Friend of schools boss worked on $600,000 contract before it was approved, ICAC hears
In one case, Martin Berry, whom the Independent Commission Against Corruption has previously heard had known Manning as a friend and colleague since 2006, appeared to have begun work on a contract worth almost $600,000 about a month before it was approved 'outside normal procurement thresholds'.
'Cart before the horse stuff,' is how Paul Hannan, a senior Department of Education official who appeared before the commission on Friday, described it. 'Rare, super rare stuff,' he said during the second day of his extensive and often tense questioning by counsel assisting Jamie Darams.
In total, ICAC has heard that between 2018 and 2022 Berry and his advisory firm, Heathwest, were engaged nine times by School Infrastructure and paid more than $3 million.
The two men met in 2006 when Berry gave Manning a job in the Sydney office of consulting firm Turner & Townsend. They socialised together, and Manning organised Berry's buck's party and attended his wedding.
They were both members of the 'Tom, Dick and Harry Breakfast Club' along with various other consultants who were also contracted to do work for the school building agency.
Berry appeared in the witness stand for the first time on Friday afternoon, and Darams took him through a long history of text messages with Manning dating back to 2015 and early 2016.
They boasted about cricket – both men are English, and took pleasure in their Ashes victory at Trent Bridge that year – arranged to catch up for beers on Sydney's northern beaches, and discussed work.
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The Advertiser
12 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Forget mushrooms: Milo, rat poison was the weapon of choice in the 1950s
As the nation-and indeed the world-remains captivated by the so-called "mushroom killer," it may surprise some to learn that the Victorian mother was not the first to have turned on her family. Last month, 50-year-old Erin Patterson was convicted of murdering three of her estranged husband, Simon's, relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms in 2023. But long before Patterson fatally poisoned her parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, another woman attempted to kill her son-in-law. And here's where the story becomes even more intriguing: there's a local connection to that notorious attempted murder, one that occurred 70 years earlier. In July 1953, 27-year-old footballer, Rob (Bobby) Lulham, who played league for Australia, NSW and Balmain during the 1940s-50s, made headlines across the country for all the wrong reasons. His mother-in-law, Veronica Monty, who was 45 years old at the time, was charged with attempted murder after mixing Thall-rat, a rat poison containing thallium into his evening cup of Milo. While Wikipedia claims Lulham was born in Newcastle in November 1926, 'legend' has it he came from Tuncurry, where his father, a veteran of the Gallipoli Campaign, was the postmaster, and Bobby played footy for Wallamba (Nabiac) along with his brothers. According to several sources, Monty had moved in with her daughter Judy and son-in-law 12 months earlier, following an operation and after separating from her husband. The Lulhams had been married just six months at the time. During this time, Lulham and Monty then had what was described as an 'intimate relationship' on three occasions, once in June 1953 after Judy had gone to bed early - they were apparently listening to the Ashes test from Lords - another time when Judy was at church and then when Bobby had come home from work early. Parading their domestic secrets before the court Lulham claimed that things never went further than a 'petting party' despite the fact that clothing was removed or rearranged. It was also revealed that he had a pet name for Monty - 'Tops' - and that he kissed her every day when he left for work and when he arrived back home. Apparently, thallium poisoning was not uncommon in the early 50s with reports of 45 similar cases leading to 10 deaths. Racked with guilt about deceiving her daughter, which then led to depression, Monty testified she had made the poisoned Milo for herself, claiming she had contemplated suicide. But Bobby and Judy also had asked for the drinks, and she mixed up the cups. Despite facing two charges of attempted murder and maliciously administering poison, Monty pleaded not guilty to both. Much like the Erin Patteron case (which attracted predominantly women rugged up against the bitter winter weather), the Monty trial captured the attention of the country with a long line of women queuing up at the courtroom doors armed with packed lunches waiting to be let in each morning. Newspapers at the time paid as much attention to what the main female characters (mother and daughter) wore, describing in detail their outfits, as to the trial itself. Attention was first brought about his poisoning following a match between his Balmain team and Canterbury. Unusually, the NSW representative who was a member of the NSW 1947 team, where he scored 17 points against Brisbane, didn't score a point. He was slow across the field, regularly got smashed by opponents before he could pass the ball; his performance was so poor that he was hooted by the Leichhardt Oval crowd. According to Glen Humphries, writing for Zero Tackle, Lulham 'knew he wasn't right, complaining of a heavy feeling in his legs before the game. But he took to the field anyway, not wanting to let down his teammates. On Monday, 20 July - two days after the game - he went to his job as a truck driver but collapsed and went home sick. Two days later, he would discover the reason why - and it would create quite a scandal, easily on par with anything the modern-day footballer can come up with.' He was admitted to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with symptoms of thallium poisoning - limb numbness and hair falling out. Police arrested his mother-in-law several weeks later and charged her with attempted murder. After being bailed herself, two days later Monty was in hospital, also suffering from thallium poisoning. Monty was eventually found not guilty on the charges of attempted murder and maliciously administering a poison. Judith ended the marriage to the man she had been with since she was 15, while Monty later shot herself. Despite popular belief, Lulham never played football again following the court case, along with brother Herb, Bobby played for Nabiac team, Wallamba. Brian Cowan, who also played for Wallamba as an 18-year-old, said he remembered Bobby as a great bloke and a good footballer. Lulham remarried, had two children, Kerry and Wayne and moved to Tenterfield. He died of a heart attack on Christmas Eve, 1986, at the age of 60. He was buried at the Tenterfield Cemetery. As the nation-and indeed the world-remains captivated by the so-called "mushroom killer," it may surprise some to learn that the Victorian mother was not the first to have turned on her family. Last month, 50-year-old Erin Patterson was convicted of murdering three of her estranged husband, Simon's, relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms in 2023. But long before Patterson fatally poisoned her parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, another woman attempted to kill her son-in-law. And here's where the story becomes even more intriguing: there's a local connection to that notorious attempted murder, one that occurred 70 years earlier. In July 1953, 27-year-old footballer, Rob (Bobby) Lulham, who played league for Australia, NSW and Balmain during the 1940s-50s, made headlines across the country for all the wrong reasons. His mother-in-law, Veronica Monty, who was 45 years old at the time, was charged with attempted murder after mixing Thall-rat, a rat poison containing thallium into his evening cup of Milo. While Wikipedia claims Lulham was born in Newcastle in November 1926, 'legend' has it he came from Tuncurry, where his father, a veteran of the Gallipoli Campaign, was the postmaster, and Bobby played footy for Wallamba (Nabiac) along with his brothers. According to several sources, Monty had moved in with her daughter Judy and son-in-law 12 months earlier, following an operation and after separating from her husband. The Lulhams had been married just six months at the time. During this time, Lulham and Monty then had what was described as an 'intimate relationship' on three occasions, once in June 1953 after Judy had gone to bed early - they were apparently listening to the Ashes test from Lords - another time when Judy was at church and then when Bobby had come home from work early. Parading their domestic secrets before the court Lulham claimed that things never went further than a 'petting party' despite the fact that clothing was removed or rearranged. It was also revealed that he had a pet name for Monty - 'Tops' - and that he kissed her every day when he left for work and when he arrived back home. Apparently, thallium poisoning was not uncommon in the early 50s with reports of 45 similar cases leading to 10 deaths. Racked with guilt about deceiving her daughter, which then led to depression, Monty testified she had made the poisoned Milo for herself, claiming she had contemplated suicide. But Bobby and Judy also had asked for the drinks, and she mixed up the cups. Despite facing two charges of attempted murder and maliciously administering poison, Monty pleaded not guilty to both. Much like the Erin Patteron case (which attracted predominantly women rugged up against the bitter winter weather), the Monty trial captured the attention of the country with a long line of women queuing up at the courtroom doors armed with packed lunches waiting to be let in each morning. Newspapers at the time paid as much attention to what the main female characters (mother and daughter) wore, describing in detail their outfits, as to the trial itself. Attention was first brought about his poisoning following a match between his Balmain team and Canterbury. Unusually, the NSW representative who was a member of the NSW 1947 team, where he scored 17 points against Brisbane, didn't score a point. He was slow across the field, regularly got smashed by opponents before he could pass the ball; his performance was so poor that he was hooted by the Leichhardt Oval crowd. According to Glen Humphries, writing for Zero Tackle, Lulham 'knew he wasn't right, complaining of a heavy feeling in his legs before the game. But he took to the field anyway, not wanting to let down his teammates. On Monday, 20 July - two days after the game - he went to his job as a truck driver but collapsed and went home sick. Two days later, he would discover the reason why - and it would create quite a scandal, easily on par with anything the modern-day footballer can come up with.' He was admitted to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with symptoms of thallium poisoning - limb numbness and hair falling out. Police arrested his mother-in-law several weeks later and charged her with attempted murder. After being bailed herself, two days later Monty was in hospital, also suffering from thallium poisoning. Monty was eventually found not guilty on the charges of attempted murder and maliciously administering a poison. Judith ended the marriage to the man she had been with since she was 15, while Monty later shot herself. Despite popular belief, Lulham never played football again following the court case, along with brother Herb, Bobby played for Nabiac team, Wallamba. Brian Cowan, who also played for Wallamba as an 18-year-old, said he remembered Bobby as a great bloke and a good footballer. Lulham remarried, had two children, Kerry and Wayne and moved to Tenterfield. He died of a heart attack on Christmas Eve, 1986, at the age of 60. He was buried at the Tenterfield Cemetery. As the nation-and indeed the world-remains captivated by the so-called "mushroom killer," it may surprise some to learn that the Victorian mother was not the first to have turned on her family. Last month, 50-year-old Erin Patterson was convicted of murdering three of her estranged husband, Simon's, relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms in 2023. But long before Patterson fatally poisoned her parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, another woman attempted to kill her son-in-law. And here's where the story becomes even more intriguing: there's a local connection to that notorious attempted murder, one that occurred 70 years earlier. In July 1953, 27-year-old footballer, Rob (Bobby) Lulham, who played league for Australia, NSW and Balmain during the 1940s-50s, made headlines across the country for all the wrong reasons. His mother-in-law, Veronica Monty, who was 45 years old at the time, was charged with attempted murder after mixing Thall-rat, a rat poison containing thallium into his evening cup of Milo. While Wikipedia claims Lulham was born in Newcastle in November 1926, 'legend' has it he came from Tuncurry, where his father, a veteran of the Gallipoli Campaign, was the postmaster, and Bobby played footy for Wallamba (Nabiac) along with his brothers. According to several sources, Monty had moved in with her daughter Judy and son-in-law 12 months earlier, following an operation and after separating from her husband. The Lulhams had been married just six months at the time. During this time, Lulham and Monty then had what was described as an 'intimate relationship' on three occasions, once in June 1953 after Judy had gone to bed early - they were apparently listening to the Ashes test from Lords - another time when Judy was at church and then when Bobby had come home from work early. Parading their domestic secrets before the court Lulham claimed that things never went further than a 'petting party' despite the fact that clothing was removed or rearranged. It was also revealed that he had a pet name for Monty - 'Tops' - and that he kissed her every day when he left for work and when he arrived back home. Apparently, thallium poisoning was not uncommon in the early 50s with reports of 45 similar cases leading to 10 deaths. Racked with guilt about deceiving her daughter, which then led to depression, Monty testified she had made the poisoned Milo for herself, claiming she had contemplated suicide. But Bobby and Judy also had asked for the drinks, and she mixed up the cups. Despite facing two charges of attempted murder and maliciously administering poison, Monty pleaded not guilty to both. Much like the Erin Patteron case (which attracted predominantly women rugged up against the bitter winter weather), the Monty trial captured the attention of the country with a long line of women queuing up at the courtroom doors armed with packed lunches waiting to be let in each morning. Newspapers at the time paid as much attention to what the main female characters (mother and daughter) wore, describing in detail their outfits, as to the trial itself. Attention was first brought about his poisoning following a match between his Balmain team and Canterbury. Unusually, the NSW representative who was a member of the NSW 1947 team, where he scored 17 points against Brisbane, didn't score a point. He was slow across the field, regularly got smashed by opponents before he could pass the ball; his performance was so poor that he was hooted by the Leichhardt Oval crowd. According to Glen Humphries, writing for Zero Tackle, Lulham 'knew he wasn't right, complaining of a heavy feeling in his legs before the game. But he took to the field anyway, not wanting to let down his teammates. On Monday, 20 July - two days after the game - he went to his job as a truck driver but collapsed and went home sick. Two days later, he would discover the reason why - and it would create quite a scandal, easily on par with anything the modern-day footballer can come up with.' He was admitted to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with symptoms of thallium poisoning - limb numbness and hair falling out. Police arrested his mother-in-law several weeks later and charged her with attempted murder. After being bailed herself, two days later Monty was in hospital, also suffering from thallium poisoning. Monty was eventually found not guilty on the charges of attempted murder and maliciously administering a poison. Judith ended the marriage to the man she had been with since she was 15, while Monty later shot herself. Despite popular belief, Lulham never played football again following the court case, along with brother Herb, Bobby played for Nabiac team, Wallamba. Brian Cowan, who also played for Wallamba as an 18-year-old, said he remembered Bobby as a great bloke and a good footballer. Lulham remarried, had two children, Kerry and Wayne and moved to Tenterfield. He died of a heart attack on Christmas Eve, 1986, at the age of 60. He was buried at the Tenterfield Cemetery. As the nation-and indeed the world-remains captivated by the so-called "mushroom killer," it may surprise some to learn that the Victorian mother was not the first to have turned on her family. Last month, 50-year-old Erin Patterson was convicted of murdering three of her estranged husband, Simon's, relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms in 2023. But long before Patterson fatally poisoned her parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, another woman attempted to kill her son-in-law. And here's where the story becomes even more intriguing: there's a local connection to that notorious attempted murder, one that occurred 70 years earlier. In July 1953, 27-year-old footballer, Rob (Bobby) Lulham, who played league for Australia, NSW and Balmain during the 1940s-50s, made headlines across the country for all the wrong reasons. His mother-in-law, Veronica Monty, who was 45 years old at the time, was charged with attempted murder after mixing Thall-rat, a rat poison containing thallium into his evening cup of Milo. While Wikipedia claims Lulham was born in Newcastle in November 1926, 'legend' has it he came from Tuncurry, where his father, a veteran of the Gallipoli Campaign, was the postmaster, and Bobby played footy for Wallamba (Nabiac) along with his brothers. According to several sources, Monty had moved in with her daughter Judy and son-in-law 12 months earlier, following an operation and after separating from her husband. The Lulhams had been married just six months at the time. During this time, Lulham and Monty then had what was described as an 'intimate relationship' on three occasions, once in June 1953 after Judy had gone to bed early - they were apparently listening to the Ashes test from Lords - another time when Judy was at church and then when Bobby had come home from work early. Parading their domestic secrets before the court Lulham claimed that things never went further than a 'petting party' despite the fact that clothing was removed or rearranged. It was also revealed that he had a pet name for Monty - 'Tops' - and that he kissed her every day when he left for work and when he arrived back home. Apparently, thallium poisoning was not uncommon in the early 50s with reports of 45 similar cases leading to 10 deaths. Racked with guilt about deceiving her daughter, which then led to depression, Monty testified she had made the poisoned Milo for herself, claiming she had contemplated suicide. But Bobby and Judy also had asked for the drinks, and she mixed up the cups. Despite facing two charges of attempted murder and maliciously administering poison, Monty pleaded not guilty to both. Much like the Erin Patteron case (which attracted predominantly women rugged up against the bitter winter weather), the Monty trial captured the attention of the country with a long line of women queuing up at the courtroom doors armed with packed lunches waiting to be let in each morning. Newspapers at the time paid as much attention to what the main female characters (mother and daughter) wore, describing in detail their outfits, as to the trial itself. Attention was first brought about his poisoning following a match between his Balmain team and Canterbury. Unusually, the NSW representative who was a member of the NSW 1947 team, where he scored 17 points against Brisbane, didn't score a point. He was slow across the field, regularly got smashed by opponents before he could pass the ball; his performance was so poor that he was hooted by the Leichhardt Oval crowd. According to Glen Humphries, writing for Zero Tackle, Lulham 'knew he wasn't right, complaining of a heavy feeling in his legs before the game. But he took to the field anyway, not wanting to let down his teammates. On Monday, 20 July - two days after the game - he went to his job as a truck driver but collapsed and went home sick. Two days later, he would discover the reason why - and it would create quite a scandal, easily on par with anything the modern-day footballer can come up with.' He was admitted to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with symptoms of thallium poisoning - limb numbness and hair falling out. Police arrested his mother-in-law several weeks later and charged her with attempted murder. After being bailed herself, two days later Monty was in hospital, also suffering from thallium poisoning. Monty was eventually found not guilty on the charges of attempted murder and maliciously administering a poison. Judith ended the marriage to the man she had been with since she was 15, while Monty later shot herself. Despite popular belief, Lulham never played football again following the court case, along with brother Herb, Bobby played for Nabiac team, Wallamba. Brian Cowan, who also played for Wallamba as an 18-year-old, said he remembered Bobby as a great bloke and a good footballer. Lulham remarried, had two children, Kerry and Wayne and moved to Tenterfield. He died of a heart attack on Christmas Eve, 1986, at the age of 60. He was buried at the Tenterfield Cemetery.
The Age
16 hours ago
- The Age
Trump and Putin claim ‘great progress' – but leave Alaska early with no deal
On Ukraine, Putin thanked Trump for striving to understand the situation, and claimed the war was about addressing 'fundamental threats to our security'. He said he agreed with Trump that 'the security of Ukraine should be ensured as well'. 'I have every reason to believe that moving down this path we can come – and the sooner the better – to the end of the conflict in Ukraine,' Putin said, according to the official translator. A planned one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin was replaced by a three-on-three meeting that also included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, as well as Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Putin's foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, a former Russian ambassador to the United States. That meeting lasted about 2½ hours, and a mooted working lunch featuring other cabinet ministers was scrapped. Putin's jet departed Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage after just over five hours on the ground. At the end of the press conference, Trump said he would speak to Putin again soon and probably see him again soon. Putin replied, in English: 'Next time in Moscow.' Trump responded: 'Oh, that's an interesting one. I don't know, I'll get a little heat on that one, but I can see it possibly happening.' The encounter marked the first time Putin has met a sitting US president since Joe Biden in 2021, before he launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin which would make him liable for arrest in more than 120 countries. But on Friday (Saturday AEST) he was welcomed to American soil with a handshake from Trump, a photo opportunity and a short ride on the tarmac in the presidential car, the Beast. There was no immediate response from Zelensky, and the news conference occurred in the middle of the night, European time. But in an earlier video message, he criticised ongoing Russian strikes on Ukraine, even as Putin departed for Alaska. 'On the day of negotiations they are killing as well, and that speaks volumes,' Zelensky said. 'Everyone needs a just end to the war. Ukraine is ready to work as productively as possible to bring the war to an end and we count on a strong position from America. Everything will depend on this – the Russians factor in American strength.' John Herbst, a former US ambassador to Ukraine who is now senior director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Centre, said he would withhold judgment until details of the meeting were reported and confirmed. Television network Newsmax reported Putin had dropped his objection to teaching the Ukrainian language in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine, and that discussions would continue about how to implement a ceasefire. 'If you go simply by what we saw at the very, very brief, un-Trump-like press conference, it looked like he really didn't get anything from Putin to justify calling it a productive meeting,' Herbst said. Loading He said it looked as though Russia was set to escape further US sanctions, which would be a victory for Putin. Dora Chomiak, the chief executive of US-based Ukrainian charity Razom, said Putin remained the sole obstacle to peace. 'The idea that Putin believes there is a positive deal for him in the near future is deeply alarming,' she said in Anchorage.
7NEWS
17 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Talks between Russian president Vladimir Putin and US president trump end as summit stretches on
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met face-to-face for almost three hours on Friday. The two world leaders discussed Moscow's war in Ukraine, seeking an end to the deadliest conflict in Europe in 80 years. There was no immediate word on whether the talks had produced any progress toward a ceasefire in the war, a goal that Trump had set at the outset. Trump and Putin, along with top foreign-policy aides, conferred in a room at an Air Force base in Anchorage, Alaska in their first meeting since 2019. A blue backdrop behind them had the words 'Pursuing Peace' printed on it. Trump's publicly stated aim for the talks was to secure a halt to the fighting and a commitment by Putin to meet swiftly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to negotiate an end to the war, which began when Russia invaded its neighbour in February 2022. Earlier in the week, Trump said he would know if Putin was serious about peace within minutes of seeing him. He also threatened to walk out of the talks if they were unproductive. Putin recalls 'root' reason for war Putin and Trump addressed the media in a press conference after their talk, and both provided a statement, but did not take questions from reporters. Putin said in a press conference following his talk with Trump, that Russia's primary reason for the war would need to be eliminated for the war to end. 'The situation in Ukraine has to do with the fundamental threats to our security,' Putin said. 'We're convinced that in order to to make the settlement lasting and long term, we need to eliminate all the primary roots, primary causes of that conflict.' 'To consider all legitimate concerns of Russia and to reinstate a just balance of security in Europe and in the world on the whole. 'And I agree with President Trump, as he has (said) today, that naturally, the security of Ukraine should be ensured as well. 'Naturally, we are prepared to work on that. I would like to hope that the agreement that we've reached together will help us bring closer to that goal and will pave the path towards peace in Ukraine.' Putin's suggested that a subsequent summit take place in the Russian capital — a request he made in English — prompting Trump to acknowledge that agreeing to his proposal would be highly controversial. But Trump didn't completely shut the door to it: 'That's an interesting one, I'll get a little heat on that one ... but I could see it possibly happening.' President Donald Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton commented after the press conference, that Putin walked away from the meeting with the upper hand. 'He escaped sanctions. He's not facing a ceasefire. The next meeting is not set ... It's far from over, but I'd say Putin achieved most of what he wanted. Trump achieved very little.' 'Trump did not lose, but Putin clearly won. Trump didn't come away with anything, except more meetings.' 'Not here to negotiate for Ukraine' Zelenskiy, who was not invited to the summit, and his European allies fear Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict with Russia and recognising — if only informally — Russian control over one-fifth of Ukraine. Trump sought to assuage such concerns as he boarded Air Force One, saying he would let Ukraine decide on any possible territorial swaps. 'I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I'm here to get them at a table,' he said. Asked what would make the meeting a success, he told reporters: 'I want to see a ceasefire rapidly ... I'm not going to be happy if it's not today ... I want the killing to stop.' Once on the ground in Alaska, Trump greeted Putin on a red carpet on the base's tarmac. The two shook hands warmly and touched each other on the arm before riding in Trump's limo to the summit site nearby. The initial talks also included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's special envoy to Russia Steve Witkoff, Russian foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Trump hopes a truce in the war that Putin started will bring peace to the region as well as bolster his credentials as a global peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. For Putin, the summit is already a big win that he can portray as evidence that years of Western attempts to isolate Russia have unravelled and that Moscow is retaking its rightful place at the top table of international diplomacy. Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court, accused of the war crime of deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Russia denies allegations of war crimes and the Kremlin has dismissed the ICC warrant as null and void. Russia and the United States are not members of the court. Both Moscow and Kyiv deny targeting civilians in the war. But thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. A conservative estimate of dead and injured in the war in Ukraine — from both sides combined — totals 1.2 million people, Trump's envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said in May. Trump, who once said he would end Russia's war in Ukraine within 24 hours, conceded on Thursday it had proven a tougher task than he had expected. He said if Friday's talks went well, quickly arranging a second, three-way summit with Zelenskiy would be more important than his encounter with Putin. Zelenskiy said Friday's summit should open the way for a 'just peace' and three-way talks that included him, but added that Russia was continuing to wage war. A Russian ballistic missile earlier struck Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, killing one person and wounding another. 'It's time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America,' Zelenskiy wrote on messaging app Telegram. Zelenskiy has ruled out formally handing Moscow any territory and is also seeking a security guarantee backed by the United States. Trump said before the summit that there is mutual respect between him and Putin. 'He is a smart guy, been doing it for a long time, but so have I ... We get along,' Trump said of Putin. He also welcomed Putin's decision to bring businesspeople to Alaska. 'But they're not doing business until we get the war settled,' he said, repeating a threat of 'economically severe' consequences for Russia if the summit goes badly.
