The White House does not rule out US air support for Ukraine

Pressed by reporters on the type of support the United States will provide to Ukraine, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt did not rule out air support."It's an option and a possibility," she said."I can tell you he has definitely ruled out deploying troops on the ground," the official said, adding that Trump could still explore other military support options.

7:41 PM | August 19

Media: White House eyes Budapest for Trilateral Meeting

The White House is planning a possible trilateral meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump in Budapest. Politico reports this, citing sources, noting that the Secret Service is preparing for the summit in Hungary.

7:37 PM | August 19

White House: Putin-Zelensky meeting preparations underway

Preparations for the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky are underway, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a press briefing. Regarding the possible venue, she replied:"There are several options currently being discussed by our security team."

7:26 PM | August 19

Developments in Kiev: Meloni considers postponing her trip to Asia.

Due to developments related to the Ukraine peace process and the ongoing talks, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is considering postponing her planned trip to the Indo-Pacific until further notice. Sources at Palazzo Chigi reported that a final decision will be made in the coming days, based on the evolution of international negotiations.

7:11 PM | August 19

Chief of Staff Portolano attends US talks on Ukraine

At the direction of Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Luciano Portolano, will participate in the next few hours in talks to be held in the United States with military representatives of the nations that attended yesterday's summit. The meeting will focus on planning and defining concrete measures to ensure Ukraine has robust security measures in the event of a ceasefire or the launch of a peace process. Italy's participation in this discussion, Crosetto emphasized, confirms our country's desire to contribute, together with our allies and international partners, to Europe's stability and security.

6:55 PM | August 19

Zelensky's advisor confirms: Putin's proposal rejected

Ukraine immediately rejected Vladimir Putin's proposal to hold the bilateral meeting in Moscow, Dmytro Lytvyn, an adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky, told the BBC, confirming a previous report by AFP. The Ukrainian presidential adviser confirmed that Zelensky, who was at the White House with European leaders at the time of the phone call, immediately rejected the Russian president's proposal.

6:26 PM | August 19

Axios: Trump urged Putin to be realistic with Zelensky

During a phone call from the White House, US President Donald Trump told Vladimir Putin that he needed to meet with Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the territories and urged him to be realistic, Axios reports, citing sources.

6:26 PM | August 19

Axios: Putin mentioned China as guarantor in deal

Vladimir Putin mentioned to Donald Trump the possibility of China being a potential guarantor of a deal with Ukraine, Axios reports, citing sources.

6:25 PM | August 19

White House sources: Putin told Trump he wants to see Zelensky alone

In his phone call with Vladimir Putin, during the White House summit's interruption, Donald Trump offered to immediately go to a three-way meeting, but the Russian president replied that he wanted to meet Volodymyr Zelensky alone."You don't have to come, I want to see him face to face," Putin said, a senior Trump administration official told Politico. Trump's team has begun working on this, with Steve Witkoff in charge of making it happen, the source added.

6:20 PM | August 19

Zelensky and European leaders thank Trump: the video

Trump was thanked by EU leaders and Zelensky 11 times in 4 minutes during the White House summit.

6:13 PM | August 19

Zelensky speaks to Norwegian PM: Europe has been so united

I spoke with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. We shared assessments of the meetings in Washington and discussed our joint work with all partners on robust security guarantees for Ukraine. Jonas noted that this is truly a historic achievement: Europe has never been so united around Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote this on Telegram. We are confident that peace can become reliable and lasting, and security guarantees are the key to this. Ukrainians have defended their independence, Ukraine has united many nations, and by providing robust security guarantees, it will certainly secure the future of Ukrainians, he added.

6:07 PM | August 19

Media, security guarantees will include US air defense

Authorities in the United States and several European countries are expected to begin preparing a detailed proposal in the coming days on security guarantees to be provided to Ukraine as part of a possible peace agreement with Russia. Anonymous sources told the news portal Axios that these will likely include providing US air defense systems to Kiev's forces. In an interview with Fox News today, President Donald Trump reiterated that the US will not send troops to Ukraine, but left the door open to the possibility of providing air defense systems to any European forces that might be deployed there to secure peace between Moscow and Kiev.

5:48 PM | August 19

Kallas: Putin cannot be trusted; solid security guarantees are needed.

Putin cannot be trusted to keep any promises or commitments. Therefore, security guarantees must be sufficiently robust and credible to dissuade Russia from regrouping and retaliating. This is what the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, wrote in X. The EU, she emphasizes, will contribute to these security guarantees, particularly by training Ukrainian soldiers and strengthening the Ukrainian armed forces and defense industry. The EU will also continue to target Russia's wartime economy. The next package of sanctions against Moscow is expected to be ready within the next month. I have placed these topics at the top of the agenda for next week's discussions between EU foreign and defense ministers. Kallas then emphasized that the unity among EU leaders at today's virtual summit was palpable. All are committed to a lasting peace that protects the vital security interests of both Ukraine and Europe.

4:40 PM | August 19

Putin proposes Moscow for the meeting, Zelensky refuses

Vladimir Putin has suggested Moscow host a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, two sources familiar with the phone call between Donald Trump and the Russian president said. Putin mentioned Moscow during their call on Monday, one of the sources told AFP, adding that Zelensky said no.

4:31 PM | August 19

Fico: Slovakia will not buy US weapons for Kiev

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has declared that Slovakia will oppose the plan to supply $100 billion in American weapons to Ukraine, funded by EU countries in exchange for US security guarantees for Kiev. It seems like a lame joke, but unfortunately, we've seen a lot of it during this war, Fico said in a video posted on social media after the European Council video conference."Not in my wildest dreams can I imagine Slovakia buying weapons from the US and then sending them free of charge to the battlefield in Ukraine," he added. Fico then said he was also skeptical about support for the adoption of further sanctions against Russia if negotiations don't meet our expectations. According to the Slovak prime minister, another prerequisite for ending the war is that Ukraine cannot become a NATO member state."After the war, everyone is a general, but my rejection of Ukraine's NATO membership was clear from the beginning of the war, and I was harshly criticized for it," he added. Furthermore, without a discussion on territorial changes in Ukraine, no progress can be made, the prime minister stated. Fico nevertheless stated that he supports Kiev's ambition to join the European Union, if the criteria are met.

4:24 PM | August 19

Team of volunteers will plan guarantees with USA

Military teams from the Coalition of the Willing will meet with their US counterparts in the coming days to discuss plans to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine and prepare to deploy a reassurance force once the conflict with Russia is over. This is according to a statement released by Downing Street after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer co-chaired a virtual conference with French President Emmanuel Macron featuring over 30 leaders from the countries belonging to the Coalition of the Willing. Further pressure on Moscow through sanctions was also discussed.

4:12 PM | August 19

Putin proposed Moscow as the venue for the meeting with Zelensky

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed Moscow as the venue for the summit with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymr Zelensky, sources familiar with the talks revealed.

3:49 PM | August 19

Orban: Tying EU membership to Kiev guarantees is dangerous

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated that Ukraine's membership in the European Union offers no security guarantees, and therefore linking membership to security guarantees is futile and dangerous. The leaders of the 27 European Union member states met today, the Hungarian prime minister wrote in X after the videoconference European summit. It was confirmed that the danger of a third world war can only be reduced through a meeting between Trump and Putin; it was confirmed that the strategy of isolation has failed; it was confirmed that there is no solution to the war between Russia and Ukraine on the military front; only diplomatic efforts can lead to a solution, Orban stated. Hungary welcomes the steps taken in the Trump-Putin talks and supports the continuation of the negotiation process, particularly with regard to a second Trump-Putin meeting. We are keeping the Hungarian initiative on the agenda so that the Union proposes a Europe-Russia summit as soon as possible, the prime minister concluded.

3:28 PM | August 19

Costa: Now we need to accelerate the work on guarantees in Kiev.

Sincere appreciation was expressed to the European leaders who participated in the meeting in Washington. Thanks to their excellent teamwork, European interests were represented. European Council President Antonio Costa said this at the end of the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and EU leaders, both held remotely. Work must now be accelerated to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, in line with NATO's Article 5, and the Coalition of the Willing must be closely involved in the process.

2:28 PM | August 19

Trump rules out sending American troops to Ukraine

Donald Trump rules out sending American troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees. In an interview with Fox, he assured,"You have my word," adding that the United States could provide security guarantees to Ukraine through air support.

2:27 PM | August 19

Trump: It's possible that Putin doesn't want an agreement, we'll see.

It's possible that Vladimir Putin doesn't want to reach an agreement. We'll learn more about Putin in the next two weeks. Donald Trump said this in an interview with Fox, emphasizing that the relationship with Putin is only important if we can get things done.

2:25 PM | August 19

Trump: France, Great Britain, and Germany want troops in Ukraine

Ukraine will not be a member of NATO. Donald Trump reiterated this in an interview with Fox, responding to a question about security guarantees for Ukraine. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom want troops on the ground in Ukraine, he added.

2:21 PM | August 19

Trump: Let Putin and Zelensky decide, let's let them see each other

Let Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky meet first: they are the ones who must make the decisions. Donald Trump said this in an interview with Fox, criticizing Barack Obama for giving in on Crimea.

2:15 PM | August 19

British military chief visits US to discuss security guarantees

The head of the British Armed Forces is traveling to the United States today for in-depth talks on American involvement in security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement. BBC News reports that Prime Minister Keir Starmer has tasked Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Tony Radakin, with finalizing the measures to protect Kiev with its major ally, the United States.

2:14 PM | August 19

Trump: I hope Putin is good, otherwise the situation will be tough.

I hope Putin is good, otherwise the situation will be tough. Zelensky must also show flexibility. Donald Trump said this in an interview with Fox.

1:42 PM | August 19

Cassis: Putin will be granted immunity if he comes to Switzerland for peace.

Switzerland will offer immunity to Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite his indictment by the International Criminal Court, on the condition that he appear for a peace conference. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis made the announcement during a press briefing in Bern with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Last year, Cassis noted, the federal government defined the rules for granting immunity to a person subject to an international arrest warrant. This applies only to that person appearing for a peace conference, not for private reasons.

1:40 PM | August 19

The European Council's video conference on the US summit begins

The video conference with members of the European Council for an update on the talks regarding Ukraine began a few minutes ago, according to a post on social media by European Council President Antonio Costa, who had called the meeting to discuss the outcome of yesterday's summit at the White House. The EU firmly supports the Ukrainian people and President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukraine has been, and will remain, at the heart of the leaders' agenda in the weeks and months ahead, as we continue to support efforts for a just and lasting peace, Costa added, emphasizing that as a first step, Russia must immediately end the violence.

12:10 PM | August 19

Lavrov: We do not reject either bilateral or trilateral talks.

Russia does not reject any format for negotiations on Ukraine, neither bilateral nor trilateral, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in statements reported by Russian media today, regarding the possibility of holding a summit that would bring Presidents Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, and subsequently Donald Trump into direct confrontation.

11:47 AM | August 19

Zelensky: We are working on the concrete content of security guarantees.

There will be security guarantees. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated this in a post on X, the day after the Washington summit with Donald Trump and European leaders. Important talks were held yesterday in Washington between the US President and European leaders. This was a truly significant step towards ending the war and ensuring the security of Ukraine and our people," he wrote."We are already working on the concrete content of the security guarantees. Today, we are continuing coordination at the leader level. Discussions will take place and we are preparing the relevant formats. We will continue working tomorrow. The national security advisers are also now in constant contact.

11:47 AM | August 19

Moscow, we don't want territories but Russian-speaking protection

Russia has never sought to simply conquer territories in Ukraine, be it Crimea, Donbass, or Novorossiya. Its goal is to protect the Russians who have historically lived in these lands. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated this the day after the White House summit, where, according to Donald Trump, possible territorial swaps were also discussed. I would like to emphasize once again that we never talked about simply conquering territories. Neither Crimea, nor Donbass, nor Novorossiya as territories were ever our goal. Our goal was to protect the people, the Russian people, who have lived on these lands for centuries, who discovered these lands, shed blood for them both in Crimea and Donbass, created cities like Odessa, Nikolaev, and many others, ports, factories, and plants, the minister stated, as reported by RIA Novosti.

11:45 AM | August 19

Lavrov: Trump wants a long-term outcome

At the meeting between Russian and American leaders Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska on August 15, it was clear that the American president's team sincerely wants to achieve a long-term, sustainable, and reliable outcome in Ukraine. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview with Rossiya 24. The Russian diplomat then described the atmosphere at the summit on American soil as positive.

11:22 AM | August 19

Zelensky: I had the best conversation with Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking to Donald Trump at the White House, said he and Trump had had the best of their discussions in trying to find a solution to the war in his country."I think we had a great conversation with President Trump, it was truly the best—well, sorry, maybe the best will happen in the future."

11:04 AM | August 19

Starmer and Macron chair the meeting of the willing, scheduled for today, after the US talks

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron will chair a virtual meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing this morning following talks at the White House. The meeting will focus on security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace process discussed in Washington by US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, along with European leaders. The meeting will begin at 12:15 p.m. Following this, at 1 p.m., there will be a video conference organized by European Council President Antonio Costa to inform all European Council members of the discussions held in Washington yesterday.

10:53 AM | August 19

Medvedev: Coalition of the Willing Fails, Kneels Before Trump

The coalition of the willing has failed. Dmitry Medvedev, vice chairman of the Russian Security Council and former president, stated this in his remarks on yesterday's summit on Ukraine in Washington, which he described as a defeat for European leaders in their confrontation with US President Donald Trump. The anti-Russian, warmongering coalition of the willing failed to prevail over Trump. Europe thanked him and bowed before him, he wrote on X.

Medvedev added that it now remains to be seen how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will express himself once he returns home regarding security guarantees and territories.

10:33 AM | August 19

Tajani: Geneva to host Putin-Zelensky talks? Italy supports it.

Geneva could be the right venue for the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. Italy supports the meeting in Geneva because it is a country that has always worked to build peace, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated this, speaking to journalists upon his arrival in Bern. Rome would also have been an ideal venue, desired by the Americans, Ukrainians, and others, but there is the issue of the International Criminal Court, so it would have been more complicated. I believe Geneva could be the best venue; Italy is in favor of it, and I will also tell Minister Cassis this today, Tajani said, referring to the arrest warrant issued against Putin.

10:23 AM | August 19

WSJ: Zelensky considers proportional territory swap

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly been open to the possibility of considering a potential"proportional" land swap with Moscow, according to the Wall Street Journal. Zelensky, according to WSJ sources, did not reject the land swap during negotiations, but emphasized the difficulties involved. Indeed, for Kiev, the main obstacle would be relocating the population, in addition to the need to lift Ukraine's constitutional ban on ceding territory, officials told the WSJ. According to the WSJ, European leaders have tried to explain to President Trump what the loss of territories claimed by Russia would mean for Ukraine. Chancellor Friedrich Merz compared the loss of Donbas to the loss of Florida for the United States.

9:58 AM | August 19

Macron: Putin is an ogre who must eat to survive

President Vladimir Putin is a predator, an ogre on our doorstep who must continue to eat for his own survival. This was stated by French President Emmanuel Macron in an interview with LCI broadcaster, broadcast a few hours after the White House summit with Presidents Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, and several European leaders.

Macron urged Europeans not to be naive about Russia, which will be a lasting destabilizing force. Since 2007-2008 (the Russian intervention in Georgia, ed.), President Putin has rarely kept his promises. He has consistently been a destabilizing force. And he has tried to rethink borders to extend his power, the French president stressed.

The Elysée president also believes that Russia has permanently become a destabilizing force and a potential threat to many of us. A country that invests 40% of its budget in such equipment, which has mobilized an army of over 1.3 million men, will not return to a state of peace and an open democratic system overnight, Macron warned.

So, even for his own survival, he (Putin) must continue to eat. That's it. And so he is a predator, he is an ogre at our doorstep. I'm not saying that France will be attacked tomorrow, but he is a threat to Europeans (...). We must not be naive, the French head of state insisted.

In another interview with the American network NBC News, given after the meeting at the White House, Macron made no secret of not sharing Trump's optimism about the possibility of reaching a peace agreement."When I consider the situation and the facts, I don't believe President Putin wants peace at this time, but perhaps I'm too pessimistic," the French president said.

9:47 AM | August 19

China: Support for all efforts for Russia-Ukraine peace

China supports all efforts for peace between Russia and Ukraine, following the Washington summit held at the White House that indicated a possible face-to-face meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin

and Volodymyr Zelensky in the coming weeks. China still believes that dialogue and negotiation are the only solution to the Ukrainian crisis, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at the daily briefing, adding that Beijing supports all efforts to contribute to peace.

9:46 AM | August 19

Tajani, the only one who can talk about Donbass and Crimea is Zelensky

The only one who can speak about Donbass and Crimea is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky:"No agreements can be made over his head. We are at his side." Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated this in an interview with Il Giornale. The minister considered the meeting between the presidents of the United States and Russia, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, last Friday in Anchorage, Alaska, as a step forward. A dialogue was initiated that led to the bilateral meeting in Washington. But there is light at the end of a very long tunnel, and the Trump-Putin confrontation is not conclusive. The Ukrainian president cannot give in to all the Russian's demands, Tajani explained.

9:45 AM | August 19

Kremlin: Putin and Trump in close contact

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump agreed during their telephone conversation to remain in close contact on Ukraine and other pressing issues on the international and bilateral agenda, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov stated. It is worth noting that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump agreed to continue maintaining close contact on the Ukrainian issue and other important issues on the international and bilateral agenda, Ushakov told reporters. The Russian president reiterated the importance of Donald Trump's personal efforts to find solutions that will lead to a long-term solution in Ukraine, he said. The conversation was frank and quite constructive, Ushakov said.

President Trump called President Putin to inform him of his talks with Vladimir Zelensky and the leaders of several European countries. The conversation lasted about 40 minutes. During the call, Putin warmly thanked his US counterpart for the hospitality and good organization of the Alaska summit and for the progress made in talks toward a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis.

Trump, in turn, informed Putin of the negotiations with Zelensky and the leaders of several European countries, which had just concluded at the White House. Yesterday, Trump met with Zelensky in Washington. Later, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte joined the conversation.

9:41 AM | August 19

Putin's wait and his men's warnings: NATO countries must not reach a dangerous abyss.

by Marco Imarisio

​

​The Tsar meets with Modi, Lula, and the South African president. The media are accusing European warmongers. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova slams London: it's pushing its allies into global conflict. Read the full article here.

9:40 AM | August 19

The deal on tariffs and military spending: how Europe convinced Trump to protect Kiev

by Federico Rampini

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​On the one hand, European friends and the new willingness to support them in defending Ukraine. On the other, the Putin unknown: it's unclear to what extent the tsar has changed his position. Read the full article here.

Off-camera at the White House, Trump whispers to Macron: Putin wants to make a deal for me, it's crazy

9:38 AM | August 19

From Donbass to Zaporizhia: What are the disputed regions and what is the current situation?

by Lorenzo Cremonesi

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​ Three Ukrainian areas partially or totally occupied by the Russians are currently under negotiation. The Ukrainians are also bringing Crimea, lost in 2014, to the table, but in reality the American administration almost never mentions it. The Russians also have soldiers in 1 percent of the Sumy region and 5 percent of Kharkiv.

​Read the full article here

9:37 AM | August 19

Giorgia Meloni mediates with Trump on Ukraine. She thanks America, but insists Europe has a role to play.

She didn't know what the format of her press statements would be, but she was ready for anything. Giorgia Meloni was aware that the key topic to be discussed on this crucial day would be the security and defense of Ukraine, should a trilateral meeting to begin the peace process ever be reached. And so, at the large table where she sat to the left of Donald Trump, while to the right of the US president sat Emmanuel Macron, her great ally-cum-adversary for leadership, or at least the place that counts among Europe's greats, she laid out her position. ​Read the full article here

9:35 AM | August 19

Zelensky's look, Trump's gags: this is how the climate has changed. The US leader to Merz:"You look great with that tan."

by Viviana Mazza

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​Volodymyr showed up elegantly and joked with Donald Trump and the journalists about his clothes and the election. Then came the US president's string of compliments to European leaders. Read the full article here

A brief remark about Zelensky's black suit. The journalist who attacked him said:"He looks great in that suit." He replied: "You haven't changed."

9:31 AM | August 19

Macron proposes Switzerland as the venue for talks between Zelensky and Putin

French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested Geneva, Switzerland, as a possible venue for a bilateral meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. US President Donald Trump had a phone call with his Russian counterpart yesterday, during talks at the White House with Zelensky and European leaders. Putin reportedly said he was ready to meet Zelensky in the next two weeks."We have decided on a bilateral meeting between the two presidents, then a trilateral meeting (with Trump), and finally a multilateral meeting where Europeans must be present," Macron confirmed."Such a meeting could take place in Europe," the French president added, adding that it's more than a hypothesis; it's the collective will. Macron ruled out holding this summit in France, as happened with the Zelensky-Putin meeting in 2019, but instead suggested a neutral country."Perhaps Switzerland. I'm recommending Geneva," the French president stated. Or another country: the last time there were bilateral talks was in Istanbul, Macron added.