US President Donald Trump will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on Monday. The meeting comes days after Trump’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump suggested Zelenskyy could end the war by accepting Russia’s hold on Crimea and the Donbas region. Ukraine rejects giving up land, as its constitution forbids it. European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and Giorgia Meloni, will also attend. They want security guarantees for Ukraine against Russian aggression. Meanwhile, Russian strikes killed 6 civilians in Kharkiv, including 2 children, showing the war’s ongoing cost. Ukraine still defends 80% of its land. (PC: NDTV)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced Russia’s latest strikes as “demonstrative and cynical” after missiles hit Kharkiv, killing seven people, including a young child. The assaults also struck Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Odesa, leaving at least three more dead and over 20 injured. “These strikes are deliberate attacks on civilians meant to intimidate us,” Zelenskyy said, urging stronger global support. The escalation comes just before his White House talks with US President Donald Trump and European leaders, a meeting seen as pivotal for Ukraine’s future. While Trump said peace was “possible,” he ruled out NATO membership and the return of Crimea. (PC: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump urged Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept a peace deal with Russia, saying he could end the war “almost immediately.” Trump ruled out Ukraine joining NATO and dismissed any chance of reclaiming Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014. He said “some things never change,” pointing to the Obama-era loss of Crimea. Trump is set to host Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington after talks with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. His envoy claimed Putin agreed to US-backed security guarantees for Ukraine, but Kyiv rejected Russia’s demand to cede Donetsk in exchange for freezing front lines. (PC: Reuters)

Ukraine faces new pressure as reports say Donald Trump may urge President Volodymyr Zelensky to hand over Donbas to Russia in exchange for peace. Putin proposed Ukraine surrender Donetsk and Luhansk, much of which is already under Russian control. Ukrainians fear this would be a betrayal, leaving millions displaced and their homeland lost. Historian Yaroslav Hrytsak called it a “tragedy,” while many residents near the front lines feel abandoned. Polls show 75% of Ukrainians oppose giving land to Russia. Zelensky insists Ukraine will not concede territory, but the demand leaves the nation divided between land and lives. (PC: BBC)

Three people were killed and eight others injured in a shooting at a New York City nightclub early Sunday morning. The incident happened at the Taste of the City Lounge in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, around 3:30 a.m. Police said a dispute led to gunfire from multiple weapons. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed 36 shell casings were found and one gun was recovered nearby. The victims, aged 27 to 61, included eight men and three women. Their injuries are not life-threatening. Police are still investigating. Despite this attack, officials said New York is seeing record low levels of gun violence this year. (PC: NDTV)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to let Ukraine receive NATO-style security guarantees, US envoy Steve Witkoff said after the Alaska summit with Donald Trump. Witkoff called the move “game-changing,” noting it was the first time Putin accepted the idea. Article 5-like protection would allow allies to defend Ukraine if attacked. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the step but stressed guarantees must cover land, air, and sea with Europe’s role included. EU leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen and Emmanuel Macron, will join Zelenskyy for talks in Washington. Trump is expected to push Kyiv toward a peace deal with Moscow. (PC: AP/Reuters)

US President Donald Trump said there is “big progress” with Russia after his Alaska meeting with Vladimir Putin. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed hopes of a US-Russia-Ukraine trilateral summit, saying Moscow shows “no signs” of agreeing. At a press conference in Brussels, Zelenskyy called for “real negotiations” but rejected Putin’s reported offer to halt fighting in return for Ukraine ceding Donetsk. Trump conveyed the proposal to Kyiv but Zelenskyy refused, stressing more sanctions should follow if Russia resists talks. Trump said peace talks could move ahead without a ceasefire, a stance Ukraine and allies have long opposed. (PC: News18)

A video of Russian President Vladimir Putin during his Alaska meeting with US President Donald Trump has gone viral. In the clip, Putin’s legs appear shaky as he dips one knee and raises his toe repeatedly while speaking to Trump. The unusual movement sparked a flood of online rumours. Some social media users suggested Putin might be hiding health problems. Others speculated he was wearing hidden shoe lifts or even using an exoskeleton. A few claimed it was not Putin at all, but a body double. The Kremlin has not responded to the viral video or the growing conspiracy theories.

US President Donald Trump declared via social media, “BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED!” following his Alaska summit with President Putin, signaling diplomatic momentum though no formal deal was struck . His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, revealed that both leaders agreed on “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine, calling them “game-changing” . However, the proposal reportedly includes Ukraine ceding the Donbas region—an idea met with strong opposition from Ukraine and Western leaders . Meanwhile, European and NATO figures—including von der Leyen, Macron, Meloni, Merz, and Rutte—will join Zelenskyy in his upcoming Washington meeting with Trump to ensure Kyiv is not sidelined. (PC: The Times of India)

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House on Monday for high-stakes talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. Starmer joins a delegation including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. The summit aims to counter Trump’s proposal to bypass a ceasefire and endorse territorial concessions in Ukraine—specifically ceding Donbas—to Russia. European leaders stress the necessity of security guarantees for Ukraine and insist that any peace deal must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and be made with its full involvement. (PC: BBC)