>>>513352902 (cont'd)
United States
>>> President Donald Trump said the war in Ukraine “will end sooner than everyone thinks,” but warned it may not happen in the way allies expect, alarming Kyiv and European capitals.
>>> Trump claimed “big progress on Russia” after his Alaska meeting with Putin, dismissing criticism as “Fake News” and calling the war “Biden’s stupid war.”
>>> Trump will first hold a private meeting with Zelensky in Washington, with European leaders joining later for a working dinner, according to Bild.
>>> Axios reported Trump is considering a trilateral summit with Ukraine and Russia as early as August 22.
>>> Trump reposted a message that Ukraine must cede territory or risk losing more land, further raising concerns about his position.
>>> U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared the United States will never support handing Donbas to Russia as part of a peace deal.
>>> Rubio stressed that Ukraine has the right to secure international security guarantees with partners, reaffirming Washington’s backing.
>>> Rubio noted sanctions are hitting Russia so hard that Putin’s plane had to be refueled with cash, symbolizing Moscow’s financial crisis.
>>> U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham suggested Trump consider a China-mediated scenario to pressure Russia into peace.
>>> U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN that Trump and Putin discussed robust guarantees for Ukraine, potentially similar to NATO’s Article 5.