U.S. representatives will meet with their European counterparts to finalize details on potential security guarantees for Ukraine. This comes as President Donald Trump comments on efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Moscow

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

Russia has expressed strong opposition to discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine that do not include Moscow's participation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that excluding Russia from these talks is a 'road to nowhere.' The United States, under President Trump, has ruled out deploying American troops on the ground in Ukraine but has left open the possibility of air support. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading the U.S. effort to finalize the details of the security guarantees, with the United Kingdom, France, and Germany expected to play leading roles.

A virtual meeting involving NATO member countries and U.S. defense officials is scheduled to further discuss the security arrangements. Meanwhile, plans are being considered for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with Budapest, Hungary, mentioned as a possible venue. The Kremlin has indicated that organizing such a meeting would require significant logistical and security planning, though President Putin has reportedly agreed in principle to a bilateral meeting.

Russia responds to potential Ukraine security guarantees

But we begin this morning, where the Kremlin is responding to potential security guarantees for Ukraine. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says discussing security issues without Moscow is a quote, road to nowhere. His comments come as President Trump said no American troops would be on the ground in Ukraine, but did not rule out the possibility of air support. For more on this, let's go to CBS News White House reporter Aaron Navarro, who's joining me from the White House lawn to talk more about this. So Aaron, the White House and the European leaders are working to craft these security guarantees. What are you hearing? Yeah, we're hearing that it'll be Secretary of State Marco Rubio who will be leading the U.S. effort to finalize the details on security guarantees. We know that later today there will be a virtual meeting of NATO member countries and U.S. defense officials to talk more about this and getting the details done. On the U.S. side, as you mentioned, President Trump has kept the door open in terms of U.S. support, but ruled out putting U.S. troops on the ground in Ukraine for whatever this peacekeeping effort looks like, though President Trump did say yesterday in a Fox News interview that it'll be the United Kingdom, France and Germany who will be leading this effort in the security guarantees, at least from his current understanding of where things stand. And I think it is important to mention, as you said, that once you bring in Russia's input on this, that's where things could get really tricky, as they have signaled that they—discussing security guarantees without their input is, quote, a road to nowhere, and that they believe that there should be some Russian forces involved with the peacekeeping efforts and what a security guarantee looks like for Ukraine. So certainly a lot of things to work out, even beyond the U.S. and Europe. And so the White House, Aaron, says that plans are currently underway for a Putin-Zelensky meeting. What do we know about that? We know that their goal is to lock in a place and a date within the next 10 days. One potential site CBS News is learning about is Budapest in Hungary as a potential place for that bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky. One source with knowledge of the planning said that Hungary has, quote, expressed its openness to host the talks. We also know that during that Monday phone call between President Trump and Russian President Putin, Putin suggested Moscow as a site for a bilateral meeting, though the understanding is that Zelensky would be very unlikely to accept that and travel there. The Kremlin throughout this week has looked to pour cold water on a bilateral meeting, saying that a meeting of that kind between the heads of state in Russia and Ukraine would take a while to plan for the logistics and security. But White House officials have repeated that they heard from President Putin in that call with Trump on Monday that he promised and agreed to a bilateral meeting.

Israel's military has called up tens of thousands of reservists in preparation for an expected assault on Gaza City, as the Israeli government considered a new proposal for a ceasefire after nearly two years of war.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel calls up 60,000 reservists ahead of Gaza City operation

The Trump administration says it is adding 407 items to the list of "derivative" steel and aluminum products subject to higher tariffs. The list includes products like car parts, household appliances, baby strollers, fire extinguishers and spray deodorants.

Washington

Global Tariffs

Trump expanding steel and aluminum tariffs

NATO military chiefs met virtually Wednesday for what was described as a candid discussion about security guarantees the alliance would be willing to provide to Ukraine in an effort to end Russia's war in the region.

Brussels

NATO chiefs meet virtually about potential Ukraine security guarantees

Israel's military leaders approved the next phase of their ongoing offensive in the territory. The operation will shift focus to Gaza City, targeting areas where Hamas is believed to still be active and where Israeli forces have not yet operated.

Israel approves next phase of Gaza offensive, focus on Gaza City

Despite not making landfall, Hurricane Erin is forcing mandatory evacuation orders in parts of North Carolina and is expected to cause rip currents for days along the U.S. East Coast.

North Carolina

Hurricane Erin forces evacuations on U.S. East Coast

The White House says it is working to secure a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, which both have agreed to, while plans continue to create security guarantees for Ukraine.

Trump says no U.S. ground troops will be sent to Ukraine

Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire proposal for Gaza, but mediators are still waiting for an official response from Israel. CBS News contributor Robert Berger has the latest from Jerusalem.

Mediators await Israeli response to Gaza ceasefire proposal

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met China’s top diplomat on Tuesday and hailed the “steady progress” made in improving the bilateral relationship after a yearslong standoff between the nuclear-armed Asian powers.

New Delhi

India's Modi meets China's foreign minister to rebuild ties

Texas Democrats who ended a walkout found themselves shadowed by law enforcement officers to keep them from repeating the protest that stalled Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts and fulfill President Donald Trump's desire to reshape U.S. House maps.

Austin

Police escort Texas Democrats to prevent new redistricting walkout

Air Canada has reached a tentative agreement with the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), ending the strike that began over the weekend involving 10,000 members and disrupted travel for more than 100,000 travelers per day.

Toronto

Air Canada reaches tentative agreement with flight attendant union

Exiled former Hong Kong lawmaker Ted Hui hailed Australia's grant of asylum status as a key acknowledgement of the territory's human rights infringements since its authorities quelled massive pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Hong Kong Island

Ex-Hong Kong lawmaker granted asylum by Australia

Forecasters are giving urgent warnings to millions of people who live along the East Coast as Hurricane Erin churns in the Atlantic. The storm will not make direct landfall but is expected to bring dangerous rip currents.

East Coast of the United States

Hurricane Erin to bring dangerous rip currents to U.S. East Coast

Jasveen Sangha, a Los Angeles woman known as the "Ketamine Queen," has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry. Sangha could face up to 45 years in prison.

Los Angeles

"Ketamine Queen" to plead guilty in Matthew Perry's death

European leaders who converged on the White House for talks on the Russia-Ukraine war demonstrated a united front regarding Ukraine's security on Monday, underscoring the issue as pivotal for the entire continent, not just Ukraine.

EU leaders show cautious optimism following Zelenskyy, Trump talks

As Hamas reportedly agreed to some ceasefire terms that would include the return of more hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered troops to take more of Gaza.

Israel digs in on Gaza takeover as Hamas softens on ceasefire

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.

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.

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.

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.

Russia responds to potential Ukraine security guarantees

Breakdown

See The Full Story

Ukraine Invasion