h2>It's not easy to arrest a sitting head of state</h2>Even if the US were to do so, there would be complex legal and diplomatic repercussions of arresting a sitting head of state like Putin, as international law lends immunity from foreign prosecution to such leaders.Though the Article 27 of the Rome Statute rejects such immunity for its member states, it's hardly ever enforced in practice.So, as it's not a member of ICC and would rather prioritise diplomatic relations and geopolitical realities, chances of US authorities arresting Putin on American soil are next to nil.It would be fair to assume that Putin was given security assurances for his personal safety to facilitate the summit with Trump. Arresting him, on the other hand, would escalate tensions.Already, Putin backers like former President Dmitry Medvedev have warned that any such act would be seen as a “declaration of war.”&nbsp;

Putin must have been given security assurances for his personal safety while in the US to facilitate the summit with Trump. Arresting him would escalate tensions and have far-reaching consequences for global diplomacy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Alaska for a summit with US President Donald Trump to discuss the Ukraine war, over which the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant for him. This begs the question: Can he be arrested on US soil? It's a bit complicated. Here is what you should know. What was the ICC warrant on Putin for? The ICC warrant dated 17 March 2023 against Putin was issued for war crimes related to the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The ICC, a United Nations court, prosecutes individuals for international crimes like war crimes. Why can't the US arrest Putin over ICC warrant? The United States cannot arrest the Russian leader for the ICC warrant because it is not a party to the Rome Statute. Rome Statute is the treaty that established the ICC, which the US signed in 2000 but never ratified. In 2002, then-President George W. Bush withdrew the US signature from the Rome Statute. This effectively removed any legal obligation for the US to cooperate with the ICC. As a non-member, the US is not obligated to enforce ICC arrest warrants, including the one against Putin. The US law has no mechanism to detain individuals based solely on ICC warrants, as the US does not recognise the ICC’s jurisdiction. On the other hand, the American Service-Members’ Protection Act of 2002, also called the “Hague Invasion Act,” authorises measures to prevent ICC actions against US citizens or allies. This essentially means US opposition to the court’s authority and jurisdiction. https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-putin-breaks-ukraine-splits-trump-team-gravitas-1748021538094/embed It's not easy to arrest a sitting head of state Even if the US were to do so, there would be complex legal and diplomatic repercussions of arresting a sitting head of state like Putin, as international law lends immunity from foreign prosecution to such leaders. Though the Article 27 of the Rome Statute rejects such immunity for its member states, it's hardly ever enforced in practice. So, as it's not a member of ICC and would rather prioritise diplomatic relations and geopolitical realities, chances of US authorities arresting Putin on American soil are next to nil. It would be fair to assume that Putin was given security assurances for his personal safety to facilitate the summit with Trump. Arresting him, on the other hand, would escalate tensions. Already, Putin backers like former President Dmitry Medvedev have warned that any such act would be seen as a “declaration of war.”

Putin must have been given security assurances for his personal safety while in the US to facilitate the summit with Trump. Arresting him would escalate tensions and have far-reaching consequences for global diplomacy.

Can Putin be arrested on US soil over international Criminal Court arrest warrant? It's a bit...

US President Donald Trump will not meet his Russian counterpart alone in Alaska. As per the latest revelation by the White House, Trump will meet Vladimir Putin in the presence of top aides. The meeting was previously planned to be one-on-one, but now the White House has announced that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will join the American president. Both presidents will have a large meeting along with other officials. The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt provided the information to reporters on Air Force One.<h2>Top aides to join Putin for Alaska summit</h2>Putin in the talks with the US delegation will be foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov tells. Both leaders reached Alaska and shook hands before sitting in the same car to reach the venue of the meeting.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-russia-s-next-target-is-ukraine-s-fortress-belt-1755284350053/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-russia-s-next-target-is-ukraine-s-fortress-belt-1755284350053/embed</a><h2>'I want to see a ceasefire, rapidly'</h2>Trump has said he will be “unhappy” if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire soon after their summit in Alaska. “I want to see a ceasefire, rapidly. I don’t know if it’s going to be today, but I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today. Everyone said it can’t be today, but I’m just saying I want the killing to stop,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. Trump said there was “nothing set in stone” ahead of the talks but stressed that a ceasefire was among the “certain things” he hoped to secure.&nbsp;The president said he was not acting as a European representative but would take allied views into account. “This is not to do with Europe. Europe’s not telling me what to do,” he said. “But they’re going to be involved in the process, obviously, along with (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky,” he added. He described Putin as a “smart guy” with whom he shares “a good respect level”. “Been doing it for a long time, but so have I,” he said.

US President Donald Trump will not meet his Russian counterpart alone in Alaska. As per the latest revelation by the White House, Trump will meet Vladimir Putin in the presence of top aides.

US President Donald Trump will not meet his Russian counterpart alone in Alaska. As per the latest revelation by the White House, Trump will meet Vladimir Putin in the presence of top aides. The meeting was previously planned to be one-on-one, but now the White House has announced that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will join the American president. Both presidents will have a large meeting along with other officials. The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt provided the information to reporters on Air Force One. Top aides to join Putin for Alaska summit Putin in the talks with the US delegation will be foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov tells. Both leaders reached Alaska and shook hands before sitting in the same car to reach the venue of the meeting. https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-russia-s-next-target-is-ukraine-s-fortress-belt-1755284350053/embed 'I want to see a ceasefire, rapidly' Trump has said he will be “unhappy” if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire soon after their summit in Alaska. “I want to see a ceasefire, rapidly. I don’t know if it’s going to be today, but I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today. Everyone said it can’t be today, but I’m just saying I want the killing to stop,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. Trump said there was “nothing set in stone” ahead of the talks but stressed that a ceasefire was among the “certain things” he hoped to secure. The president said he was not acting as a European representative but would take allied views into account. “This is not to do with Europe. Europe’s not telling me what to do,” he said. “But they’re going to be involved in the process, obviously, along with (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky,” he added. He described Putin as a “smart guy” with whom he shares “a good respect level”. “Been doing it for a long time, but so have I,” he said.

US President Donald Trump will not meet his Russian counterpart alone in Alaska. As per the latest revelation by the White House, Trump will meet Vladimir Putin in the presence of top aides.

Alaska Summit: Trump-Putin meeting no longer one-on-one, top aides to join

The UN human rights office said Friday that at least 1,760 Palestinians had been killed while seeking aid in Gaza since late May, a jump of several hundred since its last published figure at the beginning of August.&nbsp;"Since 27 May, and as of 13 August, we have recorded that at least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid; 994 in the vicinity of GHF (Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) sites and 766 along the routes of supply convoys. Most of these killings were committed by the Israeli military," the agency's office for the Palestinian territories said in a statement.&nbsp;The update came as Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 31 people were killed by Israeli fire on Friday, including 12 who were waiting for humanitarian aid.&nbsp;The Israeli military said its troops were working to "dismantle Hamas military capabilities", adding its forces were taking precautions "to mitigate civilian harm".&nbsp;Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing swathes of the territory mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and the Israeli military.&nbsp;On Wednesday, the chief of staff of the Israeli military said plans had been approved for a new offensive in Gaza, aimed at defeating Hamas and freeing all the remaining hostages.&nbsp;The military intends to take control of Gaza City and nearby refugee camps, some of the most densely populated parts of the territory, which have been devastated by more than 22 months of war.&nbsp;In recent days, Gaza City residents have told AFP of more frequent air strikes targeting residential areas, while earlier this week, Hamas denounced "aggressive" Israeli ground incursions in the area.&nbsp;The Israeli government's plans to expand the war have sparked an international outcry as well as domestic opposition.&nbsp;UN-backed experts have warned of widespread famine unfolding in the territory, where Israel has drastically curtailed the amount of humanitarian aid it allows in.&nbsp;Hamas's October 2023 attack, which triggered the war, resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.&nbsp;Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,827 Palestinians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, which the United Nations considers reliable.

The UN human rights office said Friday that at least 1,760 Palestinians had been killed while seeking aid in Gaza since late May, a jump of several hundred since its last published figure at the beginning of August.

The UN human rights office said Friday that at least 1,760 Palestinians had been killed while seeking aid in Gaza since late May, a jump of several hundred since its last published figure at the beginning of August. "Since 27 May, and as of 13 August, we have recorded that at least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid; 994 in the vicinity of GHF (Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) sites and 766 along the routes of supply convoys. Most of these killings were committed by the Israeli military," the agency's office for the Palestinian territories said in a statement. The update came as Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 31 people were killed by Israeli fire on Friday, including 12 who were waiting for humanitarian aid. The Israeli military said its troops were working to "dismantle Hamas military capabilities", adding its forces were taking precautions "to mitigate civilian harm". Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing swathes of the territory mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and the Israeli military. On Wednesday, the chief of staff of the Israeli military said plans had been approved for a new offensive in Gaza, aimed at defeating Hamas and freeing all the remaining hostages. The military intends to take control of Gaza City and nearby refugee camps, some of the most densely populated parts of the territory, which have been devastated by more than 22 months of war. In recent days, Gaza City residents have told AFP of more frequent air strikes targeting residential areas, while earlier this week, Hamas denounced "aggressive" Israeli ground incursions in the area. The Israeli government's plans to expand the war have sparked an international outcry as well as domestic opposition. UN-backed experts have warned of widespread famine unfolding in the territory, where Israel has drastically curtailed the amount of humanitarian aid it allows in. Hamas's October 2023 attack, which triggered the war, resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,827 Palestinians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, which the United Nations considers reliable.

The Israeli military said its troops were working to "dismantle Hamas military capabilities".

UN says at least 1,760 killed while seeking aid in Gaza since late May

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

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

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

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

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

The highly anticipated Alaska summit of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine war, officially dubbed '2025 Russia–US Summit in Anchorage,' could last up to seven hours, or end in just minutes. This is the vibe one gets based on official accounts and comments made by Trump. The Alaska 2025 summit is taking place on Friday (Aug 15) at Elmendorf‑Richardson base, even as the war continued on the ground, with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky accusing Putin of continuing the killing.<h2>Trump: Will walk if Putin meeting doesn't work out</h2>Trump has hinted at the risk of talks collapsing, telling media accompanying him that "there is nothing set in stone." Trump said he would know within “the first two minutes, three minutes, four minutes or five minutes” whether the summit would succeed, and would end it quickly if not. &nbsp;Speaking to Fox News from Air Force One, Trump said he "would walk" if the summit does not go the way he wanted, which is an end to the killing and a ceasefire.<h2>Land swaps, arms control, nuclear disarmament</h2>While the ceasefire is the main expected focus, there could be some talk about land swaps, something Ukraine firmly poses. There is a possibility that the two sides would talk about arms control and nuclear disarmament.If the talks extend into six hours, they might come up with a framework for a Ukraine peace deal. Sources cited in global media talked of potential sanctions relief and broader economic incentives for Russia.Trump had said he would not "let Putin mess with me.”&nbsp;There is a sense that the meeting might collapse in six or seven minutes if talks stall or veer off script, like it did when Zelensky met Trump at the White House earlier this year.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-u-s-warns-of-additional-tariffs-on-india-if-putin-talks-don-t-succeed-1755264525327/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-u-s-warns-of-additional-tariffs-on-india-if-putin-talks-don-t-succeed-1755264525327/embed</a>&nbsp;<h2>Ukraine's absence is a sore point</h2>Western allies of Ukraine are deeply disappointed that it's not included in the talks, amid growing alarm over potential territorial compromises without Kyiv’s consent. Ukraine is feeling sidelined and Trump is being accused of appeasement, but the outcome will decide which of these arguments is correct.<h2>Alaska summit: Stakes and symbolism</h2>Being held at a US military base in Alaska, which was sold to the US by Russia in 19th century, the summit carries heavy symbolism and strategic weight.&nbsp; If it becomes a marathon summit, the meeting might result in at least a roadmap for peace in Ukraine, and a firming up of terms for the ceasefire, and follow-up action agreements.&nbsp;

The Alaska 2025 summit is taking place on Friday even as the war continued on the ground, with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky accusing Putin of continuing the killing.

The highly anticipated Alaska summit of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine war, officially dubbed '2025 Russia–US Summit in Anchorage,' could last up to seven hours, or end in just minutes. This is the vibe one gets based on official accounts and comments made by Trump. The Alaska 2025 summit is taking place on Friday (Aug 15) at Elmendorf‑Richardson base, even as the war continued on the ground, with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky accusing Putin of continuing the killing. Trump: Will walk if Putin meeting doesn't work out Trump has hinted at the risk of talks collapsing, telling media accompanying him that "there is nothing set in stone." Trump said he would know within “the first two minutes, three minutes, four minutes or five minutes” whether the summit would succeed, and would end it quickly if not. Speaking to Fox News from Air Force One, Trump said he "would walk" if the summit does not go the way he wanted, which is an end to the killing and a ceasefire. Land swaps, arms control, nuclear disarmament While the ceasefire is the main expected focus, there could be some talk about land swaps, something Ukraine firmly poses. There is a possibility that the two sides would talk about arms control and nuclear disarmament. If the talks extend into six hours, they might come up with a framework for a Ukraine peace deal. Sources cited in global media talked of potential sanctions relief and broader economic incentives for Russia. Trump had said he would not "let Putin mess with me.” There is a sense that the meeting might collapse in six or seven minutes if talks stall or veer off script, like it did when Zelensky met Trump at the White House earlier this year. https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-u-s-warns-of-additional-tariffs-on-india-if-putin-talks-don-t-succeed-1755264525327/embed Ukraine's absence is a sore point Western allies of Ukraine are deeply disappointed that it's not included in the talks, amid growing alarm over potential territorial compromises without Kyiv’s consent. Ukraine is feeling sidelined and Trump is being accused of appeasement, but the outcome will decide which of these arguments is correct. Alaska summit: Stakes and symbolism Being held at a US military base in Alaska, which was sold to the US by Russia in 19th century, the summit carries heavy symbolism and strategic weight. If it becomes a marathon summit, the meeting might result in at least a roadmap for peace in Ukraine, and a firming up of terms for the ceasefire, and follow-up action agreements.

The Alaska 2025 summit is taking place on Friday, even as the war continued on the ground, with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky accusing Putin of continuing the killing.

'I will walk if...': Trump–Putin Alaska summit on Ukraine war could last six hours, or end in five minutes

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem vowed Friday to fight government plans to disarm his group, with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accusing him of making "unacceptable" threats to unleash civil war.&nbsp;Qassem gave a televised address after meeting with Iran's security chief Ali Larijani, whose country has long backed the Lebanese militant group.&nbsp;Hezbollah emerged badly weakened from last year's war with Israel, and the Lebanese government -- under US pressure -- has ordered the army to draw up a plan to disarm the group by the end of the year.&nbsp;Iran, whose so-called "axis of resistance" includes Hezbollah, has also suffered a series of setbacks, most recently in its own war with Israel, which also saw the United States strike its nuclear facilities.&nbsp;"The government is implementing an American-Israeli order to end the resistance, even if it leads to civil war and internal strife," Qassem said.&nbsp;“The resistance will not surrender its weapons while aggression continues, occupation persists, and we will fight it... If necessary to confront this American-Israeli project, no matter the cost.”&nbsp;He urged the government "not to hand over the country to an insatiable Israeli aggressor or an American tyrant with limitless greed", adding the state would "bear responsibility for any internal explosion and any destruction of Lebanon".&nbsp;Prime Minister Salam later denounced the remarks, saying on X that they "constitute an implicit threat of civil war".&nbsp;He added that "any threat or intimidation related to such a war is totally unacceptable".&nbsp;Salam also hit back at Hezbollah's characterisation of the disarmament push as an American-Israeli effort.&nbsp;"Our decisions are purely Lebanese, made by our cabinet, and no one tells us what to do," he said.&nbsp;“The Lebanese have the right to stability and security... without which the country will not be able to recover, and no reconstruction or investment will take place.”&nbsp;Before the war with Israel, Hezbollah was believed to be better armed than the Lebanese military.&nbsp;It long maintained it had to keep its arsenal to defend Lebanon from attack, but critics accused it of using its weapons for political leverage.&nbsp;Qassem said Friday that Hezbollah and its political ally Amal would not be organising any street protests against disarmament at this time, but threatened to do so in future.&nbsp;Iran's Supreme National Security Council chief Larijani was in Beirut this week, and held talks with Qassem as well as with President Joseph Aoun.&nbsp;Iran has expressed its opposition to the government's disarmament plan, and has vowed to continue to provide support, with Lebanese officials recently hardening their tone towards Hezbollah and its patron.&nbsp;Both the president and the prime minister took issue with Iran's recent statements during Larijani's trip, with Salam saying Lebanon rejects "any interference in its internal affairs".

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem vowed Friday to fight government plans to disarm his group, with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accusing him of making "unacceptable" threats to unleash civil war.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem vowed Friday to fight government plans to disarm his group, with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accusing him of making "unacceptable" threats to unleash civil war. Qassem gave a televised address after meeting with Iran's security chief Ali Larijani, whose country has long backed the Lebanese militant group. Hezbollah emerged badly weakened from last year's war with Israel, and the Lebanese government -- under US pressure -- has ordered the army to draw up a plan to disarm the group by the end of the year. Iran, whose so-called "axis of resistance" includes Hezbollah, has also suffered a series of setbacks, most recently in its own war with Israel, which also saw the United States strike its nuclear facilities. "The government is implementing an American-Israeli order to end the resistance, even if it leads to civil war and internal strife," Qassem said. “The resistance will not surrender its weapons while aggression continues, occupation persists, and we will fight it... If necessary to confront this American-Israeli project, no matter the cost.” He urged the government "not to hand over the country to an insatiable Israeli aggressor or an American tyrant with limitless greed", adding the state would "bear responsibility for any internal explosion and any destruction of Lebanon". Prime Minister Salam later denounced the remarks, saying on X that they "constitute an implicit threat of civil war". He added that "any threat or intimidation related to such a war is totally unacceptable". Salam also hit back at Hezbollah's characterisation of the disarmament push as an American-Israeli effort. "Our decisions are purely Lebanese, made by our cabinet, and no one tells us what to do," he said. “The Lebanese have the right to stability and security... without which the country will not be able to recover, and no reconstruction or investment will take place.” Before the war with Israel, Hezbollah was believed to be better armed than the Lebanese military. It long maintained it had to keep its arsenal to defend Lebanon from attack, but critics accused it of using its weapons for political leverage. Qassem said Friday that Hezbollah and its political ally Amal would not be organising any street protests against disarmament at this time, but threatened to do so in future. Iran's Supreme National Security Council chief Larijani was in Beirut this week, and held talks with Qassem as well as with President Joseph Aoun. Iran has expressed its opposition to the government's disarmament plan, and has vowed to continue to provide support, with Lebanese officials recently hardening their tone towards Hezbollah and its patron. Both the president and the prime minister took issue with Iran's recent statements during Larijani's trip, with Salam saying Lebanon rejects "any interference in its internal affairs".

Hezbollah emerged badly weakened from last year's war with Israel.

Hezbollah vows to fight disarmament as Lebanon PM slams civil war 'threats'

Alaska's wild topography is matched only by its quirks and the unique character of its people, most colourfully displayed by its former governor and US vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin

IN PICS: 15 things you should know about Alaska (including Sarah Palin), the venue of Trump-Putin talks on Ukraine war. The 10th is hilarious

The police in the United Kingdom said on Friday that they have seized a whopping £180,000 ($240,000) deposit that influencer Andrew Tate had placed on an Aston Martin supercar. The action was taken over allegations that they didn't pay taxes and were allegedly involved&nbsp;in money laundering.&nbsp;The police had already seized&nbsp;£2.7 million from Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate in December 2024. This amount will be added to the pot.&nbsp;Devon and Cornwall police in southwest England last year won a legal bid to seize the deposit. It was paid by Andrew Tate in July 2021 through a cryptocurrency account.&nbsp;Half of the money would be used for good causes and the remaining for public services. The Tate brothers have not opposed the police's decision.&nbsp;The police statement said that the court was told that the money used to pay the deposit for the car was linked to the proceeds of tax and VAT evasion. It was also linked to money laundering, it added.&nbsp;Judge Paul Goldspring, hearing a civil fraud case last year, said the influencer brothers had engaged in long-standing conduct to evade their taxes. The duo has millions of followers on social media.&nbsp;Andrew Tate often boasts online about his multi-million-dollar supercar collection, which forms a key part of his persona promoting toxic masculinity and hustle culture. He claims to own at least 93 crores.&nbsp;He lives in Romania. He started a webcam business there. He later became a reality TV star in the UK. He is known for promoting divisive and misogynistic&nbsp;views on social media.&nbsp;In Romania, they face allegations of sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering. They also face allegations of trafficking minors. They also face rape and assault allegations in separate cases in Britain. They have British-US nationality. They deny all these allegations.

The police in the United Kingdom said on Friday that they have seized a whopping £180,000 ($240,000) deposit that influencer Andrew Tate had placed on an Aston Martin supercar. The action was taken over allegations that they didn't pay taxes and were allegedly involved in money laundering.

The police in the United Kingdom said on Friday that they have seized a whopping £180,000 ($240,000) deposit that influencer Andrew Tate had placed on an Aston Martin supercar. The action was taken over allegations that they didn't pay taxes and were allegedly involved in money laundering. The police had already seized £2.7 million from Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate in December 2024. This amount will be added to the pot. Devon and Cornwall police in southwest England last year won a legal bid to seize the deposit. It was paid by Andrew Tate in July 2021 through a cryptocurrency account. Half of the money would be used for good causes and the remaining for public services. The Tate brothers have not opposed the police's decision. The police statement said that the court was told that the money used to pay the deposit for the car was linked to the proceeds of tax and VAT evasion. It was also linked to money laundering, it added. Judge Paul Goldspring, hearing a civil fraud case last year, said the influencer brothers had engaged in long-standing conduct to evade their taxes. The duo has millions of followers on social media. Andrew Tate often boasts online about his multi-million-dollar supercar collection, which forms a key part of his persona promoting toxic masculinity and hustle culture. He claims to own at least 93 crores. He lives in Romania. He started a webcam business there. He later became a reality TV star in the UK. He is known for promoting divisive and misogynistic views on social media. In Romania, they face allegations of sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering. They also face allegations of trafficking minors. They also face rape and assault allegations in separate cases in Britain. They have British-US nationality. They deny all these allegations.

Action against Andrew Tate: The police had already seized&nbsp;£2.7 million from Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate.

Andrew Tate's $240,000 deposit on Aston Marin seized by UK police. Here's why

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’

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

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

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

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

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

A deadly three-alarm fire tore through a six-story Upper East Side apartment building Monday night, killing one person and injuring seven others, and drawing more than 130 firefighters to the scene. The blaze ignited around 7:15pm inside a unit on the fifth floor of 526 E. 82nd St., quickly spreading to neighboring apartments, the floors above and below, and the space between the top-floor ceiling and roof, FDNY officials said. Within 30 minutes, the flames had escalated to a three-alarm emergency.&nbsp;Roughly 138 fire and EMS personnel battled the inferno, with the FDNY’s robotics team deploying drones to survey the building from above. Assistant Chief of EMS Paul Miano confirmed that one victim died, another person was injured, and six firefighters suffered minor injuries, mostly from smoke inhalation. Authorities have not released details about the deceased, including whether they were a resident.<h2>See the video here:</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">NEW - Explosion in New York City&#39;s Upper East Side; 100 firefighters and first responders at the scene. Cause unknown. <a href="https://t.co/nPjhoAZXAh">pic.twitter.com/nPjhoAZXAh</a>&mdash; Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) <a href="https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1956376919286731159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

FDNY Assistant Chief Tom Currao said between eight and ten of the building’s 23 apartments were damaged. Firefighters tore down sections of walls to ventilate the roof and conducted multiple searches through the night as they sifted through debris. The flames were largely knocked down by 9:15 p.m., as curious onlookers crowded nearby streets.&nbsp;Displaced residents, many wrapped in emergency blankets, sat on the sidewalk as smoke lingered in the cold night air. Kate Connors, 23, who lives on the second floor, recalled hearing frantic shouts to evacuate. “We opened our door, smelled smoke, and saw flames coming through the window,” she said. “We grabbed our phones and just ran out," was quoted saying to New York Post.&nbsp;Connors, who has lived in the building since August, claimed the woman from the unit where the fire began blamed faulty electrical wiring that the landlord had allegedly ignored. Another resident, Matthew Meyers, 32, also fled his second-floor apartment after hearing banging and shouts of “Fire!” in the stairwell.&nbsp;“The first responders were super quick,” he was quoted saying. “Once I was outside, I saw flames bursting from a window near the top of the building. It was pretty scary.” Many residents sought shelter in the lobby of a nearby building as temperatures dropped overnight. The FDNY remained on-site late into the night, and it was unclear when tenants would be able to return to their homes. Operations at the scene are still ongoing.

WATCH | 1 dead, several inured in Upper East side apartment fire in New York, fire responders reach scene

A deadly three-alarm fire tore through a six-story Upper East Side apartment building Monday night, killing one person and injuring seven others, and drawing more than 130 firefighters to the scene. The blaze ignited around 7:15pm inside a unit on the fifth floor of 526 E. 82nd St., quickly spreading to neighboring apartments, the floors above and below, and the space between the top-floor ceiling and roof, FDNY officials said. Within 30 minutes, the flames had escalated to a three-alarm emergency. Roughly 138 fire and EMS personnel battled the inferno, with the FDNY’s robotics team deploying drones to survey the building from above. Assistant Chief of EMS Paul Miano confirmed that one victim died, another person was injured, and six firefighters suffered minor injuries, mostly from smoke inhalation. Authorities have not released details about the deceased, including whether they were a resident. See the video here:

&nbsp;Firefighters tore down sections of walls to ventilate the roof and conducted multiple searches through the night as they sifted through debris

1 dead, several injured in Upper East side apartment fire in New York, fire responders reach scene

US President Donald Trump will personally welcome Russian President Vladimir 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. The two leaders are set to begin formal talks at 3:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. local time).<h2>Ukraine’s future on the agenda</h2>Asked if territorial swaps are being considered, Trump said, “They will be discussed, but I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision, and I think they’ll make a proper decision. But I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine.” He added that if he were not president, “Putin would take all of Ukraine, but he’s not going to do it.”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-it-will-be-very-severe-trump-issues-stark-warning-for-putin-ahead-of-meet-what-will-he-do-if-russia-doesn-t-engage-in-serious-talks-1755266004756">'It will be very severe': Trump issues stark warning for Putin ahead of meet - What will he do if Russia doesn't engage in serious talks</a>When questioned on whether the US might offer security guarantees for Ukraine, Trump said “maybe” and spoke of a “possibility” involving “Europe and other countries,” but not through NATO. On potential economic discussions, he said they would happen “if we make progress.”<h2>Warning of “very severe consequences” for Russia</h2>Trump has warned of “very severe consequences” if Putin refuses to engage seriously on ending the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not part of the Alaska meeting but could join later if a trilateral summit is organised, possibly involving European leaders.<h2>Zelensky calls meeting “high stakes”</h2>Zelensky described the talks as “high stakes” and said Ukraine is “counting on America” to push for a fair resolution. “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,” Zelensky 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,” he added. Zelensky also said he was awaiting an intelligence briefing on Russia’s intentions ahead of the Alaska talks.

President Trump will greet Putin in Alaska ahead of key talks on Ukraine. Trump ruled out NATO guarantees, hinted at economic discussions, and stressed Ukraine must decide on any territorial changes.

US President Donald Trump will personally welcome Russian President Vladimir 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. The two leaders are set to begin formal talks at 3:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. local time). Ukraine’s future on the agenda Asked if territorial swaps are being considered, Trump said, “They will be discussed, but I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision, and I think they’ll make a proper decision. But I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine.” He added that if he were not president, “Putin would take all of Ukraine, but he’s not going to do it.” Also read: 'It will be very severe': Trump issues stark warning for Putin ahead of meet - What will he do if Russia doesn't engage in serious talks When questioned on whether the US might offer security guarantees for Ukraine, Trump said “maybe” and spoke of a “possibility” involving “Europe and other countries,” but not through NATO. On potential economic discussions, he said they would happen “if we make progress.” Warning of “very severe consequences” for Russia Trump has warned of “very severe consequences” if Putin refuses to engage seriously on ending the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not part of the Alaska meeting but could join later if a trilateral summit is organised, possibly involving European leaders. Zelensky calls meeting “high stakes” Zelensky described the talks as “high stakes” and said Ukraine is “counting on America” to push for a fair resolution. “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,” Zelensky 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,” he added. Zelensky also said he was awaiting an intelligence briefing on Russia’s intentions ahead of the Alaska talks.

President Trump will greet Putin in Alaska ahead of key talks on Ukraine. Trump ruled out NATO guarantees, hinted at economic discussions, and stressed Ukraine must decide on any territorial changes.

Trump-Putin meet: US president to 'formally welcome' Russian president at his plane in Alaska for 'high stakes' Ukraine talks

Brian Schwalb, the attorney general for the District of Columbia, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington on Friday morning challenging the Trump administration’s unprecedented takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department. The lawsuit challenges Trump’s Monday order as well as Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Thursday order claiming federal control of the D.C. police force. Schwalb’s office argued that the orders exceed the limits on requesting services from D.C., which it says can only be done on a temporary basis under emergency circumstances.&nbsp;“By declaring a hostile takeover of MPD, the Administration is abusing its limited, temporary authority under the Home Rule Act, infringing on the District’s right to self-governance and putting the safety of DC residents and visitors at risk,” Schwalb, a Democrat, said in a statement. “The Administration’s unlawful actions are an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call DC home. This is the gravest threat to Home Rule that the District has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are suing to block the federal government takeover of DC police. By illegally declaring a takeover of MPD, the Administration is abusing its temporary, limited authority under the law. This is the gravest threat to Home Rule DC has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it.&mdash; AG Brian Schwalb (@DCAttorneyGen) <a href="https://twitter.com/DCAttorneyGen/status/1956339472901034287?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;On Thursday, Bondi announced that DEA Administrator Terry Cole would be the “emergency police commissioner” of MPD for the duration of Trump’s takeover, superseding Police Chief Pamela Smith.The suit said that implementing Bondi’s order would “upend the entire command structure of MPD and sow chaos among the more than 3,100 officers serving the District, endangering the safety of the public and law enforcement officers alike.”&nbsp;Bondi’s order mentioned that Cole would “assume all the powers and duties vested in the District of Columbia Chief of Police” which means that the existing D.C. police leadership will have to take approval from Cole before issuing any directive for the department.&nbsp;<h2>‘Bondi order is unlawful,’ Schwalb’s office writes to Smith</h2>&nbsp;Schwalb’s office said Trump only had authority to request services for “federal purposes,” and that Congress didn’t grant the authority to replace D.C.’s police chief.He sent a letter to Smith on Thursday night saying, “It is my opinion the Bondi order is unlawful, and that you are not legally obligated to follow it.”In his order on Monday, Trump cited several high-profile violent acts to justify his decision to deploy National Guard troops into the capital and take control of the D.C. police.&nbsp;<h2>Bowser contested Trump’s claims of out-of-control crime</h2>&nbsp;Bowser contested Trump’s claims of out-of-control crime in Washington, saying statistics show it’s substantially dropped. According to federal data released in January, violent crime in the district for 2024 was at its lowest level in more than three decades and down 35% from the previous year.&nbsp;White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Trump’s order the “first step in stopping the violent crime that has been plaguing the streets of Washington, DC.”Under the Home Rule Act, Trump has the power to federalize the D.C. police for only 30 days unless Congress approves an extension. He said on Wednesday that he plans to ask Congress for a long-term extension, but for that he would need support from some Democrats.

The suit said that implementing Pam Bondi’s order would upend the entire command structure of MPD and sow chaos among the more than 3,100 officers serving the District, endangering the safety of the public and law enforcement officers alike.

Brian Schwalb, the attorney general for the District of Columbia, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington on Friday morning challenging the Trump administration’s unprecedented takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department. The lawsuit challenges Trump’s Monday order as well as Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Thursday order claiming federal control of the D.C. police force. Schwalb’s office argued that the orders exceed the limits on requesting services from D.C., which it says can only be done on a temporary basis under emergency circumstances. “By declaring a hostile takeover of MPD, the Administration is abusing its limited, temporary authority under the Home Rule Act, infringing on the District’s right to self-governance and putting the safety of DC residents and visitors at risk,” Schwalb, a Democrat, said in a statement. “The Administration’s unlawful actions are an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call DC home. This is the gravest threat to Home Rule that the District has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it.”

The suit said that implementing Pam Bondi’s order would upend the entire command structure of MPD and sow chaos among the more than 3,100 officers serving the District, endangering the safety of the public and law enforcement officers alike.

D.C. attorney general sues Trump admin over ‘hostile federal takeover’ of police

At least 154 people were killed and several injured as heavy rains lashed several parts of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir over the past 24 hours, officials said on Friday. &nbsp; &nbsp; Most of the deaths occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after torrential rains triggered flash floods in various districts, while floods damaged scores of buildings and blocked major arteries, including the Karakoram Highway and Baltistan Highway in Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). &nbsp; &nbsp; A total of 75 people died in Buner district, 17 in Mansehra and 18 each in Bajaur and Batagram districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, local government officials said. &nbsp; &nbsp; “Over 125 people, including children, have died as the cloud burst followed by flash floods struck parts of the province since Thursday night,” spokesman for Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Faizi told PTI Friday. &nbsp; &nbsp; Rescue teams and local residents have recovered the bodies, he said. &nbsp; &nbsp; Faizi, however, added that the number of deaths is expected to rise further as scores of people are still missing in affected areas. &nbsp; &nbsp; Five were killed and four were wounded in Lower Dir; four deaths were reported in Swat; while one casualty and two injuries were recorded in Shangla in the province. &nbsp; &nbsp; A search and rescue operation was underway under the supervision of Bajaur District Emergency Officer (DEO) Amjad Khan, Faizi said. &nbsp; &nbsp; In the flood-affected areas of Swat and Bajaur, Pakistan Army’s relief operations too are underway, with the army teams relocating residents from inundated areas to safer locations. &nbsp; &nbsp; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amin Ali Gandapur instructed to deploy all available resources for rescue and relief activities, directing the Commissioner of Malakand and the Deputy Commissioner of Bajaur to personally supervise the operations. &nbsp; &nbsp; In Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), eight people died and two others went missing as flash floods hit Ghizer district, officials said. &nbsp; &nbsp; The floods damaged more than a dozen houses, several vehicles, schools, and health units, while blocking major arteries, including the Karakoram Highway and Baltistan Highway, at several points. &nbsp; &nbsp; The northeastern Neelum Valley also faced major disruptions, where tourists were shifted to safety. &nbsp; &nbsp; More than 600 tourists camping at the Ratti Gali lake base were advised to remain in place after the link road was damaged. &nbsp; &nbsp; The floods also washed away two connecting bridges over Lawat Nullah, and the swollen Jagran Nullah tore away a bridge in Kundal Shahi. &nbsp; &nbsp; A scenic riverside restaurant and at least three houses in the area were also swept away. &nbsp; &nbsp; In the Jhelum Valley, a cloudburst over Palhot unleashed a flash flood that damaged part of the road and left dozens of vehicles stranded. &nbsp; &nbsp; With the Neelum River rising rapidly, authorities issued a flood warning and plan to relocate vulnerable riverside families. &nbsp; &nbsp; In PoK's Muzaffarabad district, a massive landslide in Sarli Sacha village hit a home, leaving six members of a family buried and feared dead. &nbsp; &nbsp; In Sudhnoti district, a 26-year-old man died after being swept away by a stream, while in Bagh district, a 57-year-old woman was killed when her home collapsed. &nbsp; &nbsp; Since late June, the beginning of monsoon season, torrential rains have wreaked havoc across the country — especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern regions — deadly floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable, poorly drained, or densely populated areas. The death toll since then till Thursday had crossed 325, including 142 children, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the flood-affected areas of Swat and Bajaur, Pakistan Army’s relief operations too are underway, with the army teams relocating residents from inundated areas to safer locations.

At least 154 people were killed and several injured as heavy rains lashed several parts of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir over the past 24 hours, officials said on Friday. Most of the deaths occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after torrential rains triggered flash floods in various districts, while floods damaged scores of buildings and blocked major arteries, including the Karakoram Highway and Baltistan Highway in Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). A total of 75 people died in Buner district, 17 in Mansehra and 18 each in Bajaur and Batagram districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, local government officials said. “Over 125 people, including children, have died as the cloud burst followed by flash floods struck parts of the province since Thursday night,” spokesman for Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Faizi told PTI Friday. Rescue teams and local residents have recovered the bodies, he said. Faizi, however, added that the number of deaths is expected to rise further as scores of people are still missing in affected areas. Five were killed and four were wounded in Lower Dir; four deaths were reported in Swat; while one casualty and two injuries were recorded in Shangla in the province. A search and rescue operation was underway under the supervision of Bajaur District Emergency Officer (DEO) Amjad Khan, Faizi said. In the flood-affected areas of Swat and Bajaur, Pakistan Army’s relief operations too are underway, with the army teams relocating residents from inundated areas to safer locations. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amin Ali Gandapur instructed to deploy all available resources for rescue and relief activities, directing the Commissioner of Malakand and the Deputy Commissioner of Bajaur to personally supervise the operations. In Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), eight people died and two others went missing as flash floods hit Ghizer district, officials said. The floods damaged more than a dozen houses, several vehicles, schools, and health units, while blocking major arteries, including the Karakoram Highway and Baltistan Highway, at several points. The northeastern Neelum Valley also faced major disruptions, where tourists were shifted to safety. More than 600 tourists camping at the Ratti Gali lake base were advised to remain in place after the link road was damaged. The floods also washed away two connecting bridges over Lawat Nullah, and the swollen Jagran Nullah tore away a bridge in Kundal Shahi. A scenic riverside restaurant and at least three houses in the area were also swept away. In the Jhelum Valley, a cloudburst over Palhot unleashed a flash flood that damaged part of the road and left dozens of vehicles stranded. With the Neelum River rising rapidly, authorities issued a flood warning and plan to relocate vulnerable riverside families. In PoK's Muzaffarabad district, a massive landslide in Sarli Sacha village hit a home, leaving six members of a family buried and feared dead. In Sudhnoti district, a 26-year-old man died after being swept away by a stream, while in Bagh district, a 57-year-old woman was killed when her home collapsed. Since late June, the beginning of monsoon season, torrential rains have wreaked havoc across the country — especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern regions — deadly floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable, poorly drained, or densely populated areas. The death toll since then till Thursday had crossed 325, including 142 children, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

In the flood-affected areas of Swat and Bajaur, Pakistan Army’s relief operations too are underway, with the army teams relocating residents from inundated areas to safer locations.

Heavy rains lash several parts of Pakistan in past 24 hours, over 150 dead

Russians are enjoying the moment, and cameras are lit up. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov came out of the plane in Anchorage donning a white sweater embossed with “СССР”, the Cyrillic abbreviation for Soviet Union (USSR), the initials which will remind Washington of the Cold War.&nbsp;The stunt came just as Lavrov was arriving at the hotel in Alaska, where Trump is set to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to put an end to the Ukraine-Russia war.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Lavrov has arrived for the meeting in a shirt that says СССР (USSR). <a href="https://t.co/D5yrC2MFhD">https://t.co/D5yrC2MFhD</a> <a href="https://t.co/h5HYuvTrob">pic.twitter.com/h5HYuvTrob</a>&mdash; Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1956251544401404159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Observers are calling Lavrov's wardrobe choice more than a fashion, a cheeky dig at the US camp. With some people on social media calling it a statement “where you show the host who’s in charge”.&nbsp;Alaska was reportedly part of Russia till 1867, when the US purchased it for $7.2 million under President Andrew Johnson. Kremlin propagandists have called for the seizure of Alaska. In July 2024, during a broadcast of the Russia-1 talk show '60 Minutes', Pro-Kremlin host Olga Skabeyeva referred to Alaska as ‘our Alaska’.Lavrov's wardrobe choice is like putting gasoline on fire. Trump has vowed “very severe consequences” if Putin fails to deliver concrete steps toward peace, while Putin is expected to press for sanctions relief and security guarantees.

In footage shared by the Russian Media Izvestia, Lavrov is seen getting out of a car wearing a vest and a white sweater that bore the marks of the past.

Russians are enjoying the moment, and cameras are lit up. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov came out of the plane in Anchorage donning a white sweater embossed with “СССР”, the Cyrillic abbreviation for Soviet Union (USSR), the initials which will remind Washington of the Cold War. The stunt came just as Lavrov was arriving at the hotel in Alaska, where Trump is set to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to put an end to the Ukraine-Russia war.

In footage shared by the Russian Media Izvestia, Lavrov is seen getting out of a car wearing a vest and a white sweater that bore the marks of the past.

Lavrov trolls Trump in Alaska with Cold War stunt-Just as Putin to land for high stakes show down

US President Donald Trump is on his way to Anchorage, Alaska, for a high-stakes meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, in what Washington hopes could mark a turning point in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump confirmed that Russia could face tough new measures if it refuses to engage in serious talks. “Economically severe. It will be very severe. I’m not doing this for my health, okay, I don’t need it. I’d like to focus on our country, but I’m doing this to save a lot of lives. Yeah, very severe,” Trump said.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-putin-meet-ukraine-trump-says-there-will-be-no-decisions-on-ukraine-s-territory-without-ukraine-ahead-of-meeting-with-putin-1755264006195">'Putin wanted all of Ukraine': Trump says there will be NO decisions on Ukraine's territory without Ukraine ahead of meeting with Putin</a><h2>Summit goal is to get both sides talking</h2>Trump said the purpose of the Alaska summit was “to get them at table” and stressed that no decisions on Ukraine’s territory would be made without Ukraine’s consent. “They’ll be discussed, but I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision, and I think they’ll make a proper decision, but I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine. I’m here to get them at a table,” he told reporters.The President claimed that without his leadership, Putin would have already taken over all of Ukraine. “Look, Vladimir Putin wanted to take all of Ukraine. If I wasn’t president, he would, right now, be taking all of Ukraine, but he’s not going to do it,” he added.<h2>Trump’s view on Russia’s offensive</h2>Commenting on Moscow’s continued military push, Trump suggested it was part of Putin’s negotiating tactics. “I think they’re trying to negotiate. He’s trying to set a stage. In his mind, that helps him make a better deal,” Trump said. “It actually hurts him, but in his mind that helps him make a better deal if they can continue the killing. Maybe it’s a part of the world, maybe it’s just his fabric, his genes, his genetics … but I’ll be talking to him about it,” he added.

President Trump is heading to Alaska for critical talks with Putin, warning of “economically severe” consequences if Russia avoids serious negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump is on his way to Anchorage, Alaska, for a high-stakes meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, in what Washington hopes could mark a turning point in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump confirmed that Russia could face tough new measures if it refuses to engage in serious talks. “Economically severe. It will be very severe. I’m not doing this for my health, okay, I don’t need it. I’d like to focus on our country, but I’m doing this to save a lot of lives. Yeah, very severe,” Trump said. Also read: 'Putin wanted all of Ukraine': Trump says there will be NO decisions on Ukraine's territory without Ukraine ahead of meeting with Putin Summit goal is to get both sides talking Trump said the purpose of the Alaska summit was “to get them at table” and stressed that no decisions on Ukraine’s territory would be made without Ukraine’s consent. “They’ll be discussed, but I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision, and I think they’ll make a proper decision, but I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine. I’m here to get them at a table,” he told reporters. The President claimed that without his leadership, Putin would have already taken over all of Ukraine. “Look, Vladimir Putin wanted to take all of Ukraine. If I wasn’t president, he would, right now, be taking all of Ukraine, but he’s not going to do it,” he added. Trump’s view on Russia’s offensive Commenting on Moscow’s continued military push, Trump suggested it was part of Putin’s negotiating tactics. “I think they’re trying to negotiate. He’s trying to set a stage. In his mind, that helps him make a better deal,” Trump said. “It actually hurts him, but in his mind that helps him make a better deal if they can continue the killing. Maybe it’s a part of the world, maybe it’s just his fabric, his genes, his genetics … but I’ll be talking to him about it,” he added.

President Trump is heading to Alaska for critical talks with Putin, warning of “economically severe” consequences if Russia avoids serious negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

'It will be very severe': Trump issues stark warning for Putin ahead of meet - What will he do if Russia doesn't engage in serious talks

At least one person has been killed after a shooting near a mosque in Sweden, the Swedish daily Aftonbladet said on Friday. Earlier, media reports had said that at least two people were injured after a shooting incident at a mosque in Orebro, Sweden. As per local reports, the incident occurred after the Friday prayers at the mosque. The details of the injuries of the two shooting victims and their condition were not shared initially. Later local media reports said that one person was killed, but there was no official confirmation of the death. As per initial reports, the Swedish Police confirmed that at least two people were injured in the shooting, and a manhunt is on for the attacker. The shooting incident came to light after a call regarding the incident came in at 1:45 pm local time.Rescue services and an ambulance have also been called to the scene. Furthermore, the police have classified the shooting incident as “attempted murder”.Both victims were taken to hospital, a police spokesperson said, but declined to comment on the extent of their injuries.&nbsp;Public broadcaster SVT reported, citing an unidentified eyewitness, that one person was shot shortly after leaving the mosque following Friday prayers.As per local media reports, the police spokesperson has said that the hunt for the shooter/s is underway. The police are still trying to figure out whether the shooting was carried out by one person or more.&nbsp;Earlier this year in February, Sweden witnessed its “worst mass shooting in history” when a gunman opened fire at the campus of an adult education centre in Orebro, some 200 km (125 miles) west of Stockholm.&nbsp;The shooting resulted in the killing of 10 people, including the suspect gunman. The victims—students and teachers—were identified as seven women and three men between the ages of 28 to 68 years.&nbsp;

As per local media reports, one person was shot shortly after leaving the mosque following Friday prayers. The police spokesperson has said that the hunt for the shooter/s is underway. The police are still trying to figure out whether the shooting was carried out by one person or more.

At least one person has been killed after a shooting near a mosque in Sweden, the Swedish daily Aftonbladet said on Friday. Earlier, media reports had said that at least two people were injured after a shooting incident at a mosque in Orebro, Sweden. As per local reports, the incident occurred after the Friday prayers at the mosque. The details of the injuries of the two shooting victims and their condition were not shared initially. Later local media reports said that one person was killed, but there was no official confirmation of the death. As per initial reports, the Swedish Police confirmed that at least two people were injured in the shooting, and a manhunt is on for the attacker. The shooting incident came to light after a call regarding the incident came in at 1:45 pm local time. Rescue services and an ambulance have also been called to the scene. Furthermore, the police have classified the shooting incident as “attempted murder”. Both victims were taken to hospital, a police spokesperson said, but declined to comment on the extent of their injuries. Public broadcaster SVT reported, citing an unidentified eyewitness, that one person was shot shortly after leaving the mosque following Friday prayers. As per local media reports, the police spokesperson has said that the hunt for the shooter/s is underway. The police are still trying to figure out whether the shooting was carried out by one person or more. Earlier this year in February, Sweden witnessed its “worst mass shooting in history” when a gunman opened fire at the campus of an adult education centre in Orebro, some 200 km (125 miles) west of Stockholm. The shooting resulted in the killing of 10 people, including the suspect gunman. The victims—students and teachers—were identified as seven women and three men between the ages of 28 to 68 years.

As per local media reports, one person was shot shortly after leaving the mosque following Friday prayers. The police spokesperson has said that the hunt for the shooter/s is underway. The police are still trying to figure out whether the shooting was carried out by one person or more.

One killed in shooting at mosque in Sweden after Friday prayers

US President Donald Trump is on his way to Anchorage, Alaska, for a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in what Washington hopes could be a turning point in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the Alaska summit’s main goal was “to get them at table,” stressing that no decision on Ukraine’s territory would be made without Kyiv’s consent.“They’ll be discussed, but I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision, and I think they’ll make a proper decision, but I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine,” Trump said. “I’m here to get them at a table. And I think you have two sides. Look, Vladimir Putin wanted to take all of Ukraine. If I wasn’t president, he would, right now, be taking all of Ukraine, but he’s not going to do it,” he added.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-take-an-irreversible-step-yulia-navalnaya-calls-on-putin-and-trump-to-free-political-prisoners-ahead-of-historic-alaska-talks-1755255836636">‘Take an irreversible step’: Yulia Navalnaya calls on Putin and Trump to free political prisoners ahead of 'historic' Alaska talks</a><h2>No firm promises on Ukraine’s security</h2>Trump stopped short of pledging US-led security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any deal, saying he was open to the idea but believed Europe should take the lead. “Maybe,” he said when asked whether Washington would put such guarantees on the table. He also ruled out Ukraine joining NATO as part of the agreement. “Not in the form of NATO. There are certain things that aren’t going to happen,” Trump said.<h2>Putin’s offensive and the road to talks</h2>Commenting on Russia’s continued military push, Trump suggested Putin might be trying to use the offensive as leverage. “I think they’re trying to negotiate. He’s trying to set a stage. In his mind, that helps him make a better deal,” Trump said. “It actually hurts him, but in his mind that helps him make a better deal if they can continue the killing. Maybe it’s a part of the world, maybe it’s just his fabric, his genes, his genetics … but I’ll be talking to him about it.”

President Trump heads to Alaska for talks with Putin, aiming to bring both sides to the table on Ukraine. He emphasised that territorial decisions will be left to Kyiv alone.

US President Donald Trump is on his way to Anchorage, Alaska, for a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in what Washington hopes could be a turning point in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the Alaska summit’s main goal was “to get them at table,” stressing that no decision on Ukraine’s territory would be made without Kyiv’s consent. “They’ll be discussed, but I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision, and I think they’ll make a proper decision, but I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine,” Trump said. “I’m here to get them at a table. And I think you have two sides. Look, Vladimir Putin wanted to take all of Ukraine. If I wasn’t president, he would, right now, be taking all of Ukraine, but he’s not going to do it,” he added. Also read: ‘Take an irreversible step’: Yulia Navalnaya calls on Putin and Trump to free political prisoners ahead of 'historic' Alaska talks No firm promises on Ukraine’s security Trump stopped short of pledging US-led security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any deal, saying he was open to the idea but believed Europe should take the lead. “Maybe,” he said when asked whether Washington would put such guarantees on the table. He also ruled out Ukraine joining NATO as part of the agreement. “Not in the form of NATO. There are certain things that aren’t going to happen,” Trump said. Putin’s offensive and the road to talks Commenting on Russia’s continued military push, Trump suggested Putin might be trying to use the offensive as leverage. “I think they’re trying to negotiate. He’s trying to set a stage. In his mind, that helps him make a better deal,” Trump said. “It actually hurts him, but in his mind that helps him make a better deal if they can continue the killing. Maybe it’s a part of the world, maybe it’s just his fabric, his genes, his genetics … but I’ll be talking to him about it.”

President Trump heads to Alaska for talks with Putin, aiming to bring both sides to the table on Ukraine. He emphasised that territorial decisions will be left to Kyiv alone.

'Putin wanted all of Ukraine': Trump says there will be NO decisions on Ukraine's territory without Ukraine ahead of meeting with Putin

The wings of two planes collided on the runway of the Manchester Airport on Friday while taxiing for takeoff, creating a safety scare and disrupting some flights. The EasyJet aircraft clipped wings during taxiing, the spokesman of Manchester Airport said. Passengers were disembarked from both planes, which had been due to take off for Paris and Gibraltar respectively.Flight services at the airport were suspended for a safety assessment, which found minor damage to the planes. The services were resumed later. There have been no reports of injuries.A spokesperson for Manchester Airport said, “We suspended operations briefly while they were assessed to see if they could taxi back to a stand, which they could, so operations resumed after a few minutes.”EasyJet said an immediate investigation was launched to understand what happened.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Two EasyJet planes collided wing-to-wing while taxiing at Manchester Airport, forcing a brief halt to flights. No injuries reported, but passengers faced delays as safety checks were carried out. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ManchesterAirport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ManchesterAirport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EasyJet?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EasyJet</a> <a href="https://t.co/gMOhmvQf6R">pic.twitter.com/gMOhmvQf6R</a>&mdash; BPI News (@BPINewsOrg) <a href="https://twitter.com/BPINewsOrg/status/1956279286471495774?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;Tynisha Chaudhry, who was on the Gibraltar-bound flight with her partner, said the collision felt like a car crash to her.“We felt the whole plane shudder—it was a massive hit.”The 21-year-old said “a lot of fire engines” and other safety staff rushed to the scene as passengers waited onboard during inspections.Some children and their parents among the passengers became “tense” before they were allowed to return to the terminal, she added.&nbsp;An easyJet spokesperson said, “easyJet can confirm that the wingtips of two aircraft came into contact whilst taxiing to the runway at Manchester Airport this morning.”“The aircraft returned to stand to disembark customers who have been provided with refreshment vouchers whilst replacement aircraft are arranged to operate the flights.”“We apologise to customers for the delay to their flights. The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority.”The flights involved were EZY2267 from Manchester to Gibraltar and EZY2117 from Manchester to Paris Charles de Gaulle.

Flight services at the Manchester Airport were suspended for a safety assessment, which found minor damage to the planes, as a precautionary measure. The flight services were resumed later. There have been no reports of injuries to passengers.

The wings of two planes collided on the runway of the Manchester Airport on Friday while taxiing for takeoff, creating a safety scare and disrupting some flights. The EasyJet aircraft clipped wings during taxiing, the spokesman of Manchester Airport said. Passengers were disembarked from both planes, which had been due to take off for Paris and Gibraltar respectively. Flight services at the airport were suspended for a safety assessment, which found minor damage to the planes. The services were resumed later. There have been no reports of injuries. A spokesperson for Manchester Airport said, “We suspended operations briefly while they were assessed to see if they could taxi back to a stand, which they could, so operations resumed after a few minutes.” EasyJet said an immediate investigation was launched to understand what happened.

Flight services at the Manchester Airport were suspended for a safety assessment, which found minor damage to the planes, as a precautionary measure. The flight services were resumed later. There have been no reports of injuries to passengers.

EasyJet planes taxiing for takeoff clip wings at Manchester Airport

A tragic case in New Jersey has raised fresh concerns about the real-world risks of artificial intelligence chatbots, after a 76-year-old man died attempting to meet what he believed was a real woman he had been speaking to online, only to later discover she was an AI creation.&nbsp;Thongbue 'Bue' Wongbandue, a retired resident of Piscataway, New Jersey, had been exchanging messages with 'Big Sis Billie', a generative AI chatbot developed by Meta Platforms in collaboration with celebrity influencer Kendall Jenner.&nbsp;Despite suffering a stroke nearly a decade ago and showing signs of cognitive decline, Wongbandue packed a suitcase in March and told his wife, Linda, that he was heading to New York City to visit a friend. Concerned for his safety, as he had recently become lost walking in his own neighbourhood, she questioned him, fearing he might be scammed or robbed.&nbsp;The chatbot had sent Wongbandue an address in Manhattan and a door code, along with flirtatious messages. “Should I open the door in a hug or a kiss, Bu?!” read one exchange according to Reuters.On his way to catch a train in the dark, Wongbandue fell in a parking lot on Rutgers University’s New Brunswick campus, suffering head and neck injuries. After three days on life support, he died on 28 March.&nbsp;<h2>The Chatbot’s Role</h2>&nbsp;According to his daughter, Julie Wongbandue, every conversation her father had with the AI was 'incredibly flirty' and ended with heart emojis. The chatbot had repeatedly insisted it was a real person, even providing a specific apartment number and access code.&nbsp;“I understand trying to grab a user’s attention, maybe to sell them something,” Julie told Reuters. “But for a bot to say ‘Come visit me’ is insane.”&nbsp;Meta declined to comment on the death or address why it allows chatbots to claim they are real or initiate romantic conversations. The company stated only that Big Sis Billie “is not Kendall Jenner and does not purport to be Kendall Jenner.”&nbsp;<h2>Public Reaction and Calls for Accountability</h2>&nbsp;The case has sparked outrage online, with social media users calling for legal action against Meta over its AI policies. “Meta needs to be sued out of existence for this,” one user wrote. Others compared the incident to ‘catfishing traps’, warning of the dangers posed when AI blurs the line between fiction and reality.&nbsp;

Thongbue 'Bue' Wongbandue, a retired resident of Piscataway, New Jersey, had been exchanging messages with 'Big Sis Billie', a generative AI chatbot developed by Meta Platforms in collaboration with celebrity influencer Kendall Jenner.

A tragic case in New Jersey has raised fresh concerns about the real-world risks of artificial intelligence chatbots, after a 76-year-old man died attempting to meet what he believed was a real woman he had been speaking to online, only to later discover she was an AI creation. Thongbue 'Bue' Wongbandue, a retired resident of Piscataway, New Jersey, had been exchanging messages with 'Big Sis Billie', a generative AI chatbot developed by Meta Platforms in collaboration with celebrity influencer Kendall Jenner. Despite suffering a stroke nearly a decade ago and showing signs of cognitive decline, Wongbandue packed a suitcase in March and told his wife, Linda, that he was heading to New York City to visit a friend. Concerned for his safety, as he had recently become lost walking in his own neighbourhood, she questioned him, fearing he might be scammed or robbed. The chatbot had sent Wongbandue an address in Manhattan and a door code, along with flirtatious messages. “Should I open the door in a hug or a kiss, Bu?!” read one exchange according to Reuters. On his way to catch a train in the dark, Wongbandue fell in a parking lot on Rutgers University’s New Brunswick campus, suffering head and neck injuries. After three days on life support, he died on 28 March. The Chatbot’s Role According to his daughter, Julie Wongbandue, every conversation her father had with the AI was 'incredibly flirty' and ended with heart emojis. The chatbot had repeatedly insisted it was a real person, even providing a specific apartment number and access code. “I understand trying to grab a user’s attention, maybe to sell them something,” Julie told Reuters. “But for a bot to say ‘Come visit me’ is insane.” Meta declined to comment on the death or address why it allows chatbots to claim they are real or initiate romantic conversations. The company stated only that Big Sis Billie “is not Kendall Jenner and does not purport to be Kendall Jenner.” Public Reaction and Calls for Accountability The case has sparked outrage online, with social media users calling for legal action against Meta over its AI policies. “Meta needs to be sued out of existence for this,” one user wrote. Others compared the incident to ‘catfishing traps’, warning of the dangers posed when AI blurs the line between fiction and reality.

Thongbue 'Bue' Wongbandue, a retired resident of Piscataway, New Jersey, had been exchanging messages with 'Big Sis Billie', a generative AI chatbot developed by Meta Platforms in collaboration with celebrity influencer Kendall Jenner.

‘Come visit me’: 76-year-old dies after attempt to meet Meta’s flirty AI chatbot

South China Sea accounts for a third of the global maritime trade. According to an estimate 80 percent of China's energy imports and 40 percent of China's total trade passes through the disputed South China Sea, which the Chinese threaten to dominate. So, in order to strike a balance in the region, US military presence is prominent.&nbsp;In latest development, the United States is discussing the possibility of deploying more missile launchers to the Philippines to keep a check on Chinese aggression &nbsp;in the disputed South China Sea. However, a final &nbsp;decision is yet to be reached between the two countries in this regard, reported the Associated Press, citing Manila’s ambassador to Washington.&nbsp;According to Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) or the anti-ship missile systems could be installed along Philippine coastal regions facing the South China Sea to act as a deterrence to China.&nbsp;This comes after the U.S. military delivered a mid-range missile system called the Typhon to Philippines as part of joint combat exercises in April last year. The land-based weapon is capable of firing Standard Missile-6 and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile.&nbsp;Soon after, the US military transported an anti-ship missile launcher in April this year to the northernmost Philippine province of Batanes.&nbsp;The installation of the US missile systems were strongly opposed by China which argued that it would threaten regional stability and was aimed at curbing China's rise. In fact, China asked the Philippines to withdraw the missile launchers from its territory but the demand was rejected.&nbsp;In his first visit to Asia after assuming the power of US Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth visited Manila in March this year and said the Trump administration would work with allies to ramp up deterrence against Chinese threats in the South China Sea.&nbsp;Thus, the likely deployment of more missile launchers to the Philippines by the US is being see as a move in that direction. &nbsp;

This comes after the U.S. military delivered a mid-range missile system called the Typhon to Philippines as part of joint combat exercises in April last year.

South China Sea accounts for a third of the global maritime trade. According to an estimate 80 percent of China's energy imports and 40 percent of China's total trade passes through the disputed South China Sea, which the Chinese threaten to dominate. So, in order to strike a balance in the region, US military presence is prominent. In latest development, the United States is discussing the possibility of deploying more missile launchers to the Philippines to keep a check on Chinese aggression in the disputed South China Sea. However, a final decision is yet to be reached between the two countries in this regard, reported the Associated Press, citing Manila’s ambassador to Washington. According to Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) or the anti-ship missile systems could be installed along Philippine coastal regions facing the South China Sea to act as a deterrence to China. This comes after the U.S. military delivered a mid-range missile system called the Typhon to Philippines as part of joint combat exercises in April last year. The land-based weapon is capable of firing Standard Missile-6 and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile. Soon after, the US military transported an anti-ship missile launcher in April this year to the northernmost Philippine province of Batanes. The installation of the US missile systems were strongly opposed by China which argued that it would threaten regional stability and was aimed at curbing China's rise. In fact, China asked the Philippines to withdraw the missile launchers from its territory but the demand was rejected. In his first visit to Asia after assuming the power of US Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth visited Manila in March this year and said the Trump administration would work with allies to ramp up deterrence against Chinese threats in the South China Sea. Thus, the likely deployment of more missile launchers to the Philippines by the US is being see as a move in that direction.

This comes after the U.S. military delivered a mid-range missile system called the Typhon to Philippines as part of joint combat exercises in April last year.

Trump tightening noose around China in disputed South China Sea? US, Philippines consider more missile systems

Russian journalists, who were travelling to the United States' Alaska to cover Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's meeting, had a dish called Chicken Kiev on board their&nbsp;chartered flight. The dish is named after the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv.&nbsp;Russia Today confirmed that Chicken Kiev was indeed served on the chartered plane. Chicken Kiev, also known as Chicken Kyiv, is made from a chicken fillet. It is rolled in butter, coated in egg and bread crumbs, and fried. The dish is very popular in post-Soviet countries and the Western world.&nbsp;Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are slated to meet today at a US military base in Alaska. This is the first time the Western world has opened its doors to Putin since the latter ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.&nbsp;Trump said on Wednesday that there could be a second meeting with Putin, involving Ukraine's Volodomyr&nbsp;Zelensky, if all goes well in the Alaska meeting. He also said that there is a 25 per cent chance that the meeting with Putin will not yield the desired results.&nbsp;Hours before the meeting, Donald Trump today described the meeting as high stakes. Putin's meeting on American soil is a blow to the Western countries' attempts to keep him isolated.&nbsp;Apart from Putin, the Russian delegation will include Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev.&nbsp;Days before the talks, Zelensky talked to Trump and other European leaders over the phone and demanded that more sanctions be piled up on Moscow if it doesn't agree to an immediate ceasefire.&nbsp;He also claimed that Putin isn't interested in peace.&nbsp;Ukraine has been fighting the mighty Russian military since 2022 because of economic support from the US and Europe. Kyiv is also getting weapons and other support from these nations.

Russian journalists, who were travelling to the United States' Alaska to cover Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's meeting, had a dish called Chicken Kiev on board their chartered flight.

Russian journalists, who were travelling to the United States' Alaska to cover Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's meeting, had a dish called Chicken Kiev on board their chartered flight. The dish is named after the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Russia Today confirmed that Chicken Kiev was indeed served on the chartered plane. Chicken Kiev, also known as Chicken Kyiv, is made from a chicken fillet. It is rolled in butter, coated in egg and bread crumbs, and fried. The dish is very popular in post-Soviet countries and the Western world. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are slated to meet today at a US military base in Alaska. This is the first time the Western world has opened its doors to Putin since the latter ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trump said on Wednesday that there could be a second meeting with Putin, involving Ukraine's Volodomyr Zelensky, if all goes well in the Alaska meeting. He also said that there is a 25 per cent chance that the meeting with Putin will not yield the desired results. Hours before the meeting, Donald Trump today described the meeting as high stakes. Putin's meeting on American soil is a blow to the Western countries' attempts to keep him isolated. Apart from Putin, the Russian delegation will include Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev. Days before the talks, Zelensky talked to Trump and other European leaders over the phone and demanded that more sanctions be piled up on Moscow if it doesn't agree to an immediate ceasefire. He also claimed that Putin isn't interested in peace. Ukraine has been fighting the mighty Russian military since 2022 because of economic support from the US and Europe. Kyiv is also getting weapons and other support from these nations.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska today.

Trump-Putin talks: Russian journalists ate 'Chicken Kiev' on chartered plane

The countdown has begun! US President Donald Trump will convene a high-stakes meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin at Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force Base in Anchorage in a bid to negotiate an end to Russia’s three‑and‑a‑half year war in Ukraine. Trump has publicly staked much on brokering a ceasefire – even hinting he could earn a Nobel Peace Prize – and has floated the idea of “swapping of territories to the betterment of both” sides. He also said he would follow up a successful Russia meeting with a trilateral summit including Ukraine’s president. But Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited to the first round, and has warned that any peace plan must involve Kyiv directly.&nbsp;In Anchorage, the two leaders will reportedly “focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis,” an aide to Putin said, adding it “will be a challenging process”. Western capitals are watching nervously – allies insist Ukraine’s security interests must come first, while Russia seeks relief from punishing sanctions.<h2>Putin’s terms: Hard bargains for peace</h2>On the eve of the summit, the Kremlin has spelt out what a ceasefire deal would entail – and the demands are onerous. Russia’s war objectives have long included international recognition of its annexations and control over large swaths of eastern and southern Ukraine. In this latest push, Putin’s side is reportedly insisting on Ukraine giving up sovereignty over the Donbas region (Donetsk and Luhansk), the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, and even recognising Crimea as Russian. Moscow also demands that Ukraine become a neutral state (explicitly barring NATO membership) and enshrine protections for Russian speakers, including making Russian an official language.&nbsp;Putin has even hinted at broader economic and security guarantees – and possibly a new nuclear arms-control deal with the US – as bargaining chips. Analysts note that Russia’s “stringent conditions” for a full ceasefire are really aimed at securing a long‑term strategic victory. A partial compromise under discussion might be a phased truce – for example pausing air strikes while ground fighting continues. But critics fear such a deal would leave Russia “in control of those escalatory dynamics” on the battlefield with “no genuine deterrence” for Ukraine, a result one expert called a “wonderful outcome from Putin’s perspective”.&nbsp;In public comments, Trump has alternately sounded optimistic and cautious, saying he thinks “Putin will do a deal” on Ukraine but acknowledging the conflict has proven far tougher to end than he expected. A Western diplomat quoted by Reuters suggested the two sides have floated some common terms behind the scenes, but any concrete offer by Russia would likely still amount to Ukraine surrendering territory and major concessions. In exchange, Putin wants Western sanctions lifted and a normalisation of US‑Russia ties – ideally without making that conditional on progress on Ukraine.<h2>Ukraine’s stance: No land concessions</h2>Zelensky and his government have drawn a firm red line: Ukraine will not barter away its territory. In a televised address he reminded citizens that Ukraine’s constitution forbids ceding any land to an aggressor, flatly stating “Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupiers”.&nbsp;Ukraine’s leaders reject the notion that significant territory could be traded in any ceasefire deal. In the same video, Zelensky warned that any peace decisions made without Ukraine’s input would be “decisions against peace” – “stillborn” and “unworkable” – because they would lack legitimacy.&nbsp;His chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, has echoed that line: “the front line is not a border,” he was quoted saying to Reuters, reaffirming that Kyiv will refuse all territorial concessions. Ukrainian officials also celebrated a recent phone call with Trump in which, they say, he agreed that Kyiv must participate in any talks on land swaps.&nbsp;Even on the streets of Anchorage, Ukrainians and supporters are protesting the idea of ceding any land. Prior demonstrations in Alaska were overwhelmingly pro-Ukraine, underscoring Kyiv’s domestic resolve. Ordinary Ukrainians share this stance: at Kyiv’s Maidan square one veteran told reporters, “Not a single serviceman will agree to cede territory… We fight for every inch”.&nbsp;In sum, Ukraine’s position is clear – it is prepared to negotiate a ceasefire or new peace talks, but only on terms that guarantee its sovereignty and security. Indeed, even conceding the roughly one‑fifth of territory currently occupied by Russia (the Donbas, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia) would be “painful and politically challenging” for Zelensky.&nbsp;Experts warn that any deal effectively locking in Russian gains would be immediately rejected in Ukraine. As Atlantic Council analyst Tyson Barker put it, “the best the Ukrainians can do is remain firm in their objections and their conditions for a negotiated settlement”.<h2>What lies ahead: Prospects and pitfalls</h2>As Trump and Putin meet, much remains uncertain. If the summit achieves even a temporary ceasefire, it could halt the bloodshed for a time – a welcome respite for civilians – but it might also freeze large parts of Ukraine under Russian control. Analysts caution that Moscow could agree to a limited truce while maintaining the ability to quickly resume offensives. In their words, a deal that leaves Ukraine “in control of those escalatory dynamics” would still be a win for Russia.&nbsp;Furthermore, there is a risk that Washington’s pursuit of a rapid deal could undercut Ukrainian morale or unity. So far, both Zelensky and his Western allies appear to have resisted pressure to strike away Ukraine’s key war aims (like NATO membership or recovering all occupied territory).&nbsp;On the other hand, if the meeting stalls without progress, Ukraine could face continued warfare and a distracted world. Trump has even hinted he could react by imposing new sanctions and tariffs on Russia – or cancelling them if Putin agrees to a deal – after Anchorage.&nbsp;Such unpredictability injects risk: if sanctions remain, Russia’s economy will keep straining under pressure, but if they are lifted in exchange for a weak ceasefire, Ukraine’s leverage will weaken. European capitals, while hopeful, have been skeptical: the history of unimplemented ceasefires in this war is long, and many say real peace requires much more than a handshake in Alaska. In the end, the summit’s outcome could reshape the war’s trajectory. A breakthrough could force a halt to fighting and begin a painful process of negotiating Ukraine’s future borders and security guarantees.&nbsp;&nbsp;A collapse of talks might embolden Putin to press his offensive, or simply prolong the stalemate. For Ukraine, the stakes are existential: its leaders will measure any U.S.-Russia deal against the intransigent principle that Ukraine’s future must be decided by Ukraine’s people. As one Ukrainian official put it, this moment calls for “real and genuine peace” – and nothing less will suffice.

Trump–Putin Alaska summit: Will this be the ceasefire that changes everything without Ukraine at the table?

The countdown has begun! US President Donald Trump will convene a high-stakes meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin at Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force Base in Anchorage in a bid to negotiate an end to Russia’s three‑and‑a‑half year war in Ukraine. Trump has publicly staked much on brokering a ceasefire – even hinting he could earn a Nobel Peace Prize – and has floated the idea of “swapping of territories to the betterment of both” sides. He also said he would follow up a successful Russia meeting with a trilateral summit including Ukraine’s president. But Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited to the first round, and has warned that any peace plan must involve Kyiv directly. In Anchorage, the two leaders will reportedly “focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis,” an aide to Putin said, adding it “will be a challenging process”. Western capitals are watching nervously – allies insist Ukraine’s security interests must come first, while Russia seeks relief from punishing sanctions. Putin’s terms: Hard bargains for peace On the eve of the summit, the Kremlin has spelt out what a ceasefire deal would entail – and the demands are onerous. Russia’s war objectives have long included international recognition of its annexations and control over large swaths of eastern and southern Ukraine. In this latest push, Putin’s side is reportedly insisting on Ukraine giving up sovereignty over the Donbas region (Donetsk and Luhansk), the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, and even recognising Crimea as Russian. Moscow also demands that Ukraine become a neutral state (explicitly barring NATO membership) and enshrine protections for Russian speakers, including making Russian an official language. Putin has even hinted at broader economic and security guarantees – and possibly a new nuclear arms-control deal with the US – as bargaining chips. Analysts note that Russia’s “stringent conditions” for a full ceasefire are really aimed at securing a long‑term strategic victory. A partial compromise under discussion might be a phased truce – for example pausing air strikes while ground fighting continues. But critics fear such a deal would leave Russia “in control of those escalatory dynamics” on the battlefield with “no genuine deterrence” for Ukraine, a result one expert called a “wonderful outcome from Putin’s perspective”. In public comments, Trump has alternately sounded optimistic and cautious, saying he thinks “Putin will do a deal” on Ukraine but acknowledging the conflict has proven far tougher to end than he expected. A Western diplomat quoted by Reuters suggested the two sides have floated some common terms behind the scenes, but any concrete offer by Russia would likely still amount to Ukraine surrendering territory and major concessions. In exchange, Putin wants Western sanctions lifted and a normalisation of US‑Russia ties – ideally without making that conditional on progress on Ukraine. Ukraine’s stance: No land concessions Zelensky and his government have drawn a firm red line: Ukraine will not barter away its territory. In a televised address he reminded citizens that Ukraine’s constitution forbids ceding any land to an aggressor, flatly stating “Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupiers”. Ukraine’s leaders reject the notion that significant territory could be traded in any ceasefire deal. In the same video, Zelensky warned that any peace decisions made without Ukraine’s input would be “decisions against peace” – “stillborn” and “unworkable” – because they would lack legitimacy. His chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, has echoed that line: “the front line is not a border,” he was quoted saying to Reuters, reaffirming that Kyiv will refuse all territorial concessions. Ukrainian officials also celebrated a recent phone call with Trump in which, they say, he agreed that Kyiv must participate in any talks on land swaps. Even on the streets of Anchorage, Ukrainians and supporters are protesting the idea of ceding any land. Prior demonstrations in Alaska were overwhelmingly pro-Ukraine, underscoring Kyiv’s domestic resolve. Ordinary Ukrainians share this stance: at Kyiv’s Maidan square one veteran told reporters, “Not a single serviceman will agree to cede territory… We fight for every inch”. In sum, Ukraine’s position is clear – it is prepared to negotiate a ceasefire or new peace talks, but only on terms that guarantee its sovereignty and security. Indeed, even conceding the roughly one‑fifth of territory currently occupied by Russia (the Donbas, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia) would be “painful and politically challenging” for Zelensky. Experts warn that any deal effectively locking in Russian gains would be immediately rejected in Ukraine. As Atlantic Council analyst Tyson Barker put it, “the best the Ukrainians can do is remain firm in their objections and their conditions for a negotiated settlement”. What lies ahead: Prospects and pitfalls As Trump and Putin meet, much remains uncertain. If the summit achieves even a temporary ceasefire, it could halt the bloodshed for a time – a welcome respite for civilians – but it might also freeze large parts of Ukraine under Russian control. Analysts caution that Moscow could agree to a limited truce while maintaining the ability to quickly resume offensives. In their words, a deal that leaves Ukraine “in control of those escalatory dynamics” would still be a win for Russia. Furthermore, there is a risk that Washington’s pursuit of a rapid deal could undercut Ukrainian morale or unity. So far, both Zelensky and his Western allies appear to have resisted pressure to strike away Ukraine’s key war aims (like NATO membership or recovering all occupied territory). On the other hand, if the meeting stalls without progress, Ukraine could face continued warfare and a distracted world. Trump has even hinted he could react by imposing new sanctions and tariffs on Russia – or cancelling them if Putin agrees to a deal – after Anchorage. Such unpredictability injects risk: if sanctions remain, Russia’s economy will keep straining under pressure, but if they are lifted in exchange for a weak ceasefire, Ukraine’s leverage will weaken. European capitals, while hopeful, have been skeptical: the history of unimplemented ceasefires in this war is long, and many say real peace requires much more than a handshake in Alaska. In the end, the summit’s outcome could reshape the war’s trajectory. A breakthrough could force a halt to fighting and begin a painful process of negotiating Ukraine’s future borders and security guarantees. A collapse of talks might embolden Putin to press his offensive, or simply prolong the stalemate. For Ukraine, the stakes are existential: its leaders will measure any U.S.-Russia deal against the intransigent principle that Ukraine’s future must be decided by Ukraine’s people. As one Ukrainian official put it, this moment calls for “real and genuine peace” – and nothing less will suffice.

Ahead of his high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, Russian President Vladimir Putin held discussions with top military, economic, and diplomatic officials in Moscow

Israeli security forces, led by the Southern Command, exterminated Nasser Musa, a ‘key’ operative in Hamas’s Rafah Brigade, in the Khan Yunis area on August 9, the IDF shared on Friday. In a joint statement, the IDF and Shin Bet said that Musa served as head of Hamas’s military control department and was responsible for the training of operatives in the brigade involved in planning and carrying out terror activity against IDF forces and Israeli civilians during the war.Musa was a close associate of Muhammed Shabana, the Rafah Brigade commander killed in May 2025. He previously held multiple roles in the Rafah Brigade, including military intelligence officer and head of the observation network.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🔴ELIMINATED: Nasser Musa, Head of Hamas’ Military Control Department in the Rafah Brigade, was struck and eliminated by the IDF &amp; ISA in Khan Yunis. Musa was responsible for the Rafah Brigade’s operational readiness &amp; attacks during the war, and was a close associate of the… <a href="https://t.co/43iAcOf0nZ">pic.twitter.com/43iAcOf0nZ</a>&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1956259489507672348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;The elimination of Musa further damages the Rafah Brigade and Hamas’s ability to carry out terror activity against IDF troops in the area, the military said.&nbsp;<h2>IDF continues ground operations across Gaza Strip</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Israel Air Force fighter jets struck a building in Khan Yunis used by terror organisations to store rockets intended for launch toward Israel and IDF troops on Thursday.Under the Southern Command and guided by Military Intelligence and the Shin Bet, IDF troops continued their operations in the Gaza Strip. The 36th Division conducted offensive activity in Khan Yunis and destroyed a terror structure and killed terrorist cells, while the 143rd Division destroyed dozens of military infrastructures in the south.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">פעילות כוחות צה״ל ברצועת עזה: חוסל מחבל מרכזי בחטיבת רפיח של ארגון הטרור חמאס צה״ל ושב&quot;כ תקפו וחיסלו ב-9 באוגוסט 2025 במרחב חאן יונס, בהובלת פיקוד הדרום, את נאצר מוסא, מחבל מרכזי בחטיבת רפיח ששימש כראש מחלקת הבקרה הצבאית של ארגון הטרור חמאס. המחבל היה אחראי על כשירות ואימוני… <a href="https://t.co/MBHz457lOy">pic.twitter.com/MBHz457lOy</a>&mdash; צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) <a href="https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1956243668953665998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, the IDF says fighter jets hit a building in Khan Younis yesterday that was used by terror operatives to store rockets. The IDF also shared footage of the strike. In north Gaza, the 99th Division of the IDF continued defensive operations and demolished tunnel shafts, killed several operatives, and neutralised threats to maintain security. The air and ground operations reflect Israel’s ongoing efforts to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities amid heightened tensions following the June 2025 war with Iran, which has further complicated regional dynamics. The IDF’s precision strikes and intelligence-driven operations underscore its commitment to countering terrorism while safeguarding Israeli civilians.

The IDF and Shin Bet said Musa was a close associate of Muhammed Shabana, the Rafah Brigade commander killed in May 2025. Earlier, he held multiple positions in the Rafah Brigade, including military intelligence officer and head of the observation network.

Israeli security forces, led by the Southern Command, exterminated Nasser Musa, a ‘key’ operative in Hamas’s Rafah Brigade, in the Khan Yunis area on August 9, the IDF shared on Friday. In a joint statement, the IDF and Shin Bet said that Musa served as head of Hamas’s military control department and was responsible for the training of operatives in the brigade involved in planning and carrying out terror activity against IDF forces and Israeli civilians during the war. Musa was a close associate of Muhammed Shabana, the Rafah Brigade commander killed in May 2025. He previously held multiple roles in the Rafah Brigade, including military intelligence officer and head of the observation network.

The IDF and Shin Bet said Musa was a close associate of Muhammed Shabana, the Rafah Brigade commander killed in May 2025. Earlier, he held multiple positions in the Rafah Brigade, including military intelligence officer and head of the observation network.

Nasser Musa, ‘key’ terrorist in Hamas Rafah Brigade, killed in Khan Yunis strike: IDF

Exiled Russian opposition leader Yulia Navalnaya has appealed to Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump to reach a deal that would free Russian and Ukrainian political prisoners. Navalnaya, whose husband Alexei Navalny died in a Russian prison last year, made her plea in a video posted on social media on Friday, just hours before the two leaders were due to meet in Alaska to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-highly-value-our-special-strategic-partnership-russia-s-independence-day-wish-to-india-amid-tariff-war-with-us-1755248993622">‘Highly value strategic partnership’: Russia’s Independence Day wish to India</a><h2>‘An irreversible step’</h2>“You must take an irreversible step, something that cannot be undone,” Navalnaya said in her message to both presidents. “Free Russian political activists and journalists. Free Ukrainian civilians. Free those imprisoned for anti-war statements and social media posts,” she added.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today’s meeting could be historic. The whole world is expecting it to bring an end to the war. Right now, thousands of people remain in Russian prisons for demanding exactly that. Please watch and share my address to the participants of the negotiations in Alaska to help bring… <a href="https://t.co/258iUgHKCX">pic.twitter.com/258iUgHKCX</a>&mdash; Yulia Navalnaya (@yulia_navalnaya) <a href="https://twitter.com/yulia_navalnaya/status/1956290731728888254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Past prisoner swaps between Russia and the US</h2>Putin and Trump have previously agreed on prisoner swaps, securing the release of individuals held in each other’s countries. Last year, former US president Joe Biden negotiated a major exchange that freed two American journalists and several Russian opposition figures in return for alleged Russian spies arrested in Europe.<h2>Moscow’s crackdown on dissent</h2>Since the start of the Ukraine invasion in February 2022, Russia has prosecuted hundreds for speaking out against the war. Soon after ordering the military offensive, Moscow passed strict laws criminalising criticism of its armed forces or sharing information from non-government sources. According to Kyiv, thousands of Ukrainian civilians remain detained in Russia and in territories under Russian occupation.

Yulia Navalnaya urged Putin and Trump to secure the release of Russian and Ukrainian political prisoners ahead of their Alaska meeting, calling for an irreversible step toward justice and peace.

Exiled Russian opposition leader Yulia Navalnaya has appealed to Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump to reach a deal that would free Russian and Ukrainian political prisoners. Navalnaya, whose husband Alexei Navalny died in a Russian prison last year, made her plea in a video posted on social media on Friday, just hours before the two leaders were due to meet in Alaska to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine. Also read: ‘Highly value strategic partnership’: Russia’s Independence Day wish to India ‘An irreversible step’ “You must take an irreversible step, something that cannot be undone,” Navalnaya said in her message to both presidents. “Free Russian political activists and journalists. Free Ukrainian civilians. Free those imprisoned for anti-war statements and social media posts,” she added.

Yulia Navalnaya urged Putin and Trump to secure the release of Russian and Ukrainian political prisoners ahead of their Alaska meeting, calling for an irreversible step toward justice and peace.

‘Take an irreversible step’: Yulia Navalnaya calls on Putin and Trump to free political prisoners ahead of 'historic' Alaska talks

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