At a recent meeting with his US counterpart, Russian President Vladimir Putin once again suggested that full control of Donbas was a central criterion for ending the war in Ukraine. Why is the region so important to him?

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump expressed hope that Monday’s critical talks with Ukrainian and European leaders at the White House could lead to trilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, met in Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 15 for one of the most consequential in-person summits in years. The meeting, which lasted for nearly three hours, ended without a concrete deal.

President Donald Trump was heard speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron about his belief Russian President Vladimir Putin will make a peace deal.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday warned European allies not to trust Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he called "an ogre at our gates." Macron's remarks came as Russian and Ukrainian presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky looked set for a peace summit after fast-moving talks Monday between Donald Trump and European leaders that focused on the key issue of long-term security guarantees for Kyiv.