President Trump had a virtual call Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska. After the call, Zelenskyy said he told Mr. Trump that "Putin is bluffing."

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

U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, described as a prelude to potential trilateral talks that would include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump has indicated that a second meeting will only occur if he receives satisfactory answers from Putin, aligning with European leaders' calls for a ceasefire before negotiating over Russian-held territory.

Zelenskyy has cautioned Trump, stating that Putin is bluffing and applying pressure along the Ukrainian front ahead of the meeting. The talks, taking place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, mark the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Putin since 2019. Trump has recently expressed increased frustration with Putin and has threatened severe consequences, including potential secondary sanctions on Russia's oil sector, if the discussions do not yield progress.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy warns President Trump ahead of meeting with Putin

It's going to be a very important meeting, but it's setting the table for the second meeting. President Trump tempered expectations Wednesday, saying his sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow is just a prelude to trilateral talks that will include Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. Now, there may be no second meeting, because if I feel that it's not appropriate to have it, because I didn't get the answers that we have to have, then we're not going to have a second meeting. Trump's new framing came amid a full court press from European leaders who met with him via video call Wednesday and urged him to push for a full ceasefire first and haggle over Russian held territory later. After the calls, Zelensky said he told President Trump that Putin is bluffing and trying to apply pressure before the meeting in Alaska along all parts of the Ukrainian front. Trump and Putin will be face to face tomorrow for the first time since 2019. The setting, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson outside Anchorage, Alaska. A nine hour flight from Moscow, seven hours from Washington, D.C. For Putin, it's his opportunity to try to strengthen that bond with President Trump. Andrea Kendall-Taylor is a former U.S. intelligence official who specialized in Russia. One of Putin's strategies in the past has been to claim that he wants peace and wants a negotiation as a means to prolong the war itself. Is that at play this time, do you think? I think absolutely. I think Putin is concerned that Trump has had a change of heart, you could say, on Russia. We've seen in recent weeks that President Trump has grown more frustrated with Putin, has threatened to impose more meaningful costs on Russia like secondary sanctions on Russia's oil sector. Just yesterday, Trump threatened harsh repercussions if these meetings with Putin don't bear fruit. There will be very severe consequences.

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Trump wants to extend federal control over Washington police

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Geneva

Global plastics treaty talks in Geneva stall as deadline looms

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Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israeli strikes pound Gaza ahead of planned ground offensive

America's NATO allies stood firmly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the face-to-face meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The European leaders showed a united front that there should be no peace deal without Ukraine's involvement.

Kyiv

NATO allies stand with Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin summit

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must improve conditions for detainees at New York's 26 Federal Plaza, a judge ruled Tuesday.

New York

Judge rules ICE must improve conditions for detainees at NY facility

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National Guard troops arrive in Washington, D.C.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that he had a "very good call" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, days before his scheduled Alaska meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump had 'very good call' with Zelenskyy ahead of Putin meeting

Israel's military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has approved the framework of a plan for a new offensive in Gaza. CBS News Middle East reporter Courtney Kealy has more details.

Israeli military chief approves 'framework' for new Gaza offensive

President Donald Trump said Wednesday there will be “very severe consequences” if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t agree to stop the Ukraine war after Friday’s summit.

Trump warns of 'severe consequences' if Russia doesn't stop war

A Wisconsin woman on Tuesday was found guilty in the United Kingdom of trying to kill a man at point-blank range in 2019. Aimee Betro, 45, was part of a plot with two other co-conspirators to murder Sikander Ali, prosecutors said.

Birmingham

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Madrid

Historic heat fuels fires across Europe

Hungary's PM Viktor Orbán said the EU attempts to set conditions for a meeting to which leaders of the EU were not invited. He also called for an EU-Russia summit.

Brussels

EU leaders rally behind Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin talks

President Trump said Monday he expects that Russia and Ukraine will "land swap" certain territories as part of an eventual ceasefire deal. Mr. Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

Trump claims 'land swapping' between Russia, Ukraine will happen

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U.S. President Donald Trump said that his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday will be to "feel out" the leader as pressure mounts for Russia and Ukraine to make a peace deal.

Trump to meet with Putin in Alaska on Friday

A meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to take place in Alaska, with European leaders notably excluded from the talks. Until Europe can defend itself, it's not likely to be invited to a great power dialogue, experts have told Euronews.

Alaska

Europe frozen out as U.S. and Russia prepare for Alaska talks

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Kyiv and Moscow will both have to cede land to end the war in Ukraine and talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week will instantly show whether the Kremlin leader is willing to make a deal.

Trump says both sides in Ukraine war will need to cede territory

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Clairton

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thanking European leaders for backing his push to join this week's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, insisting an end to the war must be fair.

Trump and Putin set to meet on Friday without Zelenskyy

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska on Friday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Kyiv and its allies fear being sidelined and worry any deal could reward Moscow’s occupation of Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine fights for a seat at the table ahead of Trump-Putin summit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is defending his decision to keep fighting in Gaza, despite protests at home and abroad. Debora Patta has the latest.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Netanyahu defends plan to expand war in Gaza

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thanking European leaders for backing his push to join this week's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, insisting an end to the war must be fair. Willie James Inman has more from the White House.

Anchorage

Countdown begins to Trump-Putin meeting, without Zelenskyy

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Milwaukee

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President Donald Trump's envoy met with the Qatari prime minister on Saturday in Spain to discuss possible deals to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, as Israel's military plans to expand into Gaza City. Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages and Palestinians alike are pleading for peace.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy warns President Trump ahead of meeting with Putin

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Ukraine Invasion