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12:16 AM EDT Trump says he and Putin ‘largely agreed’ on land swaps Donald Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that he’d found he “largely agreed” with Vladimir Putin about potential lands swaps between Ukraine and Russia. “Those are points that we negotiated and those are points that we largely agreed on, actually.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited to the summit, but he has previously made clear he is not willing to swap land with Russia. “Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier,” Zelensky said in an October video address.

11:41 PM EDT Trump backs off Russian sanctions after meeting with Putin Donald Trump has shelved plans to impose sanctions on Russia, following his meeting with Vladimir Putin. Trump had threatened “severe consequences” if he and Putin weren’t able to agree on a ceasefire deal. Yet on Friday, despite Trump leaving the Alaska summit without securing a peace deal with Putin, he said that the talks had convinced him to back off secondary sanctions for now. “I think I don’t have to think about that,” he told Fox News’ Sean Hannity. “I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don’t have to think about that right now.”

11:20 PM EDT Trump says Putin gave him advice on fair elections President Donald Trump says Vladimir Putin gave him advice on how to run “honest elections.” “Vladimir Putin, smart guy, said you can’t have an honest election with mail-in voting,” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity. “He said ‘your election was rigged because you have mail in voting.'” “And he said there’s not a country in the world that uses it,” Trump added, telling Hannity that Putin had told him the 2020 election had been stolen from him. Putin, who has been in power since 2000, has been accused of holding biased elections, with allegations of fraud and voter intimidation. Putin’s political opponents also have a tendency to die in mysterious circumstances. Trump: “Vladimir Putin said something — one of the most interesting things. He said ‘your election was rigged because you have mail in voting.’ He said, ‘mail in voting, every election — no country has mail in voting. It’s impossible to have mail in voting and have honest… pic.twitter.com/glEXFHWp6u — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 16, 2025

11:13 PM EDT Trump says it’s on Zelensky to get deal done President Donald Trump said it’s now up to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to secure a ceasefire deal. “Now it is really up to President Zelensky to get it done,” he said. “I would also say the European nations have to get involved a little bit.” Zelensky was not invited to the summit. When asked what advice he’d give the Ukrainian leader, Trump said, “Make a deal… Russia’s a very big power.”

10:58 PM EDT Kremlin explains why Trump, Putin skipped questions at press conference President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin skipped the Q&A at their Friday’s joint press conference because “exhaustive statements were made,” a Kremlin spokesperson said. “The conversation is really very positive, and the two presidents spoke about it,” said spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to Russia’s state-owned news agency RIA Novosti. “This is the very conversation that allows us to confidently continue moving forward together on the path of seeking resolution options.”

10:48 PM EDT Lindsay Graham reacts to Putin blaming Biden for Ukraine war Sen. Lindsey Graham has responded to Vladimir Putin’s claim that the Ukraine war would not have started if Donald Trump had been president in 2022. During his joint press conference on Friday, Putin backed up Trump’s claims that Russia would not have invaded if he had been in power. However, Republican senator Graham, a close ally of Trump, said he disagreed with Putin’s claim. “I blame Putin more than anybody else for starting the war, I want be clear about that,” Graham said on Friday evening. “But let me tell you, I’ve never been more hopeful and optimistic that this war can end honorably and justly than I am right now.”

10:31 PM EDT Donald Trump grades his meeting with Vladimir Putin as a 10 of 10 President Donald Trump on Friday lauded his bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, telling Fox News host Sean Hannity that he would rate the meeting as a 10 out of 10. Trump and Putin met Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss ending Moscow’s war against Ukraine, which Putin launched in February 2022. The White House said the Russian leader reached out to request the meeting, to which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited. “If you had to grade it on a scale of 1 to 10?” Hannity, arguably one of Trump’s staunchest supporters in the conservative media sphere, asked the president during a prime-time broadcast Friday following the Trump-Putin summit. “So I think the meeting was a 10 in the sense that we got along great,” Trump replied. “And it’s good when two big powers get along especially when they’re nuclear powers. You know, we’re number one, they’re number two in the world and that’s a big deal … you never even want to mention that word. The word ‘nuclear.'” The American president went on to say that the ball is now in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s court, though he declined to say whether the Russian leader had made any concessions during the three-hour summit. Read in full from Sonam Sheth on Newsweek.

10:18 PM EDT WATCH: Putin swipes at Biden, says there’d ‘be no war’ if Trump was president

10:06 PM EDT Trump believes ‘big issue’ that he and Putin disagreed on will be leaked President Donald Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that he was mostly happy with his meeting with Vladimir Putin. But there had been “one big issue” the two leaders had disagreed on. When asked what that issue was, Trump declined to say but said he believed it was likely to be leaked soon. “I guess somebody is going to go public with it,” he said. “They’ll figure it out… I want to see if we can get it done.”

09:53 PM EDT Trump ‘very happy’ with Putin backing his claims about Ukraine war Donald Trump appeared on Fox News’ Hannity just hours after his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During his interview, Trump said he had been “very happy” to hear Putin agree with his regularly repeated claim that the Ukrainian invasion would never have broken out, if he had won the election in 2020. “I was very happy to hear him say if I was president that war would have never happened,” he said.

09:37 PM EDT WATCH: Trump says ‘there’s no deal until there’s a deal’ after Putin meeting

08:25 PM EDT Trump boards Air Force One after Alaska summit President Donald Trump has boarded Air Force One, after a total of six hours in Alaska, following his summit and joint press conference with Vladimir Putin. Trump is now bound back for the White House.

08:23 PM EDT Putin boards plane bound for Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin has boarded a plane in Anchorage, Alaska, less than an hour after his joint press conference with President Donald Trump. Putin was seen waving and giving a bow to the cameras before entering the plane, bound back for Russia.

08:21 PM EDT Putin leaves flowers on Soviet soldiers’ graves in Alaska after summit Russian President Vladimir Putin laid flowers on the graves of Soviet soldiers at the Fort Richardson Memorial Cemetery after his meeting with President Donald Trump on Friday. The graves honor Soviet pilots and sailors who died while transporting equipment from the U.S. to the USSR during the Second World War, the Kremlin said. The Kremlin also released video showing Putin leaving the bouquet and making the sign of a cross at the gravesite.

08:17 PM EDT Ukrainian politician brands talks ‘failure,’ says Putin ‘used’ Trump to ‘win the informational war’ Oleksandr Merezhko, the chairman of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, called the peace talks between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin a “failure.” Merezhko told the New York Times that not only had the summit failed to achieve a peace deal, but Putin had “used Trump to show that he is not isolated.” “He won the informational war,” he added. Merezhko added that Putin had also been allowed to repeat old talking points, citing security concerns for the invasion of Ukraine, and “used his usual rhetoric. “I don’t see any changes,” he added.

08:05 PM EDT IN PICTURES: Trump looks downcast as summit ends with no peace deal

07:58 PM EDT WATCH: Moment Putin asks Trump to meet in Moscow for next meeting

07:37 PM EDT Press conference ends with no questions Trump and Putin’s brief press conference ended without taking any questions from the media. While Putin is unaccustomed to being grilled by independent media, it’s is extremely rare for Trump to end any press event without taking questions.

07:27 PM EDT Putin invites Trump to Moscow for next summit Vladimir Putin switched to English at the end of the relatively short press conference, to invite Donald Trump to Moscow for the next peace talks. Trump called the proposal “an interesting one” and said it was a “possibility” even though he acknowledged he could “get a little heat on that one.” “But I could see it possibly happening,” he said.

07:24 PM EDT Trump confirms no deal was reached Donald Trump praised his meeting with Vladimir Putin, telling the joint press conference that they had made “great progress” but still “haven’t quite gotten there yet” on a ceasefire deal for Ukraine. “There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump said. He said that there were still some points of disagreements remain between the U.S. although he sounded optimistic. “We have a very good chance of getting there,” he added. Trump added that he would soon call Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, to inform him of the discussions.

07:19 PM EDT Putin backs up Trump’s claim that Ukraine war would not have started if he was president Vladimir Putin backed up Donald Trump’s oft-repeated claim that the war in Ukraine would not have happened if Trump had won the 2020 election. “President Trump [said] that if he was the president back then, there will be no war, and I’m quite sure that it would indeed be. So I can confirm that,” he said.

07:17 PM EDT Putin says Trump understands Russia ‘has it’s own interests’, tells Ukrainians ‘not to throw wrench’ in process Vladimir Putin told the assembled press the Donald Trump understands that Russia has its own interests in Ukraine, as he called on Ukrainians and Europeans choose to “not throw a wrench in” the peace negotiations. “Both sides should be results oriented,” Putin said. “Trump clearly cares about the prosperity of his nation. But understands Russia has its own interests.” He added that, for any settlement to be “lasting and long-term, we need to eliminate the primary causes of the conflict.” He did not elaborate on what he believed those causes to be.

07:11 PM EDT Russian leader says meeting with Trump was ‘long overdue’ Putin noted that there had been no Russia-U.S. summits for several years, as he called today’s meeting “long overdue.” He described relations between the countries as having “fallen to the lowest point since the Cold War”. The Russian leader said Trump wants to get to the “crux of the matter” referring to Ukraine, adding that he and the U.S. president have communicated through a number of “frank” phone calls.

07:06 PM EDT Putin kicks off conference, praises ‘constructive’ and ‘thorough’ negotiations Vladimir Putin kicked off the press conference, speaking through a translator, by praising the “constructive” and “thorough” negotiations. “Our negotiations have been held in a constructive atmosphere of mutual respect,” Putin said. Putin thanked Trump for inviting him to the meeting in Alaska, adding that he had called Trump a “neighbor.”

06:58 PM EDT Trump and Putin take to stage for joint press confernece Vladimir Putin joined President Trump on stage for a joint press conference after their closed-door meeting.

06:51 PM EDT Russian Defense speaks out after closed-doors meeting Russian Defense Minister A. Belousov described the mood as “great” after Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Donald Trump, and senior aides. “The mood is always great,” he told the press. First statements following Russia–US negotiations in Alaska — from Russian Defense Minister A. Belousov: “The mood is always great.”#Alaska #Trump #Putin pic.twitter.com/ciu1yRztAt — Ajay Chopra (@ZiddiDeshbhakt) August 15, 2025

06:48 PM EDT Special Envoy Steve Witkoff just took his seat at the press conference Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff just took his seat at the press conference. He declined to answer reporters’ questions.

06:39 PM EDT Kremlin says Trump-Putin meeting went ‘very well’ The Kremlin has said that the summit between Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump went “very well.” Russia’s Special Presidential Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries Kirill Dmitriev added that the talks were “excellent” after they came to an end after just under three hours.

06:30 PM EDT Both Trump and Putin expected to give remarks at conference Both Trump and Putin are expected to take the stage at the press conference after their meeting. While there has been plenty of uncertainty over whether the Russian leader will join Trump for the press conference, but CBS News reports he will join. The world leaders are set to take the stage, which has been set up with two podiums, in five minutes. Behind the lecterns, is a backdrop that reads, “Pursuing Peace.”

06:22 PM EDT Trump repeats threats of ‘very severe consequences’ for Putin if they can’t reach agreement President Donald Trump confirmed again Friday that he will impose “severe” consequences if he wasn’t able to come an agreement with Vladimir Putin. “Economically severe, yes,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One ahead of the meeting. “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.”

06:19 PM EDT Journalists seen moving to press room for conference The media was seen moving to the press room at the joint base in Alaska, ahead of the joint press conference, after the talks between President Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and their senior aides came to an end. BREAKING: Kremlin confirms that the Trump-Putin meeting is over. pic.twitter.com/6YtOMuhE6t — Clash Report (@clashreport) August 15, 2025

06:16 PM EDT Trump-Putin meeting has ended The Trump-Putin summit has ended after around two and a half hours.

06:03 PM EDT Trump-Putin meeting surpasses two-and-a-half-hour mark The meeting between Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and their senior aides has surpassed the two-and-a-half-hour mark. The working lunch, with the expanded delegation, will take place once the meeting concludes. The Kremlin warned the talks could go on for as long as seven hours.

05:47 PM EDT Who will be at Trump and Putin’s working lunch? Trump and Putin are currently meeting, alongside four senior aides and their translators. Following the talks, a wider delegation is set to join them for a working lunch. The working lunch will include: Trump

Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles

Putin

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

Yury Ushakov, a Russian diplomatic adviser

Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov

05:13 PM EDT Trump-Putin meeting update The meeting between Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and their senior aides has been going for just over 90 minutes. A White House official told CNN that the working lunch with the expanded delegation had not yet started as the smaller talks continue. A White House official says the working lunch with the expanded delegation has not started yet. So the smaller meeting with Trump, Putin and senior aides has been going on for about 90 minutes. — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 15, 2025

04:58 PM EDT IN PICTURES: Summit well underway President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have officially begun their high-stakes summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, where they are expected to discuss the war in Ukraine and broader strategic issues. U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) hold a meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska. U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) hold a meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – AUGUST 15: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) hold a meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska. The two leaders are meeting for peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

04:56 PM EDT B-2 bomber and two F-35 fighter jets fly overhead in show of force THIS IMAGE WAS DIRECTLY PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY AND HAS NOT BEEN VETTED FOR EDITORIAL ACCURACY BY THE AP EDITORIAL TEAM. A B-2 bomber and two F-35 fighter jets fly overhead as U.S. President… THIS IMAGE WAS DIRECTLY PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY AND HAS NOT BEEN VETTED FOR EDITORIAL ACCURACY BY THE AP EDITORIAL TEAM. A B-2 bomber and two F-35 fighter jets fly overhead as U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to attend a meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, the United States. / Sputnik via AP More AP President Donald Trump greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin with a flyover from B-2 bombers and F-35 fighter jets. It is the same bomber-type that the U.S. used to strike Iran’s nuclear sites earlier this summer. While it is not clear if Trump personally ordered the bombers, the flyover was an impressive show of force from the U.S. ahead of Trump and Putin’s sit down. The superpower leaders also walked past parked F-22 fighter jets as they walked the red carpet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Someone approved flying a B-2 stealth bomber directly over Putin’s entourage in Alaska.

An insane flex from the US.

pic.twitter.com/3N5ltmNunP — A. Pettit (@PettitFrontier) August 15, 2025

04:48 PM EDT Zelensky condemns Russian strikes as Trump-Putin summit opens in Alaska As Trump and Putin met Friday in Anchorage to discuss the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced ongoing Russian attacks as evidence that Moscow is not serious about peace. In a video posted shortly before the summit began, Zelensky said Russia had bombed several Ukrainian regions, including a central market in Sumy, killing civilians. “On the day of negotiations, they are killing, as well. And that speaks volumes,” Zelensky said, adding that there was “no signal” from Moscow indicating readiness to end the war. Kyiv also reported a retaliatory strike on a Russian oil refinery in Samara overnight, underscoring the continued intensity of the conflict. Zelensky, who was not invited to the Alaska summit, urged the U.S. to take a firm stance in backing Ukraine’s demands, particularly a ceasefire. European leaders echoed that position during a call with Trump earlier this week, emphasizing that no meaningful negotiations could occur without halting hostilities. Trump has suggested that if progress is made, a second meeting could include Zelensky and potentially lead to a trilateral summit in Alaska. On the day of negotiations, the Russians are killing as well. And that speaks volumes. Recently, weʼve discussed with the U.S. and Europeans what can truly work. Everyone needs a just end to the war. Ukraine is ready to work as productively as possible to bring the war to an end,… pic.twitter.com/tmN8F4jDzl — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 15, 2025

04:32 PM EDT Zelensky urges ceasefire as Trump-Putin summit begins in Alaska Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared a ceasefire as Ukraine’s top priority for the ongoing summit between Trump and Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. Speaking after a video call with Trump and European leaders earlier this week, Zelensky said that “only a ceasefire can open the door to real peace talks.” European officials echoed the sentiment, calling the expanded summit format — which now includes advisers — a “reassuring development.” According to CNN, Trump privately told European leaders he would press Putin for a ceasefire during the meeting. Zelensky also pushed for Ukraine’s direct involvement in future negotiations, proposing a trilateral summit with the U.S. and Russia. “Everything concerning Ukraine must be discussed exclusively with Ukraine,” he said Wednesday, urging preparations for a three-way format. While Kyiv remains excluded from today’s talks, Trump has signaled openness to a follow-up meeting involving Zelensky, contingent on progress in Anchorage.

04:22 PM EDT Putin is not accustomed to being grilled by the media Since landing on the tarmac in Anchorage, Alaska, Vladimir Putin has been peppered with question by journalists asking about his record in Ukraine. “When will you stop killing civilians?” and “Why should Trump trust your words?” Putin asked. He did not respond. Back in Russia, Putin is surrounded by a pool of Kremlin-controlled journalists who almost never ask any tough, or unsanctioned questions.

04:18 PM EDT Trump and Putin launch high-stakes summit in Alaska: Catch Up President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin began their summit on Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, amid heightened global attention and military symbolism. The two leaders greeted each other on the tarmac with a handshake and photo op, followed by a dramatic flyover featuring a B-2 stealth bomber and four F-35 fighter jets. In a rare gesture, Putin joined Trump inside the U.S. presidential limousine as they departed for the meeting venue. Originally planned as a one-on-one, the summit was expanded to include top aides: Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff for the U.S., and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and adviser Yuri Ushakov for Russia. The talks, held under the banner “Alaska 2025: Pursuing Peace,” are expected to cover Ukraine, economic issues, and global strategic security. Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev confirmed the agenda would not be limited to bilateral concerns. Trump has signaled he’s willing to walk away if progress stalls. European officials expressed relief that the meeting was no longer private, calling the expanded format “reassuring.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported continued Russian attacks and said there were “no signals” of a ceasefire. Russian officials remain optimistic but cautious about the summit’s outcome.

04:11 PM EDT Can Vladimir Putin speak English? Vladimir Putin is believed to have at least a functional understanding of English, though he rarely speaks it in public. Most of the time, he communicates through interpreters during international meetings and official events, which allows him to maintain precision in his words and avoid any misunderstandings. However, there have been instances—particularly in informal settings, interviews, or interactions with foreign leaders—where Putin has spoken English directly. Reports and videos suggest that he can hold basic conversations and understand what is being said, but he prefers Russian to convey nuanced political or diplomatic messages. This choice is as much about political image and control as it is about language proficiency.

04:06 PM EDT WATCH: Trump and Putin meet in Alaska to discuss ending Ukraine war

04:06 PM EDT Zelensky said Ukraine is counting on American strength Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, ahead the meeting between President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, that he was counting on American strength to end the war. “We count on a strong American position,” he said in his nightly video address in Kyiv. “Everything will depend on this.” He pointed to Russian strikes on Ukraine on Friday as evidence Putin had not intention of ending the war. “Russia must end the war that it itself started and has been dragging on for years. The killings must stop,” Zelensky said.

03:56 PM EDT Trump fundraises off Putin summit moments after talks begin Just minutes after sitting down with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, Trump launched a fundraising appeal tied directly to the high-stakes summit. In an email sent to supporters, Trump wrote, “I’m meeting with Putin in Alaska! It’s a little chilly,” before urging recipients to “stand with Trump” and contribute $10. The message framed the meeting as pivotal for global stability, calling it “VERY HIGH STAKES for the world.”

03:49 PM EDT Trump and Putin kick off bilateral meeting President Donald Trump meets with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) President Donald Trump meets with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have sat down for their summit. They were joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and a translator, on Trump’s side. Russian minister of foreign affairs Sergey Lavrov, Russian policy adviser Yury Ushakova and a translator were seated alongside Putin. Both Trump and Putin declined to take questions from the media, who were then ushered out of the room ahead of the meeting.

03:41 PM EDT Trump-Putin meeting begins U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are meeting for their high-stakes summit aimed at negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. The meeting marks Putin’s first face-to-face with a U.S. president since Russia’s 2022 invasion and Trump’s first with Putin since 2019

03:38 PM EDT Body language expert reacts to Trump-Putin handshake Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, for their first in-person meeting in over four years, with the war in Ukraine and U.S.–Russia economic cooperation topping the agenda. The interaction between the two leaders was closely watched not only for diplomatic outcomes, but also for the physical cues exchanged during their public greeting. Patty Ann Wood, a body language expert consulted by Newsweek, analyzed the encounter and said their gestures showed a blend of deference, control, and familiarity. “As Trump stands waiting, he’s smiling—a sign he’s comfortable and looking forward to the event,” Wood said. “It’s his natural smile, small and slightly downturned at the corners. His shoulders are back more than usual; he might be wearing a form-fitting undergarment because his posture is unusually erect. This all suggests confidence.” As Putin approached, Trump began applauding lightly. “That shows respect toward Putin,” Wood said. “As Putin approaches, Trump takes a step forward.” At the moment of the handshake, Trump appeared to break from his usual habit of dominating the gesture. “Trump typically likes to have his hand on top, but here it appears he presented his palm up—a weaker, more subordinate position—indicating he sees Putin as more powerful,” she said. “Still, he uses a signature Trump move: keeping the handshake tight to his mid-body to pull the other person in, a display of power.” The two maintained eye contact and smiled, which Wood said suggested “a balance of deference and assertion.” Their heads remained close together. “That suggests warmth,” she said.

03:36 PM EDT Trump and Putin make rare move of sharing a car enroute to talks In a surprising move, Trump and Putin entered the same presidential limousine—known as “The Beast”—after meeting on the tarmac of the joint base in Alaska. It is highly unusual to see the leaders of two major countries, particularly who are not allies, share a limousine. The gesture underscored the summit’s emphasis on optics and unity, even as substantive outcomes remain uncertain. There did not appear to be interpreters in the car, although Putin speaks English well enough for them to have a private conversation.

03:33 PM EDT WATCH: Pro-Ukraine rally breaks out before Trump and Putin meeting

03:22 PM EDT Putin asked if he will ‘stop killing civilians’ by press on tarmac Russian President Vladimir Putin was greeted by tough questions by reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, moments after landing. Putin, who had stopped to pose with Trump for photos, was asked by a journalist, “President Putin will you stop killing civilians?” When he declined to answer, a reporter shouted out another question. “Mr Putin, did you underestimate Ukraine?” This time Putin mimed not being able to hear the question, before being whisked away by Trump in the U.S. presidential limousine—known as “The Beast.”

03:21 PM EDT Trump and Putin stage choreographed arrival US President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose on a podium on the tarmac after they arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. US President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose on a podium on the tarmac after they arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images In a striking display of diplomatic choreography, Trump and Putin deplaned simultaneously at 11:08 a.m. local time at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, ahead of their summit on the Russia-Ukraine war. Each leader descended a red carpet rolled out to their respective aircraft, converging at the intersection where Trump arrived first and applauded as Putin approached. The two exchanged greetings and walked side by side to a riser positioned roughly 50 feet from the press corps. As they stood silently under a dramatic flyover of B-2 bombers and F-22 fighter jets, they refrained from answering shouted questions. After a second handshake, both leaders descended the platform. In a surprising move, Trump and Putin entered the same presidential limousine—known as “The Beast”—to begin their closed-door talks. The gesture underscored the summit’s emphasis on optics and unity, even as substantive outcomes remain uncertain. US President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the tarmac after they arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. US President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the tarmac after they arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images

03:14 PM EDT Trump gives Putin a warm welcome on the red carpet at Alaska joint base President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin were all smiles as they met on the tarmac at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, Friday. The pair shook hands and appeared to share a joke and a smile as they then walked down the red carpet together. US President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the tarmac after they arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. US President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the tarmac after they arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images

03:10 PM EDT Trump is first to disembark his plane President Donald Trump has become the first leader to disembark his plane, walking down the steps of Air Force One. Russian President Vladimir Putin left his plane moments later.

03:09 PM EDT Trump and Putin deplane in Alaska Both Trump and Putin have deboarded their planes and are walking the red carpet for their first meeting in several years. US President Donald Trump steps off of Air Force One upon arrival at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. US President Donald Trump steps off of Air Force One upon arrival at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images

03:07 PM EDT Putin’s delegation includes Lavrov and Ushakov for summit As Putin meets with Trump in Alaska, the Kremlin has confirmed that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov are among the senior officials joining the talks. Lavrov, Russia’s top diplomat since 2004, brings decades of experience navigating tense geopolitical landscapes. Ushakov, a veteran envoy and former ambassador to Washington, has long shaped Moscow’s strategic posture toward the United States. The expanded Russian delegation also includes Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.

03:04 PM EDT Expanded format at Trump-Putin summit signals shift in White House dynamics The decision to expand Friday’s Trump-Putin summit from a one-on-one meeting to a larger group format may reflect a notable shift in Trump’s approach to foreign policy in his second term. Unlike his first term, when he often clashed with key advisers, Trump now appears more confident in the alignment of his Cabinet with his worldview. “It reflects how Trump feels about the people who are around him this time around,” CNN’s Kaitlan Collins said. “He feels more comfortable that they are in alignment with his view on the world and on foreign policy, and what he’s pursuing here.” During his first term, Trump frequently disagreed with top officials like Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster. Today, he is joined in Alaska by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior aides, suggesting a more unified front as he engages in high-stakes diplomacy with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

03:01 PM EDT Putin lands at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Motorcade has arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. Putin was joined by several senior officials and diplomats. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Motorcade has arrived with several senior officials and diplomats on the tarmac at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. pic.twitter.com/O5M71VUvea — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 15, 2025

02:56 PM EDT F-22s stand guard as Putin arrives at Alaska base once built to counter Russia At Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, reporters gathered on the tarmac Friday as four F-22 Raptor stealth fighters formed a striking backdrop to a stage marked “ALASKA 2025.” The base, a Cold War-era stronghold, has long been viewed by its Air Force personnel as a frontline defense against Russian aggression. Today, those same pilots watched as Putin was welcomed with a red carpet.

02:37 PM EDT Trump-Putin one-on-one scrapped in favor of three-on-three The meeting between Trump and Putin has been replaced with a broader three-on-three format, a White House official confirmed Friday. Joining Trump will be Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Russian delegation is expected to include senior officials, though exact names have not been released. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defense Minister Andrei Belousov are among those already in Anchorage for the summit. News — A White House official confirms Trump’s one-on-one with Putin is no longer happening. Instead it will be a three-on-three, with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio joining Trump. Not clear who will join Putin from the Russian side. — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 15, 2025

02:36 PM EDT Russia denies Sumy strike, calls accusation a summit disruption tactic The Russian Defense Ministry has rejected Ukraine’s claim that Russian forces struck a market in central Sumy on August 15, calling the allegation a “deliberate provocation” aimed at undermining the U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska. “The Kiev regime’s accusations are designed to create a negative media backdrop and disrupt the Anchorage talks,” the ministry said in a statement. It added that Russian forces did not conduct any operations in Sumy or nearby areas. Ukrainian officials, including Sumy’s regional governor, reported a fire and damage to civilian infrastructure following the strike, which occurred just hours before Presidents Trump and Putin were scheduled to meet. Russia maintains the incident was staged to derail diplomatic efforts.

02:27 PM EDT Trump: ‘I want to see a ceasefire’ Hours before meeting Putin, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that the summit’s outcome remains uncertain. “There’s nothing set in stone,” Trump said. “I want certain things. I want to see a ceasefire.” He added, “I’m in this to stop the killing.” While territorial issues are expected to surface during the talks, Trump said Ukraine must lead those decisions. “I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision,” he said. “I’m here to get them at a table.”

02:21 PM EDT Putin to honor soviet pilots in Alaska after Trump summit Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to visit a military cemetery in Alaska following his summit with Trump, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The site holds the remains of Soviet pilots who died in 1943 while ferrying aircraft along the Alaska-Siberia (ALSIB) air route during World War II. This comes as Putin seeks to underscore historical cooperation between Russia and the United States, even amid tense negotiations over the war in Ukraine. The ALSIB route was a key part of the Lend-Lease program, which saw thousands of American-built planes delivered to the Soviet Union.

02:10 PM EDT Trump says Ukraine must decide its own fate in talks with Putin Trump said Friday that he will not negotiate on Ukraine’s behalf during his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, emphasizing that any decisions on territorial concessions must come from Kyiv itself. “They’ll be discussed, but I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision,” Trump said aboard Air Force One, according to Reuters. “I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I’m here to get them at a table.” The president expressed optimism about the talks, citing Russia’s economic strain and mutual respect between the two leaders. “He’s a smart guy, been doing it for a long time, but so have I,” Trump said. “Something’s going to come of it.”

01:58 PM EDT Putin adviser shares bear encounter ahead of summit Kirill Dmitriev, a close adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin and head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, posted a brief video on social media showing a bear sighting in Alaska. The 13-second clip, shared on X, captured Dmitriev’s encounter somewhere in the Alaskan wilderness. He said about the bear, “Hopefully a good sign.” Met a bear in Alaska before the US-Russia Summit. 🧸 Hopefully a good sign. ☺️ pic.twitter.com/s6QXmQr5UG — Kirill A. Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) August 15, 2025

01:52 PM EDT Russian government jet lands in Anchorage ahead of summit A second aircraft from Russia’s Special Flight Squadron has arrived in Anchorage, fueling speculation about President Vladimir Putin’s imminent arrival for Friday’s summit with Trump. The Ilyushin Il-96-300PU, part of the Russian presidential fleet, touched down at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport after a trans-Arctic flight from Moscow. Kremlin officials say the plane carried advance personnel and security staff, not Putin himself.

01:41 PM EDT Trump eyes Ukraine cease-fire ahead of Putin meeting President Donald Trump expressed hope for a swift cease-fire in Ukraine as he traveled to Alaska for a high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he aims to halt the fighting but acknowledged that no agreement is guaranteed. “There’s nothing set in stone,” Trump said. “I want to see a cease-fire 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.”

01:28 PM EDT Trump-Putin summit may include talks on U.S.-Russia economic ties Trump’s meeting with Putin may extend beyond the war in Ukraine, with signs pointing to potential discussions on restoring economic relations. Aboard Air Force One en route to Alaska, Trump was joined by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick—key figures in shaping U.S. financial and trade policy. Their presence suggests the summit could address the possible easing of American sanctions and the resumption of bilateral commerce, which has been largely frozen since Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and subsequent actions in Ukraine. While no formal agenda has been released, the inclusion of top economic officials signals broader ambitions for the talks.

01:14 PM EDT Trump said he’d walk away if Putin summit fails Trump signaled he’s prepared to abandon his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin if talks don’t yield progress. In an interview aboard Air Force One with Fox News’ Bret Baier, Trump said he expects the summit to “work out very well,” but added, “If it doesn’t, I’m going to head back home real fast. I would walk, yeah.” Later Friday, Trump posted a video from the same flight, telling reporters his top priority is securing a ceasefire. “I want to see a ceasefire rapidly,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be today but I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today. I’m in this to stop the killing.”

01:05 PM EDT WATCH: Trump warns of ‘severe sanctions’ if Putin isn’t interested in peace

12:51 PM EDT Trump reaches out to Belarus’s Lukashenko Trump said on social media that he had a “wonderful talk” with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, marking a rare moment of direct engagement between a U.S. leader and one of Europe’s longest-serving autocrats. Trump praised Lukashenko as “highly respected” and thanked him for releasing 16 prisoners, noting that discussions were underway for the release of another 1,300. The outreach signals a continued shift in Trump’s approach to authoritarian leaders. While past presidents, including Barack Obama, maintained a cautious distance from Lukashenko—whose 31-year rule has been marked by repression and international isolation—Trump has opted for warmer ties. During his first term, he dispatched senior officials, including Mike Pompeo and John Bolton, to meet with Lukashenko in Minsk. Trump’s overture follows similar moves to re-engage other isolated regimes, raising questions about the long-term implications for U.S. diplomacy and human rights advocacy.

12:39 PM EDT Kremlin says Trump-Putin summit could last up to seven hours Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said the upcoming summit with Trump could stretch over six to seven hours, according to remarks made to Russian state media. The schedule includes a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders, broader talks between their respective delegations, and a joint press conference. Peskov pointed to the complexity of the agenda, suggesting the extended timeframe reflects the depth of issues to be discussed.

12:24 PM EDT Chicken Kyiv on Russian jet seen as jab at Ukraine Russian journalists traveling on a state-chartered flight to Alaska were served chicken Kyiv cutlets, a move widely interpreted as a jab at Ukraine ahead of a high-profile summit. RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan announced the menu choice on Telegram. At the same time, RT reporter Egor Piskunov suggested the dish might bode well for talks between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Adding to the spectacle, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Alaska wearing a sweatshirt bearing “USSR” in Cyrillic, evoking Soviet-era symbolism. Pro-Kremlin voices praised the gesture as political trolling, with some likening the meal to a metaphor for Russia’s stance on Ukraine. Critics, including Lithuania’s former foreign minister, warned the episode reflects Moscow’s intent to provoke and humiliate its adversaries on the global stage.

12:06 PM EDT Trump’s Ukraine envoy excluded from Alaska’s summit amid Russian concerns Trump departed Washington for Alaska this morning; one notable figure was absent from the delegation: Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine. Kellogg, a retired general and key liaison with Ukrainian officials, was left off the trip due to concerns from the Russian side, who view him as overly sympathetic to Kyiv. A senior U.S. official said his presence could have been “counterproductive” to the summit’s goals. Despite Kellogg’s absence, administration sources say he has fully briefed Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Ukraine’s positions. Rubio, known for his past criticism of Vladimir Putin, is expected to maintain a firm stance during talks. European officials expressed disappointment over Kellogg’s exclusion, citing his deep understanding of Ukraine’s negotiating limits. Sources say Kellogg may join future trilateral discussions involving the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine.

11:54 AM EDT Top US.. generals join Trump at summit In a notable move, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s top U.S. commander in Europe, are attending the Alaska summit alongside Trump. The presence of the two senior Air Force officers—both highly regarded by civilian leaders in the White House and Pentagon—adds a layer of military caution to talks that include officials more receptive to engagement with Moscow, such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Caine and Grynkewich are known for their hardline views on Russia, often voicing concern over its strategic intentions and military posture. Their inclusion signals that, despite internal divisions, the administration is balancing diplomatic outreach with firm national security oversight.

11:41 AM EDT Trump and Putin bring delegations to Alaska summit Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are set to meet on Friday in Alaska, each accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes officials from defense, diplomacy, and economic affairs—suggesting the talks will extend beyond the war in Ukraine. Putin’s team features Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, alongside Kirill Dmitriev, a key figure in Russia’s foreign investment strategy. Lavrov’s appearance in Anchorage wearing a Soviet-era sweatshirt raised eyebrows, given the historical context of Ukraine’s independence. Trump’s delegation includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose recent remarks have questioned Ukraine’s negotiating stance. CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are also attending, along with Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs. While Trump emphasized that ending the war remains his priority, the presence of economic officials points to potential discussions on sanctions, rare earth minerals, and commercial cooperation. Putin may seek to leverage Trump’s business background to explore post-war investment opportunities.

11:30 AM EDT Ukrainian commanders dismiss Trump-Putin meeting as futile As Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin head to Alaska for high-stakes talks, Ukrainian military leaders on the front lines say they expect little from the meeting. “There is no point in negotiating with Putin,” said Serhiy Tsehotskyi, an officer in Ukraine’s eastern combat zone, per CNN. “We’ve been trying for eight years and gotten nowhere.” He criticized the U.S. for rolling out the red carpet for Putin, arguing it legitimizes a leader he views as a “war criminal.” Tsehotskyi described Russia’s battlefield tactics as brutal and cynical, saying Moscow is “filling us with corpses” to claim progress ahead of the summit. Assault battalion commander Oleksandr Nastenko echoed the skepticism, warning that Putin “is not ready for a compromise” and will reject any deal. “Until one of us truly feels like the losing side,” he said, “no one will agree on anything.”

11:18 AM EDT Sen. Murphy slams Trump-Putin summit as ‘photo op’ Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) criticized Friday’s summit between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it a symbolic win for Moscow with little chance of producing a peace deal. Speaking on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Murphy said the absence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy undermines the legitimacy of the talks. Murphy, a longtime critic of the Trump administration’s foreign policy, argued the meeting “legitimizes war crimes” and sends a dangerous message to authoritarian leaders. “They can get away with murdering civilians and still get a photo-op with the president of the United States,” he said.

11:08 AM EDT Trump-Putin meeting highlights gaps in U.S. diplomatic ranks Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin comes as key U.S. diplomatic positions remain vacant and experienced officials have exited the State Department. The U.S. currently lacks confirmed ambassadors in both Moscow and Kyiv, and the top European affairs post at the State Department is unfilled. Career diplomats Lynne Tracy and Bridget Brink have departed, with Brink criticizing the administration’s approach to Russia. Julie Davis, another career envoy, has been sent to Ukraine without a formal nomination. Meanwhile, longtime foreign service officer Louis Bono was replaced by a former Senate staffer tied to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The shakeup has drawn concern from former diplomats and lawmakers. “It’s a lost opportunity if you don’t use those experts and their insights,” one former official said, per CNN. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen warned that the absence of seasoned voices could undermine the meeting’s effectiveness, calling for a more deliberate diplomatic strategy.

10:52 AM EDT Trump and Putin are meeting at historic Cold War-era U.S. base Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks today at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska—a site with deep Cold War significance. The base played a key role in U.S. defense strategy against the Soviet Union, hosting aircraft and overseeing radar systems designed to detect nuclear threats and monitor Soviet movements. Though much of its Cold War-era equipment has been retired, the base remains active. U.S. aircraft stationed there continue to intercept Russian planes that approach American airspace.

10:34 AM EDT Trump and Putin’s past one-on-one meetings Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have met privately on multiple occasions, but two face-to-face summits stand out for their global impact and controversy. Their first one-on-one meeting occurred at the 2017 G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. The session, which lasted over two hours, included only top diplomats and interpreters. Trump reportedly pressed Putin on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, though no firm consequences followed. The second major encounter came in July 2018 in Helsinki, Finland. With only interpreters present, Trump stunned observers by publicly siding with Putin over U.S. intelligence agencies on election meddling. “President Putin says it’s not Russia. I don’t see any reason why it would be,” Trump said during their joint press conference. The backlash was swift and bipartisan, prompting Trump to later claim he misspoke.

10:19 AM EDT Putin tours fish oil plant in Magadan ahead of Alaska summit Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a fish oil facility in Magadan, which is around four hours by air from Alaska, on Thursday, hours before his scheduled meeting with Trump. According to a Kremlin post on Telegram, Putin toured the Omega-Si plant, which specializes in refining fish oil and producing omega-3 capsules. The facility is the first in Russia to manufacture re-esterified triglycerides from sardines and herring caught in the Sea of Okhotsk.

10:08 AM EDT Pence urges Trump to ‘stand strong’ in Alaska, calls for peace through U.S. strength Former Vice President Mike Pence voiced support for Trump ahead of his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, posting on X that he is “Praying for President Trump to Stand Strong in Alaska Today. “A Ceasefire followed by a Just and Lasting Peace will only come through American Strength,” Pence wrote. While backing Trump’s efforts to broker peace, Pence has previously criticized the president’s framing of the war in Ukraine. In a post earlier this year, he rebuked Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine bore responsibility for the conflict, writing, “Mr. President, Ukraine did not ‘start’ this war. Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The Road to Peace must be built on the Truth.” Praying for President Trump to Stand Strong in Alaska Today. A Ceasefire followed by a Just and Lasting Peace will only come through American Strength🙏🏻🇺🇸 https://t.co/65CtXiUDk4 — Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) August 15, 2025

09:59 AM EDT Putin to land in Anchorage for runway meeting with Trump Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive in Anchorage, Alaska, at 11:00 a.m. local time, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Trump is expected to greet him directly on the runway at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, marking the start of a high-stakes summit focused on the war in Ukraine. The meeting will be Putin’s first visit to U.S. soil in a decade and the first ever by a Russian president to Alaska.

09:55 AM EDT Zelensky: ‘We are counting on America’ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that Kyiv is intensifying military efforts in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions as Russian forces attempt to gain ground ahead of the high-stakes summit in Alaska. Speaking after a Staff meeting, Zelenskyy praised the performance of the 79th and 82nd Air Assault Brigades near Dobropillia and announced additional reinforcements across eastern Ukraine. “We are succeeding,” he said, noting Russia’s mounting battlefield losses as it seeks leverage for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. Zelenskyy also highlighted Ukraine’s long-term defense strategy, including the expansion of a professional contract army and securing funding for 2025–2026. He said intelligence services are monitoring Russian preparations for the Alaska summit, which he hopes will lead to “a real path toward a just peace” through trilateral talks involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia. “We are counting on America,” Zelenskyy said. “We are ready, as always, to work as productively as possible.” I held a Staff meeting to discuss three key issues.

The front, particularly the Pokrovsk sector. We are countering the attempts of Russian forces to gain a foothold and increasing the pressure of our units on the occupier. We are succeeding. Units of the 79th and 82nd Air… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 15, 2025

09:42 AM EDT Trump signals openness to business talks with Russia if peace advances Trump spoke of his rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin en route to their summit in Alaska, suggesting economic discussions could follow if progress is made toward ending the war in Ukraine. “I noticed he’s bringing a lot of business people from Russia, and that’s good,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “They want to do business, but they’re not doing business until we get the war solved.” Pressed on whether business opportunities would be on the table, Trump said, “If we make progress, I would discuss it, because that’s one of the things that they would like; they’d like to get a piece of what I built in terms of the economy.” Among the Russian delegation are Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the country’s sovereign wealth fund, signaling Moscow’s interest in economic engagement. Trump expressed optimism about the summit’s outcome, citing mutual respect between the two leaders. “He’s a smart guy. Been doing it for a long time, but so have I,” Trump said. “We get along… I think something’s going to come of it.”

09:29 AM EDT Zelensky urges U.S. support ahead of Trump-Putin summit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday his country is “counting on America” as Trump prepares to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. “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,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. He called on Moscow to take “necessary steps” to end the war, framing the summit as a potential turning point in efforts to resolve the conflict.

09:20 AM EDT Zelensky, Macron plan strategic meeting following Trump-Putin summit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke Thursday, with both leaders agreeing to hold a bilateral meeting “at the moment when it will be the most useful and effective,” according to a statement from the Élysée Palace.

09:14 AM EDT Trump downplays Putin’s leverage ahead of Alaska summit On Thursday, Trump dismissed the notion that Putin holds a strategic edge, saying, “Well, he came to our country.” Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said that his presidency has deterred Russia from fully overtaking Ukraine, calling the war “one that should have never happened.” “If I weren’t president, he would take over all of Ukraine,” Trump said. “But I am president, and he’s not going to mess around with me.”

09:09 AM EDT Trump floats expanded peace talks with Putin and Zelensky Trump said Thursday that he hopes to convene a second summit involving Putin and Zelensky, and possibly European leaders, following his scheduled one-on-one meeting with Putin in Alaska. “The more important meeting will be the second meeting that we’re having,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We’re going to have a meeting with President Putin, President Zelensky, myself, and maybe we’ll bring some of the European leaders along, maybe not.” The remarks come as Trump prepares for high-stakes talks with Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, aimed at laying the groundwork for a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump has said he believes both Putin and Zelensky are ready to make peace, though he acknowledged the war has been harder to resolve than anticipated. “I thought the easiest one would be this one,” Trump said. “It’s actually the most difficult.” European leaders have urged Trump not to renegotiate any territorial concessions without Ukraine’s direct involvement. Zelensky, who met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier Thursday, has rejected any land swaps and warned that excluding Kyiv from talks could embolden Russian aggression.

09:01 AM EDT Trump says Alaska summit is about saying lives, not personal gain Trump pushed back on suggestions that his efforts to end the war in Ukraine are driven by personal motives, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that his upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin is about preventing further bloodshed. “I’m not doing this for my health. OK, I don’t need it,” Trump said en route to Anchorage. “I’d like to focus on our country, but I’m doing this to save a lot of lives.”

08:49 AM EDT Russian breakthrough highlights Ukraine’s biggest weakness ahead of summit A Ukrainian National Guard serviceman of 3rd Brigade “Spartan” runs through a tree line during a training not far from the frontline on the Pokrovsk direction, on August 8, 2025. A Ukrainian National Guard serviceman of 3rd Brigade “Spartan” runs through a tree line during a training not far from the frontline on the Pokrovsk direction, on August 8, 2025. Evgeniy Maloletka/AP A sudden infiltration of Russian units through one of Ukraine’s most crucial defensive lines has exposed the embattled nation’s critical manpower disadvantage just as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to discuss the future of the war with his Russian counterpart. While the extent of Russia’s thrust toward the critical supply hub of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk province is still unclear, analysts and former officials say the penetration speaks to a persistent problem for Kyiv that has the potential to also influence the White House’s perception going into Friday’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “It reinforces the acknowledgement that Ukraine has a military disadvantage here,” Dan Caldwell, who recently served as senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, told Newsweek. “The Russians currently have the upper hand on the battlefield and, while for good reasons there may be an unwillingness to acknowledge that out loud directly, it also reinforces the fact that there really aren’t any good options to fundamentally change that,” he added. “From what I saw previously, and from what I’m seeing now in open-source, is that what has been building up for the Ukrainians is fundamentally a manpower issue.” Caldwell noted that Ukrainians also suffered from “other disadvantages around certain supplies or certain munitions” including “the technological side,” where Russia’s increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, have also contributed to recent gains. “But if you don’t have enough infantry to hold a line, to occupy a city, to maintain a line of communication or a supply line,” he said, “then you are going to be pushed out of these positions eventually by a force that actually has manpower, has infantry, has forces that can go and hold and seize terrain.” Read the full story by Tom O’Connor on Newsweek.

08:36 AM EDT Trump warns Putin of ‘very serious’ consequences over Ukraine peace talks Aboard Air Force One en route to Anchorage, Trump issued a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, vowing “very severe” economic consequences if Moscow obstructs efforts to broker peace in Ukraine. The comments, shared via a Fox News tweet, come just hours before the two leaders are scheduled to meet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. BREAKING: Trump, aboard Air Force One, doubles down on warning to Putin of ‘very severe’ economic consequences if Putin blocks Ukraine peace process — Fox News (@FoxNews) August 15, 2025

08:32 AM EDT Trump weighs sanctions as Putin shows no shift on Ukraine Trump weighs sanctions as Putin shows no shift on Ukraine Trump has threatened sweeping sanctions against Russia to pressure Putin into ending the war in Ukraine, but he has acknowledged that such measures may not be effective. Despite escalating rhetoric and tariff threats, there is indication that Putin has softened his stance or made concessions toward peace. Unlike past presidents who conditioned summits on progress, Trump agreed to meet Putin without signs of change from Moscow. Continued Russian energy exports have helped insulate the Kremlin from Western sanctions, and Trump has yet to impose direct tariffs on Russian goods. Instead, he targeted countries like India with secondary sanctions for importing Russian oil. In a CNBC interview, Trump suggested that lowering global oil prices could influence Putin’s behavior, saying, “Putin will stop killing people if you get energy down another $10 a barrel.” However, he has not sanctioned China, Russia’s largest oil customer, and Indian officials say they will continue buying Russian crude despite rising U.S. tariffs. Russian breakthrough highlights Ukraine’s biggest weakness ahead of summit A sudden infiltration of Russian units through one of Ukraine’s most crucial defensive lines has exposed the embattled nation’s critical manpower disadvantage just as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to discuss the future of the war with his Russian counterpart. While the extent of Russia’s thrust toward the critical supply hub of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk province is still unclear, analysts and former officials say the penetration speaks to a persistent problem for Kyiv that has the potential to also influence the White House’s perception going into Friday’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “It reinforces the acknowledgement that Ukraine has a military disadvantage here,” Dan Caldwell, who recently served as senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, told Newsweek. “The Russians currently have the upper hand on the battlefield and, while for good reasons there may be an unwillingness to acknowledge that out loud directly, it also reinforces the fact that there really aren’t any good options to fundamentally change that,” he added. “From what I saw previously, and from what I’m seeing now in open-source, is that what has been building up for the Ukrainians is fundamentally a manpower issue.” Caldwell noted that Ukrainians also suffered from “other disadvantages around certain supplies or certain munitions” including “the technological side,” where Russia’s increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, have also contributed to recent gains. “But if you don’t have enough infantry to hold a line, to occupy a city, to maintain a line of communication or a supply line,” he said, “then you are going to be pushed out of these positions eventually by a force that actually has manpower, has infantry, has forces that can go and hold and seize terrain.” Read the full story by Tom O’Connor on Newsweek. Trump floats expanded peace talks with Putin and Zelensky Trump said Thursday that he hopes to convene a second summit involving Putin and Zelensky, and possibly European leaders, following his scheduled one-on-one meeting with Putin in Alaska. “The more important meeting will be the second meeting that we’re having,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We’re going to have a meeting with President Putin, President Zelensky, myself, and maybe we’ll bring some of the European leaders along, maybe not.” The remarks come as Trump prepares for high-stakes talks with Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, aimed at laying the groundwork for a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump has said he believes both Putin and Zelensky are ready to make peace, though he acknowledged the war has been harder to resolve than anticipated. “I thought the easiest one would be this one,” Trump said. “It’s actually the most difficult.” European leaders have urged Trump not to renegotiate any territorial concessions without Ukraine’s direct involvement. Zelensky, who met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier Thursday, has rejected any land swaps and warned that excluding Kyiv from talks could embolden Russian aggression. Trump weighs sanctions as Putin shows no shift on Ukraine Trump has threatened sweeping sanctions against Russia to pressure Putin into ending the war in Ukraine, but he has acknowledged that such measures may not be effective. Despite escalating rhetoric and tariff threats, there is indication that Putin has softened his stance or made concessions toward peace. Unlike past presidents who conditioned summits on progress, Trump agreed to meet Putin without signs of change from Moscow. Continued Russian energy exports have helped insulate the Kremlin from Western sanctions, and Trump has yet to impose direct tariffs on Russian goods. Instead, he targeted countries like India with secondary sanctions for importing Russian oil. In a CNBC interview, Trump suggested that lowering global oil prices could influence Putin’s behavior, saying, “Putin will stop killing people if you get energy down another $10 a Trump has threatened sweeping sanctions against Russia to pressure Putin into ending the war in Ukraine, but he has acknowledged that such measures may not be effective. Despite escalating rhetoric and tariff threats, there is an indication that Putin has softened his stance or made concessions toward peace. Unlike past presidents who conditioned summits on progress, Trump agreed to meet Putin without signs of change from Moscow. Continued Russian energy exports have helped insulate the Kremlin from Western sanctions, and Trump has yet to impose direct tariffs on Russian goods. Instead, he targeted countries like India with secondary sanctions for importing Russian oil. In a CNBC interview, Trump suggested that lowering global oil prices could influence Putin’s behavior, saying, “Putin will stop killing people if you get energy down another $10 a barrel.” However, he has not sanctioned China, Russia’s largest oil customer, and Indian officials say they will continue buying Russian crude despite rising U.S. tariffs.

08:23 AM EDT Trump’s Ukraine peace pledge falters as war drags on More than 200 days into his second term, Trump has yet to fulfill his campaign promise to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. Despite the missed deadline, Trump continues to portray himself as a master negotiator and has tied his peace efforts to his pursuit of the Nobel Peace Prize. His stance on the conflict has shifted. Earlier this year, Trump appeared to side with Moscow, temporarily halting military aid and confronting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a tense Oval Office meeting. But recent frustrations with Putin have apparently prompted a reversal: Trump authorized new arms sales to Ukraine and condemned Russia’s attacks on civilian infrastructure as “disgraceful” and “disgusting.” In a Truth Social post last week, Trump said: “Everyone agrees this War must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come.” He has since warned of “very severe consequences” for Russia if Putin refuses to halt the war following their scheduled meeting. While Trump has said he’s had productive talks with Putin, he expressed dismay over continued violence. “I’ve had a lot of good conversations with him,” Trump said Wednesday, “and then I go home and see a rocket hit a nursing home or a rocket hit an apartment building and people are laying dead in the streets.”

08:15 AM EDT Air Force One departs for Anchorage with Fox News’ Bret Baier on board US President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One as he departs Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on August 15, 2025, en route to Anchorage. Trump is headed to Anchorage for a summit… US President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One as he departs Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on August 15, 2025, en route to Anchorage. Trump is headed to Anchorage for a summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. More Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images Air Force One lifted off from Washington, D.C., at 8:07 a.m. ET en route to Anchorage, Alaska, where President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for a high-stakes summit aimed at negotiating a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine. Joining the president on the flight is Fox News anchor Bret Baier, who is slated to conduct an exclusive interview with Trump aboard the aircraft, per The Hill. Portions of the interview are expected to air Friday afternoon and during Baier’s “Special Report” broadcast at 6 p.m. ET. A follow-up segment, recorded on the return flight, is scheduled to air Saturday.

08:01 AM EDT WATCH: Trump doesn’t rule out offering Putin rare minerals in peace talks

07:58 AM EDT Yulia Navalnaya appeals to Trump and Putin Yulia Navalnaya, the anti-Putin activist and wife of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, posted a personal appeal to the delegations. “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,” Navalnaya said, sharing a video message. 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… pic.twitter.com/258iUgHKCX — Yulia Navalnaya (@yulia_navalnaya) August 15, 2025

07:21 AM EDT White House shares Trump delegation list The White House released a list of the delegation joining Trump for the meeting in Anchorage. Among the most significant of those names is: Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick

CIA Director John Ratcliffe

Ambassador Steve Witkoff

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles

07:02 AM EDT WATCH: Trump says he isn’t rewarding Putin’s aggression

06:59 AM EDT Ex-Russia prime minister: I expect half-measured ceasefire Mikhail Kasyanov, who was prime minister of Russia from 2000 to 2004, told Sky News that he expected a “half-measured ceasefire” as the outcome of the Trump-Putin meeting. Putin “needs a ceasefire” because of the problems in the Russian economy, Kasyanov said, but will seek one on his terms. Kasyanov said he thought Putin would make a “profitable” offer to Trump, knowing he is “a transactional guy,” such as purchases of U.S. aircraft or resuming titanium supplies.

06:42 AM EDT UK willing to put “boots on the ground” in Ukraine British defense secretary John Healey said his country is ready to “ready to put U.K. boots on the ground in Ukraine” and maintain a ceasefire should Russia agree to one. Healey told the BBC that military planners from the “coalition of the willing,” who are allies of Ukraine, had drawn up detailed plans for ensuring a ceasefire, including multi-national forces on the ground. “The military plans are complete,” Healey said. Those forces would reassure Ukrainians, he said, but also “secure the safe skies, safe seas and to build the strength of the Ukrainian forces, because in the end the best deterrence against Russia… re-launching their aggression against Ukraine is the strength of Ukraine to stand for itself.”

06:31 AM EDT What are some of the stakes at the Trump-Putin meeting? Ukraine The end of a brutal and destructive conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of its people and left swathes of civilian infrastructure in ruins. It also faces the permanent loss of eastern Ukrainian territory now controlled by Russian forces. Kyiv seeks meaningful security guarantees in the eventual settlement that are a sufficient deterrence to Moscow’s aggression in the future so it can rebuild and move on. It also wants to deepen ties with the European Union and NATO, two things Russia has sought to disrupt and prevent. Russia The Russians seek to consolidate and formalize their control of territory seized from Ukraine during its full-scale invasion, and dating back to 2014, when it annexed Crimea. If talks fail, it will push to take more. Russia wants a neutral and demilitarized Ukraine outside of NATO. Moscow also wants an end to punishing Western economic sanctions, and better relations with the U.S. U.S. Peace would finally make good on President Donald Trump’s promise to end Russia’s war, cementing his status as a global peacemaker. It would also free up his administration to focus on other pressing international priorities. A negative outcome would mean tougher sanctions against Russia, including secondary tariffs on its major trading partners, such as China, which would cause widespread economic pain and set off a spiral of retaliation. It would also keep the administration bogged down in the conflict through diplomacy, military aid, and supporting European NATO allies. Europe This is the continent’s largest conflict since the Second World War and has been a significant drain on resources. Europe wants Trump to be tough on Russia and not reward its aggression, which they fear could incentivize Moscow to take similar action elsewhere, such as in the Baltics. Continuation of the war would mean more of Europe’s time, money, and military aid is needed to support Ukraine, and threatens to lead to a direct NATO-Russia confrontation on the continent, with potentially catastrophic consequences.

05:15 AM EDT IMAGES: Pro-Ukraine protestors descend on Anchorage, Alaska Pro-Ukrainian protestors took to the streets of Anchorage on Thursday, August 14, on the eve of the Trump-Putin summit. Demonstrators wave Ukrainian flags as they rally in support of Ukraine along Seward Highway in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 14, 2025. A woman holds up her fingers in a peace gesture. Demonstrators wave Ukrainian flags as they rally in support of Ukraine along Seward Highway in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 14, 2025. A woman holds up her fingers in a peace gesture. DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators wave flags and hold a banner as they rally in support of Ukraine along Seward Highway in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 14, 2025. Demonstrators wave flags and hold a banner as they rally in support of Ukraine along Seward Highway in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 14, 2025. DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators wave flags and hold signs as they rally in support of Ukraine along Seward Highway in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 14, 2025. This placard depicts Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin carving up the… Demonstrators wave flags and hold signs as they rally in support of Ukraine along Seward Highway in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 14, 2025. This placard depicts Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin carving up the world to eat. More DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images Read Khaleda Rahman’s story for Newsweek.

05:09 AM EDT What are the chances of a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire in 2025? Polymarket, a major prediction market that allows people to trade on predicted outcomes, currently sees just a 35 percent chance of a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire in 2025. While that’s up from the recent low of 19 percent at the end of July, after a spike when Trump announced his Putin meeting, it is way down from the 78 percent peak in March when both sides agreed to partial pauses in the fighting. Once those temporary pauses ended, the fighting intensified, as Russia pushed hard with increased aerial attacks and frontline offensives, prompting an angry response from Trump, who has sought for months to broker a full peace deal.

04:32 AM EDT What Trump has said ahead of Putin meeting in Alaska To refresh your memory, here is a rundown of some of the things President Trump has said in the past few days ahead of his meeting with President Putin. Russia-Ukraine Territory “Well, you’re looking at territory that’s been fought over for 3 1/2 years … you know, a lot of Russians have died. A lot of Ukrainians have died. “So we’re looking at that, but we’re actually looking to get some back. Some swapping. It’s complicated … but we’re going to get some back, we’re going to get some switched. “There’ll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both.” On Offering Rare Earths to Russia in a Deal “We’re going to see what happens with our meeting. We have a big meeting. It’s going to be very important for Russia and very important for us. And important to us since we’re trying to save a lot of lives. “As far as rare earth, that’s very unimportant. I’m trying to save lives.” If Putin Does Not End the Ukraine War “There will be very severe consequences.” Chance of Meeting Failure “25 percent chance.” “I’m convinced that he [Putin] is going to make a deal. He’s going to make a deal. I think he’s going to, and we’re going to find out. I’m going to know very quickly.”

04:17 AM EDT Ukraine says special ops struck Russian oil refinery The Ukrainian military said its Special Operations Forces led a strike overnight on August 15 against Russia’s Syzran Oil Refinery, which they said supplies a range of fuel—including aviation kerosene—to the Russian armed forces. “The target was hit, and a fire and explosions were recorded,” said a Telegram post by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, adding it was still clarifying the results of the strike. “The Defense Forces continue to take measures to undermine the military and economic potential of the Russian occupiers and force Russia to end its armed aggression against Ukraine.”

03:58 AM EDT WATCH: Lavrov arrives in Alaska and talks to the media A video shared by the Russian Foreign Ministry shows Sergei Lavrov arriving in Anchorage, Alaska, and giving some comments to the media. And Lavrov appears to be wearing a top with “CCCP”—the Soviet Union—on the front, which did not go unnoticed on social media. 💬 Sergey #Lavrov’s answers to media questions, Anchorage:

We never try to anticipate the outcome of negotiations. What we do know, however, is that we have arguments we can contribute to the discussion and that our position is clear. We will present it.https://t.co/hBwFSEm9Xf pic.twitter.com/uamb1npPd4 — MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) August 15, 2025

03:53 AM EDT White House gives earlier time for Trump-Putin meeting A White House schedule for President Donald Trump says the bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin will begin at 11 a.m. local time in Anchorage, Alaska. The Russian side had earlier said the meeting would begin at 11:30 a.m. Trump’s schedule lists him departing for the White House at 5:45 p.m.

03:33 AM EDT Russia, Ukraine continue to exchange drone attacks ahead of Trump-Putin meeting Aerial attacks between Russia and Ukraine continued ahead of the Trump-Putin meeting, according to both militaries. The Russian Ministry of Defense said it had intercepted and destroyed 53 Ukrainian drones over border regions overnight into August 15. It did not say how many others had broken through the air defenses. Kursk’s Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein said 12 people were hospitalized in a Ukrainian drone attack on the region that had struck houses, Russian state news agency TASS reported.. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that it had shot down 63 Russian drones, accusing Moscow’s forces of firing two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 97 attack and simulation drones overall in the assault. Kyiv’s State Emergency Service shared images from a drone attack that it said hit a gas station, injuring one person. A Ukrainian emergency service worker responds to a drone attack on a gas station in Sumy, Ukraine, on August 15, 2025. A Ukrainian emergency service worker responds to a drone attack on a gas station in Sumy, Ukraine, on August 15, 2025. State Emergency Service of Ukraine

03:20 AM EDT Russian host: We can destroy Trump’s US with nuclear weapons Vladimir Solovyov, one of Russian state TV’s best-known presenters, warned that his country “can actually destroy America” with nuclear weapons in response to Trump’s threat of severe consequences if Putin does not end his war in Ukraine. “No one has the right to impose their will upon the president of the Russian Federation, who is elected by the Russian people,” Solovyov said on his show “Full Contact” on Thursday, according to a translation from Russian Media Monitor. “He represents the interests and aspirations of the Russian people. “When Trump suddenly starts to act as though he can give us directives and is threatening us, we can actually destroy America… America can destroy us as well, but we can do it faster and more effectively.” Read more by Newsweek’s Jordan King.

03:04 AM EDT Trump poll shows trust issue on Ukraine Over half of U.S. adults are not confident that President Donald Trump can make “wise decisions” when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine war, a new survey from Pew Research Center showed on the eve of the Alaska meeting. The Pew survey found 59 percent of U.S. adults were either “not too confident” or “not at all confident” that Trump could make wise decisions about the Russia-Ukraine war; 40 percent expressed at least some confidence. Read in full from Anna Commander at Newsweek.

02:46 AM EDT Russian delegation begins arriving in Alaska Russian media said members of President Putin’s delegation have already begun arriving in Alaska for the crunch Ukraine summit. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Special Envoy and head of the sovereign wealth fund Kirill Dmitriev, and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov were those who had landed in Alaska, Russia’s 360 reported. “We never make any predictions in advance,” Lavrov told the media about his expectations from the Trump-Putin meeting, originally in Russian. “We know that we have an argument, we have a clear and well-defined position. We will present it.” Lavrov said a lot of the work has already been done during U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s visits to Moscow. “I hope that tomorrow we will continue this very useful conversation,” the top Russian diplomat said.

07:39 PM EDT Trump wants Zelensky to join him and Putin for second meeting President Donald Trump said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could join him and Vladimir Putin for a second Alaska meeting. Trump is set to sit down with Russian leader Putin alone for their Alaska summit on Friday. But Trump told conservative talk show host Brian Kilmeade, on Fox News Radio, that he hopes that the one-to-one will lead to a second meeting with Putin and Zelensky where they can work out a peace deal. Alaska “would be by far the easiest” place for the leaders to hold the talks, he added.

07:32 PM EDT WATCH: Trump declines to rule out offering Putin rare minerals in peace talks

07:24 PM EDT Zelensky rejects land swaps as Trump-Putin summit nears Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives at number 10 Downing Street for a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Picture date: Thursday August 14, 2025. 81250677 (Press Association via AP Images) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives at number 10 Downing Street for a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Picture date: Thursday August 14, 2025. 81250677 (Press Association via AP Images) AP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected any peace deal that excludes Ukraine or involves territorial concessions to Russia, calling such proposals stillborn. His comments come ahead of the Trump-Putin summit happening today where Ukraine and European leaders will not be represented. During a recent call with Trump and the EU officials, five principles were agreed upon for future negotiations. These include keeping Ukraine involved in follow-up talks, securing postwar security guarantees, and refusing to discuss land swaps before a ceasefire is reached. The group also committed to increasing economic pressure on Russia if talks fail.

07:18 PM EDT Why Alaska for the summit? Alaska appears to have been chosen for the Trump–Putin summit due to its geographic location and symbolic significance. Sitting just across the Bering Strait from Russia, it is the closest U.S. territory to Moscow. The state’s history as a former Russian possession, sold to the United States in 1867, adds a layer of historical resonance, while its role in World War II and the Cold War underscores its longstanding strategic importance. For Trump, it signals strength by hosting his Russian counterpart on American soil in a strategic frontier state. For Putin, it offers a more comfortable and symbolically neutral destination than Washington, D.C., while avoiding travel through potentially hostile or International Criminal Court-member nations.

07:11 PM EDT What to know about Alaskan base where Trump, Putin will meet Members of the media stand outside Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, ahead of a meeting between President Donald Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Members of the media stand outside Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, ahead of a meeting between President Donald Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Jae C. Hong/AP Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage, Alaska, was formed in 2010 by merging Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson. It has long held strategic importance as a Cold War–era defense hub against the Soviet Union, due to Alaska’s proximity to Russia across the Bering Strait. Today, it hosts major commands like Alaskan Command, NORAD’s Alaska Region, and the 11th Air Force. Alaska’s remoteness and JBER’s high-security environment make it an ideal site for the upcoming August 15, 2025, Trump–Putin summit. The base’s constant readiness and controlled setting ensure security for such a high-stakes meeting, marking a rare instance of a U.S.–Russia summit on American military grounds. The location also carries symbolic weight. Alaska was part of the Russian Empire until 1867, and the choice of a former Russian territory for talks with Putin resonates historically. Cold War legacies and even remnants of Soviet-era presence add deeper meaning to the meeting’s setting.

07:06 PM EDT Putin’s broader agenda looms over Alaska summit As President Vladimir Putin prepares to meet Trump in Alaska, analysts warn the Russian leader may be using the summit to stall progress on Ukraine while pursuing broader strategic goals. The meeting comes amid renewed pressure on Moscow to end its war with Ukraine. Putin’s demands remain unchanged: recognition of Russian control over eastern Ukraine, a ban on NATO expansion, and limits on Ukraine’s military. However, observer say the Kremlin may also use the summit to push for economic cooperation and Arctic development, issues outside the Ukraine framework.

06:58 PM EDT When did Russia sell Alaska to the US? Russia sold Alaska to the United States on March 30, 1867, under the Treaty of Cession. The deal, negotiated by U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward and Russian envoy Eduard de Stoeckl, transferred the territory for $7.2 million, or about two cents per acre. The U.S. formally took possession on October 18, 1867, a date still celebrated in Alaska as Alaska Day. Russia’s involvement in Alaska began in the mid-18th century with expeditions by Vitus Bering and Aleksei Chirikov, which revealed the region’s rich fur resources. Russian traders and hunters soon established coastal outposts, and in 1799 Tsar Paul I granted the Russian-American Company a monopoly over trade and settlement. The colonial capital moved from Kodiak to Sitka, and while Russian Orthodox missionaries left a lasting cultural imprint, colonization brought conflict, disease, and disruption to Indigenous peoples. Russian presence remained small, with only a few hundred settlers at its height. By the mid-19th century, Alaska’s fur trade declined, logistical challenges mounted, and Russia feared losing the territory to Britain. Facing financial strain after the Crimean War, Russia sold Alaska to the United States. Today, Russian heritage endures in some Alaskan communities, and the territory’s proximity to Russia continues to give it strategic and symbolic importance in U.S.–Russia relations.

06:41 PM EDT Putin praises Trump’s ‘sincere’ peace efforts ahead of summit Vladimir Putin praised President Donald Trump’s “sincere” peace efforts ahead of their Alaska summit. In a televised speech on Thursday, the Russian leader said that the Trump administration was “making, in my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities, stop the crisis and reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved in this conflict”. Putin added that Friday’s Alaska summit was happening “in order to create long-term conditions for peace between our countries, and in Europe, and in the world as a whole – if, by the next stages, we reach agreements in the area of control over strategic offensive weapons.” His latter comments suggest that Moscow will raise nuclear arms control during his meeting with Trump. Russia previously suspended its participation in the New START treaty, which aims to reduce “strategic offensive arms”, in 2023, saying it would not allow the U.S. and NATO to inspect its nuclear facilities.

06:34 PM EDT Why the summit is happening now After months of stalled diplomacy, Trump and Putin are meeting in Alaska, following a shift in U.S. strategy aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The summit was requested by Moscow just days after Trump imposed steep tariffs on Indian imports and threatened sweeping sanctions unless Russia halted its military campaign. Since taking office in January, Trump had resisted direct talks with Putin, citing Russia’s battlefield momentum and lack of interest in peace. But frustration over the war’s toll and Putin’s intransigence led to Trump accelerating pressure tactics, including a sanctions deadline and economic penalties targeting Russian oil buyers.

06:22 PM EDT How many times President Trump met Putin in person? During Donald Trump’s first term, he met in person with Vladimir Putin a total of six times. These encounters took place mostly on the sidelines of major international gatherings such as the G20 and APEC summits, as well as in more formal bilateral settings. Their first notable meeting occurred in July 2017 at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. That summit included both an official meeting and a second, previously undisclosed private conversation later that evening. In November 2017, the two leaders met again briefly during the APEC Summit in Vietnam, where election interference and U.S.–Russia relations were discussed. The most high-profile encounter took place on July 16, 2018, during the Helsinki Summit in Finland. This meeting lasted about two hours and was conducted one-on-one with only interpreters present, followed by a working lunch and a joint press conference. The Helsinki event drew intense global attention due to the closed-door format and Trump’s public remarks alongside Putin. The remaining meetings occurred in the context of other multilateral events, where they spoke briefly or held smaller sessions, adding up to a total of six in-person interactions during Trump’s first term. Friday will be the first in person meeting between the two world leaders during Trump’s second term. But the pair have held multiple phone calls since Trump returned to office in January.

06:05 PM EDT When was the last time Putin visited the US? Vladimir Putin’s most recent visit to the United States as president took place in September 2015, when he traveled to New York City to attend the United Nations General Assembly. During that trip, he met with President Barack Obama and delivered a speech at the UN. The meeting between the two leaders focused on pressing global issues at the time, including the conflict in Syria and U.S.–Russia relations, which were already strained following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Since that 2015 trip, Putin has not made any further visits to the U.S. While Russian foreign ministers and other officials have visited, the Russian president himself has remained absent from American soil for nearly a decade. His absence reflects the deepening diplomatic rift between Washington and Moscow, especially in light of sanctions, military tensions, and diverging geopolitical priorities.

06:00 PM EDT Trump compares Alaska summit to ‘chess game’ President Donald Trump compared his upcoming Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin to a strategic game of chess. “It’s like a chess game,” Trump said during an interview with conservative talk show host Brian Kilmeade on Fox News Radio. “This meeting sets up the second meeting, but there is a 25% chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting.”

05:50 PM EDT Trump talks tough ahead of meeting with Putin President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “not going to mess around with me” at their Alaskan summit on Friday. During a press conference at the White House, Trump was asked if Putin had a “strong hand” ahead of their meeting. “Well, he came to our country,” Trump responded. “I think if I weren’t president, he would take over all of Ukraine, it’s a war that should have never happened. “If I weren’t president, in my opinion, he would much rather take over all of Ukraine. “But I am president and he’s not going to mess around with me.”

05:38 PM EDT What is the schedule for Trump-Putin in Alaska? The summit, to be held at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Anchorage and centered on agreeing a settlement on Ukraine, will begin at 11:30 a.m. local time, the Kremlin said, according to state-run news agency RIA. It will begin with a head-to-head meeting between Trump and Putin, the Kremlin said, leading into negotiations between the two delegations and a working breakfast. Trump and Putin will then hold a press conference after the talks. Ushakov said the meeting will also cover broader peace and security, including the “most pressing international and regional issues,” the Russian state news outlet TASS reported. “An exchange of views is expected on the further development of bilateral cooperation, including in the trade and economic sphere. I note that this cooperation has huge—and unfortunately still untapped—potential,” Ushakov said, originally in Russian. Read the full story by Shane Croucher on Newsweek.

05:34 PM EDT President Trump to meet Putin in Alaska amid Ukraine peace push President Donald Trump is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska for a hastily arranged summit aimed at exploring a path to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting, set at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, marks Putin’s first visit to U.S. soil in a decade. The summit comes amid mounting criticism from European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was excluded from the talks. Zelensky joined a video call with Trump and EU officials earlier this week, where five principles for negotiations—including a cease-fire—were discussed. Trump described the Alaska meeting as a “listening exercise” and suggested it cold pave the way for a second summit involving Zelensky. However, his openness to territorial concessions has alarmed Kyiv and its allies, who fear any deal struck without Ukraine’s input could legitimize Russian aggression.

In a dramatic social media announcement on Monday, President Donald Trump declared he will sign an executive order targeting both mail-in ballots and voting machines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

He characterized the current system as “highly inaccurate,” “very expensive,” and “seriously controversial,” and argued that replacing it with “watermark paper” would be faster and far more reliable. Taking to Truth Social, the president ranted about the popular form of voting.

“I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly “Inaccurate,” Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES, which cost Ten Times more than accurate and sophisticated Watermark Paper, which is faster, and leaves NO DOUBT, at the end of the evening, as to who WON, and who LOST, the Election,” Trump wrote. “We are now the only Country in the World that uses Mail-In Voting.”

Image: AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images)

According to the president, “All others gave it up because of the MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD ENCOUNTERED.” Trump added, “WE WILL BEGIN THIS EFFORT, WHICH WILL BE STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY CHEAT AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, by signing an EXECUTIVE ORDER to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections.”

“Remember, the States are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes,” he added. “They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do.”

Image: AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images)

“With their HORRIBLE Radical Left policies, like Open Borders, Men Playing in Women’s Sports, Transgender and “WOKE” for everyone, and so much more, Democrats are virtually Unelectable without using this completely disproven Mail-In SCAM,” Trump further added. The president went on to say that elections can “never be honest with mail-in ballots or voting.”

“I, AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WILL FIGHT LIKE HELL TO BRING HONESTY AND INTEGRITY BACK TO OUR ELECTIONS,” Trump proclaimed. “THE MAIL-IN BALLOT HOAX, USING VOTING MACHINES THAT ARE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISASTER, MUST END, NOW!!!”

Image: AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images)

“REMEMBER, WITHOUT FAIR AND HONEST ELECTIONS, AND STRONG AND POWERFUL BORDERS, YOU DON’T HAVE EVEN A SEMBLANCE OF A COUNTRY Trump concluded. “THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!!! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”

Trump takes further action

Earlier this year, the Trump administration enacted the Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections Act, which introduced sweeping reforms to protect U.S. elections from fraud, foreign interference, and systemic error. Several of the principal mandates of the order include:

Enforcing documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections

Sets a deadline for receiving mail-in (postal) ballots by election day.

Requires recertification of voting systems to meet updated security, accessibility and performance standards.

Tightens restrictions against foreign interference in elections.

It was also reported that the order threatens to withhold federal funding from states that do not comply. “Free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional Republic,” the order reads.

President Donald Trump closed out his NATO Summit trip in a combative mood, fighting with reporters in his press conference, issuing a bleak warning for Iran and indicating that United States now needs a ‘Secretary of War.’

Trump was at The Hague to meet with the 32 members of the alliance, push for an increase in defense spending by those nations, and to discuss global affairs.

The president was in fighting mode as he pushed back on a leaked intelligence report that casted doubts on the results of his Iran strike.

Over the weekend, Trump authorized the U.S. military to use B-2 bomber planes to drop 30,000 ‘bunker busters’ to ‘obliterate’ Iran’s three largest nuclear sites.

The stealth attack was a large success and Trump touted it as a total ‘victory’ for the U.S. and its ally Israel against Iran.

But days later, CNN and the New York Times published a scathing leaked Pentagon intelligence assessment suggesting the damage from the bombings was limited and Iran may have moved much of its enriched uranium out ahead of the attack.

During the NATO press event, Trump also snapped at reporters as he called on them after they brought up the leaked assessment.

He grew combative as he fired back that Iran’s nuclear capabilities were finished and defended his work trying to end the Ukraine war.

‘My whole life, my whole life – that’s all I do is make deals,’ he said.

The president was visibly frustrated with repeated questions about the leaked intelligence assessment that found his strikes against Iran’s key nuclear facilities only set the country’s program back a few months.

President Donald Trump was visibly frustrated and combative in his NATO presser

Trump spent most of his 24 hours at The Hague complaining about CNN, The New York Times, and other outlets covering the finding from his Pentagon.

He begrudgingly took a question from CNN’s Kaitlan Collins during the NATO press conference and used the opportunity to criticize her.

‘Fake News, here we go. When you hear this question, should really say how great our soldiers and our warriors are,’ he said.

‘I think everyone appreciates our soldiers and our warriors,’ Collins replied and then went on to ask about the intelligence report findings.

Trump told her there has been additional intelligence collected since that assessment came out.

‘We’ve collected additional intelligence. We’ve also spoken to people have seen the site, and the site is obliterated,’ he said.

He also argued there have been many after-action reports, pointing to ones that claim Iran’s nuclear capabilities took a huge setback.

‘There are numerous of those reports, and they’re coming out fast and furious,’ he said. ‘The site was obliterated, just like I said it was, and just like the pilots should be given credit for.’

President Trump fought with several reporters at his press conference, including NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell (above)

A satellite image shows the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran after the US airstrike

His combative tone continued throughout his press conference.

‘Okay, Kelly, go ahead. Here we go. Here’s another one. Thank you. We got them all today,’ he said as he called NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell.

‘You should be making them heroes,’ he chided her about American troops when she asked about an intelligence assessment.

‘You know you should be proud, you especially you should be proud of those pilots, and you shouldn’t be trying to demean them,’ Trump lectured.

‘Let me just tell you, you and NBC, fake news, which is one of the worst, and CNN, New York Times are all bad.’

The sites the United States struck in Iran were buried deep in the ground, leading to questions about how much damage the B-52s could do – even with the multi-ton bombs they dropped.

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, appearing on that network after the press conference, pushed back on Trump’s claim their reporting disparaged the military.

‘I speak as a former Pentagon correspondent, and we appreciate we love the men and women of the United States military who risked their lives to protect all, all of us. And we’re not criticizing them at all,’ he said.

‘The only thing that we were doing was, of course, reporting what the Pentagon’s top intelligence agency, the DIA, the defense intelligence agency, said in their preliminary report about the damage that was assessed as a result of this mission. And we reported that fairly and accurately and in detail, and it was not fake news,’ he added.

President Donald Trump met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of NATO before he press conference

The president, meanwhile, was defense in all his comments.

When he was asked about his meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, he said negotiations with Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin have been ‘difficult’ and pointed to the ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

‘Frankly, I had some problems with Zelensky. You may have read about them, and it’s been more difficult than other wars. I mean, look, we just ended a war in 12 days that was simmering for 30 years,’ he said of his work.

But he did note the meeting with Zelensky was ‘nice.’

‘What I took from the meeting – couldn’t have been nicer, actually – but I took from the meeting that he’d like to see it end. I think it’s a great time to end it. I’m going to speak to Vladimir Putin see if we can get it ended,’ Trump said.

The president was in a combative mood from the start.

At the top of his 45 minute press conference, Trump, speaking with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth flanking him, hinted the United States needs to get more aggressive in its relationships with the world.

‘I have Marco Rubio with me, and Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State and Secretary of War. Should we say secretary? You know, it used to be called Secretary of War,’ he said.

Originally, the United States had a Department of War until it was remained the Defense Department in 1949.

But Trump indicated he may bring the more aggressive moniker back.

‘Maybe for a couple of weeks we’ll call it that because we feel like warriors,’ he said. ‘In fact, if you look at the old building next to the White House, you can see where it used to be Secretary of War. Then we became politically correct and they called it Secretary of Defense. I don’t know, maybe we’ll have to start thinking about changing it, but we feel that way.’

The presidential limousine “The Beast” takes President Donald Trump away from the NATO meeting and to the airport for the flight back to the United States

Trump also expressed confidence the ceasefire between Israel and Iran will hold because they are ‘both tired, exhausted.’

‘They have fought a hell of a war, very hard,’ Trump said. ‘I think the war ended, actually, when we hit the various nuclear sites with planes.’

‘I think they’ve had it. They’ve been at it for 20 years, and I don’t see that happening’ he said of a new conflict. ‘Now, if it does, we’re always there.’

He also announced U.S. representatives would meet with Iranian officials next week but then shrugged off the need for any kind of formal agreement on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

‘I don’t care if I have an agreement or not,’ he said. ‘The the only thing we would be asking for is what we were asking for before … I said Iran will not have no nuclear.’

It is unclear what form next week’s talks would take, or whether they would be direct or indirect negotiations, or where they will take place.

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways

President Donald Trump doubled down on his threat that Russian President Vladimir Putin could face “very severe” economic consequences if he blocks the Ukraine peace process. He reiterated the warning while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Alaska for a high-stakes talk with Putin.

The meeting in Alaska marks the first U.S.-Russia summit since 2021, and is expected to focus on ending Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

Putin Praises Trump’s ‘Sincere’ Peace Efforts, Signals Possible Us-russia Nuclear Deal

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Trump has been pushing to end the Ukraine war since he took office. Despite a rocky relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — including a heated exchange in the Oval Office in February, Trump has taken a tough approach to Russia. However, at times he has doubted whether either Zelenskyy or Putin were prepared to secure a ceasefire deal.

Putin appeared optimistic about the process earlier this week, even praising Trump for “making, in my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities, stop the crisis and reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved in this conflict,” according to Reuters. It remains unclear how the Russian leader will respond when face-to-face with Trump in Alaska.

What We Know About Trump’s Meeting With Vladimir Putin In Alaska

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The summit is also high-stakes for Trump, whose legacy could hinge on his ability to bring peace to a region that has been plagued by war for more than three years.

Even Trump’s current and former rivals seem to recognize the stakes. Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in 2016, said on the Raging Moderates podcast that she would nominate the president for a Nobel Peace Prize if he were the “architect” of a deal that would end the war.

One of the biggest obstacles to peace has been the possibility of territory swaps — a proposal Trump supports and Zelenskyy firmly opposes. There are concerns that these swaps would hand Russia some of Ukraine’s most strategic and resource-rich regions.

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One as he departs for Alaska to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate for an end to the war in Ukraine, from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Aug. 15, 2025.

Trump Threatens ‘Very Severe’ Consequences If Russia Doesn’t Agree To End Ukraine War

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When addressing the issue, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that it would “take some time” to work out details of potential territory swaps.

“I think the President’s hope is to achieve some stoppage of fighting so that those conversations can happen. These are highly technical things that take some time to work out,” Rubio told reporters on Thursday.

“We want there to be a peace. We’re going to do everything we can to achieve one, but ultimately it’ll be up to Ukraine and Russia to agree to one,” he added.

On Thursday, Putin hinted that Russia could be open to reaching a nuclear arms deal with the U.S., though it is unclear if that will be on the agenda for Friday.

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The current treaty between the two nations on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, also known as the New START Treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), is set to expire in February.

Original article source: Trump doubles down on ‘very severe’ consequences threat if Putin blocks peace process

A group meeting has begun after Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, contradicted Trump over future talks with President Putin

At a joint press conference with the Ukrainian leader Trump said a ceasefire with Russia was not needed

President Zelensky has joined western leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer, at the White House for talks with President Trump

Alexander Stubb, the Finnish president, said he was encouraged that the recent flurry of diplomacy could bring the war to an end.

“In the past two weeks, we’ve probably had more progress in ending this war than we have in the past three and a half years,” Stubb said.

He said his country had a long history of co-existence, and conflict, with Russia, and expressed confidence that a “lasting and just peace” could be reached.

Macron wants ‘quadrilateral’ meeting

When it was his turn to speak, President Macron said that while a trilateral meeting between Russia, Ukraine and the US would be important, a “quadrilateral” gathering was also needed.

Macron did not clarify whether the fourth party at the meeting should be France, Europe, Nato or another representative, but said such a meeting was necessary because “when we speak about security guarantees, we speak about the whole security of the European continent”.

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Starmer touts ‘historic step’

When asked by Trump to say a few words, Sir Keir Starmer emphasised the necessity of security guarantees to reach a lasting peace agreement.

“We all want peace,” he said. “The war in Ukraine has had a huge impact, particularly on the Ukrainians who have borne the brunt of it. But it’s also had an impact on Europe and on the United Kingdom. There’s not a family or community that hasn’t been affected.”

He said the US “stepping up” alongside the so-called coalition of the willing meant that a “historic step could come out of this meeting … I also feel like we can make real progress towards a just and lasting outcome, obviously that has to involve Ukraine and a trilateral meeting seems the sensible next step.”

Merz contradicts Trump on ceasefire

While Trump’s recent focus has been on an immediate peace settlement, the German chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated that it could be reached only after a ceasefire deal. “We would like to see a ceasefire,” Merz said. “I can’t imagine the next meeting will take place without a ceasefire.”

Zelensky sets out conditions for peace

Trump invited Zelensky to address the media, and the Ukrainian president said he had a “very good conversation with President Trump”.

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Zelensky set out his conditions for peace, including security guarantees and the return of abducted Ukrainian children, imprisoned civilians and prisoners of war. He repeatedly praised Trump, including thanking him for a US battlefield map. He said that any territorial concessions would be settled in direct discussions with Putin.

Starmer — we all like him, says Trump

ALEXANDER DRAGO/REUTERS

​Trump is seated between Giorgia Meloni and President Macron as the group of nine leaders hold talks.

When he introduced the others, he thanked them for working with him towards peace. He referred to Sir Keir Starmer as “my friend”, adding that he was doing “really well” and “people like him a lot — we all like him”.

“We’ve had a very successful day thus far and important discussions as we work to end the killing and stop the war in Ukraine,” he said. Trump said everyone was “working for the same goal”, and reiterated he was going to speak to Putin after the meeting.

It’s up to you, Trump tells Zelensky

Trump reiterated that ultimately it would be up to Zelensky to agree a peace deal with Russia.

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“I have a feeling you and President Putin are going to work something out,” he said. “Ultimately, this is a decision that can only be made by President Zelensky and by the people of Ukraine, working also together in agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.”

Putin ‘will accept security guarantees’

Trump has said Putin will accept security guarantees for Ukraine. “I believe that in a very significant step, President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine,” he said.

Trump added that he would set up a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelensky in the coming days. “A peace agreement at the end is attainable,” Trump added.

As one meeting ends, another begins

From left: Ursula von der Leyen, Sir Keir Starmer, President Stubb of Finland, Zelensky, Trump, President Macron of France, Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Friedrich Merz of Germanyand Mark Rutte, secretary-general of Nato ALEX BRANDON/AP

After the meeting between Trump and Zelensky concluded, the two leaders were joined by their European counterparts for a group photograph. The leaders did not take any questions from the press, and have left for a group meeting in the East Room of the White House.

Britain is ‘obsessed’, Moscow complains

As European leaders meet Trump in the US capital, the Russian foreign ministry has issued a statement condemning Britain’s unwavering support for Ukraine.

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“Statements continue to pour out of London that not only dissonate with the efforts of Moscow and Washington, but are also clearly aimed at undermining them,” Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman, said in a post on Telegram, adding that Britain was “obsessed”.

She said: “We reiterate our repeatedly voiced position on our categorical rejection of any scenarios that envisage the appearance in Ukraine of a military contingent with the participation of Nato countries, which is fraught with an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict with unpredictable consequences.”

Earlier, the Russian foreign ministry warned that any Nato military presence in Ukraine was “unacceptable”.

Have the tables turned?

Putin is “running against the clock”, a former US special envoy to Ukraine has said. Kurt Volker told Times Radio that progressing to a “full peace deal” instead of a ceasefire was “not as bad for Ukraine as it sounds”, although he acknowledged it was “not going to happen quickly”.

Volker said: “If you remember back to February and early March, it was Trump who was pushing Zelensky to agree that Ukraine would accept a ceasefire in place immediately, and Zelensky agreed. Since then, Putin has rejected a ceasefire every step of the way, including, now, this meeting in Alaska. Trump changed his position to say, OK, we’ll forget the ceasefire. We’ll just go for the full peace deal, which is not going to happen quickly.

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“I think it actually is not as bad for Ukraine as it sounds, because … Ukraine is able to strike deep inside Russian territory. They’re taking out a lot of military logistics. The economy is in bad shape with high inflation, high interest rates, labour shortages, parts shortages. So Putin is running against the clock a little bit now, too.”

Analysis: Suitably vague

Katy Balls, Washington

This press conference avoided the big sticking points.

European leaders and President Zelensky will be breathing a sign of relief after his brief return to the Oval Office ended without any big upset. The Ukrainian leader was on a clear charm offensive as he arrived at the White House wearing a suit — appearing to tell the US president he wore “the best I have”.

This was a marked contrast with his last visit, when he was criticised by the US journalist Brian Glenn for not wearing a suit (he even shared a joke with Glenn today — reflecting that he himself appeared to be wearing the same suit as last time).

Spot the difference: the pair’s February meeting and today’s, below THE MEGA AGENCY

JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON/AP

However, on the big questions, little light was shed. There was an effort by the two leaders not to get into a public negotiation on potential land swaps or the details of a security guarantee in front of cameras. Instead, these issues are for talks in private along with the seven western leaders in Washington. So in many ways, the trickiest part of the visit is only just getting under way.

Trump: Putin is expecting my call

Trump said he would speak to Putin after his meetings with European leaders today. “He is expecting my call when we’re finished with this meeting,” he said.

An awkward moment over elections

As Zelensky answered a question about the difficulty of holding an election in the midst of war, Trump appeared to joke how a similar circumstance in the US might be interpreted.

“So you mean, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections, oh, I wonder what the fake news would say,” Trump said.

Zelensky noted the difficulties of holding elections during wartime, saying a “truce” on the battlefield, in the sky and the sea would be needed to do so safely.

‘I don’t think you need a ceasefire’

Trump says he believes Putin wants war to end

Trump repeated his desire to bypass a ceasefire and move directly to a peace deal, doubling down on his comments after meeting Putin in Alaska on Friday.

“I don’t think you need a ceasefire. You know, if you look at the six deals that I settled this year, they were all at war, I didn’t do any ceasefires,” he said. “I know that it might be good to have, but I can also understand, strategically, why one country or the other wouldn’t want it. You have a ceasefire and they rebuild and rebuild and rebuild and maybe they don’t want that.”

Asked about security guarantees for Ukraine, Trump said: “We will give them very good protection, very good security.”

Which six peace deals is Trump referring to? His claim is an increase on previous claims he “solved five wars” — which we analysed here.

‘The war is going to end’

Trump was asked whether he understood what the “root causes” of the war were, referring to the phrase repeatedly used by Putin to justify the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“The war is going to end. This gentleman wants it to end, Vladimir Putin wants it to end, I think the whole world is tired of it, and we’re going to get it ended,” Trump said. “I’ve ended six wars and I thought this maybe would be the easiest one, and it’s not the easiest one, it’s a tough one, a lot of reasons for it, and they’ll be talking about it for a long time … I feel confident that we’re going to get it solved.”

‘You look fabulous in that suit’

MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

During February’s contentious White House meeting, Brian Glenn, a reporter with Real America’s Voice, pointedly asked Zelensky: “Why don’t you wear a suit?”

This time, he was more conciliatory, telling the Ukrainian president: “You look fabulous in that suit.”

“I said the same thing,” Trump added, prompting laughter in the Oval Office.

Glenn then apologised to Zelensky, who committed himself at the start of the war to wearing military fatigues until it ended, for his previous comments.

Not the end of the road, Trump says

MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Trump said today’s meeting would not be the “end of the road” for Washington’s support for Ukraine.

When he was asked whether today’s summit was a case of “deal or no deal”, he said: “I can never say that. It’s never the end of the road. People are being killed and we want to stop that. So I would not say it’s the end of the road. No, I think we have a good chance of doing it now. “

Trump added that he “believes” Putin wants an end to the war as well.

A letter for the first lady

JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON/AP

Trump and Zelensky are holding a press conference in the Oval Office before their bilateral meeting, where the US president expressed his hope that “something could come out of it”. He acknowledged the seven European leaders’ presence, and confirmed there would be a joint meeting afterwards.

Zelensky thanked Trump for his efforts to “stop the killings and to stop this war”, and thanked Melania Trump for a letter she wrote to Putin about the importance of protecting children’s lives.

The Ukrainian president presented Trump with a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska, to give to the US first lady.

• Read in full: Melania Trump’s letter to Putin: ‘Protect children’s innocence’

Suits, a handshake and a smile

Zelensky has arrived at the northern entrance to the White House, where he was greeted by Trump with a handshake and a smile.

As predicted, the Ukrainian leader has eschewed his usual military-style garb and is wearing a black-collared shirt and black jacket with lapels. Trump pointed to Zelensky’s suit and smiled. Asked by a reporter what was his message for the Ukrainian people, Trump said: “We love them”.

A large Ukrainian flag was positioned on one side of the entrance to the West Wing, with an American flag on the other side. The Ukrainian leader and his delegation will meet soon with a US contingent that includes JD Vance, the vice-president; Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff; and the special envoys Steve Witkoff and General Keith Kellogg.

First pictures: European leaders with Zelensky at Ukraine embassy

FILIPPO ATTILI/EPA

REUTERS

EPA

Russia rejects Nato ‘boots on the ground’ guarantee

The Russian foreign ministry has said Moscow will not accept the deployment of a military contingent of Nato countries in Ukraine, saying such a force would be “fraught with unpredictable consequences”.

Sir Keir Starmer said earlier today that Britain was prepared to put “boots on the ground” in Ukraine to act as a guarantee in the event of a deal with Russia.

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, said on Sunday that Russia had offered a “concession” during talks in Alaska that the US could offer “Article 5-like protection” as a security guarantee to bring an end to the war. Nato’s Article 5 states that if a Nato ally comes under attack, “each and every other member of the alliance will consider this act of violence as an armed attack against all members”.

Merz and Macron the last to arrive

President Macron JACQUELYN MARTIN/AP

Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, and President Macron of France have arrived at the White House, completing the seven-strong delegation of European leaders. Macron is said to have landed at Dulles airport in northern Virginia at about 11.30am local time (4.30pm BST) and travelled there directly.

Watch the leaders arriving

Air raid sirens in Kyiv and deaths across Ukraine

A search and rescue team with children outside a damaged residential building in Kharkiv last night GETTY IMAGES

As European leaders arrived at the White House, air raid sirens blared across Kyiv.

At least ten people were killed overnight in Russian missile strikes in Kharkiv, according to Ukrainian officials. Three people died and nearly 20 were injured in a separate attack on the city of Zaporizhzhia, in southern Ukraine. Russian shelling also killed four people in the Donetsk region.

Zelensky presents united front with European leaders

Zelensky has said Ukraine is “ready for the establishment of a new security architecture” in a social media post before the meeting.

“We understand that we should not expect Putin to abandon aggression and new attempts at aggression on his own,” Zelensky said. “Therefore, pressure must work, and it must be joint pressure — the US and Europe, everyone in the world who respects the right to life and the international order.

“We must stop the killings, and I thank our partners who are working for this and, ultimately, for a reliable and dignified peace. Together with the leaders of Finland, Great Britain, Italy, the European Commission and the Nato secretary-general, we coordinated our positions before the meeting with President Trump.”

Starmer arrives at White House

The prime minister was greeted by Monica Crowley, the White House chief of protocol JACQUELYN MARTIN/AP

Sir Keir Starmer has arrived at the White House.

The prime minister is among the European leaders arriving for the peace talks with President Trump and President Zelensky.

Guard of honour welcomes European leaders

Make Rutte, the Nato secretary-general, preceded Giorgia Meloni of Italy, below MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

European leaders have been greeted by a military guard of honour as they begin arriving at the South Lawn of the White House.

Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary-general, was the first to arrive at the South Portico, where the leaders will enter the White House for meetings. The delegation also includes Sir Keir Starmer; President Macron of France; Friedrich Merz of Germany; Giorgia Meloni of Italy; President Stubb of Finland; and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president.

Uniformed troops stood at attention holding the flags of each US state as the leaders arrived.

President Zelensky is due to arrive for a bilateral meeting with Trump and JD Vance, the vice-president, at about 1.15pm ET (6.15pm BST). Trump is expected to participate in a multilateral meeting with European leaders later in the afternoon.

Zelensky ‘will wear a military suit’

President Zelensky was criticised by some American observers for wearing military fatigues in the Oval Office. Below: his choice of clothing for a Nato summit in June THE MEGA AGENCY

PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/GETTY IMAGES

President Zelensky will wear a military-style suit for today’s high-stakes meeting, according to one of the Ukrainian president’s designers.

Elvira Gasanova told Politico that Zelensky’s attire would be in keeping with the head of state of a country at war. “It is important to emphasise that it is Volodymyr Zelensky who personally decides what to wear,” she said. “The president is now in a state where every detail matters — his appearance, mood, emotions. Therefore, as the leader of Ukraine, he chooses the image that best suits his role and moment.”

Zelensky’s choice of his signature black military-style outfit during his meeting with Trump in February drew criticism from some quarters.

Trump, Putin and ‘rigged elections’

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Trump, who says he and Putin discussed mail-in voting during their summit in Alaska on Friday, vowed this morning to “fight like hell” to end the practice in US elections.

“Vladimir Putin said something — one of the most interesting things,” Trump told Fox News after the summit. “He said: ‘Your election was rigged because you have mail-in voting.’”

In a Truth Social post today Trump wrote: “The mail-in ballot hoax, using voting machines that are a complete and total disaster, must end, now!!!”

• Read in full: Trump attacks mail-in voting after ‘rigged election’ talk with Putin

Putin ‘will invade the Baltics next’

A former foreign minister of Russia has warned that Putin could invade the Baltic states next, if the West cannot repel his military aggression.

Andrey Kozyrev, who served under Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s, told Times Radio: “Putin wants to be a conqueror of Ukraine and of many other countries in Europe, which was signalled by Lavrov, the foreign minister who came to Alaska in a sweater with USSR on it.

Sergey Lavrov, left, arrived in Anchorage with the Russian letters for USSR on his jumper

“Probably he wanted to warn Americans, knowing that it would be shown all over the world, that it’s not just an ambition of Putin to take a piece of Ukraine or stop somewhere there or the whole Ukraine. His ambition is to recreate, more or less, the Soviet Union. So next probably will be the Baltic states, which were also like Ukraine, inside the Soviet Union, considered integral parts of the Soviet Union and they are now in Nato.”

A militarised DC

About 800 members of the National Guard have already been mobilised and are patrolling federal buildings JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON/AP

Trump’s visitors at the White House today arrive in a city to which the president has deployed some 800 National Guard troops — with 750 more expected to join them.

The Republican governors of Ohio, West Virginia and South Carolina have committed the soldiers to the Trump’s efforts to tackle crime and expel homeless people from the capital.

• Read in full: Republican governors ‘double’ National Guard presence in Washington

EU leaders to hold video conference after peace talks

European Union leaders will meet via video conference on Tuesday for an emergency debrief on Monday’s talks with Trump in Washington.

Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council, has convened the meeting so President Macron of France, Friedrich Merz of Germany and other senior EU figures can brief other leaders on the outcome.

Starmer heads to Ukrainian embassy in Washington

Sir Keir Starmer has gone straight to the Ukrainian embassy after landing in the US. The prime minister will join the head of Nato, Mark Rutte, and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who were earlier seen arriving at the embassy.

Members of the media stand near ladders setup for the arrival of President Zelensky ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

What could Trump’s ‘Nato-style’ security guarantee mean for Ukraine?

President Trump’s proposal of a security guarantee for Ukraine could provide a breakthrough in peace negotiations, but may equally be a false dawn, experts warn.

President Zelensky and European leaders will press Trump on the specifics of his plan to deter future Russian aggression, during their hastily arranged meeting in Washington on Monday.

Zelensky has said that for the guarantee to work, it must deliver “protection on land, in the air and at sea, and must be developed with Europe’s participation”.

• Read in full: What could Trump’s ‘Nato-style’ security guarantee mean for Ukraine?

Trump fires shot at ‘stupid’ critics

In another Truth Social post, President Trump once again claimed the Russia-Ukraine war would not have happened if he had been in power.

“I’m only here to stop it, not to prosecute it any further,” he wrote.

“It would have NEVER happened if I was President. I know exactly what I’m doing, and I don’t need the advice of people who have been working on all of these conflicts for years, and were never able to do a thing to stop them.”

In a posting that potentially offered hints as to the president’s mood before today’s all-important meeting, he fired a shot at his “critics”, saying: “They are ‘STUPID’ people, with no common sense, intelligence, or understanding, and they only make the current R/U disaster more difficult to FIX.”

Brazil and India reiterate calls for peace

President Putin had conversations with three of his allies on Monday in which he discussed the recent meeting in Alaska with Donald Trump.

The Russian leader spoke over the phone to Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India; Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil; and Emomali Rahmon, the president of Tajikistan.

Both Modi and da Silva reiterated their calls for a peaceful end to the war in Ukraine, the Indian and Brazilian presidential offices said. The Kremlin said that Rahmon welcomed the peace talks.

All three countries are close allies to Russia, with India and Brazil part of the Brics group, and Tajikistan a member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation, a military alliance of former Soviet nations.

Starmer lands in US

Sir Keir Starmer has landed in the US ahead of a meeting between President Zelensky, President Trump and other European leaders at the White House.

The prime minister arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, the military airbase near the US capital that is frequently used by visiting dignitaries and by the president when he flies on Air Force One.

Zelensky: ‘Western security guarantees’ are most important topic

President Zelensky said he will discuss securing western security guarantees for Ukraine during today’s meeting with President Trump and top European leaders.

“We will have time to speak about the architecture of security guarantees. This is, really, the most important,” Zelensky during talks today with Trump’s special envoy on Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.

Best guarantee of Ukraine security ‘is a big, well-equipped army’

Ukraine’s defence minister has said that Russia would remain an “existential threat to the country for a long time, perhaps for ever” even if a peace agreement was reached.

Denys Shmyhal, who was appointed to the role last month having served as prime minister for five years, said that the best guarantee of Ukrainian security would be a well-equipped and well-trained army.

He said that the country would need to maintain a standing army of roughly the size it is now — about 1 million active personnel — adding that discussions were being had with Western allies as to how many soldiers would be needed to defend the border with Russia. “[The army] will not decrease in size sharply after the end of this war, it will be a very planned and calculated process and it will not be quick,” he said.

‘It’s in everyone’s interest that we get this right,’ says PM

Sir Keir Starmer has said “we’ve got to get this right” in a video posted en route to Washington DC.

In a social media clip filmed on the plane, the prime minister said: “This war in Ukraine has been going on for a really long time now, three-plus years. It’s hugely impacted the Ukrainians who’ve suffered hugely but it’s also affected Europe — it’s impacted every single family and community in the United Kingdom.

“And so everybody wants it to end, not least the Ukrainians, but we’ve got to get it right. We’ve got to make sure there is peace, that it is lasting peace, that it is fair and that it is just. And that’s why I’m travelling to Washington with other European leaders to discuss this face-to-face with President Trump and President Zelensky, because it’s in everyone’s interests, it’s in the UK’s interests, that we get this right.”

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What time is the Trump and Zelensky meeting?

Here is a rundown of the key timings for today’s summit:

12:00pm (5pm BST) European leaders to arrive at the White House

1pm (6pm BST) President Zelensky arrives at the White House

1.15pm (6:15pm BST) President Trump and Zelensky to meet in the Oval Office

2.15pm (7:15 pm BST) Trump greets the European leaders in State Dining Room

2.30pm (7:30pm BST) Group photo with European leaders

3pm (8pm BST) Trump has meeting with European leaders

How could Ukraine’s border look after a peace deal?

President Trump has told President Zelensky that Ukraine must “swap” land to agree a deal with Russia.

It is not yet clear what exactly the US president means and Zelensky has appeared reluctant to accept any deal requiring Ukraine to surrender territory, saying: “Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier.”

So what sort of a deal does Trump have in mind? In the article below we explore four scenarios of what could happen.

• Ukraine’s border in maps: the options explained

Russian general ‘seriously wounded’

General Esedulla Abachev

A senior Russian commander has been seriously wounded on the front line of the war with Ukraine, a senior official said on Monday.

General Esedulla Abachev, deputy commander of Russia’s northern group of forces, and who comes from the country’s Dagestan region, was in a serious but stable condition in “one of the best military medical centres in the country”, Sergei Melikov, a military leader, said on Telegram.

Ukrainian military intelligence said on Sunday that Abachev had an arm and a leg amputated after being wounded in a Ukrainian strike on a Russian military column on a highway in the Kursk region of western Russia, and that he was being treated in Moscow. Those details could not yet be independently confirmed. At least a dozen Russian generals have been killed since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

White House ‘asked if Zelensky would wear a suit today’

Zelensky’s attire became a point of contention during the fraught White House meeting in February SAUL LOEB/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

The White House has asked Ukrainian officials if President Zelensky will wear a suit to his meeting with President Trump later today, according to the Axios news site.

During February’s explosive meeting in the Oval Office, Zelensky’s outfit became a bone of contention for Trump: “He is all dressed up today” said the president in a sarcastic barb, referring to his Ukrainian counterpart’s military-style attire.

Sources told Axios that Zelensky will show up at the White House on Monday wearing the same black jacket he wore to a Nato summit in the Netherlands in June. “It is going to be ‘suit-style’ but not a full suit,” one of the sources said.

Zelensky is expected to wear the same black jacket he wore in the Netherlands in June PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/GETTY IMAGES

Russian troops ‘fly US flag’ on captured American-made vehicle

Russia has released a video purporting to show its troops entering the battlefield in a captured American-made M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier displaying the American and Russian flags.

The Russian state-controlled outlet RT published the video on Telegram, saying that the footage was taken near the village of Mala Tokmachka in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief adviser, shared the video with the caption: “Russians are using the symbols of the United States in their own terroristic, aggressive war involving the killing of civilians.”

“This is the height of audacity,” he concluded.

Putin ‘never been serious about peace’, says Starmer

President Putin cannot be trusted and is not serious about peace, Sir Keir Starmer has said before his visit to the White House.

The prime minister cited Russian drone attacks that killed six people in Kharkiv overnight, including two children, amid intensifying negotiations over a potential peace deal.

The prime minister’s spokesman said: “President Putin’s barbaric attacks on Ukraine continue. It is why we have always said there is one person who is able to end this war at any moment. President Putin has the choice to roll back his tanks and stop the bloodshed. President Putin has never been serious about peace.

“We have previously said we are never going to leave it down to trust when it comes to Putin. For more than ten years he has shown he cannot be trusted when it comes to peace. We have seen what happened before. Any end to the fighting — for that to be translated into a sustained peace — must be backed up by security guarantees.”

Starmer: UK ready to put boots on ground in Ukraine

Britain is prepared to put “boots on the ground” in Ukraine to act as a guarantee in the event of a deal with Russia, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

The prime minister’s spokesman said that Britain and other allies, known as the “coalition of the willing”, were prepared to commit “reassurance forces” to Ukraine.

He said: “We are ready to put UK boots on the ground in part to reassure Ukrainians but in part to secure safe skies, safe seas and regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces. It is obviously welcome that President Trump has paved the way for vital US security guarantees.”

Downing Street said Starmer accepted President Trump’s suggestion that a ceasefire might not be needed to secure a lasting peace deal.

“The quicker you can bring about an end to the conflict and translate that into a lasting peace the better. We applaud President Trump’s efforts to bring about an end to the killing. We want to see an end to the killing if you can bring about an end to the killing and a sustained peace in one go all the better.”

PM affirms Ukraine’s right to Nato membership

Sir Keir Starmer has said he stands by his commitment to Ukraine retaining an “irreversible path” to joining Nato after President Trump ruled out membership.

The prime minister’s spokesman said that Russia could not be allowed to have a “veto” over Ukraine’s membership of Nato and there could be no “limitations”.

The comments directly contradict Trump, who said at the weekend that “there can be no going into Nato by Ukraine”.

Downing Street said: “Our position on Ukraine and Nato hasn’t changed. Ukraine is on an irreversible path. Russia cannot have a veto over Ukraine’s path to Nato.”

Russia floats civilian swap with Ukraine

Moscow is ready to hand over 31 civilians to Ukraine in return for the return of the same number of people to Russia, according to the Russian human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova and reported by state news agency RIA.

Moskalkova said 31 civilians from the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian staged a major incursion last year, were still being held in Ukraine. She said she would meet shortly with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Lubinets.

Zelensky accuses Kremlin of ‘cynical’ attacks before summit

President Zelensky has described today’s strikes on Ukraine “cynical”, and a deliberate attempt to frustrate the summit in Washington later today.

“This was a demonstrative and cynical Russian strike. They are aware that a meeting is taking place today in Washington that will address the end of the war,” he wrote on X.

“Putin will commit demonstrative killings to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe, as well as to humiliate diplomatic efforts. That is precisely why we are seeking assistance to put an end to the killings.” Zelensky added.

“Russia should not be rewarded for its participation in this war.”

Russia strikes Azerbaijani energy facility in south Ukraine

President Zelensky has said Russia deliberately attacked an energy facility in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region belonging to Azerbaijan’s Socar state oil company before the Washington summit.

The oil depot was said to be completely destroyed after the after a 15-strong drone attack in the early hours of Monday morning. The depot was first attacked last week.

After the first attack, in which several employees were seriously injured, Azerbaijan issued a statement promising to consider supplying weapons to Ukraine if strikes on its assets continued.

As part of Baku’s official stance of neutrality on the war, it has so far refrained from supplying weapons to either Russia or Ukraine, though it does send humanitarian aid to the latter.

However, amid a diplomatic crisis with Moscow, officials have hinted that Azerbaijan could send Ukraine supplies from the country’s existing arsenal, including Soviet-era and Russian-made weaponry.

Russian oil flows to Hungary halted after attack on pipeline

Ukraine’s foreign minister said that Hungary “can now send complaints” to Moscow, not Kyiv, after his Hungarian counterpart accused Ukraine of an attack on a Russian oil pipeline.

Russian crude oil flows to Hungary were halted after a strike on a transformer station of the pipeline leading to Hungary. In a Facebook post, the Hungarian foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, said Kyiv was behind the attack.

Most of Hungary’s crude oil is imported via the Druzhba pipeline BERNADETT SZABO/REUTERS

Szijjarto said that he had talked to Russian deputy energy minister, Pavel Sorokin, who informed him that experts were working to restore the transformer station but it was unclear when deliveries will resume.

Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister, neither confirmed nor denied the accusations in his statement on X. “It is Russia, not Ukraine, who began this war and refuses to end it. Hungary has been told for years that Moscow is an unreliable partner. Despite this, Hungary has made every effort to maintain its reliance on Russia,” he said

Hungary imports most of its crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian crude through Belarus and Ukraine to Hungary and also Slovakia.

Putin calls allies to discuss results of Alaska summit

President Putin will continue to inform foreign partners about the outcome of the Russia-US summit, the Interfax news agency reported on Monday, citing the Kremlin.

On Sunday, the Putin held phone calls with the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to discuss the results of Friday’s summit in Alaska with President Trump.

Putin is also reported to have discussed the summit with President Ramaphosa of South Africa.

Three killed in strike on Zaporizhzhia

A Russian attack on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia killed three people and injured 20, the regional governor has said.

Ivan Fedorov said on Telegram that “many” of the injured were in critical condition after the Monday morning strike.

Ukrainian helicopters prove ‘highly effective’ against Putin’s drone waves

Military helicopters equipped with machine guns have been used to shoot down Russia’s Shahed-type drones YURIY DYACHYSHYN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Ukraine shot down more than 3,200 Russian Shahed-type drones from helicopters over the past year, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi told RBC-Ukraine.

Frequently used to target cities, including residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure, Shahed drones have become a central weapon in Moscow’s long-range strikes against Ukraine, The Kyiv Independent reports.

“The army aviation has proven itself very well: helicopters equipped with machine guns are highly effective,” Syrskyi said. “From August last year to August this year, they shot down more than 3,200 Shahed-type drones — these are impressive figures,” Syrskyi said.

Originally designed in Iran and mass-produced in Russia under the name Geran-2, Ukraine has made countering Shahed drones a priority in its defence planning for this year, as Russia continues to scale up production. Ukraine’s airforce reported that 6,129 Shahed drones were launched in July, surpassing June’s 5,337 and a fourteen-fold increase compared with July last year.

We need clarity on security guarantees, says Ukrainian MP

Solidifying the details of a security agreement is the “most important goal” of President Zelensky and European leaders in America today, the Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik has said.

She told Times Radio that ensuring President Putin did not attack Ukraine again if it agreed to a peace deal had been “a complicated question that no one has wanted to tackle all along”.

“Right now, we are at the time when it has to be discussed, needs to be discussed, and President Trump sort of hinted that they have discussed it with Putin and the US are ready to provide security guarantees for Ukraine.

“President Zelensky needs to understand: what is that that is offered, and then try to perhaps craft some agreements between the US, Europe and Ukraine on how it would look.”

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The industrial heartland central to today’s talks

The final stand for thousands of soldiers, rich in coal but ruined by war — no other territory in Ukraine has seen a similar toll as the eastern Donbas region (Anthony Loyd writes). Its fate may now decide the future of the war during today’s meeting in Washington.

Ukraine has clung to this industrial heartland ever since fighting erupted there in 2014, when pro-Russian separatists first began to clash with Ukrainian troops and declared Donetsk and Luhansk self-styled independent “people’s republics”.

Yet now, despite holding on to 22 per cent of Donbas — about 6,600 sq km of land — Ukraine may be expected to surrender its most fortified defence lines after Putin demanded that it hand over this remaining territory, including strategic heights and fortified cities, as a condition to ending the war.

• Read in full: The ball is in Zelensky’s court but he is in an impossible position

Trump ‘repeating mistakes of the past’

The Alaska summit between President Trump and President Putin on Friday was a “shameful betrayal” of Ukraine and a “Putin capitulation”, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former leader of the Conservative Party, has said.

The long-serving MP told Times Radio: “America is blowing hot and cold about whether it thinks Ukraine is important.”

He said Trump was “repeating the mistakes of the past” and compared the possibility of the US forcing Ukraine to cede territory to 1938 when Britain and France demanded Czechoslovakia relinquish control of the Sudetenland territory to Germany in an effort to appease Hitler and avoid war.

“That then led to [Nazi Germany] taking over Czechoslovakia, moving into Poland, and the rest, of course, if brutal history,” Duncan Smith said. “The West has become very weak militarily, but also in moral terms. We have no idea what we stand for,” he added.

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Russian media derides Zelensky’s ‘support group’

Russian media has sought to cast Ukraine’s European allies as meddlers in the negotiations between Moscow and Washington before President Zelensky’s meeting with Donald Trump.

Derisively portraying them as Zelensky’s “support group”, various media outlets suggested that they will attempt to sway Trump away from the peace terms laid out by President Putin in Alaska last week.

In a leading article published in Izvestie entitled “can the EU ‘support group’ influence the positions of Russia and the US”, the pro-Kremlin publication said that Europe was becoming the “main obstacle” to agreements made between Trump and Putin in Alaska.

Komsomolskaya Pravda, another staunchly pro-Putin newspaper, said that letting Zelensky go to Washington alone after the Oval Office disaster in February was a “lose-lose situation” for them. “[They would prefer for Zelensky] to be gagged, but then of course he wouldn’t be able to refuse Trump, which is what this whole European gang is hoping for.”

Another body found amid rubble in Kharkiv

The death toll from a Russian drone attack on an apartment block in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv has risen to six, the region’s governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram.

“A deceased person was found on the top floor of the damaged building,” said Syniehubov. He added that a search and rescue operation continues.

Earlier Syniehubov wrote: “A Russian drone attack on Kharkiv at dawn today took the lives of 5 people, including 2 children: 1.5 and 16 years old. We all sincerely hope that this number will not increase, as the debris clearance is still ongoing.”

Meloni ‘warned leaders to not antagonise Trump’

The Italian leader is concerned that if the US president feels he is being attacked by Europe, he will instead make a deal directly with Russia WIN MCNAMEE/GETTY IMAGES

In its insider account of yesterday’s European leaders’ video conference, the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera claims the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, warned against challenging President Trump over his handling of negotiations with President Putin.

Corriere reported Meloni believes “the risk is that if Trump is attacked, he will halt everything, effectively claim Ukraine doesn’t want peace, Europe is not collaborating, and do what he wants, with the Americans making a deal directly with Russia.”

The newspaper also claimed Meloni said it would be wise to ensure Trump and Zelensky do not have another impromptu press conference in the Oval Office, risking a repeat of their argument in February. Instead, it would be better to have them give separate statements to the press with no questions taken.

Russia continues its slow assault pushing west

Ukraine’s airforce said on Monday that Russia had launched four missiles and 140 drones during an overnight attack on the country, as Moscow continues its slow assault pushing west.

The airforce said it downed 88 drones and recorded hits in 25 locations across six Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa and Kyiv — according to the statement posted on Telegram.

Here is a map of the present front line, showing in detail the particularly contested Donetsk region.

Meloni and Macron ‘at odds during EU talks’

The French and Italian leaders at the G7 summit in June. Italian media has reported that Sunday’s video conference of European leaders was less cordial CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY IMAGES

The Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera has reported that during Sunday’s video conference held by European leaders, tension was evident between the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and President Macron of France.

Macron was “not persuaded” when Meloni pushed the idea of offering security guarantees to Ukraine — an idea she claims she was the first to come up with. Instead, Macron argued for a European stability force in Ukraine. Meloni replied, “Russia has 1.3 million soldiers. How many must we send to do the job?”

Corriere reported, adding that Meloni proposed Rome as the location for a Trump-Zelensky-Putin meeting, while Macron prefers Geneva. The newspaper quotes unnamed Meloni aides stating the Italian prime minister does not rate Euro-leader video conferences highly, believing little is decided and Macron seizes the occasion to show “he is the true leader of Europe”.

China calls for ‘fair, lasting and binding’ peace deal

China has called for “all parties” involved in peace talks in Washington aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine to reach an agreement “as soon as possible”.

“We hope that all parties and stakeholders will participate in the peace talks in a timely manner and reach a fair, lasting, binding and acceptable peace agreement to all parties as soon as possible,” the foreign ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning, said at a news conference on Monday.

Germany fears ‘overstretching’ its armed forces

Germany probably cannot deploy any troops to secure a peace deal in Ukraine without “overstretching” its own armed forces, the country’s foreign minister has said.

Johann Wadephul, who is closely aligned with the chancellor Friedrich Merz, said the German military was already building up a 5,000-strong brigade in Lithuania and needed to concentrate on defending Nato territory.

It is understood that Berlin is sceptical about sending soldiers into Ukraine on training missions and participating in any air policing mission over the west of the country, after both ideas were floated as potential security guarantees by British officials.

Today is ‘the big day’, says Russia

President Putin with Kirill Dmitriev in 2018. Now head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, Dmitriev is one of the country’s lead negotiators SPUTNIK/MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/KREMLIN/REUTERS

President Trump is “pushing for the real solution” in his talks with President Zelensky and European leaders today, one of Russia’s lead negotiators has said.

Kirill Dmitriev, who joined Putin in Alaska last week and who has previously taken part in talks in Washington, described Monday as “the big day”.

“Let problem solving and peace prevail,” he wrote on X, along with an emoji of a dove.

Born in Kyiv during the Soviet era, Dmitriev studied at school in the Ukrainian capital as a teenager. A former teacher has said he gave the impression of being “delighted” when Ukraine gained independence from Moscow in 1991. He now serves as head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund.

UK ‘would recognise’ Kremlin-controlled Ukrainian land, if Kyiv agrees to it

A minister has denied that Ukraine giving up territory to Russia as part of any peace deal would be rewarding Russian aggression.

Stephen Kinnock, a health minister, told Times Radio the UK would recognise parts of Ukraine occupied by Russia officially becoming part of Putin’s country, if Ukraine agreed to it. He denied it was a change in policy from the government.

“There has to be a just and durable peace, and that has to be backed up by very strong security guarantees — ironclad security guarantees — and that’s why the European leaders are in Washington today,” Kinnock said.

“It’s very good that President Zelensky is going to meet with President Trump today, and he’s going with the full backing of European leaders, and President Zelensky has made it clear that if the terms of any agreement are not acceptable to him, he will not accept them.”

‘Zelensky must not be forced into deal’

President Zelensky must not be forced to accept a peace deal if he is not happy with the terms, the government has said before the arrival of European leaders in Washington later today.

Speaking to Times Radio, Stephen Kinnock, a health minister, said that at the White House Sir Keir Starmer would make it “absolutely clear that any decisions taken about Ukrainian territory must be taken with the agreement of the Ukrainian government and President Zelensky”.

It was reported that during the Alaska summit between Trump and Putin on Friday the Russian leader demanded control of the entire Donbas region, even though Ukraine controls a meaningful share of it. Zelensky has said many times that he would never accept such a deal as it could create a launching pad for future Russian attacks.

“The government’s been very consistent that decisions about Ukrainian territory are a matter for the Ukrainian government, for President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people,” Kinnock said.

Death toll in Kharkiv rises to 5

The death toll from a Russian drone attack on a five-storey apartment block in Kharkiv has increased to five, including two children, with 20 people wounded, Ukrainian authorities said.

The pre-dawn attack reduced part of the building to rubble and sparked fires on at least three floors, the region’s governor, Oleh Syniehubov, said on Telegram.

“The number of victims from the enemy UAV attack in Kharkiv has risen to 20,” wrote Synegubov. “Five people died, including two children. The fifth victim is a woman, her details are being clarified.”

Ukraine’s state emergency service posted videos showing rescuers attempting to break through the rubble to reach a trapped resident, while another showed a floor in flames.

‘Whole world is looking to Washington’

The German foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, called for increased pressure on Russia and to push Moscow into concessions toward a “just and lasting peace”.

Wadephul spoke in Tokyo before President Trump’s meeting with President Zelensky and European leaders, including the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz.

“It is probably not an exaggeration to say the whole world is looking to Washington,” he said at a press briefing alongside the Japanese foreign minister, Takeshi Iwaya, on Monday.

“Firm security guarantees are central” because “Ukraine must be able to defend itself effectively even after a ceasefire and peace agreement,” he added.

Wadephul also pushed for more aid for Ukraine.

Without Nato membership, security guarantees ‘are an illusion’

Ukrainian politicians have baulked at President Trump’s proposal of security guarantees, warning that America failed to make good on the last defence assurance it gave to Kyiv after the end of the Cold War.

Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, said on Sunday that the US and European allies were “potentially prepared to be able to give Article 5 security guarantees” to Ukraine.

Under Nato’s Article 5 contingency, if a member is attacked each member of the alliance will consider this an attack on all of them. Ukraine would not however be a Nato state under this arrangement.

Solomiia Bobrovska, a member of the Ukrainian parliament’s defence and intelligence committee, said that without Nato membership the guarantees were “nothing … a big illusion.”

She told The Times that the guarantees appeared to be a repeat of the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, when the nascent independent Ukrainian state agreed to give up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons in exchange for promises of security from Russia, the US and Britain.

The lack of specificity in that agreement allowed Russia to attack Ukraine in 2014 without reprisal, critics say. “No one can explain how it would work,” Bobrovska, deputy head of Ukraine’s delegation to Nato, said of the present proposal. “We have had this before in our history, 30 years ago.”

In pictures: aftermath of Russian strike on Kharkiv

A man is rescued from the debris after a Russian drone strike on a residential area of Kharkiv SOFIIA GATILOVA/REUTERS

PRESS SERVICE OF THE STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE OF UKRAINE IN KHARKIV/REUTERS

ANDRII MARIENKO/AP

Russian ‘war machine’ continues despite peace talks

Ukraine’s foreign minister has said that Russia has continued to kill civilians despite peace efforts before the meeting between President Zelensky and President Trump.

“Russia is a murderous war machine that Ukraine is holding back. And it must be stopped through transatlantic unity and pressure,” Andrii Sybiha wrote on X about Russia’s overnight attack on Kharkiv. “Moscow must stop the killing in order to advance diplomacy,” he added.

A Russian drone strike on a residential area in Kharkiv killed three people, including a child, and injured 17 people, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Trump: It’s up to Zelensky to end war

Trump has said it is up to President Zelensky to end the war in Ukraine.

“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” the US president wrote on this Truth Social platform.

“Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!”

Shortly after Trump’s comment, Zelensky said in a post on X: “We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting.

“Not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our east, part of Donbas, and Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack. Or when Ukraine was given so-called ‘security guarantees’ in 1994, but they didn’t work.”

Zelensky’s hope to ‘compel Russia to peace’

President Zelensky has said he hoped Ukraine’s “shared strength” with the US and European counterparts would compel Russia to peace.

“I am grateful to the president of the United States for the invitation. We all equally want to end this war swiftly and reliably,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram after arriving in the American capital on Sunday.

“And I hope that our shared strength with America and with our European friends will compel Russia to real peace.”

Trump drops ceasefire demand

President Trump has dropped his demand for a ceasefire in Ukraine because so much progress had been achieved in negotiations with Russia, his special envoy Steve Witkoff has claimed.

Trump had insisted before his meeting with President Putin in Alaska that he would walk out if Russia did not agree to a ceasefire, and he faced widespread criticism in the United States over the weekend for apparently backing down from this demand.

Witkoff, who was present at the meeting, claimed Trump “pivoted” to seeking a peace deal after Putin made significant concessions in their meeting regarding land swaps and Nato-style security guarantees for Ukraine, Witkoff told CNN.

“The thesis of a ceasefire is that you’d be discussing all of these issues that we resolved in Alaska,” he said. “We cut through all kinds of issues that would have to be discussed and agreed to during a ceasefire period.”

• Read in full: Trump dropped ceasefire demand ‘because so much progress was made’

Russia and Ukraine scramble to stake claims in Donetsk region

Russian shelling burnt houses in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, at the weekend DIEGO HERRERA CARCEDO/ANADOLU VIA GETTY IMAGES

Russia claimed on Sunday that its forces captured the villages of Popiv Yar and Ivano-Darivka in the Donetsk region, as it was accused of exaggerating its gains in the strategically crucial region before a potential freezing of the front line.

Ukraine, for its part, has been accused of underplaying its losses in Donetsk, the fiercest and most deadly front line in Ukraine, which has been thrown into the spotlight as it becomes a central bargaining chip in negotiations to end the war.

Both sides are in a race to secure what they can before a possible cessation of hostilities. President Putin reportedly expects Ukrainian troops to withdraw from the parts of Donetsk it still controls in return for peace — an idea seemly backed by President Trump, but so far shunned by the Ukrainian president.

Russian strikes on Kharkiv kill three, including child

A Russian overnight drone strike on a residential area in Kharkiv killed three people, including a child, and injured 17 people, according to Ukrainian authorities.

The attack killed the two-year-old boy early on Monday, Oleh Synehubov, the governor of the wider Kharkiv region, said on Telegram. The number of the injured from the Kharkiv attack was “continuously increasing”, he added.

The city’s mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram: “As of now, three people died, including a small child. Another 17 people have been wounded, including six children.”

The city near the Russian border was also hit hours earlier by a ballistic missile that injured at least 11 people, he said.

Two people were injured in Russia’s strikes on the adjacent region of Sumy that damaged at least a dozen homes and an educational institution, authorities said.

European leaders to attend Zelensky-Trump peace talks

President Zelensky will be supported by seven European leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer, at talks with President Trump in Washington on Monday.

The Ukrainian leader and the “coalition of the willing” want to hear details of Nato-style security guarantees pledged by Trump to respond to future Russian aggression before abandoning any territory to Moscow.

Starmer will join President Macron of France, Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, and Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, with the aim of avoiding a repeat of the public browbeating Zelensky received from Trump and JD Vance, the vice-president, at an Oval Office meeting in February.

They will also be joined by Mark Rutte, Nato secretary-general, Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, and President Stubb of Finland, who has struck up a rapport with Trump over rounds of golf.

Russian soldier recruitment rate plummets

Russian soldiers carry a drone in an undisclosed location RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY/AP

Russia’s recruitment rate of soldiers to be sent to fight in Ukraine has fallen to its lowest level in two years. According to official data, 38,000 people signed military contracts in the second half of 2025, two and a half times fewer than during the same period last year, when 93,000 enlisted.

Russia introduced generous financial incentives in the summer of 2023 to bolster the ranks of its army, before which the recruitment rate stood at just over 20,000 per quarter. An annual salary of 5.2 million roubles (£48,000) is offered to new recruits along with a signing-up fee of 1.9 million roubles (£17,500). The average salary in Russia is just under 1.1 million roubles (£9,900) a year.

Both sides have sought to talk up their own respective military positions. Russia has made several claims to battlefield advances in recent weeks, which Ukraine says are overstated.