Published on, Aug. 17 -- August 17, 2025 12:25 PM

Trump informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Putin insisted on Ukraine ceding Donetsk, where Russia already controls about 75% of the area. Trump said a ceasefire would not hold and claimed a permanent peace agreement was the only solution. He plans to meet Zelenskiy in Washington on Monday to discuss next steps and possibly prepare for a second meeting with Putin.

Putin, who hasn't backed down from long-held demands, gained a symbolic win by simply sitting down with Trump after years of Western isolation. Trump said both leaders had "largely agreed" on security guarantees and land discussions, but final approval depended on Ukraine. "Gotta make a deal," Trump advised, add...