CNN’s Erin Burnett speaks with President of Finland Alexander Stubb about President Donald Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Union leaders to discuss how to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Washington

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

Finland's president provided details of a high-level meeting involving Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, and European leaders, focused on supporting Ukraine. The meeting included a 40-minute phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was coordinated with the group present. 

Key outcomes from the discussions included agreements on security guarantees for Ukraine, a proposed bilateral meeting between Zelensky and Putin, and the possibility of a subsequent trilateral meeting. The president emphasized the constructive and coordinated nature of the talks, but did not disclose specifics of Trump's conversation with Putin, citing diplomatic confidentiality.

Finland president describes mood during Trump meeting with Zelensky

So, at one point in this meeting, you're in the room across from Trump, you're sitting next to President Zelensky, and Trump at one point calls Putin in a call that Russia now says was 40 minutes long. I'm so curious, Mr. President, was there any conversation in the room about that call? Did Trump talk to you beforehand about it or after he got off the phone with Putin? Oh, yeah, definitely. I mean, this was very much a day of Team Europe and Team US together supporting Ukraine. So first us Europeans, we had a pre-meeting, and then after that, Zelensky had a bilateral meeting with President Trump. And then we spent the better part of four hours together with President Trump, sussing out what we can do next. And one of the plans was for President Trump to tell President Putin basically what we had decided in the meeting. So yes, it was very coordinated and very constructive. So you're saying that that call, when the meeting sort of got paused, it sounds like what you're saying is because of the conversation that you're having in the room, that you all sort of said, OK, he said, all right, well, I mean, I don't want to put words in his mouth, but I'm going to go call him now. You guys were all in agreement with it. This is sort of how it sort of organically played out. Yeah, definitely. I mean, so basically there were three outcomes of today. The first one was a good conversation on security guarantees. In other words, security guarantees by Europe and coordinated with the United States for Ukraine. And we start that work on concrete things immediately. The second one was a suggestion of a bilateral meeting between Zelensky and Putin. And that was what President Trump was testing with President Putin. And President Putin had agreed to do that meeting. And then the third step is after the bilateral meeting, if everything goes well, which is, of course, always a big if when you're dealing with Putin, there will be a trilateral meeting. So I think this was one of these meetings where we kind of took, you know, three steps forward rather than any backwards. Do you know what Putin, what Trump, I'm sorry, said to Putin on the phone? I mean, what were the specifics that he put out there? Well, I mean, President Trump, then after the call, we agreed to meet in the Oval Office and we had a very thorough briefing by him of the conversation. But obviously, you know, in diplomacy, what happens in the Oval Office stays in the Oval Office when the media is not in there.

President Donald Trump said that the United States would help Europe in providing security for Ukraine as part of any deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

Trump tells Zelenskyy U.S. would help with security in a peace deal

Bolivia's presidential vote headed to an unprecedented runoff after elections Sunday that ended more than two decades of left-wing dominance in the Andean nation but signaled voters' trepidation about a major lurch to the right.

La Paz

Bolivia heads to runoff after historic defeat for the left

All Air Canada planes were grounded on Monday (August 18) after its 10,000 flight attendants refused a return-to-work mandate from the Canadian government.

Toronto

Air Canada delays plans to resume operations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House Monday (August 18) for his meeting with President Donald Trump and other European leaders about Russia's war in Ukraine. CBS News White House reporter Taurean Small has more.

Trump meeting with Zelenskiy, European leaders at White House

Hamas on Monday informed mediators that it had accepted a ceasefire deal proposal submitted to it the day before, according to international and Israeli outlets.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Reports: Hamas accepts latest Gaza ceasefire proposal

Hurricane Erin will bring dangerously rough surf to parts of the U.S. East Coast. Over the weekend, Erin's outer bands lashed Puerto Rico with up to 7 inches of rain and flooding parts of the island.

East Coast of the United States

Erin expected to bring dangerous conditions to U.S. East Coast

Ahead of his Monday meeting with President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymry Zelenksyy says his country will not give up any territory to Russia, even as the White House insists potential land swaps will be necessary. Willie James Inman reports.

Kyiv

Ahead of Trump meeting, Zelenskyy says won't give territory to Russia

Thousands of Israeli protesters demanded a deal to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas in one of the biggest demonstrations since the war in Gaza began. Debora Patta reports.

Thousands of Israelis protest in Gaza, call for end to fighting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy flies to Washington on Monday under heavy U.S. pressure to agree to a swift end to Russia's war in his country, but determined to defend Kyiv's interests — without sparking a second Oval Office dust-up with Donald Trump.

Zelenskyy, European allies to meet with Trump to discuss peace

European leaders voiced strong support for Ukraine ahead of a Washington summit with U.S President Donald Trump. They emphasized unity, territorial integrity and security guarantees as essential to any peace deal.

Paris

European leaders stress unity with Ukraine ahead of peace talks

International condemnation and pressure from allies have done nothing to stop Israel's plan to displace the people of northern Gaza. Israel on Saturday (August 16) said it is preparing to move Palestinians from combat zones to southern Gaza.

Israeli military prepares to move Palestinians to southern Gaza

Thousands of people took to the streets on Sunday in a nationwide strike amid fears further fighting could endanger the 50 hostages believed to still be in Gaza.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Dozens of Israelis arrested in protest to demand end to Gaza war

Russia continues to target Ukrainian cities firing hundreds of missiles and projectiles daily despite ongoing peace efforts, led by the United States. Ukrainian officials say their unwillingness to dial back their offensive reflects their lack of sincere interest in peace.

Five killed as Russia continues to pummel Ukrainian cities

U.S. President Donald Trump said that Ukraine should make a deal to end the war with Russia because "Russia is a very big power, and they're not," after a summit where Vladimir Putin was reported to have demanded more Ukrainian land.

Anchorage

Trump told Zelenskiy that Putin wants more of Ukraine, source says

Efforts by Texas Republicans to redraw the state's congressional maps got new pushback from protesters at rallies across the country Saturday. Nearly 280 events took place in 34 states, according to organizers.

"Fight the Trump Takeover" protests held across U.S.

West Virginia's governor says he will send up to 400 National Guard troops to the nation's capital at President Trump's request. They'll join other National Guard troops and federal agents already deployed with local police on the streets of Washington, D.C.

More troops arrive in D.C. at Trump's request

President Trump reversed course Saturday, saying he is no longer seeking an urgent ceasefire in Ukraine, but now agrees with Russian President Vladimir Putin that pursuing a peace deal is the best way to end the war.

Trump sides with Putin, preferring peace over ceasefire

Russian President Vladimir Putin described his meeting with President Trump as "frank, substantive and bringing us closer to making the necessary decisions." But the Alaska summit couldn't have been more far removed from the battlefields of Ukraine.

War-weary Ukrainians desperate for a ceasefire

In Ukraine, many do not believe Russia's president Vladimir Putin actually wants a ceasefire deal. They say Trump should stop making concessions to the Kremlin and for U.S President Donald Trump to demand an end to Russia aggression.

Ukrainians sceptical of Vladimir Putin’s intention

Being a Category 1 hurricane, Erin underwent a 'rapid intensification' which helped the storm to grow and strengthen to a powerful Category 5. Hurricane Erin won't make a direct hit on the U.S., but it will produce dangerous surf conditions for the entire East Coast.

San Juan

Hurricane Erin 'rapidly intensifies' to a Category 5

The Washington, D.C., police chief will remain in command of the local force following a settlement with the Trump administration over the federal takeover, but they are required to cooperate with the White House's immigration policy.

D.C. police retain some control after deal with Justice Department

The Atlantic Ocean's first hurricane of the season, Erin, has continued to gain strength and currently sits off the coast of Anguilla.

Hurricane Erin strengthens in the Atlantic

President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on Friday in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine. The leaders did not announce a peace deal, but Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday.

Trump, Putin meeting in Alaska ends without a ceasefire deal

Talks between the U.S. President and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded without an agreement on ending the war in Ukraine, despite being widely anticipated as a possible turning point.

Zelenskyy set to meet U.S. president Monday after no ceasefire deal

For the first time in a decade, Vladimir Putin was on U.S. soil for a much-anticipated meeting with Donald Trump. The U.S. and Russian presidents were supposed to discuss a deal to put an end to Moscow’s war against Ukraine, but they did not mention a ceasefire after the talks.

Trump, Putin wrap up talks with no mention of ceasefire

President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska for a high-stakes summit over ending the war in Ukraine. Nancy Cordes and Margaret Brennan have coverage and analysis.

What we know about the high-stakes summit between Trump and Putin

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin have arrived in Alaska ahead of their high stakes talks on Ukraine. The expected one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin has expanded to include U.S. officials Steve Witkoff and Marco Rubio and other Russian officials.

Trump, Putin arrive in Alaska for historic summit

Israel's far-right finance minister approved the construction of a controversial new settlement in the West Bank, saying it "finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state." But it's unclear if this move will actually go through. Rights groups swiftly condemned the plan.

Israeli finance minister approves new West Bank settlement

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated in an interview that he hoped to push Russian President Vladimir Putin toward a second meeting but acknowledged there was a chance Friday’s meeting would not succeed.

Trump shifts tone, confident on deal to end Ukraine war

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalei Smotrich said a plan to add more than 3,000 homes to a controversial settlement in the West Bank would bury ‘the idea of a Palestinian state.’

Finland president describes mood during Trump meeting with Zelensky

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Ukraine Invasion