After White House talks on Ukraine, Trump says he plans to set up a Zelenskyy-Putin meeting
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A bilateral sit-down with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders would be followed by a summit with Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy, Trump said.
What to know today
- ZELENSKYY IN D.C.: President Donald Trump held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House for about an hour this afternoon to discuss a path to end the war in Ukraine.
- EUROPEAN LEADERS JOIN: Zelenskyy was later joined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The European officials stressed the need for security guarantees in any peace deal with Russia.
- NEXT STEPS: After the talks ended, Trump said he is arranging a meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, followed by talks with the two leaders that he would attend as well. Trump held a face-to-face meeting with Putin on Friday in Alaska.
- RUSSIAN ATTACKS: Russian state media has shared a video of what it claims is a U.S. personnel carrier "captured" from the Ukrainian military that is flying both Russian and U.S. flags. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said seven people were killed in drone strikes in Kharkiv and three other people were killed in a missile strike in Zaporizhzhia.
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NATO Secretary General Rutte calls White House talks a 'very successful day'
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said tonight that today's meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy and European leaders was very successful, adding that he expects details about security guarantees as part of a potential peace deal to be discussed over the coming days.
In an interview on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle," Rutte called Trump a “pragmatic peacemaker” and summed up the White House talks by saying, “This was a very successful day.”
On security guarantees, Rutte said, “The U.S. involvement will be discussed over the coming days.”
“But clearly for Ukraine to consider what to do next when it comes to territory, it is important to also know what the situation will be with the security guarantees to prevent Vladimir Putin from ever, ever trying again to invade parts of Ukraine,” he added.
Finland's president says Russia doesn't get to decide what security guarantees for Ukraine look like
Finnish President Alexander Stubb tonight discussed his meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy and other European leaders and the prospect of a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
On the topic of security guarantees, Stubb said it is not up to the Kremlin to decide what security guarantees Western allies provide for Ukraine.
“What we have agreed on is to work on European and American security guarantees, essentially, which will be secure from the European perspective, coordinated with the Americans. It’s us who decide what kind of security guarantees we put up for Ukraine, not the Russians,” Stubb told NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell in an interview.
Stubb also said he would prefer to first have a ceasefire in place.
“My personal preference would be to have a ceasefire, or call it a truce, because that would stop the killing. And usually in these types of negotiations, you first have a ceasefire and then you actually have the peace negotiations. But again, we have to live with the realities that we have,” he said.
Zelenskyy highlights security guarantees and return of missing children as key next steps
Zelenskyy highlighted security guarantees as "a starting point towards ending the war" on social media tonight after his talks with Trump and European leaders at the White House.
"We appreciate the important signal from the United States regarding its readiness to support and be part of these guarantees," Zelenskyy wrote on X.
He also pointed to concerns over missing Ukrainian children forcibly taken by Russia, as well as the release of prisoners of war and other civilians, writing that "we agreed to work on this."
Trump wrote on Truth Social tonight that he spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about "the massive Worldwide problem of missing children" and that he hopes to return missing kids "home to their families."
Responding to Trump's post, Von der Leyen wrote on X that "every single Ukrainian child abducted by Russia must be returned to their families."
Marco Rubio says both Ukraine and Russia must make concessions, potentially over land
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said tonight in discussing Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders that Ukraine and Russia would each need to “make some concessions” and that “obviously land” would be a part of the conversation.
“In essence, they have to believe that at the end of this war, they are in a position to never get invaded again. I think what’s also true, and I think it’s common sense, and I don’t know why it’s so hard for a lot of people to understand,” Rubio said about Ukraine in an interview on Fox News' "Jesse Watters Primetime."
“It is in any negotiation to bring about the end of a war, or any conflict, for that matter, it’s going to require both sides to receive, but also to give ... each side is going to have to make some concessions, and obviously land, or where you draw those lines, where the war stops, is going to be part of that conversation,” he added.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly said he is not willing to cede Ukrainian land as part of negotiations to end the war. “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier,” he said in a Telegram message last week after Trump said land swaps would be included in a potential peace deal.
Some Democratic lawmakers keep up criticism of last week's Trump-Putin summit after today's White House talks
Some Democratic lawmakers are amping up Trump's treatment of Putin in Alaska last week in their reactions to today's White House meetings with Zelenskyy and European leaders.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., slammed Trump for having “rolled out the red carpet for Vladimir Putin, and now … rolling back his promise to impose consequences for Russia’s war.”
“If President Trump is serious about securing a just peace for Ukraine, he needs to act now to increase pressure on Putin’s war machine,” Warren said.
Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., said on social media after the meeting that Putin was “a dictator, a warmonger, and an extremist.”
“While Trump -- another warmonger-- bows to the whims of Putin, I stand with Ukrainians and demand an end to the war that upholds their sovereignty and safety,” Ramirez wrote.
Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., posted a video of Trump’s interview with Fox News on Friday after his meeting with Putin in Alaska, captioning it: “Trump boasts he could end Russia’s war in a day—but only if Ukraine surrendered its land to Putin. That’s not peace, it’s capitulation.”
“A president who rewards aggression projects weakness, and both Putin and the world see it,” Levin added.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., struck a more optimistic tone, reposting a report of Zelenskyy's saying he and Trump had a “good” meeting, adding, “President Zelenskyy and European leaders arrived in Washington today for what looked like a productive meeting with President Trump.”
Zelenskyy says no date yet for his meeting with Putin
Zelenskyy told reporters after today's talks at the White House that a date hasn't been set for his face-to-face meeting with Putin.
“Date? No, no, no. We don’t have any date. We don’t have any date. We just confirmed after this productive meeting with president and then with all our colleagues and partners who confirmed that we are ready for a trilateral meeting,” Zelenskyy said in response to a reporter's question.
He added that he is “ready” for any meeting format that involved leaders.
Missouri attorney general to be co-deputy director of FBI alongside Dan Bongino
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced on social media today that he has been hired to serve in a position that appears to put him on par with Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino.
Bongino posted a “welcome” message on X for Bailey, who said he will be co-deputy director of the bureau.
The Justice Department and the FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment for more details about Bailey's new position.
NBC News has reported on Bongino’s concerns about the Justice Department's handling of files pertaining to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Macron spoke exclusively with "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker about the talks for peace between Russia and Ukraine that took place at the White House. Macron shared his perspective on Trump’s hot mic comment about Putin's wanting to make a deal and the ongoing ceasefire efforts.
Texas Democratic legislator to stay in State Capitol after refusing law enforcement escort to leave
First, Texas House Democrats refused to meet in their legislative chamber in an act of resistance. Now, one of them won’t leave.
State Rep. Nicole Collier of Fort Worth today said she will remain locked in the Austin chamber until the House reconvenes Wednesday morning.
She is making the move after she refused Republican leaders' conditions that would have required her to sign off on a law enforcement escort before she was allowed to go home after today's session.
It’s another dramatic turn in the two-week saga involving Texas House Democrats who fled to other states this month, with most of them taking refuge in Illinois. The plan denied a quorum for Republicans to move forward during a special legislative session with a redraw of Texas’ congressional map, an act aimed at padding the GOP’s U.S. House majority.
Trump reignites his push to ban mail-in voting after meeting with Putin
Trump said today that he will “lead a movement” to end mail-in balloting in elections. The Constitution, Congress and the states figure to have their say, too.
The issue has re-emerged as a fixation for Trump when the most pressing business before him is his effort to mediate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. It appears to have been rekindled, or at least stoked, by Putin, who reinforced Trump’s unsubstantiated view that postal ballots “rigged” the 2020 election, at a summit Friday in Alaska.
In an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier on Friday, Trump relayed that “one of the most interesting things” Putin told him during the summit had to do with the unreliability of mail-in voting.
“He said: ‘Your election was rigged because you have mail-in voting. ... It’s impossible to have mail-in voting and have honest elections,’” Trump said, adding that Putin told him “no country” has mail-in voting.
Congressional Republicans talk up Trump as 'dealmaker' after his meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders
Following his meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders, Republicans in Congress were quick to praise Trump for moving ahead with efforts to secure a peace deal.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has spearheaded legislation to impose sanctions on Russia, said on X that Trump “is the right man at the right time to end this bloodbath.”
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., called Trump the “Dealmaker-in-Chief” on X.
Before the meeting, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said on social media that the Senate “stands ready provide President Trump any economic leverage needed to keep Russia at the table to negotiate a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
"President Trump should be commended for his dogged determination to bring peace to Ukraine," he wrote.
Trump and Putin spoke by phone after meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders
Trump and Putin spoke on the phone this afternoon following Trump’s bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy and the larger sit-down that included European leaders.
“At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
A senior White House official told NBC News that Trump "took President Putin’s phone call in the Oval Office. President Zelensky and the European leaders joined President Trump in the Oval Office after the call concluded” for a separate visit.
The Kremlin confirmed the call, adding that Trump and Putin spoke for around 40 minutes.
Kremlin aide Yurki Ushakov said the two leaders spoke in favor of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine and discussed a potential increase of the level of representatives. Ushakov described the call as “frank” and “very constructive,” adding that Trump and Putin agreed to continue their contact on Ukraine.
Trump says he plans to set up a Zelenskyy-Putin sit-down
Trump said on social media this evening that after the meeting with Zelenskyy and other European leaders today, there are initial plans for a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin.
"I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
A trilateral meeting that would include Trump, Zelenskyy and Putin would follow the meeting between Ukraine and Russia, Trump added. He did not provide any details about timing or location.
He said Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy and European leaders are now meeting with Trump in the Oval Office
European leaders headed into the Oval Office shortly after 5 p.m. ET, a senior White House official told NBC News.
A spokesperson for Zelenskyy said in a message to journalists that “after a break, talks resumed in the Oval Office in a ‘leaders only’ format.”
They were previously meeting in the East Room of the White House with other officials.
Trump says on hot mic that Putin 'wants to make a deal for me'
Trump was caught on a hot mic before his meeting with European leaders telling French President Emmanuel Macron that he believed Putin "wants to make a deal for me" in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"I think he wants to make a deal. I think he wants to make a deal for me. You understand that? As crazy as it sounds," Trump told Macron.
Cameras in the East Room of the White House caught the remark when reporters were not present.
White House meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and European leaders ends
The closed-door meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and European leaders has ended.
Zelenskyy and the Europeans are staying in Washington for now to continue talks, which could take another format, a spokesperson for Zelenskyy told journalists in a WhatsApp message.
GOP lawmaker defends opposition to Ukraine funding at Wyoming town hall
Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., defended her opposition to Ukraine funding at a town hall today in Glenrock, citing her concerns about where the money was going.
"We can’t get an accounting. Nobody will tell us where the money is being spent," Hageman argued in response to a question from a military veteran about why she hasn’t stood up for Ukraine.
"What is our end goal? Is it just war forever?" Hageman said. "I need to know what we’re doing, what the end goal is, what we’re looking at in terms of additional funding. I’m not necessarily opposed to giving money to Ukraine, but I wanted an accounting, and nobody has been willing to give that to us."
Asked by NBC News after the town hall what she wanted to see out of Trump’s meeting today with Zelenskyy, Hageman said an end to the war Russia started more than three years ago.
"I’d like to see a plan of action to end this war. At the same time, the aggressor was Russia. I get that he met with Putin on Friday — that was the beginning of that discussion. There need to be more discussions there," Hageman said, referring to Trump's bilateral meeting with Putin on Friday in Alaska.
"What I will give him credit for is that while everyone has lamented the war over the last 3½ years, he seems to be the only person who is willing to step up and actually see if there’s a way that we can get it resolved," she added of Trump.
European leaders are using every diplomatic tool they can muster
One thing I will say watching the scenes today: The European leaders were united, purposeful, not arrogant. You find yourself watching that and thinking, are they really European leaders?
It’s incredible, the stagecraft that you’re seeing Europe and Zelenskyy manage there to get what they want. It is a diplomatic battle, and they recognize that. They are using every diplomatic tool they can muster.
White House shares photo of Trump and Zelenskyy looking at map of Ukraine in the Oval Office
Trump and Zelenskyy examined a map of Ukraine together in the Oval Office today in a photo Trump aide Dan Scavino shared on X.
During the subsequent multilateral meeting with European leaders, Zelenskyy told Trump: “I showed the president a lot of details on the battlefield, on the map. Thank you so much. Thank you for the map, by the way.”
House Republicans says DOJ to 'begin' turning over Epstein files Friday
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., said today that the Justice Department would "begin" turning over files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case Friday — days after it was supposed to have turned all the information over.
The subpoena, which Comer’s committee sent to the Justice Department, directed the Justice Department to turn over the “full, complete, unredacted Epstein Files” on “or before August 19, 2025," which is tomorrow.
Comer shrugged of the delay.
“There are many records in DOJ’s custody, and it will take the Department time to produce all the records and ensure the identification of victims and any child sexual abuse material are redacted," he said in a statement today. "I appreciate the Trump Administration’s commitment to transparency and efforts to provide the American people with information about this matter.”
Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the committee, said the "subpoena requires these documents by tomorrow and if the Committee does not receive the files, it will be clear the Trump Epstein Coverup continues."
The Justice Department declined to comment on the delay.
Trump says the leaders need to discuss 'possible exchanges of territory'
Ahead of the closed-door portion of the meeting with Zelenskyy and European officials, Trump said the leaders would need to discuss Ukraine's ceding land.
"We also need to discuss the possible exchanges of territory, taking into consideration the current line of contact," Trump said, referring to the Russian-occupied territory.
Closed-door meeting gets underway with European leaders, Zelenskyy and Trump
The meeting between Trump, European leaders and Zelenskyy is now behind closed doors.
Reporters were ushered out of the public part of the meeting, and the leaders did not answer any shouted questions.
German and French leaders stress the need for a ceasefire
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pressed Trump about the need for a ceasefire when European leaders joined Zelenskyy at the White House.
"We all would like to see a ceasefire," Merz said after he noted that the steps ahead are "more complicated."
"I can't imagine the next meeting taking place without a ceasefire," he added.
French President Emmanuel Macron agreed, calling it "a necessity."
Trump says Putin has agreed Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine
Trump said during the meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders that Putin has agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine, though he didn't provide details.
"I believe that in a very significant step, President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine, and this is one of the key points that we need to consider, and we’re going to be considering that at the table also, like, who will do what?" Trump said.
"I’m optimistic that collectively, we can reach an agreement that would deter any future aggression against Ukraine," he continued. "I think that the European nations are going to take a lot of the burden. We’re going to help them, and we’re going to make it very secure."
Zelenskyy says they spoke about 'security guarantees' for Ukraine
Zelenskyy told the media during his meeting with Trump and European leaders at the White House that they discussed security guarantees for Ukraine.
He said they had a "good conversation" with Trump and spoke about "sensitive points."
"The first one is security guarantees. And we are very happy with President [Trump], that all the leaders are here, and security in Ukraine depends on the United States" and European countries, he said.
"We will speak more about security guarantees," Zelenskyy added. "This is very important that United States gives such [a] strong signal and is ready for security guarantees." He didn't elaborate on what the security guarantees would entail.
Zelenskyy says he had a 'very good' meeting with Trump
Zelenskyy said he had a "very good" meeting with Trump, which Trump echoed.
"It really was the best one. Sorry, or maybe the best one will be in the future," Zelenskyy added.
Zelenskyy reiterated the need to return Ukrainian children who had been forcibly taken under Russian control, and he thanked first lady Melania Trump again for her letter pushing Putin to protect children. (The first lady was not at the meeting.)
The tone between Zelenskyy and Trump is far friendlier than their February meeting. The two leaders have at times cracked small jokes to each other and laughed.
Trump says leaders have 'had a very successful day thus far'
Trump began his remarks at a meeting with European leaders by saying that they "had a very successful day thus far."
"I've just had the honor of being with President Zelenskyy," Trump said. "And all of the discussions we've had, we covered a lot of territory."
Trump reiterated that he would call Putin after the next meeting, adding, "We're going to try to work out a trilat after that."
Hamas agrees to proposal to release 10 hostages, temporarily halt conflict for 60 days
Hamas has agreed to a proposal presented by negotiators from Egypt and Qatar to release 10 hostages and the bodies of 18 held in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023.
The proposal, which would involve a 60-day ceasefire, includes a path to a comprehensive agreement to end the war and the redeployment of Israeli forces to areas adjacent to the border to facilitate the entry of aid and to allow for the return of the hostages.
The deal would also involve the release of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel within the 60-day period.
It wasn't immediately clear if it was agreed to by Israel.
Zelenskyy, European leaders and Trump gather for group photo
Zelenskyy, European leaders and Trump gathered for a group photo in a White House hall. Zelenskyy and Trump stood next to each other.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP - Getty Images
All of the leaders appeared stoic for the picture.
Russian attacks continue in Ukraine, including one on civilians this morning
Russia says every day that it only attacks military targets and not civilians in Ukraine, but that is not true, and we saw that once again this morning.
A building was hit by six different Russian drones in quick succession, and it was a civilian apartment building full of families, pets, plants; there were no soldiers inside. It was not a rogue drone that happened to hit the building; the structure was targeted, and seven people were killed, with many more people injured.
After the meeting at the White House, air raid sirens sounded in Ukraine, which is a daily way of life for Ukrainians. Many citizens think that pressure must be put on Putin to stop the attacks.
Zelenskyy was coached by European allies on how to have a better meeting this time
Zelenskyy has been coached by European allies, and especially the United Kingdom's Starmer, on how to handle Trump, saying thank you for weapons and diplomacy, giving Trump a letter from his wife for Melania Trump, and wearing a suit jacket after being criticized the last time he visited for wearing his typical war attire.
Zelenskyy also skirted questions about the tough issue of land swaps and praised Trump for proposing a trilateral with Putin — to a much, much friendlier reception from the U.S. president.
Notably, there were no comments during their answers to reporters' questions from Vance, who was at the center of the tense meeting with Zelenskyy at the White House in February.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump participate in a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on Monday. Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images
Trump again rips mail-in voting, falsely claiming it is rife with fraud
Trump doubled down when asked about his social media posts this morning calling for an end to mail-in voting, labeling the practice "corrupt."
"We're going to end mail-in voting. It's a fraud," he told reporters.
“It’s time the Republicans get tough and stop it, because the Democrats want it. It’s the only way they can get elected,” Trump said.
There is no evidence of widespread fraud with mail-in voting. Trump's comments have received condemnation from state Democratic officials as well as Democrats in Congress, including Sen. Chuck Schumer.
“Let’s be clear — this is not based in fact or reality, but it is yet another way for Trump to silence Americans from using their voice in the democratic process and implement Jim Crow laws across America,” Schumer said in a statement.
Kremlin is likely disappointed by the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting
It’s evening in Moscow, and the Kremlin would have been watching the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting closely.
Russian officials are likely disappointed, as there wasn't another blow-up between Zelenskyy, Trump and Vance. They will be noting the way that the Ukrainians appear to be more careful in the way they approach Trump.
It was also notable what Trump didn't say during the meeting. He was specifically asked whether he would be willing to send U.S. peacekeepers to Ukraine, and he didn't answer.
Stark contrast between the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting in February and today's
There was a stark contrast between the Trump and Zelenskyy meeting in February and the one that just took place in the White House today.
During the meeting six months ago, Vice President JD Vance called out Zelenskyy for not thanking the U.S. enough for the weapons and aid it has provided to Ukraine.
Today's meeting was much more amicable as Zelenskyy repeatedly thanked Trump and the U.S. more than a dozen times for the assistance and weapons used to defend Ukraine against Russian attacks.
Trump jokes about halting U.S. elections in 2028, citing Ukraine's wartime pause
In response to a question about whether Zelenskyy intends to hold elections in his country, last conducted in 2019 before a pause due to the ongoing war, Trump quipped about adopting a similar approach.
“So you say, during the war, you can’t have elections,” Trump responded. “Say, three and a half years from now — so you mean, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections. I wonder what the fake news would say about that?”
Zelenskyy laughed, before responding to Trump: “You like this idea.”
Texas House gets a quorum as Democrats return to state
Texas House Democrats returned to the Texas Capitol today, allowing a quorum to be called in the House.
Democrats returned to Austin after a two-week absence that temporarily blocked Republican leaders from enacting a plan aimed at padding their party’s majority in the U.S. House.
The quorum allows House business to proceed.
"Our return allows us to build the legal record necessary to defeat this racist map in court," said the minority leader of Texas' House of Representatives, Gene Wu, who is the chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus.
Trump says he will call Putin after today's meetings
Trump told reporters he would call Putin right after today's meetings.
"We're going to have a phone call right after these meetings today, and we may or may not have a trilat," Trump said, referring to a meeting between himself, Zelenskyy and Putin.
"If we don't have a trilat, then the fighting continues. And if we do, we have a good chance," he said. "I think if we have a trilat, there's a good chance of maybe ending it, but he's expecting my call when we're finished with this meeting."
Media personality who criticized Zelenskyy's military-style attire during his last visit compliments his suit
A media personality for right-wing media outlet Real America's Voice, Brian Glenn, who criticized Zelenskyy for wearing military-style attire during his White House visit earlier this year, complimented the Ukrainian president today.
"First of all, President Zelenskyy, you look fabulous in that suit," said Glenn, the partner of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.
Zelenskyy thanked him and said he remembered his critical comment from his visit in February. Zelenskyy then teased Glenn for wearing the same suit both then and now.
Zelenskyy typically wears more military-style attire in public to represent the wartime mentality in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy delivers a letter to Melania Trump
Zelenskyy handed Trump a letter from his wife to the first lady, mirroring a letter from Melania Trump that the U.S. president gave to Putin last week.
Also in the Oval: longtime Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova, who has been much criticized by the White House and Republicans in Congress who pushed to have her replaced.
Trump: 'I don't think you need a ceasefire'
Trump said, "I don't think you need a ceasefire," a stark reversal from his comments going into the meeting with Putin.
"I like the concept of a ceasefire for one reason, because you'd stop killing people immediately, as opposed to in two weeks or one week, or whatever it takes, but we can work a deal where we're working on a peace deal while they're fighting," Trump said.
"They have to fight. I wish they could stop. I'd like them to stop, but strategically, that could be a disadvantage for one side or the other," Trump said.
Analysts have argued that Putin is given an advantage by not having a ceasefire because he can continue the assault on Ukraine and stall talks.
Ahead of Friday's meeting with Putin, Trump said, "I’m not going to be happy" if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire. Ukraine has pushed for a ceasefire, while Russia has been against it.
Trump does not directly answer question about U.S. peacekeepers on the ground in Ukraine
Asked by a reporter whether he would be willing to send U.S. peacekeepers to Ukraine in order to achieve peace, Trump said the U.S. would work with Ukraine and "everybody" to ensure long-term peace. He did not directly answer the question.
"We'll work with Russia, we're going to work with Ukraine, we're going to make sure it works," Trump said. "And I think if we can get to peace, it's going to work."
Asked by another reporter whether he would rule out U.S. boots on the ground, Trump said, "We'll let you know that maybe later today."
He said he and the world leaders would discuss it this afternoon.
Ukrainians are very nervous about Trump-Zelenskyy meeting
Ukrainians have been saying they're very nervous about this meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House.
They didn’t like what they saw in Alaska, including the warm embrace between Trump and Putin and the red carpet, which they considered inappropriate.
Ukrainians don’t like that now, according to numerous diplomats, Vladimir Putin has put down his price, which is 20% of Ukraine and more; Russia currently controls 20% of Ukraine, but Putin wants that and new territory in exchange for stopping Russian attacks.
Ukrainians don’t understand why Putin should be rewarded just because the front lines are frozen. Ukrainians don't understand why their country has to give up land and reward Russia when it started the war.
Zelenskyy offers profuse thanks as he sits down with Trump
As Zelenskyy sits down with Trump in the Oval Office, he begins by offering profuse thanks — for the president's "efforts to stop killings and stop this war," for Melania Trump's letter to Putin asking him to protect children, and to the European partners for their support.
The Ukrainian leader drew criticism during his visit to the White House in February for failing to offer Washington what the vice president said was sufficient thanks for its support in the war.
Trump says 'it's never the end of the road' when asked about U.S. support for Ukraine
Asked by a reporter whether today could be "the end of the road" for U.S. support for Ukraine, Trump said, "I can never say that."
"It's never the end of the road," he said. "People are being killed, and we want to stop that. So I would not say it's the end of the road."
He said they had a "good chance" of reaching peace.
Zelenskyy arrives at the White House for high-stakes meeting with Trump
Zelenskyy has arrived at the White House to kick off this afternoon's high-stakes meeting with Trump and European leaders.
He was greeted by Trump at a White House entrance. When asked by a reporter what his message was to the people of Ukraine, Trump said, “We love them.” He and Zelenskyy then shook hands and went inside.
This afternoon is the first time Zelenskyy has visited the White House since February, when his meeting with Trump and Vance spiraled into a heated confrontation.
The other European leaders have already arrived at the White House.
The Ukrainian president wore a black jacket, rather than a trademark shirt with his country's coat of arms or green fatigues. He faced criticism from conservatives for not wearing a suit at the last White House meeting.
Zelenskyy has responded by saying he would wear a "costume" when the war concludes.
Final European leader arrives at White House
French President Macron just arrived at the White House, where he was greeted by the chief of protocol, Monica Crowley. Macron was the final leader the White House was waiting for before the group of European heads of state participates in a lunch event.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives at the White House today. Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images
Newsmax to pay $67M to settle defamation lawsuit from voting machine company
The conservative cable news channel Newsmax will pay $67 million to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by the voting machine company Dominion over baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged, according to a new regulatory filing.
The settlement averts what promised to be a high-profile trial.
Mississippi to send about 200 National Guard troops to D.C., governor says
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, announced that he approved the deployment of about 200 Mississippi National Guard troops to Washington, D.C.
"Americans deserve a safe capital city that we can all be proud of," Reeves said in a statement. "I know the brave men and women of our National Guard will do an excellent job enhancing public safety and supporting law enforcement."
West Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio — all Republican-led states — also announced over the weekend that they would deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to the capital.
Zelenskyy says he and European leaders coordinated their positions ahead of the White House meeting
Zelenskyy said in a post to X that he and European allies "coordinated our positions ahead of the meeting with President Trump."
The post included a video montage of Zelenskyy and European leaders warmly embracing each other ahead of the White House meeting. Several of the European leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Meloni, United Kingdom Prime Minister Starmer and German Chancellor Merz, have arrived at the White House.
Zelenskyy said his "main goal is a reliable and lasting peace for Ukraine and for the whole of Europe."
"We understand that we shouldn’t expect Putin to voluntarily abandon aggression and new attempts at conquest," he added. "That is why pressure must work, and it must be joint pressure — from the United States and Europe, and from everyone in the world who respects the right to life and the international order."
States sue over DOJ conditions on money for crime victims
A group of 20 states with Democratic attorneys general filed suit against the Justice Department today over a directive conditioning federal money for crime victims to states' immigration policies.
"Playing politics with the lives of people who have suffered so greatly is reckless, it is cruel, and in this case — it is illegal," New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement.
The suit says in recent weeks the Justice Department put new conditions on Victims of Crime Act grant money that say it “will not … fund” “[a]ny program or activity” unless states give "unfettered access" to agents from the Department of Homeland Security and honor any and all DHS requests, or if the administration concludes that the program is directly or indirectly “imped[ing] or hinder[ing] enforcement of federal immigration law” in any way.
The suit says putting conditions on funding for the 40-year-old program is unprecedented. The congressionally approved grants are used to provide resources and services to victims and survivors of crime, including advocacy services, emergency shelter, medical, funeral, and burial expenses, crime scene cleanup, sexual assault forensic exams and more, Platkin's office said.
The grants total over $1 billion nationwide and assisted more than 9 million victims last year, the attorney general's office said.
The Justice Department declined comment.
Analysis: Ukraine security guarantees will be a bitter pill for Western nations
The Trump administration will present to Ukraine and Europe proposals that will be hard to swallow.
Handing the country's eastern Donbas region to Russia would involve the movement of large numbers of Ukrainians who do not want to live under Russian rule, as well as established defensive lines and equipment.
Most of all, it would risk dividing Ukraine and threaten Zelenskyy’s leadership, something Putin is well aware of.
The deal hinted at by Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would also be hard for Western nations.
Witkoff said Sunday that security guarantees for Ukraine could be modeled on NATO’s Article 5, “but not from NATO, directly from the United States and other European countries.”
Were that the case, then Trump would need to explain to his base that, in principle, U.S. troops would be on the line.
Ukraine would also need to have faith that while its civilians and troops pull out of any regions handed to Russia, Trump would not undermine those guarantees in public.
For Putin, the risk is giving up his hopes of bringing Kyiv into Russia’s sphere of influence. He might be thinking long-term Russia can reorganize and fight again. But Europe is now arming itself to prevent exactly that outcome.
Putin will have liked being feted in Alaska. While he will hope that this is the kind of treatment he can expect in the future, it was another bitter pill for the West to swallow.
Pennsylvania's GOP state treasurer launches campaign for governor to challenge Josh Shapiro
Pennsylvania state Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced she is running for governor as Republicans in the state have moved to quickly coalesce around her.
“I’m announcing that I’m running to become Pennsylvania’s next governor,” she said in a launch video. “And I’m giving you and your family my solemn oath that I will work hard every day to fix the problems Josh Shapiro has created.”
Garrity also criticized Shapiro for out-of-state fundraising and “running for president,” a nod to the buzz around his potential 2028 bid, highlighting two attacks that Republicans are likely to levy against the governor throughout the campaign.
Shapiro won his 2022 election by 15 points over state Sen. Doug Mastriano and enjoys high approval ratings in the state. Republicans have sought to stave off a similar result in 2026 by uniting behind a favorite and avoiding the kind of messy primary that led to Mastriano’s win.
But Mastriano is still teasing a run for governor.
“The party’s not going to force me to get in real quick here, panic mode,” he said in an interview today with a conservative media host. “If we’re going to get in the race, we’re going to get in it to win it. I just don’t know at this point.”
Asked if he would be open to serving as Garrity’s lieutenant governor, Mastriano said: “I’d love to have her as my lieutenant governor. Let’s flip it.”
Democrats, meanwhile, plan to draw a comparison showing policy similarities between Garrity and Mastriano.
European leaders begin to arrive at the White House
European leaders are beginning to arrive at the White House.
NATO Secretary-General Rutte just entered after arriving to the South Portico, followed by European Commission President Von der Leyen.
The leaders of Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Finland are also expected, in addition to Zelenskyy.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is greeted by Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley as he arrives at the White House today. Win McNamee / Getty Images
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold vows to challenge 'any unlawful executive order' related to limiting mail-in ballots
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold slammed Trump's comments this morning on mail-in ballots and voting machines, saying his threat to get rid of them represented "a direct attack on democracy." She vowed to challenge any "unlawful" executive order.
"Donald Trump is trying to grab power ahead of the 2026 election and says he will ban vote by mail," she said in a statement.
Trump said earlier today that he would sign an executive order in an attempt to do away with mail-in voting and voting machines. Griswold said she would "challenge any unlawful executive order and will beat this unconstitutional attempt to disenfranchise millions of Americans."
"I will always fight to defend our elections and democracy," she added.
Hostage families urge Trump to push for end of Israel's war in Gaza
Families of hostages held in Gaza are calling on Trump to push for an end to Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza.
"As families living through this unimaginable nightmare, we turn to you, the leader who has repeatedly shown that bringing innocent people home is not just policy, but a sacred duty. We need you to end this war and bring the hostages home," the Hostage and Missing Families Forum wrote in a letter to Trump.
They pointed to Israelis' protest of the war over the weekend in Tel Aviv as the "clearest expression" that they want the conflict to end.
"President Trump, may you achieve your goals of ending both wars and ending the suffering for Israelis and Palestinians alike," they wrote. "The world desperately needs leaders like you, who can transform endless cycles of violence into hope."
"President Trump, you've stood by us for so many months," the letter continued. "You've brought hostages home, reunited families, and allowed others to bury their loved ones with dignity. ... We implore you to use your extraordinary dealmaking abilities and influence to advance a comprehensive agreement that will bring all fifty of our loved ones home."
European leaders are scheduled to arrive at White House at 12 p.m. ET
European leaders are scheduled to arrive at the White House at 12 p.m. ET and will participate in a lunch at the White House.
Zelenskyy is expected to arrive at the White House at 1 p.m. and Trump will hold a bilateral meeting with him at 1:15 p.m.
Later in the afternoon, Trump is expected to participate in a multilateral meeting with European leaders and the talks will focus on how to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Trump's counterparts will likely press him on more details about his meeting on Friday with Putin in Alaska.
Some of the European leaders are expected to make statements afterward, and German Chancellor Merz has confirmed he plans to speak to the press.
Trump responds to critics of his handling of Ukraine talks, saying he knows 'exactly what I'm doing'
Trump responded to critics of his handling of talks to end the war in Ukraine, saying he knows "exactly what I’m doing" and painting those who disagree with him as "lightweight and very jealous critics."
"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," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump also called his critics "'STUPID' people, with no common sense, intelligence, or understanding, and they only make the current R/U disaster more difficult to FIX."
Trump repeatedly said on the campaign trail that he could end the war in 24 hours, which has not materialized.
Texas Democrats return to the state, ending two-week standoff over redistricting
Texas Democratic lawmakers said they had returned to the state today after a two-week absence that temporarily blocked Republican leaders from enacting a plan aimed at padding their party’s majority in the U.S. House, a move that sparked a national political firestorm over redistricting.
The legislators decided to end their standoff after they prevented Texas Republicans from passing a redrawn congressional map during a first special legislative session and after California Democrats countered with their own redistricting proposal. But Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for a second special session, and with enough Democratic lawmakers now present in Texas, the GOP-controlled Legislature will be able to advance its new map.
Footage of 'captured' vehicle flying Russian and U.S. flags shared by Russian state media
Russian state media has shared a video of an armored vehicle flying Russian and U.S. flags, which it says is a "captured American" personnel carrier used by the Russian military.
The video, shared by state-media outlet RT, purports to show the vehicle driving down rural roads, rushing "into battle" near Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine.
The footage is accompanied by dramatic music as the two flags attached to the vehicle blow in the wind.
The vehicle, RT said, was recaptured from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and “repaired and revived” to carry out combat missions.
NBC has not been able to independently verify the footage.
Zelenskyy thanks special envoy Keith Kellogg for meeting
Zelenskyy thanked U.S. special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg for meeting with him ahead of this afternoon's White House visit.
"We discussed the battlefield situation and our strong diplomatic capabilities — Ukraine’s and all of Europe’s together with America," Zelenskyy said in a post to X. "Russia can only be forced into peace through strength, and President Trump has that strength. We have to do everything right to make peace happen."
The Ukrainian president also emphasized that "when peace is discussed for one country in Europe, it means peace for all of Europe."
Throughout the war, Ukrainian officials have messaged that Ukraine is keeping Russia at bay for all of Europe's safety.
White House says 69 people were arrested in D.C. last night
Last night, 69 people were arrested in Washington, D.C., a White House official said.
The official said that six illegal firearms were seized and the other people were arrested for alleged offenses that included carrying a pistol without a license, driving under the influence and drug possession with the intent to distribute.
Since the Trump administration announced its stepped-up anti-crime efforts and subsequent take-over of the city's police force earlier this month, 380 people have been arrested, the official said.
Newsom slams Trump's post about mail-in ballots, saying the president 'reeks of DESPERATION'
Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., slammed Trump's Truth Social post railing against mail-in ballots and voting machines.
"Trump knows he is going to LOSE in 2026. His plan to rig new Congressional seats is going to backfire — thanks to California," Newsom said in a post to X, referring to California redistricting efforts to counter Texas' plans.
"Now, he’s clamoring for other ways to cook the results," Newsom added. "This man reeks of DESPERATION. Let’s keep up the pressure."
Texas Republicans are pushing a redistricting plan that could help the GOP pick up as many as five seats in the midterm elections next year. Several Democratic-led states, including California, vowed to push forward with redistricting measures of their own in an effort to offset potential GOP gains in Texas.
GOP redistricting efforts come as Trump's approval rating has declined since taking office. A Pew Research Center poll from August found that Trump's approval rating sits at 38%, down from 47% shortly after he took office.
What is Ukraine’s Donbas region, and why is it so important to Putin?
While Ukraine’s leader heads to the White House, civilians in the country’s east are streaming out of front-line towns under mounting threat from Russian forces.
At the main station in the stronghold city of Kramatorsk, sisters Valentina and Nadia, both in their 70s, wait for a train to escape Russian troops approaching their home in a surrounding area. Neither trusts Trump or Putin to shape Ukraine’s future.
“We do not believe Trump,” Valentina told NBC News last week. “He says one thing and does another.”
Now the home they have had to flee may be at the heart of Trump’s push to end the conflict.
Starmer, on his way to Washington, says 'we've got to get this right'
Starmer said that there must be “lasting peace” in Ukraine as he heads to Washington to meet Trump alongside Zelenskyy and other European leaders.
“We’ve got to get this right,” he said in a video message on X taken on the plane. "We’ve got to make sure that there’s peace, that it is lasting peace, that it is fair and it is just.”
Starmer said that Ukrainians had “suffered hugely,” adding that the conflict “also impacted Europe” and “every single family and community in the United Kingdom.”
Trump says remaining hostages in Gaza will be freed only 'when Hamas is confronted and destroyed'
Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social this morning that the remaining hostages in Gaza will only be released "when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!!"
"The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be," Trump wrote. "Remember, I was the one who negotiated and got hundreds of hostages freed and released into Israel (and America!)."
He added, "Play to WIN, or don’t play at all!"
Israel is planning to take control of Gaza City, a strategy that hundreds of thousands of people in Israel protested over the weekend in Tel Aviv, organizers of the demonstrations said.
Russia pummels eastern Ukraine as Zelenskyy travels to Washington
At least seven people were killed in an overnight Russian drone strike on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv as Zelenskyy travels to Washington to meet with Trump and other European leaders. Video shows first responders rescuing a woman from the rubble of a residential building that was hit in the strike.
Vance to attend today's meeting with Zelenskyy
Vance will attend today's meeting with Zelenskyy alongside Trump, a source familiar with the plans confirmed to NBC News.
Vance's planned attendance was first reported by ABC News.
Vance was at the February meeting with Zelenskyy, which devolved into a heated public argument.
The vice president played a key role in the confrontation, which spiraled after Vance said he thought Zelenskyy was "disrespectful" and that he "should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict."
Fact checking Trump's claims about mail-in voting
Trump promoted inaccurate claims about mail-in voting this morning in a post to Truth Social, using the claims to justify plans for an executive order limiting mail-in voting and voting machines.
Statement
"We are now the only Country in the World that uses Mail-In Voting."
Statement
""ELECTIONS CAN NEVER BE HONEST WITH MAIL IN BALLOTS/VOTING, and everybody, IN PARTICULAR THE DEMOCRATS, KNOWS THIS."
Verdict
These claims are false.
Analysis
Several other countries also use mail-in voting, including Switzerland, Germany, Greece, the United Kingdom and Austria. In fact, the group International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance identified 34 countries that allow mail-in voting. A dozen of those countries allow mail-in voting for all voters, and 22 countries allow it for some voters.
There is also no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Voters were actually more confident in 2024 than in 2020 that absentee and mail-in ballots were counted as intended, according to a Pew survey. The study also indicated that 72% of Trump voters in 2024 were “confident in the accuracy of mail-in ballot counts.”
- https://www.idea.int/data-tools/tools/special-voting-arrangements/postal-in-country
- https://www.ch-info.swiss/en/edition-2025/direkte-demokratie/fakten
- https://elections.europa.eu/en/how-to-vote/de/
- https://www.gov.gr/en/ipiresies/polites-kai-kathemerinoteta/ellenes-tou-exoterikou/postal-vote
- https://www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/postal-voting
- https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/en/themen/transparenz_und_partizipation_in_der_demokratie/demokratie-und-wahlen/wahlen/6/Seite.320540
Who are the European leaders joining Zelenskyy in Washington?
Zelenskyy heads to Washington flanked by leaders from Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Finland, plus the heads of the European Union and NATO — a show of solidarity and an effort to ensure Europe has a real voice in peace talks after being excluded from Trump’s summit with Putin in Alaska.
The European contingent includes figures known for their ability to charm Trump.
British Prime Minister Starmer, NATO chief Rutte, and Finnish President Stubb have all earned the president’s attention: Rutte once referred to Trump as “daddy” while praising him for brokering an Israel-Iran ceasefire, Stubb has played golf with Trump, and Starmer was called a friend — albeit “slightly liberal.”
Italy’s Meloni, the only European leader at Trump’s inauguration, has earned the moniker “the Trump whisperer” thanks to her close political alignment with the president, while German Chancellor Merz made headlines by presenting Trump with the Bavarian birth certificate of his grandfather, Friedrich Trump.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be there, too, underscoring that the European Union itself is keen to weigh in on Ukraine’s future.
The troop will hope to use any influence they have to reverse any apparent inroads Putin made with the president in Alaska.
Analysis: Attack in northeast Ukraine shows why so few trust Putin
It’s an egregious example of an attack on a civilian target.
An apartment building full of people on the edge of Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv was hit by an aerial strike early Monday.
There were no military targets, no positions, no tank traps. This was a normal residential building, full of furniture, clothing, children’s toys and pets.
The scene today outside an apartment building on the outskirts of Kharkiv that was hit by a Russian aerial strike overnight. Ted Turner / NBC News
Two survivors, independently, told NBC News that in the early hours of the morning there were six different drone strikes within three to five minutes, one after another in rapid succession. It was clearly deliberate.
As rescue workers searched for bodies and survivors, there was another air raid siren, so they had to take shelter in surrounding buildings.
This indicates that the Russians aren’t slowing down their attacks, and the Ukrainians don’t believe they are going to slow down or stop attacks, despite the recent push for peace and the summit in Alaska between Trump and Putin.
Today's meeting is Trump's fourth with Zelenskyy during second term
The Trump-Zelenskyy meeting at the White House today is their fourth during Trump's second term.
Trump hosted Zelenskyy at the White House in February, a meeting that became contentious, and they met in April at the Vatican for Pope Francis' funeral and in June during the NATO summit at The Hague.
This will be the first White House visit during Trump's second term for Finnish President Alexander Stubb and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Other participants in today's meeting met this year with Trump at the White House and other places, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Ukraine brings reinforcements to Trump meeting, hoping to avoid another White House fiasco
If he wants to give Ukraine’s leader the same welcome he did Russia’s Vladimir Putin, then Trump might need a bigger red carpet.
Zelenskyy will bring heavyweight reinforcements to the White House on Monday — a troop of European leaders likely hoping to ensure there is no repeat of his last Oval Office showdown at a moment of even greater stakes for his country and the continent.
The extraordinary public bust-up between Zelenskyy, Trump and Vice President JD Vance in February stunned European powers.
Zelenskyy details new Russian strikes in Ukraine hours before meeting with Trump
Hours before Zelenskyy is set to meet with Trump, the Ukrainian president posted a video to X depicting what he called "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," Zelenskyy added.
Zelenskyy said that seven people were killed in a drone strike in Kharkiv, including a 1-year-old. A missile strike in Zaporizhzhia killed three people as well, he said.
"Putin will commit demonstrative killings to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe, as well as to humiliate diplomatic efforts," Zelenskyy said. "That is precisely why we are seeking assistance to put an end to the killings. That is why reliable security guarantees are required. That is why Russia should not be rewarded for its participation in this war."
Trump says he will sign executive order to try to get rid of mail-in ballots and voting machines
Trump said in a post to Truth Social that he would sign an executive order to try to get rid of mail-in ballots and voting machines, a move that would almost certainly face immediate challenges in court.
The president said in the post that he was “going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS” and voting machines.
“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,” Trump wrote. However, there is no evidence of widespread voting fraud.
The president also claimed that states are “merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes.”
“They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do,” he wrote.
The Constitution, though, gives states — not the federal government — the power to handle congressional elections.
For years, Trump has spread false claims of widespread voter fraud. He has repeatedly falsely claimed that he won the 2020 election.
Former Sen. Sherrod Brown kicks off his bid for Vance’s old Senate seat in Ohio
Former Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, launched a comeback campaign today, setting the stage for a 2026 special election that could decide partisan control of the Senate.
Brown will challenge Sen. Jon Husted, the Republican who was appointed this year by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to fill the vacancy created by JD Vance’s election as vice president.
“We had no intention, really, of running again,” Brown, speaking of himself and his wife, journalist Connie Schultz, said in an interview with NBC News. “We just heard from more and more people and saw how much worse it was getting. I spent my career, as you know, taking on interest groups and taking on this rigged system. And the system has been rigged for as long as I remember, but it’s clearly gotten worse.”
New Zealand woman and 6-year-old son released from U.S. immigration detention
A New Zealand woman and her 6-year-old son are back home in Washington state, New Zealand media reported, after being held for more than three weeks at a U.S. immigration detention facility 2,000 miles away in Texas.
Sarah Shaw
Sarah Shaw, who had just put her two oldest children on a flight from Vancouver to visit their grandparents in New Zealand, was detained last month along with her youngest child, Isaac, as they tried to re-enter the U.S. from Canada due to what her attorney called an “administrative error” involving her visa, part of which had not yet been renewed. The pair was transferred to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas, one of only two facilities in the country that houses families.
The union representing Shaw, who counsels youth at a Washington state juvenile rehabilitation facility, said detentions such as hers “contradict American values and human rights.” “The trauma this has already caused for her and her son may never be healed,” Mike Yestramski, president of the Washington Federation of State Employees, said in a statement.
Shaw is among a growing number of foreigners whose detention or deportation by U.S. immigration officials under the Trump administration has drawn international attention, including in Germany, Canada and the U.K.
Highlighting potential Russian sticking points, Trump says Zelenskyy could 'immediately' end war
Trump further ratcheted up his efforts to end the war in Ukraine by outlining potential Russian sticking points ahead of today's high-stakes meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders.
“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump wrote last night on Truth Social.
Aiming to secure a peace agreement to end the war, Trump said in the post that Ukraine will likely have to give up "Obama given Crimea," to Russia, which seized control of the peninsula in 2014. Zelenskyy had pledged to return Crimea to Ukrainian control and has called the prospect of ceding Ukrainian territory to Russia a red line in negotiations.
Zelenskyy maintained that posture as he arrived in Washington, writing in a Twitter post Sunday night that he is confident Ukrainian forces will defend "their land."
"Of course, Crimea should not have been given up then, just as Ukrainians did not give up Kyiv, Odesa, or Kharkiv after 2022. Ukrainians are fighting for their land, for their independence," Zelenskyy wrote.
"I am confident that we will defend Ukraine, effectively guarantee security, and that our people will always be grateful to President Trump," he added.
Trump also dismissed the idea of Ukraine joining NATO, a move that had been urged by Zelenskyy to protect his country from future Russian aggression.
"NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE," Trump wrote. "Some things never change!"
Despite that pledge from Trump, Steve Witkoff, a U.S. special envoy, said on Sunday the United States is aiming to provide security guarantees to Ukraine that will resemble NATO's collective defense mandate.
Zelenskyy travels to D.C. to meet with Trump, days after red carpet reception for Putin
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with Trump this afternoon at the White House, just days after Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin left an Alaska summit without a ceasefire deal.
Zelenskyy is traveling to Washington, D.C., alongside several European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Trump’s sit-down with the leaders will come as he’s intensified his efforts in recent weeks to end the war in Ukraine, a more than three-year conflict he insists would not have taken place had he been in office. Following his meeting with Putin, Trump shifted his aim toward establishing a full-fledged “peace agreement” between Russia and Ukraine, bemoaning ceasefire agreements as unstable. At the same time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that a ceasefire was “not off the table,” though Russia has not agreed to stop fighting.
