Ukrainians living in Anchorage, Alaska say they’re approaching Friday’s summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin with caution and concern, wary of any false hopes amid a devastating war back home.

Anchorage

Ukrainians residing in Anchorage, Alaska, have expressed a range of emotions as Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Some members of the Ukrainian community, including families who fled the war, are cautious and distrustful, especially given Ukraine's absence from the talks. Others remain hopeful that the meeting could lead to meaningful dialogue and progress toward peace, despite the devastating toll of the conflict.

Local Ukrainian organizations, such as the New Chance Ukraine Relief Program, are supporting the community as they await the summit's outcome. While U.S. President Trump has warned of severe consequences for Russia if peace is not achieved, there are concerns among European leaders and Ukrainian expatriates that the summit could result in unfavorable compromises for Ukraine.

Ukrainians in Alaska wary of false hopes ahead of Putin's arrival

For Ukrainians living in Alaska's Anchorage, the arrival of Russian President Vladimir Putin for Friday's summit with U.S. President Donald Trump brings mixed feelings. Some are approaching it with caution and concern, wary of any false hopes amid a devastating war back home. Others are more hopeful. The three-and-a-half-year-old conflict has cost tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, and Trump has previously said both sides will have to swap land to end fighting. For Vitaly and Zoya Koval, who fled their hometown in Sumy with their children to Poland before resettling in Alaska, there's distrust for Putin and doubt, given Ukraine is absent at the summit. I am not excited that this individual is expected to arrive here. This person is a murderer. He's a maniac, and he has caused a lot of grief. He has killed a lot of innocent people, and I cannot be excited that he is going to be in Alaska. My thought is a little bit different than my husband's, because I am hopeful that this will be a conversation. I hope that he does arrive so that this conversation can begin, and peace talks can begin. I have to have hope that something can change. The Koval family is among hundreds of Ukrainians living in Alaska. Many are helped by the New Chance Ukraine Relief Program in Anchorage. And Zori Opanasevic is the director of the program. I have to have hope that something will come out of it, because we need something. And so we will just grab on to anything that is possible and hope that something gets, some kind of movement happens, and movement means that maybe we're just that much closer to an end of this war and people will stop dying. Yulia Maiba, an English teacher from the Donetsk region, is cautiously optimistic about the talks. Of course, I really want the war to be over and for the bloodshed to be stopped. But I keep my expectations low, though I'm hoping that it's like a big step forward to some productive negotiations. The summit will take place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. Ahead of time, Trump has warned of severe consequences for Russia if Putin doesn't agree to peace. Though the American leader has not spelled out what the consequences could be, European leaders in Kiev have voiced fears the Alaska summit could end up selling out Ukraine by carving up its territory.

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

Ukraine Invasion

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

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would ask the Republican-controlled Congress to extend federal control of Washington's city police force beyond 30 days, escalating his campaign to exert presidential power over the nation's capital.

Trump wants to extend federal control over Washington police

With just hours left to reach a deal on plastics, negotiators in Geneva were scrambling to resolve a deadlock caused by “red lines” of member countries. Nations are crafting the first global, legally binding treaty on plastics pollution at the United Nations office in Switzerland.

Geneva

Global plastics treaty talks in Geneva stall as deadline looms

At least 123 people have been killed in 24 hours, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says people will be given the opportunity to leave Gaza before a planned ground offensive, but no one is being pushed out.

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

National Guard troops arrived in Washington, D.C., following President Donald Trump's deployment and federalization of local police to crack down on crime in the nation's capital.

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

American woman found guilty of UK murder-for-hire plot

Record-high temperatures across Europe are fanning wildfires across the continent. Experts say a warming climate and an increase in flammable vegetation from rural depopulation are major factors.

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

Taylor Swift confirmed her 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," in a teaser for her upcoming appearance on her boyfriend Travis Kelce's podcast. Swift did not disclose the release date of the album.

Taylor Swift announces new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl'

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

A prominent Al Jazeera journalist, who had previously been threatened by Israel, was killed along with four colleagues and another journalist in an Israeli airstrike in an attack condemned by journalists and rights groups.

Israeli strike kills Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza

At last one person is dead, dozens are injured and two people are unaccounted for after an explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton plant in Pennsylvania on Monday.

Clairton

At least 1 dead, dozens injured in U.S. Steel plant explosion

President Donald Trump has placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and announced he's activating the National Guard to combat crime in Washington, D.C.

Trump deploying National Guard to Washington, D.C.

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.

Countdown begins to Trump-Putin meeting, without Zelenskyy

Violent weather hit several Midwest states over the weekend, with high winds being blamed for the death of at least one person in Nebraska and flash flooding prompting a state of emergency in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee inundated with floodwaters, one dead in Nebraska

Thirty-seven major wildfires are currently burning across nine states in the western United States. Firefighters have made significant progress on the Canyon Fire in California, achieving 62% containment and allowing over 4,000 residents to return home, with minimal property loss reported.

Breakdown