Trump says arrangements underway for Zelenskyy and Putin to meet

Trump said he will then sit down with both leaders after that meeting.

President Donald Trump said on social media today that he called Vladimir Putin and began the arrangements for a meeting between the Russian president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump's announcement came after he met with Zelenskyy and other European leaders at the White House about ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Trump agreed that the U.S. would contribute to Ukraine’s security following a peace deal, a development he called “a breakthrough.”
In another social media post, Trump said that he'll be issuing an executive order to get rid of mail-in ballots and voting machines.

This live blog on the Trump administration for Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, has ended. See more coverage here.