Overview

• After Trump’s meetings with Vladimir Putin in Alaska and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington, officials cited progress but said no ceasefire or peace deal is imminent.
• The White House says Putin agreed to meet Zelenskyy in the coming weeks, though Russian officials have not confirmed a timeline and signaled any summit would require extensive preparation.
• Press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that U.S. boots will not be on the ground in Ukraine, with Washington aiming to coordinate European-led security guarantees for Kyiv.
• Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff touted “Article 5‑like” protections for Ukraine, but subsequent statements and Russian objections to foreign forces leave the scope and implementation uncertain.
• The administration framed new secondary tariffs that double India’s duties to 50 percent from Aug. 27 as pressure on Moscow, a link Russia publicly dismissed, as reports noted Indian refiners reassessing Russian oil purchases.