Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that it's "time to end the war" ahead of a high-stakes summit between the U.S. and Russia on Friday. Lesia Vasylenko, a member of the parliament of Ukraine, tells CBS News 24/7 that "the hopes are high" for today's talks.

Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the United States to help find a path to peace as US President Trump and Russian President Putin prepare to meet for a summit aimed at resolving the war in Ukraine. The conflict, which began with Russia's 2022 invasion, has resulted in significant loss of life, widespread displacement, and a humanitarian crisis.

Ukrainian officials, including parliament member Lesia Vasylenko, insist that Ukraine must be directly involved in any negotiations and reject the idea of territorial concessions to Russia. While there is hope that the summit could lead to progress, there is also caution about the likelihood of a breakthrough, with Ukrainian leaders maintaining that any resolution must uphold Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Zelenskyy says Ukraine "counting on America" to find path to peace

In just hours, all eyes will be on Alaska, where President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet face-to-face for a summit that could lead to the end of the war in Ukraine. The two leaders are bringing differing ideas over ending the war Russia started with its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Now, the three-and-a-half-year war has taken a heavy toll on Ukraine, killing more than 13,000 civilians and as many as 100,000 Ukrainian troops. Millions of people have been displaced, triggering a humanitarian crisis and plunging nearly 25 percent of Ukraine's population into poverty. After meeting with his top advisers today ahead of the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on social media, saying in part, it is time to end the war and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America. We are joined now by Lesia Wasylenko, a member of Ukraine's parliament. Lesia, thank you so much for making time for us on 24-7 today. Do you think this summit will lead to President Zelensky having a seat at the negotiating table? There's hope. There's always hope. And of course, Ukraine has always been of the stance that there can be no negotiations and especially no decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine. So definitely President Zelensky needs to have a seat at the negotiation table. But at the end of the day, it's also important to understand what will be the agenda of the negotiation. Yeah. The agreement will almost certainly come down to what's being called a land swap. Do you see a path forward on this? My understanding is that President Trump has said many times that the decision as to land, the Ukrainian land, will be made by the Ukrainians themselves. And when it comes to our situation, we are firm on the fact that Ukraine needs to be respected as an independent country with its territorial integrity respected. And anything of the like of land swaps or land givings up to Russia will lead to just further aggression. And we have had a number of incidents like this in the history of Ukraine-Russia relations. It's definitely not a history that we want to revisit. Lesya, I want to ask you about this, because if this summit does not succeed, what are Ukraine's options and how does this war end? This war must end with the aggressor bearing the full responsibility for the aggression and with the international community stepping up and making sure that there is an end to the aggression. This is the only right thing to do. How it will end, in fact, is a whole entirely different matter. At the moment, we Ukrainians, we have no choice, just like we didn't have any choice in 2014 or 2022 to continue fighting, fighting for what is ours, fighting for what is right, and fighting to make sure that this aggression of Russia does not spread further beyond Ukraine towards the Baltic states, for example, and towards other European and Central European countries. And Lesya, I want to ask you personally, what are you hoping comes out of the meeting today between the two leaders? Well, the hopes are high. To be fair, the hopes are high. Not sure if they are realistic, but the hopes are such that there will be some form of wording found that will get Putin to cede his aggressive actions, his ballistic missiles and drones that are flying every day and hitting peaceful Ukrainian towns, destroying civilian infrastructure and taking lives. However, will President Trump be able to find that exact wording and to have that wording backed by American action? That's a whole different matter. This is why I say that the hopes are high, but maybe not entirely realistic. Lesya Vasylenko, member of Ukraine's parliament, thank you so much for joining us on 24-7 today. We really appreciate your insight. Thank you.

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.

Ukraine Invasion

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.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

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.

Washington

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.’

Israel furthers plan for settlement that divides the West Bank

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London. This comes one day before U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.

London

Zelenskyy, Starmer meet ahead of Trump, Putin summit in Alaska

Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, President Trump sounded optimistic about his upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Trump says he thinks Putin and Zelenskyy will make peace

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced plans to build another immigrant detention center, dubbing it the "Deportation Depot." The facility will be in North Florida.

Jacksonville

DeSantis announces plan to build another immigrant detention center

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."

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.

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.

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.

Breakdown