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Melania Trump Raises Ukraine Children’s Plight In Letter To Putin
US First Lady Melania Trump highlighted the suffering of children in both Ukraine and Russia in a personal letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to two White House officials on Friday.
President Donald Trump hand-delivered the letter to Putin during their summit talks in Alaska, the officials told Reuters. Slovenian-born Melania Trump was not on the trip to Alaska.
The officials would not divulge the contents of the letter other than to say it mentioned the abductions of children resulting from the war in Ukraine.
The existence of the letter was not previously reported.
Russia’s seizure of Ukrainian children has been a deeply sensitive one for Ukraine.
Ukraine has called the abductions of tens of thousands of its children taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of family or guardians a war crime that meets the U.N. treaty definition of genocide.
‘True Act Of Humanism’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy conveyed his gratitude to the first lady on his call with Trump on Saturday, Ukraine’s foreign minister said.
“This is a true act of humanism,” Andrii Sybiha added on X.
Previously Moscow has said it has been protecting vulnerable children from a war zone.
Flagged By UN
The United Nations Human Rights Office has said Russia has inflicted suffering on millions of Ukrainian children and violated their rights since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Trump and Putin met for nearly three hours at a US military base in Anchorage without reaching a ceasefire deal in the war in Ukraine.
During brief remarks to reporters, the two leaders said they had made progress on unspecified issues, but they offered no details and took no questions.
‘No Deal, Until A Deal’
“There were many, many points that we agreed on. I would say a couple of big ones that we haven’t quite got there, but we’ve made some headway,” Trump said, standing in front of a backdrop that read, “Pursuing Peace.”
“There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” he added.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Nordic-Baltic, EU Leaders Back Trump’s Ukraine Peace Efforts
The leaders of eight Nordic-Baltic countries on Saturday reaffirmed their strong support for Ukraine and backed US President Donald Trump’s efforts to end Russian aggression.
The leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden said in a statement that achieving peace between Ukraine and Russia requires a ceasefire and security guarantees for Ukraine.
“We welcome President Trump’s statement that the US is prepared to participate in security guarantees. No limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or on its cooperation with other countries,” the statement said.
Trump has said that he had agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin that a peace deal should be sought without the prior ceasefire that Ukraine and its European allies, until now with US support, have demanded.
Statement By European Leaders
Following is the text of a statement issued jointly by several European leaders after the Trump-Putin summit.
The statement was issued by French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, European Council President Antonio Costa and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Early this morning, President Trump debriefed us and President Zelenskyy following his meeting with the Russian President in Alaska on 15 August 2025.
“Leaders welcomed President Trump’s efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine, end Russia’s war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace.
“As President Trump said ‘there’s no deal until there’s a deal’. As envisioned by President Trump, the next step must now be further talks including President Zelenskyy, whom he will meet soon.
“We are also ready to work with President Trump and President Zelenskyy towards a trilateral summit with European support.
“We are clear that Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We welcome President Trump’s statement that the US is prepared to give security guarantees. The Coalition of the Willing is ready to play an active role. No limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or on its cooperation with third countries. Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine’s pathway to EU and NATO.
“It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory. International borders must not be changed by force.
“Our support to Ukraine will continue. We are determined to do more to keep Ukraine strong in order to achieve an end to the fighting and a just and lasting peace.
“As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia. We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia’s war economy until there is a just and lasting peace.
“Ukraine can count on our unwavering solidarity as we work towards a peace that safeguards Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests.”
(With inputs from Reuters)
US Ready To Back Ukraine Security, Says German Chancellor Merz
The United States is prepared to be part of security assurances for Ukraine, said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday, a day after US President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Alaska.
“And the good news is that America is ready to participate in such security guarantees and is not leaving it to the Europeans alone,” Merz told German public broadcaster ZDF after being briefed together with other European leaders by Trump on his talks with Putin.
‘Worth More Than A Ceasefire’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to meet Trump on Monday in Washington, after which a three-way meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelenskyy should be held as soon as possible with the aim of reaching a peace agreement, Merz said.
“If that works out, it’s worth more than a ceasefire,” he said.
Merz said Trump had indicated that Russia seemed ready to negotiate based on the front lines of the conflict, rather than the borders of Ukrainian regions it claims.
“This is a huge difference because Russia is claiming territories that it hasn’t occupied yet,” he said.
European Leaders To Prepare Zelenskyy
Speaking separately to German broadcaster n-tv, Merz said he did not think Zelenskyy would face as difficult a time in Washington with Trump as he had in February, when the two leaders clashed in an extraordinary exchange before the world’s media at the White House.
Merz said Zelenskyy would on Sunday talk to European leaders who would help him prepare for the meeting.
“We’ll give a few good pieces of advice,” he said.
Merz’s Call For Unity
Merz told ZDF that while it was important that Europe stand united, the US would for the time being continue to play the decisive role in the war, which has raged since 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.
“The American president has the power both militarily and via appropriate sanctions and tariffs to ensure that Russia moves more than it currently does,” he said.
(With inputs from Reuters)
West Virginia To Send National Guard Troops To DC
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey will send 300 to 400 National Guard troops to Washington DC, following a request from the Trump administration, his office confirmed on Saturday.
The deployment is “a show of commitment to public safety and regional cooperation” and will include providing equipment and specialized training alongside the “approximately 300-400 skilled personnel as directed,” the statement said.
Drew Galang, a spokesperson for Morrissey, said the state’s National Guard received the order to send equipment and personnel to DC late on Friday and was working to organise the deployment.
Trump’s Takeover
Earlier this week President Donald Trump said he was deploying hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington and temporarily taking over the city’s police department to curb what he depicted as a crime and homelessness emergency in the nation’s capital.
A White House official said on Saturday more National Guard troops would be called in to Washington to “protect federal assets, create a safe environment for law enforcement officials to carry out their duties when required, and provide a visible presence to deter crime.”
According to US Justice Department data, violent crime in 2024 hit a 30-year low in Washington, technically a self-governing federal district under the jurisdiction of the US Congress.
Forced Entry
District of Columbia officials and the Trump administration negotiated a deal on Friday to keep DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s appointed police chief in charge of the police department after DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit to block the federal takeover of the department.
Trump, a Republican who has suggested he could take similar actions in other Democratic-controlled cities, has sought to expand the powers of the presidency in his second term, inserting himself into the affairs of major banks, law firms and elite universities.
It is not clear how the administration could deploy National Guard troops elsewhere. A federal judge in San Francisco is expected in the coming weeks to issue a ruling on whether Trump violated the law by deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June without California Governor Gavin Newsom’s approval.
The National Guard serves as a militia that answers to the governors of the 50 states except when called into federal service. The DC National Guard, however, reports directly to the president.
(With inputs from Reuters)
US Suspends Gaza Visitor Visas For Review
The US State Department on Saturday announced a suspension of all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza, citing the need for a “full and thorough” review.
The department said “a small number” of temporary medical-humanitarian visas had been issued in recent days but did not provide a figure.
“All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days,” the US State Department posted on X.
The US issued more than 3,800 B1/B2 visitor visas, which permit foreigners to seek medical treatment in the United States, to holders of the Palestinian Authority travel document, according to an analysis of monthly figures provided on the department’s website. That figure includes 640 visas issued in May.
Laura Loomer’s Claim
The State Department’s move to stop visitor visas for people from Gaza comes after Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and an ally of President Donald Trump, said on social media on Friday that the Palestinian “refugees” had entered the US this month.
Loomer’s statement sparked outrage among some Republicans, with US Representative Chip Roy, of Texas, saying he would inquire about the matter and Representative Randy Fine, of Florida, describing it as a “national security risk”.
Ongoing War
Gaza has been devastated by a war that was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza since then has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials.
The US has not indicated that it would accept Palestinians displaced by the war. However, sources told Reuters that South Sudan and Israel are discussing a plan to resettle Palestinians.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Australia Grants Asylum To Ex-Hong Kong Lawmaker, Pro-Democracy Activist
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui announced in a Facebook post on Saturday that he has been granted asylum in Australia, more than four years after leaving Hong Kong, where he continues to face criminal charges connected to the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
Hui said he received written notice from the Australian Department of Home Affairs on Friday approving his claim and that his wife, children and parents were also granted visas.
“When people around me say ‘congratulations’ to me, although I politely thank them, I can’t help but feel sad in my heart. How to congratulate a political refugee who misses his hometown?” he said in the Facebook post.
“If it weren’t for political persecution, I would never have thought of living in a foreign land. Immigrants can always return to their hometowns to visit relatives at any time; Exiles have no home.”
The Home Affairs Department did not immediately respond to emailed questions sent after business hours.
The Hong Kong government and China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions about the decision.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Beijing last month as part of his administration’s years-long push to improve ties with China.
A former Democratic Party lawmaker, Hui, left Hong Kong in late 2020 after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
In 2023, Hong Kong accused him and seven others of national security offences, including incitement to secession, and put HK$1 million ($127,782) bounties on their heads.
Australia said it was disappointed by the decision at the time and concerned about the law.
Pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai is currently on trial in Hong Kong on charges related to a national security law imposed by Beijing and alleged sedition.
($1 = 7.8258 Hong Kong dollars)
(With inputs from Reuters)
China’s FM Wang Yi To Visit India From Monday For Border Talks
China’s foreign ministry announced on Saturday that Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India from Monday to Wednesday for talks on the disputed Himalayan border.
This is only the second such meeting since a deadly clash in 2020 between Indian and Chinese troops at the border.
Relations between the two Asian giants have been thawing since an agreement last October on patrolling their Himalayan border, easing a five-year standoff that had hurt trade, investment and air travel.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of the month when he travels to China – his first visit in seven years – to attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a regional security bloc.
‘Border Stability Fuels Growth’
Recently, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar clearly stated that India is discussing with China some steps to mend a very badly disrupted relationship post-2020, but peace and tranquillity in border areas are imperative.
“We want a stable relationship, but we want a relationship where our interests are respected, where our sensitivities are recognised, where it works for both of us. So, I think, that has really been the challenge in the relationship. And obviously for us, because of the border – the management of the border – the assumption for the last 40 years has been that there must be peace and tranquillity in the border areas if the relationship is to grow. If the border is unstable, is not peaceful or is not tranquil, obviously, it will have consequences on the growth and direction of the relationship,” he said while replying to an online question after a Chatham House conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director and Chief Executive Officer of London-based think tank.
Jaishankar, who has also been India’s Ambassador to China, used the global platform to emphasise that peace on the border is a precondition for growth in India-China ties.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Trump Says Ukraine Should Strike Deal After Putin Summit Ends Without Ceasefire
After the high-stakes Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin that produced no ceasefire, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Ukraine should reach a deal to end the war with Russia, noting, “Russia is a very big power, and they’re not.”
In a major shift, Trump also said he had agreed with Putin that the best way to end the war was to go straight to a peace settlement – not via a ceasefire, as Ukraine and its European allies, until now with U.S. support, have been demanding.
Alaska Summit
Trump’s comments came after he met Putin for nearly three hours in Alaska on Friday at the first U.S.-Russia summit since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The war – the deadliest in Europe for 80 years – has killed or wounded well over a million people from both sides, including thousands of mostly Ukrainian civilians, according to analysts.
Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting
Trump said he would hold talks at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, adding, “If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin. Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved.”
Zelenskyy said after a lengthy conversation with Trump following the Alaska summit that Ukraine was ready for constructive cooperation, and he supported the idea of a trilateral meeting.
“Ukraine reaffirms its readiness to work with maximum effort to achieve peace,” he wrote on social media.
But Putin made no mention of meeting Zelenskyy when speaking to reporters earlier. Russian state news agency TASS quoted Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov as saying the possibility of a three-way summit including Zelenskyy had not been discussed.
Security Guarantees
In a post-summit interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump signalled that he and Putin had discussed potential land swaps and security guarantees for Ukraine.
“I think those are points that we negotiated, and those are points that we largely have agreed on,” Trump said.
“I think we’re pretty close to a deal,” he said, adding, “Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they’ll say no.”
When asked by Hannity what he would advise Zelenskyy, Trump said: “Gotta make a deal.”
“Look, Russia is a very big power, and they’re not. They’re great soldiers,” he added.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly underlined the importance of security guarantees for Kyiv as part of any deal, to deter Russia from launching a new invasion at some point in the future.
“We also discussed positive signals from the American side regarding participation in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security,” he said after his call with Trump.
Before the summit, Trump had set the goal of agreeing on a ceasefire in the war and said he would not be happy without it.
Putin signalled no movement in Russia’s long-held positions on the war, but said he agreed with Trump that Ukraine’s security must be “ensured”.
“We are ready to work on this. I would like to hope that the understanding we have reached will allow us to get closer to that goal and open the way to peace in Ukraine,” Putin said at a brief media appearance after the summit, where neither leader took questions.
He added, “We expect that Kyiv and the European capitals will perceive all of this in a constructive manner and will not create any obstacles. That they will not attempt to disrupt the emerging progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes intrigue.”
For Putin, the very fact of sitting down face-to-face with the U.S. president represented a diplomatic victory. The Kremlin leader had been ostracised by Western leaders since the start of the war, and just a week earlier had been facing a threat of new sanctions from Trump.
‘1-0 For Putin’
Some commentators, especially in Europe, were scathing in their reaction.
“Putin got his red carpet treatment with Trump, while Trump got nothing. As feared: no ceasefire, no peace,” Wolfgang Ischinger, an ex-German ambassador to the United States, posted on X.
“No real progress – a clear 1-0 for Putin – no new sanctions. For the Ukrainians: nothing. For Europe: deeply disappointing.”
Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre, said: “Now Trump seems to be shifting most of the responsibility to Kyiv and Europe, but reserving some role for himself.”
She said, however, that Putin had apparently not succeeded as far as he had hoped in getting Trump to publicly side with him and put pressure on Kyiv.
Cold War historian Sergey Radchenko wrote: “Putin is a determined opponent, and, yes, he basically won this round because he got something for nothing. Still, Trump did not sell out Ukraine.”
After Trump returned to Washington, the White House said he spoke to NATO leaders following the lengthy conversation with Zelenskyy.
Espen Barth Eide, foreign minister of NATO member Norway, told reporters in Oslo: “We must continue to put pressure on Russia, and even increase it.”
Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said the summit had not yielded significant progress toward ending the war but “confirmed that Putin is not seeking peace, but rather an opportunity to weaken Western unity and spread his propaganda.”
‘Next Time In Moscow’
Both Russia and Ukraine carried out overnight air attacks, a daily occurrence in the 3-1/2-year war.
Russia launched 85 attack drones and a ballistic missile targeting Ukraine’s territory, Ukraine’s Air Force said on Saturday. It said its air defence units destroyed 61 of them.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said 139 clashes had taken place on the front line over the past day. Russia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed 29 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Trump told Fox that he would hold off on imposing tariffs on China for buying Russian oil after making progress with Putin. He did not mention India, another major buyer of Russian crude, which has been slapped with a total 50% tariff on U.S. imports that includes a 25% penalty for imports from Russia.
“Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now,” Trump said of Chinese tariffs. “I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don’t have to think about that right now.”
Trump ended his remarks on Friday by telling Putin, “I’d like to thank you very much, and we’ll speak to you very soon and probably see you again very soon.”
“Next time in Moscow,” a smiling Putin responded in English. Trump said he might “get a little heat on that one” but that he could “possibly see it happening.”
(With inputs from Reuters)
Over 300 Dead In Northwest Pakistan After Torrential Rains, Floods
More than 300 people have died in northwest Pakistan following two days of heavy rains and severe flooding, local officials said on Saturday.
Rescue efforts and clearing of blocked roads were ongoing with the release of emergency funds, they said, adding that the heavy rains would continue until August 21.
Cloud bursts, flash floods, lightning strikes, landslides, and the collapse of buildings caused the most deadly spell of this year’s monsoon season.
307 Dead, Hundreds Missing
By early Saturday, 307 were confirmed dead, with more people missing, in the hills and mountains of the region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority.
Not only Pakistan but also parts of neighbouring India and Nepal have been hit hard by heavy rains, flooding and other rain-related incidents over the past week.
Buner district, a three-and-a-half-hour drive north from Pakistan’s capital Islamabad in normal times, was among the country’s worst-hit, with 184 killed and widespread damage to infrastructure, crops and orchards, local officials said. A cloud burst, fallen trees and flash floods swept away people and possessions.
Many Trapped
People, including women and children, remained trapped by floodwaters in some areas of Buner, with 93 bodies recovered.
In another area, Shangla, the collapse of the roof of a building due to the downpour caused many of the 34 deaths, said the provincial Chief Secretary, Shahab Ali Shah.
He said that local officials had been dispatched to the flooded areas to supervise relief operations and assess the damage.
Medical camps, he said, were being established for the flood victims, along with arrangements for families who lost their homes to be provided with cooked meals. Shah said that heavy machinery would be deployed to clear and restore roads.
Rescue Ops Underway
Ishaq Dar, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, said that civilian and military teams were carrying out rescue and relief operations, while the prime minister had chaired an emergency meeting.
“Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones, to those who are injured, and many whose homes and livelihoods have been swept away,” Dar said in a statement on social media.
On Friday, a rescue helicopter crashed due to bad weather, killing the five crew members.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Russian Lawmakers Tout Alaska Summit As Moscow’s Win
In the early hours of Saturday, after the U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska, senior Russian politicians swiftly framed the meeting as a victory for Moscow and its Ukraine war narrative.
“The meeting in Alaska confirmed Russia’s desire for peace, long-term and fair,” said Andrei Klishas, a senior lawmaker from President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.
He portrayed the summit as a coup for Russia and a loss for Ukraine and its European allies, who have been pushing for an unconditional ceasefire.
“The tasks of the SMO will be accomplished either by military or diplomatic means,” Klishas wrote, using the acronym for Special Military Operation, the Kremlin’s term for the war.
“A new architecture for European and international security is on the agenda, and everyone must accept it.”
Summit Yields No Deal
The highly anticipated summit on Friday in Anchorage yielded no agreement to resolve or pause the conflict, now in its fourth year, although both Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump described the talks as productive.
The two men met for nearly three hours before giving a brief media appearance and boarding separate planes home.
Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president known for his hawkish views, said the summit proved that it was possible to hold talks without conditions – as Moscow has insisted – while the fighting in Ukraine rages on.
Russia’s flagship Channel One morning state news bulletin on Saturday stressed the pageantry around the summit, its global profile, and the warm welcome extended to Putin, who had been ostracised by Western leaders since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“The Red carpet, handshakes and footage and photographs that are in all global publications and TV channels,” it said, saying it was the first time that Trump had met a visiting leader off their plane at the airport.
Its correspondent in Alaska said the two leaders had obviously agreed about a lot of things, but did not say what those things were.
‘Joint Success’
“The very fact of the meeting in Alaska, its tone, and its outcome represent a significant and joint success for both presidents, each of whom made a tremendous personal contribution to achieving the best possible result at this time,” Konstantin Kosachyov, a chair of the foreign affairs committee of Russia’s upper house of parliament, wrote on Telegram.
Other commentators struck a sourer tone.
Writing for War Gonzo, a pro-war Telegram channel with over 800,000 subscribers, one blogger praised Putin’s remarks as “quite strong”, but added that the meeting had delivered no visible outcomes beyond the mere fact that it took place.
“What will happen next? If our strikes on Ukrainian regime targets resume, Trump will have a reason to declare once again that ‘Putin is talking nonsense’ and to impose sanctions and interrupt the negotiation process that has begun,” wrote the blogger, Old Miner.
“On the other hand, should Russia stop its special military operation because of endless talks?”
(With inputs from Reuters)