Trump emphasized his 'love' for the Ukrainian people and his commitment to provide security guarantees for Kyiv in an ultimate peace settlement with Russia.

Talks would come “step by step, gradually, starting from the expert level and then going through all the necessary stages,” says Russia’s foot-dragging foreign minister.

President Trump had suggested a meeting between Russia and Ukraine’s leaders could be a potential next step on the path to peace, but Russian state news media barely mentioned such a meeting in its coverage.

Russia pledges to end its invasion against nebulous guarantees of the sort we’ve heard before.

MOSCOW/KYIV >> Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will meet in the coming days, the Kremlin said today, as the U.S. president seeks a breakthrough to end the Ukraine war after voicing mounting frustration with his Russian counterpart and threatening him with new sanctions.

Russia said that President Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed continuing negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv but the Kremlin didn't commit to a leaders meeting. "The president

Donetsk by October? They’ve been saying that since February of ‘22,” an American serving in the Ukrainian Armed Services said.

In Alaska, President Vladimir Putin walked on a red carpet, shook hands and exchanged smiles with his American counterpart. Donald Trump ended the summit praising their relationship and calling Russia “a big power