Trump-Putin summit: Zelenskyy to travel to DC on Monday to meet with President Trump

Trump invited European leaders to join the meeting with the Ukrainian president.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Meredith Deliso, Jon Haworth, and William Mansell
Last Updated: August 17, 2025, 3:05 PM EDT

Following what was described as a “lengthy” phone call with President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he will travel to Washington on Monday to meet with President Donald Trump. A White House official said Trump has invited European leaders to join the meeting on Monday afternoon.

Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska on Friday and while Putin mentioned an "agreement" in the post-meeting news conference and Trump said "great progress" was made, there was no mention of a ceasefire.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Aug 15, 2025, 9:43 AM EDT

Trump tells ABC land swaps will be discussed with Putin but Ukraine is the decider

President Trump gaggled with reporters aboard Air Force One on his nearly seven-hour flight to Alaska.

Trump told ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott that land swaps will be discussed, but the decision is Ukraine's to make.

"They'll be discussed, but I've got to let Ukraine make that decision, and I think they'll make a proper decision. But I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine. I'm here to get them at a table. And I think you have two sides. Look, Vladimir Putin wanted to take all of Ukraine. If I wasn't president, he would, right now, be taking all of Ukraine, but he's not going to do it," Trump said.

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow

PHOTO: Activists take part in a rally in front of the U.S. embassy ahead of the upcoming meeting between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kyiv, Ukraine August 15, 2025.
Activists take part in a rally in front of the U.S. embassy ahead of the upcoming meeting between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to raise awareness about the plight of thousands of prisoners of war still in Russian captivity in Kyiv, Ukraine August 15, 2025.
Gleb Garanich/Reuters

Aug 15, 2025, 9:41 AM EDT

Trump ahead of Putin meeting: 'HIGH STAKES!!!'

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Friday morning ahead of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin:
"HIGH STAKES!!!"

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 15, 2025, en route to a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Luis M. Alvarez/AP

Aug 15, 2025, 8:22 AM EDT

Trump departs DC for Putin meeting in Alaska

President Donald Trump departed Washington, D.C., on Friday morning for his high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Trump will be accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Air Force One for his flight to Alaska for his meeting with President Putin, the White House said.

--ABC News' Fritz Farrow

Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on August 15, 2025, as he heads to Alaska to meet with Russian President.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Aug 15, 2025, 4:11 AM EDT

Russia attacks Ukraine overnight with missiles and drones ahead of Putin-Trump summit

Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with two ballistic missiles and 97 drones, the Ukrainian Air Force said Friday morning.


The drones targeted the frontline areas of the Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk and Chernihiv regions, while the missiles were fired at the Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

Missile and drone strikes were recorded in 13 locations across Ukraine. The country's air defense systems neutralized 63 drones, the air force said.

Meanwhile, Russia's air defense systems shot down 53 Ukrainian drones over land and sea, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

-ABC News' Morgan Winsor

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