Police remain on the scene in Christchurch shooting
Kiwi journalist Thomas Mutch joins us from Ukraine to take us through the latest on the frontlines, and behind the scenes.
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RNZ News
2 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Trump says Xi told him China will not invade Taiwan while he is United States president
By Jasper Ward , Reuters United States president Donald Trump. Photo: AFP United States president Donald Trump said that Chinese president Xi Jinping told him China would not invade Taiwan while Trump is in office. Trump made the comments in an interview with Fox News, ahead of talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. "I will tell you, you know, you have a very similar thing with president Xi of China and Taiwan, but I don't believe there's any way it's going to happen as long as I'm here. We'll see," Trump said during an interview on Fox News' "Special Report." "He told me, 'I will never do it as long as you're president.' President Xi told me that, and I said, 'Well, I appreciate that,' but he also said, 'But I am very patient, and China is very patient.'," Trump said. Trump and Xi held their first confirmed call of Trump's second presidential term in June. Trump also said in April that Xi had called him but did not specify when that call took place. China views Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to "reunify" with the democratic and separately governed island, by force if necessary. Taiwan strongly objects to China's sovereignty claims. The Chinese Embassy in Washington described the topic of Taiwan as "the most important and sensitive issue" in China-US relations. "The US government should adhere to the one-China principle and the three US-China joint communiqués, handle Taiwan-related issues prudently, and earnestly safeguard China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said in a statement. Although Washington is Taiwan's main arms supplier and international backer, the US - like most countries - has no formal diplomatic ties with the island. - Reuters
1News
5 hours ago
- 1News
Putin says he and Trump reached an 'understanding' on Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he and President Donald Trump have reached an "understanding" on Ukraine and warned Europe not to "torpedo the nascent progress". Speaking moments later, Trump said he'd yet to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but that he'd be speaking to him and European leaders soon. Trump and Putin kicked off their Alaska summit with a warm handshake on Saturday, greeting each other like old friends before heading into hours of discussions that could reshape the war in Ukraine and relations between Moscow and Washington. After descending from Air Force One, Trump applauded the Russian leader as Putin approached, walking along red carpets that had been placed for each leader. They gripped hands for an extended period of time, with both men smiling, and Putin eventually grinned and pointed skyward while their hands were still clasped. Uniformed military members stood at attention nearby at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, and B-2s and F-22s — military aircraft designed to oppose Russia during the Cold War — flew over to mark the moment. ADVERTISEMENT Reporters nearby yelled, 'President Putin, will you stop killing civilians?' and Putin put his hand up to his ear but didn't answer. Trump and Putin both climbed in the US presidential limo, with Putin grinning widely as the vehicle rolled past the cameras. President Donald Trump greets Russia's President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (Source: Associated Press) White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the previously planned one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin is now a three-on-three meeting that will include Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Putin will be joined by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov. The change indicates that the White House is taking a more guarded approach than it did during a 2018 meeting in Helsinki, when Trump and Putin first met privately just with their interpreters for two hours. Putin and Trump are expected to hold a joint press conference at the end of the summit. The sit-down gives Trump a chance to prove to the world that he is both a master dealmaker and a global peacemaker. He and his allies have cast him as a heavyweight negotiator who can find a way to bring the slaughter to a close — something he used to boast he could do quickly. For Putin, a summit with Trump offers a long-sought opportunity to try to negotiate a deal that would cement Russia's gains, block Kyiv's bid to join the NATO military alliance and eventually pull Ukraine back into Moscow's orbit. Despite having so much at stake, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders aren't invited. There are significant risks for Trump. By bringing Putin onto US soil — America bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 for roughly 2 cents per acre — the president is giving him the validation he desires after his ostracisation following his invasion of Ukraine three and a half years ago. Zelensky's exclusion from Trump and Putin's first meeting is a heavy blow to the West's policy of 'nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine' and invites the possibility that Trump could agree to a deal that Ukraine does not want. ADVERTISEMENT Any success is far from assured because Russia and Ukraine remain far apart in their demands for peace. Putin has long resisted any temporary ceasefire, linking it to a halt in Western arms supplies and a freeze on Ukraine's mobilisation efforts, which are conditions rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies. "HIGH STAKES!!!" Trump posted shortly before he boarded Air Force One. President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews. (Source: Associated Press) On his way to the meeting, Putin stopped in Magadan, in Russia's Far East, where he visited a factory producing omega-3 fish oil capsules, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Putin used the flight to review materials on Ukraine, tensions with the US, economic cooperation and global affairs, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Russian state TV. Trump said earlier in the week there was a 25% chance that the summit would fail, but he also floated the idea that if the meeting succeeds, he could bring Zelensky to Alaska for a subsequent, three-way meeting. Trump has also expressed doubts about getting an immediate ceasefire, but he has wanted a broad peace deal done quickly. That seemingly echoes Putin's longtime argument that Russia favours a comprehensive deal to end the fighting, reflecting its demands, not a temporary halt to hostilities. Trump has offered shifting explanations for his meeting goals ADVERTISEMENT People attend a rally ahead to the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a rally in front of the US Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine (Source: Associated Press) Trump previously characterised the sit-down as 'really a feel-out meeting'. But he's also warned of 'very severe consequences' for Russia if Putin doesn't agree to end the war. Trump said that his talks with Putin will include Russian demands that Ukraine cede territory as part of a peace deal. He said Ukraine has to decide, but he also suggested Zelensky should accept concessions. 'I've got to let Ukraine make that decision. And I think they'll make a proper decision,' Trump told reporters travelling with him to Alaska. Trump said there's 'a possibility' of the United States offering Ukraine security guarantees alongside European powers, 'but not in the form of NATO'. Putin has fiercely resisted Ukraine joining the trans-Atlantic security alliance, a long-term goal for Ukrainians seeking to forge stronger ties with the West. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's supreme allied commander Europe, is in Alaska to provide 'military advice' to Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to a senior NATO military official who wasn't authorised to speak publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. His presence is likely to be welcomed by European leaders who have tried to convince Trump to be firm with Putin and not deal over Kyiv's head. In this photo taken and distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, a Russian soldier carries an ammunition during a practice at a training ground during on an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Source: Associated Press) ADVERTISEMENT On his way to Alaska, Trump sat for an interview on Air Force One with Fox News Channel's Bret Baier. In a clip posted online, he said he thought the meeting would 'work out very well — and if it doesn't, I'm going to head back home real fast'. 'I would walk, yeah,' he added, after a follow up question. Zelensky has time and again cast doubts on Putin's willingness to negotiate in good faith. His European allies, who've held increasingly urgent meetings with US leaders over the past week, have stressed the need for Ukraine to be involved in any peace talks. The summit could have far-reaching implications Foreign governments will be watching closely to see how Trump reacts to Putin, likely gauging what the interaction might mean for their own dealings with the US president, who has eschewed traditional diplomacy for his own transactional approach to relationships. The meeting comes as the war has caused heavy losses on both sides and drained resources. Ukraine has held on far longer than some initially expected since the February 2022 invasion, but it is straining to hold off Russia's much larger army, grappling with bombardments of its cities and fighting for every inch on the over 1000-kilometre front line. ADVERTISEMENT Ukrainians soldier hug their comrade after returning from captivity after a POWs exchange between Russia and Ukraine, in Chernyhiv region, Ukraine (Source: Associated Press) While some have objected to the location of the summit, Trump has said he thought it was 'very respectful' of Putin to come to the US instead of a meeting in Russia. Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin Moscow-based analyst, observed that the choice of Alaska as the summit's venue 'underlined the distancing from Europe and Ukraine'. Being on a military base allows the leaders to avoid protests and meet more securely, but the location carries its own significance because of its history and location. Alaska is separated from Russia at its closest point by just less than 5 kilometres and the International Date Line. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson was crucial to countering the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It continues to play a role today, as planes from the base still intercept Russian aircraft that regularly fly into US airspace.
1News
5 hours ago
- 1News
No Ukraine ceasefire confirmed after Trump and Putin's meeting
Talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have ended after more than two and a half hours, with no confirmation of any ceasefire. The leaders met in a three-on-three meeting along with top advisers for a high-stakes summit in Alaska that could determine the trajectory of the war in Ukraine and the fate of European security. Trump's allies have cast the US president as a heavyweight negotiator who can find a way to bring the slaughter to a close, something he used to boast he could do quickly. For Putin, a summit with Trump offers a long-sought opportunity to try to negotiate a deal that would cement Russia's gains, block Kyiv's bid to join the NATO military alliance and eventually pull Ukraine back into Moscow's orbit. There are significant risks for Trump: By bringing Putin onto US soil, the president is giving Russia's leader the validation he desires after his ostracisation following his invasion of Ukraine 3 1/2 years ago. Any success is far from assured, especially as Russia and Ukraine remain far apart in their demands for peace. ADVERTISEMENT Putin speaks first Speaking in Russian, the President said he had greeted Trump as "dear neighbour," thankful to see him in good health. Putin also said he and Trump "have very good, direct contact". As Putin spoke, Trump stood about 1.8 or 2.1m away from him, at his own podium. Putin said the US and Russia are close neighbours, separated by mere miles, so it made sense for the summit to be held in Alaska. He said the talks were held "in a constructive and mutually respectful atmosphere," and were "very thorough and useful". President Donald Trump greets Russia's President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (Source: Associated Press) ADVERTISEMENT Putin says there would be no war in Ukraine if Trump had been president in 2022 Trump has long claimed that Putin would never have invaded Ukraine if he had still been in the White House — and the Russian leader confirmed that argument at a news conference after their meeting. Putin criticised former President Joe Biden without naming him and referenced Trump's argument about his presence being sufficient to stop the war. "I can confirm that," Putin said through a translator. Trump says he will fill Zelensky in on Putin meeting The US president also said he would call European and NATO leaders to give them updates from his meeting with Putin. Trump said "some great progress" was made in his bilateral meeting with the Russian president, saying "many points were agreed to," with just a "very few" remaining. ADVERTISEMENT Zelensky was not invited to the Alaska summit. Trump and Putin did not take questions After their nearly three-hour-long meeting, neither Trump nor Putin took questions from reporters after giving brief remarks. Putin said the two leaders had reached an "understanding", but neither offered further details. At left is Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and second from right is Secretary of State Marco Rubio, August 15, 2025. (Source: Associated Press) Putin suggests next meeting could be held in Moscow Trump has spoken repeatedly in recent days about wanting to have a second meeting after the Alaska summit. As they wrapped their statements after the summit, Putin said to Trump in English, "Next time in Moscow". Trump responded, "I could see it possibly happening". Neither leader announced that a second meeting would be held before they left the room without answering questions from reporters.
