Trump and Zelensky will meet in Washington this evening. After the face-to-face meeting, the multilateral summit will also include European leaders Meloni, Macron, Merz, Starmer, Stubb, Rutte, and von der Leyen. Zelensky deserves compliments for his style.

• Today, Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet at the White House. The US has also extended an invitation to European leaders: Giorgia Meloni will be there, along with French President Macron, German Chancellor Merz, British Prime Minister Starmer and Finnish Prime Minister Stubb, European Commission President von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Rutte.

7:48 PM | August 18

Trump: I'll call Putin after meeting with Zelensky, wait for my call

I'll call Putin after the meeting with Zelensky. Expect my call. The US president said this in the Oval Office.

7:47 PM | August 18

Zelensky: Ukraine's rearmament is part of security guarantees

We now have the ability to purchase weapons from the United States: allowing the Ukrainian army to rearm is part of the security guarantees, Zelensky stated in the Oval Office. No one in Europe has so many air defenses, but this is also part of our defense, he concluded.

7:44 PM | August 18

Trump: A ceasefire is useless, the war will end

US President Donald Trump reiterated that a ceasefire is unnecessary in Ukraine and that the goal is a truly lasting peace."I can't say when, but this war will end," he added, speaking from the Oval Office before his summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

7:43 PM | August 18

Trump: Europe is the first line of defense, we will help

When it comes to security, Europe is Ukraine's first line of defense because they are there. But we will also help them, we will be involved. Donald Trump said this in the Oval Office.

7:37 PM | August 18

Trump: We're selling the weapons, not donating them.

As for the weapons to Kiev, we're not donating them, but we're selling them to NATO. They're paying us. I think we're talking about $300-350 billion in equipment. Trump said this in the Oval Office.

7:34 PM | August 18

Trump: We will have a lasting peace, I hope soon

We will have lasting peace in Ukraine, I hope soon. Donald Trump said this in the Oval Office, without however answering a question about the possible transfer of Ukrainian territory to Russia. The war will end, I cannot say when, but it will end: I am confident we will resolve it, Trump said, emphasizing that the whole world will be happy when the end is announced.

7:30 PM | August 18

Trump: Zelensky looks fantastic in this suit

The US president considers Zelensky's look appropriate, as he chose an all-black look for this meeting, with a jacket and shirt, but no tie.

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Zelensky jokes about his change of outfit, a jacket and shirt today instead of his usual military uniform, mocking the journalist who criticized him for his outfit in February."I changed, you're still dressed the same," the Ukrainian leader told Biran Glenn, who this time complimented him."President, you look great," he told him.

7:25 PM | August 18

Trump: Everyone wants this war to end. Security guarantees? We'll talk to our partners and see.

I've ended six wars, but this one is complex. Trump said this at the White House, with Zelensky at his side. And again:"Everyone wants this war to end. Security guarantees? We'll discuss it with our partners and see."

7:21 PM | August 18

Trump: My message to Kiev? I love the Ukrainian people.

I love them. This is how Donald Trump, welcoming Volodymr Zelezniki to the White House, responded to reporters who asked him what his message was for the Ukrainian people.

7:19 PM | August 18

The confrontation between Trump and Zelensky begins, the letter for Melania

At the beginning of the meeting, the Ukrainian president handed Trump a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska, to Melania Trump.

Because Melania Trump had previously sent a letter to Putin regarding the Ukrainian children. In the letter, the US first lady implored Putin to protect the children because she had listened intensely to testimonies about the plight of Ukrainian children, having seen things we wouldn't want to see in the media, and she has a great love for children.

7:15 PM | August 18

Zelensky arrived at the White House welcomed by Trump

Washington Summit: Donald Trump Welcomes Zelensky to the White House

7:06 PM|

Zakharova: NATO troop deployment unacceptable

Russia has reiterated its firm rejection of any scenario involving the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine. This is unacceptable and would lead to an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict, with unpredictable consequences, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, while a White House summit is expected shortly between European leaders and the presidents of the United States and Ukraine, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.

6:55 PM | August 18

Macron is the last EU leader to arrive at the White House, while Zelensky is expected.

French President Emmanuel Macron was the last European leader to arrive at the White House, where a multilateral summit will take place today with the presidents of the United States and Ukraine, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived shortly before him. Zelensky, who will have a bilateral meeting with Trump before the summit, is expected to arrive shortly.

6:45 PM | August 18

Zelensky: Coordinate positions with European leaders

Our primary goal is a reliable and lasting peace for Ukraine and for all of Europe. And it is important that the momentum of all our meetings leads to precisely this result. We know that we must not expect Putin to voluntarily abandon aggression and new attempts at conquest. That is why pressure must be effective, and it must be joint: from the United States and Europe, and from everyone in the world who respects the right to life and international order. Ukrainian President Zelensky wrote this, publishing a video of the meeting with European leaders.

We must stop the killings, and I thank our partners who are working towards this. Together with the leaders of Finland, the United Kingdom, Italy, the European Commission, and NATO, we have coordinated our positions ahead of the meeting with President Trump. Ukraine is ready for a real truce and the establishment of a new security architecture. We need peace.

6:34 PM | August 18

Alarm sirens sound in Kiev ahead of talks in Washington

Air raid sirens sounded in Kiev ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's anticipated meeting with US President Donald Trump and European leaders in Washington, AFP journalists on the scene reported.

6:26 PM | August 18

Meloni has just arrived at the White House

6:22 PM | August 18

European leaders are arriving at the White House

The seven European leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, are arriving at the White House for a meeting with Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. The first to arrive was NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Macron, Starmer, Merz, von der Leyen, Stubb, and Rutte were greeted with a red carpet and a military honor guard on the South Lawn of the White House. The Ukrainian leader, who will meet the US president in a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office in about an hour, will arrive through a different entrance, on the west side of the residence.

Washington: Meloni and other European leaders arrive at the White House

6:15 PM | August 18

Rutte is the first to arrive at the White House

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was the first to arrive at the White House for the summit with Trump, Zelensky, and European leaders. He was followed by Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Starmer a few minutes later.

In the Oval Office with Trump and Zelensky Vance, Rubio and Witkoff

The White House announced that five officials will accompany Donald Trump to the meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. They are Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Special Envoy Keith Kellogg. Zelensky will be accompanied by Andriy Yermak, his chief of staff, and Rustem Umerov, former defense minister and now head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.

5:07 PM | August 18

Costa: European Council video conference tomorrow at 1 p.m.

I have convened a video conference with the members of the European Council for tomorrow at 1:00 PM CEST, to debrief today's meetings in Washington, DC, on Ukraine. Together with the United States, the EU will continue to work for a lasting peace that protects the vital security interests of Ukraine and Europe. This was announced by European Council President Antonio Costa.

4:56 PM | August 18

Meloni: There are no easy solutions, we must explore them all.

There are no easy solutions. I believe we must explore all possible solutions to ensure peace and security for our nations. This was stated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Washington for the meeting with European leaders, and Volodymyr Zelensky with Donald Trump, emphasizing that the work we will do today is important. He added:"Italy is here, as it has always been in these three and a half years. We stand with Ukraine, we support the US President's peace efforts, and we were invited to contribute our diplomatic proposals."

Meloni: Important day, opening up opportunities for dialogue

4:53 PM | August 18

Russian general seriously wounded in Kursk raid

Russian General Esedulla Abachev, deputy commander of the Northern Military Group, was seriously wounded on the frontline in Ukraine and has been transferred to one of Russia's best hospitals, where his condition is deemed stable. Abchev, 57, has been on the front lines since the beginning of the war, explained Sergei Melikov, the governor of Dagestan, the region where the senior officer is from. Despite holding important command positions, he has always been at the front, he added. According to Ukrainian military services, Abachev had his leg and arm amputated after being shot in a raid on a Russian military convoy on a Kursk highway.

4:29 PM | August 18

Zelensky: Ten killed in Russian airstrikes, Putin humiliates peace

The Russian war machine continues to destroy lives, despite everything. Putin will commit demonstrative and cynical killings to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe and to undermine diplomatic efforts: this is what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram—quoted by various media outlets, including the BBC—condemning last night's Russian strikes on his country, which killed at least 10 people between Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia. According to Zelensky, who will meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House today on peace issues, Russia should not be rewarded for its war against his country.

4:22 PM | August 18

Trump: I know exactly what I'm doing on Russia-Ukraine

I know exactly what I'm doing with Russia and Ukraine: I'm here to end the war, Donald Trump says on his Social Truth."I've resolved six wars in six months, one of which was a potential nuclear disaster, yet I have to read and listen to the Wall Street Journal and many others tell me everything I'm doing wrong in the Russia-Ukraine mess. This is Biden's war, and it would never have happened if I were president. I know exactly what I'm doing, and I don't need the advice of people who have worked on these conflicts for years and have been unable to resolve them," Trump said.

4:21 PM | August 18

Zelensky: Russia can only be stopped by force, and Trump has it.

Russia can only be forced into peace by force, and President Trump has that power. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote this on social media after a meeting in Washington with US envoy Keith Kellogg. Zelensky added that Russian attacks on our cities continued overnight: two children were among the dead and dozens injured. People were simply sleeping when the Russian military launched attacks on cities.

3:39 PM | August 18

Media, Vance will also attend the Trump-Zelensky meeting

J.D. Vance will also attend the bilateral meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House today. Abcnews reports this, citing a source familiar with the summit's agenda and recalling how the vice president played a role in sparking the famous Oval Office clash last February, when he rebuked Zelensky on live television for his ingratitude toward America.

3:32 PM | August 18

Media, Zelensky meets Kellogg before the summit with Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting with US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg ahead of his summit with Donald Trump and European leaders at the White House. The website Ukrinform reported, specifying that the meeting is taking place at the Hay-Adams Hotel. Kellogg, as confirmed by informed sources at the scene, entered the hotel where the Ukrainian president was staying about 15-20 minutes before 9 a.m. (3 p.m. GMT).

3:26 PM | August 18

Starmer: The war in Ukraine must end, but with a just peace.

Everyone wants the war in Ukraine to end, but a just and lasting peace is needed. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said this in a video recorded during his flight to Washington ahead of today's crucial White House summit. It's in the UK's interest to get things right, the Labour prime minister added, recalling the suffering endured by Ukrainians in the long conflict and the consequences for the rest of Europe.

Starmer: The war must end with a just and lasting peace

3:25 PM | August 18

Meloni warns her allies: Trump must be accompanied. She duels with Macron over troops: Russia has 1.3 million, how many should we send?

by Paola Di Caro

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​First she flew to Rome, to connect to the video call of the Volenterosi and develop a common line to be presented today at the White House when the major European leaders, EU President von der Leyen, NATO chief Rutte will meet Trump and Zelensky. Then in the evening Giorgia Meloni — always hanging on the phone — headed to Washington.



No one can predict whether a real step forward will be made. Surely the intention is not to repeat the scene of six months ago, when Trump metaphorically slapped Zelensky in front of the cameras, in an epic clash. So much so, they say, that the real sticking point of last night's talks between the leaders was precisely the format of the statements to the press. The White House had considered brief communications from Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office immediately after the face-to-face meeting. But the feared risk—as Meloni explained to her allies—is that everything could turn into a Trump-led takeover, which would end up silencing Zelensky and all the leaders, or a dangerous overlapping of voices and positions. Therefore, there is strong pressure on Trump to instead adopt a more institutional model, like in Alaska: statements from both presidents without the possibility of questions, at the end of the day. ​​Read the full article here

3:17 PM | August 18

Trump: It's a great day, let's see what the results are.

A great day at the White House. We've never had so many European leaders at the same time. A great honor for America. Let's see what the results will be. Donald Trump said this on his social media account

Truth.

3:16 PM | August 18

Preparatory meeting between EU leaders and Zelensky on the agenda

The European Union leaders attending today's summit in Washington will also attend a preparatory meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This is according to the latter's agenda, where the relevant meeting appears. Immediately below it is a link to the summit, which will also include US President Donald Trump.

3:16 PM | August 18

Macron's role (trying to keep the course): Kiev needs concrete help on the ground, NATO's Article 5 is not enough

by Alessandra Coppola, correspondent in Paris

Do I think Putin wants peace? The answer is no: I think he wants Ukraine's capitulation. With this firm mistrust, President Emmanuel Macron is in Washington to accompany, along with his other European colleagues, Kievan leader Volodymyr Zelensky to Donald Trump. The Elysée takes it as true that the Americans are seeking an agreement, although behind the scenes it considers US diplomacy as fickle like a drunken boat (from the poem by Rimbaud). After all, the head of the White House had left for Alaska promising a ceasefire and returned to base convinced of the need for a global agreement. Putin's line.

Now the role Macron has given himself is to hold the helm. With a leading role, of course, as the Italians suspect. But also with the sincere, solid conviction that we are in the hour of predators, from East to West (like the title of the book by Giuliano da Empoli that the president has read and variously cited).

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3:15 PM | August 18

Zelensky's last (terrible) appearance in the Oval Office, amidst shouting and humiliation. Then, a photo op at the Vatican.

by Monica Ricci Sargentini

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​Everyone imagined it would be a difficult meeting, but no one could have predicted that terrible epilogue with the Ukrainian president forced to leave the White House while Trump shouts at him: You don't have the cards. A drama that unfolds live on TV, leaving the world stunned, with the nightmare of a third world war in the background.

That morning, February 28, while he was driving to the White House, Volodymyr Zelensky kept repeating to himself how vital the support of the United States was and that he should do his best to ensure it. Of course, Trump had already attacked him personally, calling him an unpopular dictator who caused the war, making him look like the aggressor who doesn't hesitate to exploit the somewhat foolish generosity of his allies. But the Ukrainian leader reassured everyone on February 23: Trump hasn't been nice to me, but I don't take it personally; there's much more at stake. His visit to the White House is a last-ditch attempt to avoid being left speechless in the face of direct US-Russia negotiations that exclude him.

3:15 PM | August 18

The White House asked if Zelensky would wear a suit

The White House has asked Ukrainian officials whether Volodymyr Zelensky will wear a suit to his meeting with Donald Trump. Axios reports, citing sources. Zelensky's attire was an issue during his last White House meeting with the US president, who disliked the Ukrainian president's military style. Some administration officials then believed the suit issue had somehow contributed to the outcome of the meeting, which ended in a clash in the Oval Office.

August 18, 3:13 PM - Updated August 18, 8:06 PM