By ILLIA NOVIKOV and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press
U.S. and Ukrainian officials are holding a second day of talks in Florida about President Donald Trump's proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. That's according to two U.S. officials who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. One of the officials said U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner's meeting in Florida on Thursday with Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's lead negotiator, was "productive." The official said the American and Ukrainian officials were due to brief their respective leaders on Friday and reconvene for further talks later in the day. The talks follow discussions between President Vladimir Putin and the U.S. envoys at the Kremlin on Tuesday.
Talks between Russia and the U.S. on ending the nearly four-year war in Ukraine were productive, but much work remains. Yuri Ushakov, a senior adviser to President Vladimir Putin, spoke to reporters on Tuesday after a lengthy session at the Kremlin. Putin met U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner as part of a renewed push by the Trump administration to broker a peace deal. Both sides agreed not to disclose the substance of the talks.
By AAMER MADHANI, ISOBEL KOSHIW and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press
President Donald Trump says his plan to end the war in Ukraine has been "fine-tuned." He said Tuesday that he is sending envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with the Russian president and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to meet with Ukrainian officials. Trump suggested he might meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy once negotiations progress. Talks have been ongoing, with U.S. and Ukrainian officials meeting in Geneva. French President Emmanuel Macron says peace efforts are at a crucial juncture. Meanwhile, Russia launched attacks on Kyiv, and Ukraine responded with drone strikes on Russia. European leaders warn the road to peace will be long.
By BARRY HATTON and ISOBEL KOSHIW Associated Press
Officials say progress was made in urgent weekend talks on amending the U.S. peace proposal for Ukraine that many saw as favoring Russia. But the Kremlin on Monday said it hadn't seen the changes. Washington's 28-point plan presented last week caused alarm by heavily aligning with Moscow's demands in the nearly four-year war caused by its invasion. The plan pressed Ukraine to hand over some territory to Russia and reduce its army. It also sought Europe's agreement that Ukraine will never be admitted into NATO. President Donald Trump now says that "something good just may be happening" in peace talks.
An American proposal to end the war in Ukraine puts the country in a delicate diplomatic position — caught between placating its most important ally, the United States, and not capitulating to Russia, its much larger neighbor that launched a full-scale invasion nearly four years ago. The 28-point peace plan was crafted by the U.S. and the Kremlin, without Ukrainian involvement. It acquiesces to many Russian demands that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has categorically rejected on dozens of occasions, including giving up large pieces of territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the United States to expand sanctions on Russia's two biggest oil companies to the whole sector. He also appealed for long-range missiles to hit Russian oil infrastructure. Zelenskyy me European leaders in London on Friday. Hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the meeting focused on stepping up pressure on Russia's economy, enhancing Ukraine's air defenses and supplying longer-range missiles. The meeting aims to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has resisted peace negotiations. Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry reported downing 111 Ukrainian drones overnight. Ukrainian authorities said Russian artillery struck a residential block in Kherson, killing two people and injuring 11 others.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the Trump administration is preparing a "substantial pickup in Russia sanctions." This comes as President Donald Trump meets NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House. Russian drones and missiles killed at least six people in Ukraine in strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday. U.S.-led efforts to end the war have floundered and Ukraine's president is seeking more foreign military help. The assault came in waves throughout the night and targeted at least eight Ukrainian cities, as well as a village in the Kyiv region.
By MATTHEW LEE and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press
Plans are on hold for President Donald Trump to sit down with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to talk about resolving the war in Ukraine. That's according to a U.S. official who wasn't authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The meeting had been announced last week. It was supposed to take place in Budapest, Hungary, although a date had not been set. The decision was made following a call between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
By SAMYA KULLAB and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press
President Donald Trump says it's possible that Ukraine can defeat Russia, but he's doubtful that it will happen. The latest comments from Trump added a fresh layer of skepticism toward Kyiv as he plans to meet again with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war. Trump on Monday said Ukrainians "could still win it" but added, "I don't think they will." Trump last month reversed his long-held position that Ukraine would have to concede land and said it could win back all the territory it has lost to Russia. But he changed his position again last week after holding a call with Putin and meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
By AAMER MADHANI and SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press
President Donald Trump has signaled to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he's leaning against selling long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv. Zelenskyy at the start of Friday's White House talks said he had a "proposition" in which Ukraine could provide the United States with its advanced drones, while Washington would sell Kyiv the Tomahawks, which Ukrainian officials say they desperately need to motivate Russian President Vladmir Putin to get serious about peace talks. But Trump said he had "an obligation also to make sure that" the United States is "completely stocked up." The U.S. leader added he was optimistic the war would soon end, mitigating Ukraine's need for the powerful weapon.
