As Trump Embraces Putin, Zelensky Storms Oval Office With Europe's Big 7 To Fight Ambush 2.0
With the world's eyes fixed on Alaska, President Donald Trump readies for a high-stakes meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin — a conversation he calls 'good' but not the main event. That honour, he says, will go to a potential second meeting bringing Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and possibly key European leaders to the same table for the first time since the war began. Trump insists both Putin and Zelensky want peace — but warns this summit is no reward for Russia's actions. The talks could even open the door to bold moves, such as reducing US troops in Europe, to entice Moscow towards a deal. #TrumpPutinSummit #AlaskaSummit #UkrainePeace #PutinZelensky #GlobalDiplomacy #WorldNews #PeaceTalks #USRussiaRelations #BreakingNews #Geopolitics #UkraineWar #DiplomaticBreakthrough #WhiteHouse #Kremlin
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Stationing troops in Ukraine would probably be too much for us: German foreign minister
Germany has expanded defence spending but continues to face recruitment and training shortfalls. Troop numbers have plateaued at about 182,000 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, May 28, 2025. (Photo: Annegret Hilse/Reuters) Germany can play a central role in crafting security guarantees for Ukraine but is unlikely to deploy troops there, the foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, has said. Berlin is already the only European contributor stationing a combat-ready brigade in Lithuania, and officials argue that adding a second permanent deployment in Ukraine would stretch the force beyond capacity. The debate over guarantees will be a core theme when Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets Donald Trump and European leaders in Washington on Monday. European capitals see credible, durable commitments as essential to any eventual peace framework between Kyiv and Moscow. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Important role' for Berlin Wadephul said Germany is ready to help shape a package with the United States and European partners, with Berlin playing an 'important role'. Officials point to military and technical assistance as likely pillars, alongside coordination with allies on the scope and conditions of any pledge. Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, told Fox News there was support for 'much more robust security guarantees' and for EU membership, floating an 'Article 5-like' formulation that evokes Nato's mutual defence clause. German troops off the table Germany has expanded defence spending but continues to face recruitment and training shortfalls. Troop numbers have plateaued at about 182,000. In April Berlin launched its first permanent foreign deployment since the second world war, a 5,000-strong armoured brigade in Lithuania to reinforce Nato's eastern flank. Wadephul said stationing forces in Ukraine as well would 'probably be too much', though he noted the defence minister, Boris Pistorius, would review options. Conservative chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is also travelling to Washington, has remained vague about a possible deployment, previously suggesting Germany could participate if the United States did so. Will 'Article 5-like' pledges be enough? It is unclear whether Zelenskyy would view a guarantee without troops on the ground as a sufficient deterrent, particularly given Trump's earlier scepticism about Nato's collective defence. German officials caution that any framework will require intricate coordination and time to define. 'The issue of security guarantees is highly complex,' a government spokesperson said, adding that the specifics would emerge only through a lengthy process.
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First Post
17 minutes ago
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‘Peace through strength': Zelenskyy warns Putin won't negotiate without pressure ahead of Trump talks
Ahead of his 'very serious' meeting with US President Donald Trump later today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia will only come to the negotiating table 'through strength' Ahead of his 'very serious' meeting with US President Donald Trump later today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia will only come to the negotiating table 'through strength.' Zelenskyy made the remarks after meeting with US envoy Keith Kellogg, highlighting the urgency of strengthening diplomatic and military coordination to push back against ongoing Russian aggression. 'When peace is discussed for one country in Europe, it means peace for all of Europe,' The Guardian quoted Zelenskyy as saying. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We are ready to continue working with maximum effort to end the war and to ensure reliable security. These are the key issues,' he added. The Ukrainian leader also addressed the latest round of Russian missile strikes, which he said targeted civilians in their sleep. 'Last night, Russian attacks on our cities continued – among those killed were two children, and dozens of people were wounded,' he said. Emphasising the united front between Ukraine, Europe, and the US, Zelenskyy added, 'We discussed the battlefield situation and our strong diplomatic capabilities – Ukraine's and all of Europe's together with America. 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.' Earlier, in a pointed message delivered ahead of their scheduled meeting in Washington on Monday, President Trump placed the responsibility on Zelenskyy to bring an end to the war with Russia. The move stood in sharp contrast to the warm reception Trump extended just days ago to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy, joined by several European leaders, is in Washington for high-stakes talks with Trump aimed at exploring potential solutions to the prolonged conflict. In a Truth Social post late Sunday night, Trump appeared to set the tone for Monday's meeting by outlining implicit conditions, hinting at a potentially tense exchange with his Ukrainian counterpart. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,' Trump wrote. 'Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!' Trump added. Zelenskyy put out his own message shortly thereafter, reiterating that 'we all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably' — and alluding to parameters of his own around territorial concessions and security guarantees. 'Peace must be lasting,' Zelenskyy wrote in a post to X. 'Not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our East—part of Donbas—and Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack. Or when Ukraine was given so called 'security guarantees' in 1994, but they didn't work.' Trump reportedly said he believed Putin would agree to a deal if Ukraine handed over its easternmost Donbas region, including parts Russia doesn't control. Zelenskyy has previously warned doing so would mean Ukraine loses key defensive positions and would be more vulnerable to Russian attacks in the future. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ukraine's regions occupied by Russia: What you need to know
Diplomatic efforts are underway to settle the war, focusing on five Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia. Russia demands full control of Donetsk and Lugansk in exchange for freezing the southern front in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, a proposal the US leader is inclined to support. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Five Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia are at the centre of diplomatic efforts to settle the three-and-a-half-year has demanded the whole of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk in exchange for a freeze on the southern front line in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, according to a source.A source briefed on a phone call between Donald Trump and European leaders following his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, told AFP that the US leader was "inclined to support" this Ukraine has refused to give up these regions, which it considers "temporarily occupied".Here is what you need to know about these territories.- Donetsk and Lugansk: Kremlin's top priority -The two regions bordering Russia form the Donbas, an industrial and mining region comprising Donetsk and Lugansk, and conquering it is a priority for troops hold more than 99 percent of the Lugansk region and 79 percent of the Donetsk region, as well as their regional capitals, according to AFP's analysis of data provided by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project (CTP).According to local officials, some 242,700 people still live in the Ukrainian-controlled parts of the Donetsk region, including in several Russian advance is threatening Ukrainian military logistic centres and strongholds in the area, which has been heavily fortified since 2014, when a Moscow-sponsored separatist revolt triggered a full-scale invasion of February 2022 made things worse, devastating large swathes of land and forcing many to and Lugansk are traditionally majority Russian-speaking areas, which were used as a pretext by the Kremlin to justify the September 2022, Russia said it had annexed the two coal mining regions, along with Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the Donetsk region has seen some of the war's bloodiest battles, such as in Bakhmut, Mariupol and Avdiivka.- Kherson: partly liberated -The Kherson region, known for agriculture, was almost entirely occupied by the Russian army in the beginning of the Ukraine later recaptured the regional capital, also called Kherson, in a November 2022 front line has since then been relatively stable, with the Russian army controlling about 71 percent of the Kherson region, according to AFP's has also been little movement in the Zaporizhzhia region, where Ukraine retains control of the main urban centre as well.- Zaporizhzhia: fragile nuclear region -According to AFP's calculations, Russia holds 74 percent of the Zaporizhzhia region, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant , the largest in Europe, which Moscow captured in the first weeks of the though the power plant has been shut down, it is still considered unsafe as it remains close to the and Ukraine accuse each other of targeting it.- Sumy and Kharkiv: minor incursions -In addition to the territories Russia claims to have annexed, its troops are conducting minor incursions into the northeastern border regions of Sumy and Moscow does not control any major settlements there and only occupies five percent of the Kharkiv region and one percent of the Sumy region, AFP's analysis of ISW and CTP data Kremlin has said it wants to establish a "buffer zone" there to prevent Ukrainian offensives into Russia, such as the Kursk incursion in the summer of 2024.- Crimea: 11 years of occupation -Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 in a referendum denounced by the international community, and the Kremlin's grip over the peninsula remains particularly seeks recognition of the annexation by Western countries and control of Crimea was out of the question for Ukraine, Trump warned on Sunday evening, two days after meeting 2018, Russia built a bridge linking the resort and wine-making region to the mainland, which is now a target for the Ukrainian is also striking Moscow's military and navy infrastructure on the heavily fortified life is for Ukrainians in the annexed territories remains difficult to dissent or criticism of the occupation is punished by the Moscow-installed administration, with detention, torture or death, according to Ukrainian Kremlin is accused of "russification" of the territories by controlling education, the media and all aspects of daily life, offering Russians incentives to move there and handing out Russian passports to Ukrainians.
