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Trump, Zelensky, and European Leaders Meet at White House as NATO Chief Hails “Breakthrough” on Ukraine Peace Talks

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In a high-stakes day of diplomacy at the White House, President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a delegation of European leaders for talks aimed at securing a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described Trump’s offer of U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine as a “breakthrough” moment, saying it could pave the way toward a lasting settlement.

“The fact that you have said, ‘I am willing to participate in the security guarantees,’ is a big step. It’s really a breakthrough, and it makes all the difference,” Rutte told Trump during a multilateral meeting alongside Zelensky and European leaders. He also credited the American president with “breaking the deadlock” and drawing Russian President Vladimir Putin into peace negotiations.

Trump Hints at U.S. Troop Role

Earlier in the Oval Office, Trump left the door open to sending American troops to Ukraine to help enforce a potential agreement. “We’ll let you know that, maybe later today,” he said when asked whether U.S. forces could be deployed.

The U.S. president suggested that negotiations are moving quickly: “I have a feeling you and President Putin are going to work something out. Ultimately, this is a decision that can only be made by President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine, working in agreement with President Putin.”

Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, explained that Washington’s proposed commitments could amount to “Article 5-like protections,” a reference to NATO’s collective defense clause. Such guarantees, he said, would deter future Russian aggression without granting Ukraine formal NATO membership — a long-standing red line for Moscow.

Zelensky Praises “Very Good Conversation”

For his part, Zelensky signaled cautious optimism. “I think that we had a very good conversation with President Trump,” he told reporters, adding that they discussed security guarantees, humanitarian concerns, and abducted Ukrainian children. “We will come to a resolution today, I think, on almost everything, including probably the security.”

He also reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to consider a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin if Russia agrees.

Europe Pushes for a Bigger Role

French President Emmanuel Macron, also present in Washington, argued that Europe should be directly represented in any future negotiations. “When we speak about security guarantees, we speak about the whole security of the European continent,” Macron said, suggesting a quadrilateral format for talks.

While Trump appears intent on pursuing a direct arrangement with Putin and Zelensky, Macron’s comments reflect Europe’s deep concerns about being sidelined in discussions that could reshape the continent’s security order.

A Crucial Test for Trump’s Diplomacy

Analysts caution that Trump’s next steps will be decisive. After meeting Putin last week and placing responsibility on Zelensky to seek compromise, Trump now faces the delicate task of balancing Kyiv’s survival with Moscow’s demands.

Ukraine insists on maintaining sovereignty and strengthening its military after the war, while Putin seeks to cement territorial gains and limit Ukraine’s ties to the West. For Trump, the prize is a swift peace deal he can claim as a political victory.

Whether the U.S. president can keep all sides at the table long enough to bridge these divides remains uncertain. But for now, NATO’s chief says the American commitment has already changed the calculus.

“This is a breakthrough,” Rutte said. “And it makes all the difference.”

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Putin Backs Trump’s Claim Ukraine War Wouldn’t Have Happened if He Won, as Trump Says Xi Vowed No Taiwan Invasion Under His Presidency

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By Fox News. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he agreed with Donald Trump’s claim that the war in Ukraine would not have ever even begun if he had not lost the 2020 election and was serving as president when the carnage began, instead of former President Joe Biden.

“I can confirm that,” Putin said at the tail-end of a press conferece that took place Friday evening after the pair met for a summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.

Trump made the assertion multiple times on the campaign trail, and continued saying it after he took back the White House. Trump has faced pushback on the claim, as well as on claims that Ukraine instigated the war’s inception and the Biden administration failed to do things that could have thwarted it from beginning in the first place.

“I’d like to add one more thing,” Putin said, as the two heads of state provided remarks to the press, according to a translation of the Russian president’s address. “I’d like to remind you that in 2022, during the last contact with a previous administration, I tried to convince my previous American colleague that the situation should not be brought to a point of no return when it would come to hostilities and I said it quite directly back then that it’s a big mistake. Today, when President Trump is saying that if he was the president back then there would be no war – I am quite sure that it would indeed be so. I can confirm that.”

Earlier in his address, Putin lamented that bilateral relations between the U.S. and Russia, prior to Trump, had “fallen to the lowest point since the Cold War,” and highlighted the fact that there have been no summits between the U.S. and Russia over the last four years. (Read more from “Putin backs Trump’s claim that the Ukraine war would not have happened if he’d won 2020 election” HERE)

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Trump reveals Xi Jinping told him China will not invade Taiwan while he’s US president

By New York Post. President Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him the People’s Republic will not invade Taiwan while Trump is in office.

Trump make the remarks during an interview Friday with Fox News’ “Special Report,” ahead of his sit-down in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

“I will tell you, you know, you have a very similar thing with President Xi of China and Taiwan, but I don’t believe there’s any way it’s going to happen as long as I’m here. We’ll see,” said Trump.

“He told me, ‘I will never do it as long as you’re president.’ President Xi told me that, and I said, ‘Well, I appreciate that,’ but he also said, ‘But I am very patient, and China is very patient.’”

Trump did not say when Xi made the comments, but both leaders in June had their first confirmed telephone call during Trump’s second term in the White House. (Read more from “Trump reveals Xi Jinping told him China will not invade Taiwan while he’s US president” HERE)

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How Trump’s Meeting With Putin Pivoted From Ukraine Cease-Fire to Full Peace Deal

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President Trump made an abrupt announcement about two hours into his private, roughly three-hour meeting with Vladimir Putin Friday — declaring he wanted a full peace deal in Ukraine rather than a cease-fire, The Post has learned.

Convinced there were relatively few matters left to resolve, and believing a truce would only prolong the war, Trump set aside his publicly stated goal of a temporary halt in fighting.

“Figuratively, the president sort of threw up his hands and said, ‘I’m not interested in a cease-fire anymore,’” a source familiar with the discussion said.

Trump expressed concern that the “focus of the cease-fire” would be on “how long the cease fire will be” and “are they going to rearm?”

The pivot yielded “no pushback from the Russians,” leading Trump to exit Anchorage without a cease-fire in hand. Instead, he dialed up Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders to see if a full peace deal was within reach.

The calls yielded a positive response, the source said, and Trump announced on social media that Zelensky would be at the White House Monday for talks. (Read more from “How Trump’s Meeting With Putin Pivoted From Ukraine Cease-Fire to Full Peace Deal” HERE)

D.C. Sues Trump Over Federal Takeover of Police Department Amid Crime Crackdown

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A new lawsuit has been filed challenging President Donald Trump’s federal oversight of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, a move he initiated amid rising violent crime and growing concerns over public safety in the District. While critics claim federal involvement is an overreach, many Americans see it as a necessary response to years of failed local leadership and soft-on-crime policies that have turned D.C. into a cautionary tale of lawlessness.

The nation’s capital is pushing back against President Trump’s assertive move to place the city’s police force under federal control. On Friday, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit challenging what he called a clear overreach of executive authority, after the Trump administration appointed a federal official to act as the emergency head of the Metropolitan Police Department, effectively stripping local officials of command. The lawsuit argues that Trump’s action exceeds the legal bounds of federal power and requests an emergency court order to block the takeover and reaffirm the District’s authority over its own police force.

Schwalb called the Trump administration’s takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department illegal, asserting that D.C. police should only follow orders from officials appointed by the Mayor. In a memo, he instructed the police chief to ignore directives from Trump’s newly appointed federal official, setting up a direct legal battle. Schwalb warned that the move is a serious threat to D.C.’s self-governance — calling it the most severe challenge to Home Rule in the city’s history — and vowed to fight it in court. (Read more from “D.C. Sues Trump Over Federal Takeover of Police Department Amid Crime Crackdown” HERE)

Hillary Clinton Says Trump Would Deserve Nobel Peace Prize If He Ends Russia-Ukraine War

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Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton acknowledged on Friday that President Donald Trump would deserve recognition if he successfully negotiates an end to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

Speaking on the “Raging Moderates” podcast with host Jessica Tarlov, Clinton said she would personally consider nominating Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize if he achieves peace without requiring Ukraine to cede territory.

“Honestly, if he could bring about the end to this terrible war, if he could end it without putting Ukraine in a position where it had to concede its territory to the aggressor, could really stand up to Putin — something we haven’t seen, but maybe this is the opportunity — if President Trump were the architect of that, I’d nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize,” Clinton said.

Clinton added that her primary goal is to prevent concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Because my goal here is to not allow capitulation to Putin, aided and abetted by the United States.” She also noted that she believes Trump “would very much like to receive a Nobel Peace Prize.”

President Trump has previously suggested that an end to the war may involve “land swapping,” which he described as having both positive and negative aspects for the countries involved. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected any proposal that would require Ukraine to give up territory, emphasizing that the nation “will not give land to the occupier.”

Clinton’s remarks have drawn reactions from political commentators. Conservative commentator David J. Harris Jr. tweeted, “Did not have this on my 2025 bingo card!” while Paul Szypula wrote, “Of course, she sets conditions that’ll never happen like Ukraine not having to give up territory. Hillary is not serious.”

Clinton’s statement marks a notable acknowledgment from a longtime political rival, highlighting the potential political significance if the Trump administration is able to facilitate a resolution to the conflict.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Trump Makes Shocking ‘Power Move’ and Flies Nuclear Bombers Over Putin’s Head at Meeting

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The power plays are underway already, as President Donald Trump had a nuclear bomber fly over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s head.

The highly anticipated meeting between Trump and Putin is finally taking place in Anchorage, Alaska, today (August 15). The pair are meeting in an attempt to broker peace amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

And so far, things have already gotten off to a bizarre start as Trump was seen going in for his trademark handshake when greeting the Russian president.

But as well as that, Putin will have also heard the famed American B-2 Bomber, as well as four F-35 fighter jets, zoom over his head after just stepping off the plane.

Taking to Twitter to share the news, one user posted a clip of it with the caption: “Trump just flew a B-2 stealth bomber over Putin’s head… Absolutely incredible.” (Read more from “Trump Makes Shocking ‘Power Move’ and Flies Nuclear Bombers Over Putin’s Head at Meeting” HERE)

Customs Busts $400M Duty-Evasion Ring Tied to China and Global Network

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has dismantled a massive duty-evasion operation designed to circumvent President Trump’s tariffs, uncovering more than $400 million in unpaid trade duties — with that number expected to climb as investigations continue, FOX Business has learned.

The bust was carried out under the Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA), a key enforcement tool used to detect and halt illegal transshipments, false origin claims, and other schemes intended to defraud the U.S. government.

“CBP’s EAPA program is a critical component of our trade enforcement efforts. We’re working tirelessly to prevent evasion and ensure a level playing field for U.S. companies,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott. “Our mission, under the leadership of President Trump, is to support economic fairness, protect domestic industry, and uphold the integrity of U.S. supply chains.”

A source said investigators deployed personnel to mattress factories in Taiwan and Indonesia — only to find no production taking place at all.

The investigation revealed that over half of the unpaid duties — roughly $250 million — came from a network of 23 Chinese shell companies. These companies repackaged goods to appear as though they originated from other Asian nations such as South Korea, Indonesia, and Vietnam, all in an effort to dodge U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD).

“Never before has CBP identified this many importers evading AD/CVD in a single consolidated EAPA investigation,” said Susan S. Thomas, acting Executive Assistant Commissioner for CBP’s Office of Trade. “The revenue identified for collection exceeds $250 million, but this figure may increase as we uncover additional importers in the scheme.”

The operation has already triggered 89 additional cases flagged for suspicion of duty evasion, with CBP warning that monetary recovery will likely exceed $400 million once the full extent of the fraud is uncovered.

CBP says its crackdown sends a clear message: tariff evasion will not be tolerated, and those attempting to cheat U.S. trade laws will face aggressive enforcement.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Trump Departs for Historic Alaska Meeting with Putin in Bid for Peace Deal

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President Donald Trump departed Washington, D.C., on Friday morning, heading to Anchorage, Alaska, for a high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The talks are expected to address territorial disputes, sanctions, and the broader path toward a peace agreement involving both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Air Force One took off just after 8 a.m. ET, with Trump speaking briefly to reporters onboard. He emphasized that while his focus is on American interests, the mission is about preventing further bloodshed in Eastern Europe.

“Economically severe. Yes, it will be very severe. I’m not doing this for my health, okay,” Trump said. “I don’t need it. I’d like to focus on our country, but I’m doing this to save a lot of lives. Yeah, very severe.”

According to Trump, Russia will face significant economic repercussions if a deal is not reached. He also acknowledged that land swaps could form part of the negotiations but stressed that such decisions ultimately belong to Ukraine.

“[Territorial swaps will] be discussed, but I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision, and I think they’ll make a proper decision,” he noted. “But I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine. I’m here to get them at a table.”

While no concrete schedule for the Alaska talks has been released, the meeting’s location—halfway between Moscow and Washington—has been described as a symbolic midpoint for a potentially groundbreaking dialogue.

Trump reiterated his belief that Putin’s ambitions had been curtailed during his presidency.

“Look, Vladimir Putin wanted to take all of Ukraine. If I wasn’t president, he would, right now, be taking all of Ukraine, but he’s not going to do it,” Trump said.

Trump Task Force Cuts DC Gun Permit Wait Times from Months to Days

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The concealed carry permitting process and firearm registration process in the deep blue city have been slashed from months down to days via Trump’s Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force, which was established via an executive order in March to revitalize the nation’s capital. The working group’s work to clean up the city did not include changing local gun laws, but instead streamlines the city’s already established process, so law-abiding residents can more easily navigate the firearms system.  

“President Trump is not only stopping violent crime in Washington, D.C., he is also streamlining the permitting process for law-abiding residents who want the ability to protect themselves and their families,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox News Digital. “The Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force has been working with local officials to eliminate longstanding obstacles and successfully reduced the average permit processing time from several months to just five days.”

Under the task force’s efforts, locals are able to book next-day appointments to register their firearms with the Metropolitan Police Department, while walk-in appointments are now available and advertised on the police department’s website.

Previously, applicants typically waited four months for a firearms registration appointment, a White House official told Fox Digital.

The concealed carry permit process also has been streamlined, Fox Digital learned. What used to take “several months” to obtain a concealed carry permit, has been cut down to 4.6 days, according to data compiled during the month of May by the task force, which the White House shared with Fox News Digital. (Read more from “Trump Task Force Cuts DC Gun Permit Wait Times from Months to Days” HERE)

Man Charged With Felony Assault for Throwing Subway Sandwich at Federal Agent

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A Washington, D.C., man has been charged with felony assault after allegedly striking a federal officer with a Subway sandwich during an incident earlier this week.

Prosecutors say 37-year-old Sean Charles Dunn threw the sandwich at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent who was among federal officers deployed by President Trump to the streets of D.C. The attack reportedly occurred Sunday night, when Dunn was heard shouting that the officers were “fascists” before hurling the sandwich, hitting the agent in the chest.

According to a criminal complaint, Dunn later admitted to police, “I did it. I threw a sandwich.” Video footage of the encounter was cited in the case.

U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro announced the charges Wednesday, stating, “The police are not out there to get pushed around or beat up.”

President Trump began deploying federal personnel to address crime in D.C. on August 7, asserting federal control over the Metropolitan Police Department and activating the National Guard. According to the White House, hundreds of additional officers have made more than 100 arrests since their arrival, including suspects accused of gun crimes, drug offenses, and outstanding warrants.

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