Just hours before his scheduled White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump declared on Truth Social that peace with Russia requires Ukraine to abandon its NATO ambitions — and give up hope of ever reclaiming Crimea.

“Crimea will never return to Ukraine. Russia took it more than a decade ago,” Trump wrote. His remarks sparked sharp criticism, with analysts saying the U.S. president’s stance echoed Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric.

In a separate post, Trump celebrated the gathering of European leaders at the White House, calling it “a big day” and an honor to host so many leaders together for the first time.

Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized Moscow’s commitment to resolving disputes peacefully while respecting the U.S. administration’s stance on ending conflicts swiftly. After returning from a high-level summit in Alaska with President Donald Trump, Putin met with top Russian officials to review the talks’ outcomes. He described the visit as “timely and highly effective” and highlighted the importance of addressing the root causes of the crisis, stating that eliminating these underlying issues should form the foundation for a lasting solution.

U.S. President Donald Trump is planning a trilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by August 22. The move follows Trump’s three-hour meeting with Putin in Alaska, where he reportedly proposed a peace plan involving a Donbas concession and ceasefire. Zelensky confirmed he will meet Trump in Washington on Monday. European leaders have also been invited, though Russia has not publicly committed. Reports suggest the talks aim to ensure security guarantees for Kyiv and Europe.

The U.S. State Department has announced the suspension of all visas for Palestinians living in Gaza, citing an ongoing review of humanitarian visa procedures.

The move comes shortly after three severely injured Palestinian children and their families were brought to the U.S. for treatment through a non-profit initiative. The case triggered outrage from far-right activist Laura Loomer, a close ally of Donald Trump, who criticized the decision.

Until the review is complete, no new visas will be issued to Gazans.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said Ukraine should seek a peace settlement with Russia, stressing that “Russia is a massive power, and Ukraine is not.” His comments come after a high-stakes meeting in Alaska, where President Vladimir Putin reportedly demanded additional Ukrainian territory.

Following the talks, Trump informed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Putin would agree to a ceasefire if Kyiv ceded full control of the Donetsk region — a demand Zelenskyy immediately rejected.

Trump emphasized that a mere ceasefire would not suffice, arguing that a formal peace treaty was essential. Zelenskyy, however, countered that Russia’s unwillingness to halt aggression remains the greatest obstacle to lasting peace, adding that “stopping the bloodshed is the only path to ending the war.”

Despite sharp disagreements, Zelenskyy is set to meet Trump in Washington on Monday. European allies have cautiously welcomed Trump’s mediation efforts but reaffirmed their continued support for Ukraine, alongside pledges to tighten sanctions against Moscow.

U.S. President Donald Trump has backed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for Ukraine to cede some territory to end the war, revealed after a three-hour meeting in Alaska. Ukrainians reacted angrily, calling it a diplomatic victory for Putin and a humiliation for the U.S. Residents in Kyiv and Kharkiv expressed frustration, saying the talks ignored Ukraine’s role. Meanwhile, Washington proposed NATO-style security guarantees for Ukraine, reportedly with Putin’s consent, during a call with President Zelensky and European leaders.

U.S. authorities have secretly embedded trackers in select shipments of advanced AI chips and servers to prevent illegal transfers to China, according to Reuters sources. The devices, hidden in packaging or servers, target shipments under investigation, particularly involving Dell and Supermicro products with Nvidia and AMD chips. Officials say trackers help trace smuggling networks and enforce export controls. Since 2022, Washington has restricted chip sales to China to limit its military modernization.

Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Kyiv reported 85 drone strikes and one Iskander-M ballistic missile between August 15 evening and August 16 morning, while frontline regions were also hit. Ukraine’s air defense destroyed 61 drones. Despite Western pressure, the summit ended without a ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has yet to respond. The invasion, ongoing since February 2022, has already claimed thousands of lives.

A massive explosion at a gunpowder and ammunition factory outside Moscow has killed at least 11 people and injured around 130, Russian authorities reported. Images shared on social media show severe damage and debris at the site. Emergency services are working to clear rubble and rescue the injured. The blast occurred in Ryazan region, where a similar explosion in 2021 claimed 17 lives. Regional authorities have ordered national flags at half-mast to mourn the victims.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Anchorage, Alaska, in a three-hour summit focused on ending the Ukraine war. Trump called the talks “extremely productive” but said some issues remain unresolved and that any final deal will depend on Ukraine and NATO allies. Putin described the war as a “tragedy” and stressed the need to address its root causes for a lasting solution, though he did not specify them. Both leaders pledged to keep pursuing peace.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the responsibility for reaching a ceasefire deal now lies with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Speaking after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump revealed plans for a three-way summit with Zelensky and Putin. While no agreement was reached, Trump described the talks as successful, noting consensus on territorial compromises and U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine. He praised Putin as “strong” yet tough, stressing that Ukraine must agree. His advice to Zelensky: “You must make a deal.”

The Kremlin has described the recent meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska as “extremely positive.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the leaders chose not to take questions from reporters afterward because “both had already made comprehensive statements, so there was no need.” He added that the discussions would allow the two leaders to “move forward with confidence” in seeking alternative paths to peace.

Following nearly three hours of talks, Trump told reporters the meeting had been “very productive,” but acknowledged that some issues remain unresolved. He said he would now consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO allies, emphasizing that “any deal ultimately depends on their agreement.”

“There has been significant progress, but we have not yet reached the final stage,” Trump said.

Putin echoed Trump’s remarks, stating he too was “genuinely interested” in ending the war in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that the war in Ukraine would not have broken out had Donald Trump been in office in 2022.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Putin said he had tried to convince President Joe Biden not to push the situation to a stage where “military action could lead to severe consequences.” He noted that Trump has repeatedly insisted he could have prevented the conflict if he had been in power instead of Biden.

“President Trump and I established a very good, businesslike, and trustworthy communication,” Putin said. “I believe that if we proceed along that path, we can bring an end to the Ukraine conflict — and the sooner, the better.”

Acknowledging Trump’s “friendly tone,” Putin also remarked that U.S.-Russia relations have been difficult in the past but stressed that “the situation needs correction.”

Ahead of his Alaska trip, U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized his strong rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested potential business opportunities between the two nations, contingent on progress toward peace in Ukraine. Speaking on Air Force One, Trump noted that Russian businessmen are eager to invest but will wait until the conflict ends. He expressed optimism about the upcoming Alaska summit, highlighting mutual respect with Putin and the likelihood of productive discussions involving top Russian economic and foreign officials.

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko by phone before his Alaska meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The conversation, described by Trump as “great,” included thanks for a recent prisoner release and discussions on Putin’s upcoming trip and other bilateral issues. Belarus has deepened ties with Russia during the Ukraine war, serving as a key supporter and hosting part of the Russian invasion. Lukashenko has also strengthened trade and security cooperation with Moscow amid Western sanctions.