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 MICHELLE L. PRICE and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press
Updated
President Donald Trump has appeared to suggest on social media that the U.S. resume testing nuclear weapons for the first time in three decades. There was no indication that the U.S. would start detonating warheads, but the president offered few details about what seemed to be a significant shift in U.S. policy. He made the announcement on social media minutes before meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday in South Korea. The U.S. military already regularly tests its missiles that are capable of delivering a warhead, but it has not detonated the weapons since 1992 because of a test ban.
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.
The European Union has heaped more economic sanctions on Russia, adding to U.S. President Donald Trump's new punitive measures the previous day against the Russian oil industry. Russian President Vladimir Putin responded by warning that the measures were an "unfriendly act" by Washington that could backfire against the U.S. by fueling oil prices. The American and European sanctions are intended as part of a broadened effort to choke off the revenue and supplies that fuel Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, compelling Putin to negotiate an end to the war. Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Putin said the new U.S. sanctions were serious but will not significantly impact its economy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the new restrictions.
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.
