Putin plane tracker: Where is Russian president and when will he meet Donald Trump? Latest here
Meanwhile, the FlightRadar 24 page showed over 150,000 people tracking a flight from Russia to Alaska. The flight was numbered RA-64531. While we cannot verify if Putin was in the aircraft, social media users said they were tracking the Russian president's journey.
'According to Flightradar, Vladimir Putin's plane has landed,and it was tracked by half a million people,' one person claimed on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. They also posted a screenshot of FlightRadar.
Several others tweeted about Putin 'landing' in Alaska. But there was no evidence to back these reports.
'The plane has been the most TRACKED FLIGHT in the world on Flightradar24 - but it's very unlikely to be Vladimir Putin's plane,' another person wrote.
Meanwhile, CNN published photos from the tarmac at Elmendorf Air Base, showing a red carpet laid out in an L-shape for Putin and Trump to walk down to a platform that's been labeled 'ALASKA 2025'. The red carpet has four F-22 Raptor fighter jets lined up alongside it, the media outlet reported.
Putin is a 'smart guy'
Ahead of the meeting, President Trump said he will be disappointed if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire.
'I want to see a ceasefire, rapidly. I don't know if it's going to be today, but I'm not going to be happy if it's not today,' he told reporters on Air Force One.
'Everyone said it can't be today, but I'm just saying I want the killing to stop. This is not to do with Europe. Europe's not telling me what to do. But they're going to be involved in the process, obviously, along with Zelensky.'
'Been doing it for a long time, but so have I. We get along. There's a good respect level on both sides.'
When and where will Trump and Putin meet?
Presidents Trump and Vladimir Putin are set to meet at 11:30 AM Alaska time (3:30 PM ET) at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, as confirmed by recent White House and Kremlin announcements.
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First Post
27 minutes ago
- First Post
Is Zelenskyy caged by Animal Farm's Boxer syndrome and can he keep chasing ‘absolute victory' goal?
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is likely to be in the spotlight as he holds talks with US President Donald Trump on Monday night (India time). Trump has put the onus of ending the Ukraine war, going on for over three years, on Zelenskyy, who has top European leaders crossing the Atlantic to ensure he is not ambushed the same way as his February visit to the White House. But Zelenskky has a lot to decide as many wonder what the Ukraine president would be pondering when he meets Trump: will he ponder for himself, or for his country? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I do not understand it. I would not have believed that such things could happen on our farm. It must be due to some fault in ourselves. The solution, as I see it, is to work harder. From now onwards I shall get up a full hour earlier in the mornings.' The above passage is spoken by Boxer, the hardworking cart-horse in George Orwell's Animal Farm. At this point in the story, the animals are beginning to face difficulties on the farm under the pigs' leadership, yet Boxer cannot bring himself to question Napoleon or the system. Instead, when he says the sentence above, he reveals both his loyalty and his tragic naivety. Rather than recognising that the pigs are exploiting other animals, Boxer concludes that the blame lies within themselves and that the solution is simply greater effort. Ukraine today faces a similar situation under President Zelenskyy's wartime leadership. Since regaining independence in 1991, Ukraine has lived at the edge of two powerful gravitational fields: Russia to the east and the Western bloc led by the European Union and Nato to the west. This positioning has created opportunities but also exposed Ukraine to a unique strain of geopolitical turbulence. In recent years, particularly since 2014, the narrative of Ukraine's future has been increasingly framed as a binary choice: integrate with the West or resist Russia's influence. Yet such framing overlooks a difficult truth—Ukraine's path to lasting peace and prosperity may depend not on endless sacrifice or rigid defiance, but on pragmatic leadership willing to prioritise lives over land, peace over pride, and compromise over confrontation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Historical ties that cannot be ignored Ukraine and Russia share centuries of interwoven history. From the medieval state of Kyivan Rus to the long era under the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, Ukraine has been deeply linked to Russia politically, culturally, linguistically and economically. Millions of Ukrainians have family ties across the border. The Russian language still remains widely spoken. Economically, until the last decade, Russia was Ukraine's primary trading partner, supplying natural gas and serving as a major export market. These legacies create a reality that cannot simply be erased by treaties with Europe or military aid from the United States. Ukraine's geography places it as a bridge rather than a barrier. To imagine a Ukraine flourishing in permanent hostility with Russia is to underestimate the weight of history and proximity. Costs of conflict The ongoing war, intensified by Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, has inflicted staggering costs on Ukraine. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost. Millions have been displaced internally or forced into exile abroad. Infrastructure has been shattered—power stations, schools, hospitals and entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble. The economy has contracted, foreign investment has dried up and reconstruction needs are estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars. For ordinary Ukrainians, this war is not a chess match of geopolitics but a daily fight for survival. The longer the war drags on, the deeper the scars and the more fragile the nation's future. Zelenskyy's defiant stance has earned global admiration, but admiration has not shown the way how the cities destroyed in the war could be rebuilt. At some point, the calculus is likely return to the most basic principle: human lives are more precious than territorial lines. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Western embrace: Support with strings Ukraine's westward trend after 2014 was both understandable and necessary for a nation seeking security guarantees and economic opportunity. The EU Association Agreement, visa-free travel to Europe and growing Nato cooperation offered Ukrainians a sense of belonging to the democratic, prosperous West. Since 2022, Western nations have poured in military equipment, humanitarian aid and financial support. This backing has been indispensable to Ukraine's survival. Yet it also comes with strings. Western governments have their own strategic priorities. Aid can be delayed, reduced or made conditional on reforms. Nato membership remains elusive, blocked by fears of direct confrontation with Russia. Meanwhile, ordinary Ukrainians face the possibility of their nation becoming a proxy battlefield for larger powers rather than an autonomous state shaping its own destiny. Dependence on Western aid is not a permanent solution. It is just a temporary lifeline. Russia: A neighbour that cant be replaced No matter how bitter the conflict, geography is unchangeable. Russia will remain Ukraine's largest neighbour, a nuclear power and a dominant force in the region. Unlike distant allies in Washington, London or Brussels, Russia is next door. For Ukraine to flourish in peace, it cannot build its entire future on enmity with its most immediate neighbour. A strategy that ignores Russia is a strategy that condemns Ukraine to perpetual instability. Historical examples abound of countries turning bitter rivalries into pragmatic coexistence: France and Germany after World War II, Vietnam and the United States decades after conflict. Ukraine, too, may one day need to find a formula to engage Russia not as a master or a partner of choice, but as a neighbour with whom coexistence is unavoidable. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The question of Donetsk Among the most painful dilemmas for Ukraine is the question of Donetsk and the wider Donbas region. For years, Donetsk has been a flashpoint of conflict. While its mines and industries were once an economic engine, decades of mismanagement, war and sanctions have left the region in ruins. Continuing to fight for its return has drained Ukrainian lives and resources. Pragmatically, ceding control of Donetsk to Russia might not actually be the defeat many imagine if Zelenskyy is forced to sign such a deal. To many, this could a first step toward recovery. The area is already firmly under Russian control. The argument backing this solution is thar relinquishing Donetsk would allow Ukraine to redirect its limited resources toward rebuilding regions firmly under Kyiv's control, such as Kharkiv, Odesa and Dnipro. It would reduce the human cost of defending contested territories and give millions of Ukrainians a chance to rebuild their lives without constant shelling. Moreover, by drawing a line under one of the most intractable disputes, Ukraine could stabilise its borders, attract foreign investment and demonstrate to the world that it values peace and human security over endless war. Proponent of this peace approach also cite history to argue that nations can recover and thrive even after territorial concessions. Germany after World War II and South Korea after its division are examples of resilience born out of compromise. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Price of land versus value of lives The central dilemma for Zelenskyy is how to balance territorial integrity with the preservation of life. The principle of sovereignty is non-negotiable in international law, yet wars are rarely resolved by absolute victories. Compromise is painful, especially when it involves land. Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk are names etched in grief and resilience. But if the continuation of fighting means decades of devastation, depopulation and despair, then at what point does the defence of land eclipse the duty to save lives? Zelenskyy faces the question of whether a pragmatic peace that safeguards the future generations of Ukrainians would be better than a prolonged, unwinnable war of attrition or there is another alternative to explore. Illusion of total victory Rhetoric of total victory, of reclaiming every inch of occupied territory, resonates deeply with national pride and international solidarity. Yet reality is harsher. Russia remains a vast power with greater military reserves and nuclear leverage. Western support, though significant, has limits. War fatigue in donor countries is already visible and political shifts in Europe or the United States may curtail aid further. Ukraine cannot indefinitely match Russia blow for blow, nor can it indefinitely rely on foreign backers. Recognising the limits of military solutions is not surrender but realism. Zelenskyy's burden of leadership President Zelenskyy rose from entertainer to war leader, embodying courage in the face of overwhelming odds. His speeches rallied both Ukrainians and global audiences. Yet leadership is not only about inspiring resistance alone. It is also about knowing when to chart a new course. History will judge Zelenskyy not merely on how long he defied Russia but on whether he managed to secure a livable peace for his people. His courage to stand up to a bigger armed power is being praised, but some have also blamed him triggering the war. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Zelenskyy has been promising Ukrainians an absolute victory against Russia, something no war strategy expert has backed him for the claim. It appears that to pursue his absolute victory dream, Zelenskyy could be risking stretching Ukraine's suffering further. On the hand, if Zelesnkyy negotiates peace by surrendering Ukrainian territories to an invading force, he risks accusations of betrayal. This is the dilemma the Ukrainian president faces; it's a choice between the politically safe path of symbolic defiance and the morally urgent path of pragmatic compromise. Toward a vision of peaceful coexistence For Ukraine to flourish, all commentators agree, the route passes through the fields of stability, security and the safety for ordinary citizens to rebuild their lives. This vision is unlikely to materialise solely through Western alignment or through isolation of Russia. It is likely to happen when Ukraine is both European and regional, Western-leaning but pragmatically cooperative with its eastern neighbour. Ukraine stands at a crossroads that may define its destiny for generations. The allure of full Western integration is powerful, but geography and history anchor Ukraine to realities it can hardly escape. Lasting peace in Ukraine is likely not to come from choosing between Russia and the West but from balancing the two, ensuring sovereignty while preventing any perpetual war. For Zelenskyy, the challenge is to make the right choice between the price of land, however integral, and the value of lives, which Ukraine is losing with each passing day in its war with Russia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
News18
39 minutes ago
- News18
Did US First Lady Melania Trump Use AI To Write ‘Peace Letter' To Putin In Alaska?
Even as Ukraine's Zelenskyy publicly thanked Melania Trump for highlighting the plight of children, the letter led to questions on whether it was generated using AI During his meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, US President Donald Trump hand-delivered a letter written by his wife, Melania, to Putin. In the letter, the US First Lady, who did not join Trump on the trip, raised the plight of children in Ukraine and Russia. Even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly thanked Melania for highlighting the plight of children, the copy of the letter later circulated online led to questions on whether it was generated using artificial intelligence (AI). What did Melania Trump's letter say? The letter, which was shared on Flotus social media accounts, said, 'Dear President Putin, Every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether born randomly into a nation's rustic countryside or a magnificent city-center. They dream of love, possibility, and safety from danger. As parents, it is our duty to nurture the next generation's hope. As leaders, the responsibility to sustain our children extends beyond the comfort of a few. Undeniably, we must strive to paint a dignity-filled world for all — so that every soul may wake to peace, and so that the future itself is perfectly guarded. A simple yet profound concept, Mr. Putin, as I am sure you agree, is that each generation's descendants begin their lives with a purity — an innocence which stands above geography, government, and ideology." 'In today's world, some children are forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them — a silent defiance against the forces that can potentially claim their future. Mr. Putin, you can singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter. In protecting the innocence of these children, you will do more than serve Russia alone — you serve humanity itself." 'Such a bold idea transcends all human division, and you, Mr. Putin, are fit to implement this vision with a stroke of the pen today. It is time," it concluded. Our incredible First Lady @MELANIATRUMP shared this powerful, deeply moving letter with President Putin. She speaks from the heart of every American in calling for a world where children, regardless of where they are born, can live in peace. — Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) August 16, 2025 Did Melania write the letter using AI? Soon after Melania shared the 'peace letter" on her official Instagram, online users began speculating whether it had actually been written by artificial intelligence. Critics also pointed out that the letter was vague about which 'children" it referred to, or what exactly she wanted Putin to do. While the message seemed to gesture at Ukrainian children, it never directly mentioned the suffering they've endured since Russia's invasion in February 2022, wrote the American nonprofit magazine Mother Jones. Democratic strategist Keith Edwards wrote on X: 'The letter says a whole lot of nothing…it many have been written by AI." One account even asked Grok, X's AI chatbot, to weigh in on the letter. The bot responded that the message was 'likely 85 per cent AI-drafted, with minor human edits for tone." This letter to Putin from Melania:1. Says a whole lot of nothing.2. May have been written by AI. — Keith Edwards (@keithedwards) August 16, 2025 Why the issue matters Russia's seizure of Ukrainian children has been a deeply sensitive one for Ukraine. Ukraine has called the abductions of tens of thousands of its children taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of family or guardians a war crime that meets the U.N. treaty definition of genocide. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy conveyed his gratitude to the first lady on his call with Trump on Saturday, Ukraine's foreign minister said. 'This is a true act of humanism," Andrii Sybiha added on X. Previously, Moscow has said it has been protecting vulnerable children from a war zone. The United Nations Human Rights Office has said Russia has inflicted suffering on millions of Ukrainian children and violated their rights since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Trump and Putin met for nearly three hours at a U.S. military base in Anchorage without reaching a ceasefire deal in the war in Ukraine. With Reuters Inputs About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ...Read More Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : donald trump Melania Trump news18 specials President Vladimir Putin view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 18, 2025, 14:34 IST News explainers Did US First Lady Melania Trump Use AI To Write 'Peace Letter' To Putin In Alaska? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Ukraine's Zelensky faces dilemma amid Trump's peace deal demands
Volodymyr Zelensky finds himself in an impossible bind: risk Donald Trump's wrath or accept a quick deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine by paying the disastrous price of ceding territory for vague security guarantees that could see Moscow come back stronger in a few years' time. The situation is made even more tenuous by the memory of his last visit to the White House in February that erupted into a bitter exchange between Zelensky and Trump(AP) This is the existential dilemma confronting the Ukrainian leader as he travels to Washington for talks with the US president on Monday. Fresh off a summit in Alaska with Vladimir Putin that bypassed a ceasefire, Trump has left Zelensky little room to maneuver. The situation is made even more tenuous by the memory of his last visit to the White House in February that erupted into a bitter exchange between Zelensky and Trump and briefly led to a halt in military support. This time a coterie of European leaders will accompany him, but they have questionable leverage and haven't always been on the same page. The entourage will seek clarity from Trump on exactly what security guarantees the US is willing to provide as it attempts to orchestrate a meeting with the Ukrainian president and Putin. Among the group accompanying Zelensky are people Trump has struck a strong personal rapport with, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Also read: Trump-Putin summit: 5 big takeaways from Alaska meet for India, other Russian oil buyers Aside from avoiding another dispute and maintaining Trump's interest in brokering a deal, Zelensky's objectives in the talks include: learning more about Putin's demands, pinning down the timing for a trilateral meeting, and prodding the US toward tougher sanctions against Russia, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations. Whether he can achieve any of these goals will depend on how much, in the view of European officials, Putin has gotten into Trump's head. After Friday's summit, Trump appeared to align again with the Russian president by dropping demands for an immediate ceasefire as a condition for opening negotiations. Instead, he said he'll urge Zelensky to act fast on a peace plan. 'Putin has many demands,' Zelensky said Sunday at a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, a stopover to prepare for the Washington visit. 'It will take time to go through them all — it's impossible to do this under the pressure of weapons,' he said, adding that a ceasefire would be needed to 'work quickly on a final deal.' Raising the stakes for Kyiv, the US president sounded open to Putin's demands that Ukraine give up large areas of land in the east of the country, which the Russian army and its proxies have been trying to seize since 2014. Despite the harsh demands on Ukraine, there are signs that the US is now prepared to back a deal. Following his meeting with Putin, Trump told European leaders that the US could contribute to any security guarantees and that Putin was prepared to accept that. But it remains unclear what kind of security guarantees are being discussed with Putin, and what the Kremlin leader is willing to accept. 'We got to an agreement that the US and other nations could effectively offer Article 5-like language to Ukraine,' Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, said in an interview with CNN, referring to the NATO provision that says if one ally is attacked, it is considered an attack on all members. Trump is also under pressure. He had promised that after taking office in January he would quickly end Russia's full-scale invasion, which is in its fourth year. His efforts were mainly targeted at Kyiv but he ultimately had to acknowledge it was the Kremlin that didn't want to stop the war. Instead of yielding to Trump, Russia has intensified attacks. Civilian deaths have mounted, with June and July the deadliest months in more than three years, according to the United Nations. Ahead of the Alaska summit, Trump said refusal to accept a ceasefire would trigger tough new punitive measures on Moscow and countries buying Russian oil. After the meeting, which included a red-carpet reception for Putin and a shared ride in the US leader's armored limo, Trump called off the threats. Rather than punish the aggressor, he declared he's seeking a full peace deal that includes 'lands' swap' and urged Zelensky to accept it. On Sunday, the Ukrainian leader reaffirmed his stance that he won't give up territory or trade land. 'Since the territorial issue is so important, it should be discussed only by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia' at a meeting accompanied by the US, Zelensky said. 'So far Russia gives no sign the trilateral will happen.' Zelensky's refusal to accept territorial losses is a position shared by the majority of Ukrainians. But the level of support has softened as counteroffensives sputter and casualties mount. Still, fears are that a further retreat could invite later attacks. Talks in Washington will also be pivotal for Zelensky domestically. In late July, he faced his first political crisis since Russia invaded. Thousands took to the streets over his move to undermine anti-corruption institutions. Zelensky relented and re-installed independence to agencies that investigate top officials. His position in the talks is complicated by divisions among the US, Ukraine and other allies. Trump believes Russia can take the whole of Ukraine — although the Kremlin has managed only to seize less than a fifth of Ukraine's territory despite more than 1 million war casualties. Europeans, meanwhile, are wary that favorable conditions could encourage Putin to widen his aggression. 'It is important that America agrees to work with Europe to provide security guarantees for Ukraine,' Zelensky said on Sunday. 'But there are no details how it'll work and what America's role will be, what Europe's role will be, what the EU can do. And this is our main task.' --With assistance from Piotr Skolimowski. More stories like this are available on ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
