What to know today
- NEW cONGRESSIONAL MAPS: california Gov. Gavin Newsom called on the state lawmakers to allow a November ballot measure to redraw congressional districts. The move comes as Democrats have sought ways to combat Republicans' mid-decade redistricting efforts in states like Texas.
- TEXAS HOUSE DEMOcRATS' DEMANDS: Meanwhile, the Texas state House Democratic caucus set demands for Democratic lawmakers to return to the state, including ending the first special session of the Legislature aimed at passing redistricting efforts to benefit Republicans, and for california to introduce redistricting maps to counter Texas.
- IcE cOOPERATION: In a significant shift, D.c. police will begin sharing information about undocumented immigrants they encounter during traffic stops with Immigration and customs Enforcement agents. The move will allow immigrants who have not been charged with crimes to be reported to IcE for possible arrest and deportation.
- TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT: Russian President Vladimir Putin said ahead of tomorrow's summit with President Donald Trump that the U.S. efforts to reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine have been "quite energetic and sincere." Trump later said he thinks Putin wants to make a deal.
Zohran Mamdani confirms he got a call from Obama after Democratic primary
New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani confirmed at an event this afternoon that he received a call from former President Barack Obama after he won the Democratic primary.
"It was a call that I was honored to receive," Mamdani said, adding that the conversation was "focused on the campaign that we ran, the importance of hope in our politics and the ways in which we govern to deliver on that."
Mamdani was responding to a reporter's question at his Five Boroughs Against Trump tour in the Bronx today about the call, which The New York Times first reported.
"The lessons of that conversation are ones that I hold close to me, as we continue to build this campaign to win the general election," he said.
Mamdani was also asked whether Obama offered advice about handling xenophobia as he faces anti-Muslim sentiment, attacks related to his background and calls to strip him of U.S. citizenship. He was born in Uganda and moved to the United States with his parents as a child.
"We spoke about the importance, in a moment such as this, where politics is often characterized by a language of darkness, the necessity of hope, and how we speak and how we orient ourselves to the world," Mamdani said.
"I’m lucky to have the example of the president in understanding the ways in which we confront these challenges," he added.
Democratic senator says Putin has played Trump like a 'fiddle' ahead of Alaska meeting
Sen. chris Van Hollen, D-Md., told NBc News that while he supports Trump's efforts to further dialogue with Putin amid efforts to end the war in Ukraine, he is concerned that Putin has been playing Trump like a "fiddle."
"I’m always in favor of talking, and we’d all like to see peace, but I’m very worried because, from day one, while Donald Trump said he was going to end the war in Ukraine, he has been played like a fiddle by Vladimir Putin," Van Hollen said.
"All Putin sees is Trump’s weakness, and so I’m very worried that he will throw our allies and the people of Ukraine under the bus, which is what he’s done from day one," he added.
Van Hollen spoke to NBc News after a town hall at chesapeake college in Wye Mills, Maryland, where he tackled a variety of topics, from efforts across the country to redraw congressional districts before the 2026 midterms to Trump's deployment of the National Guard in Washington D.c., an act Van Hollen called a "gross abuse of power."
The event lacked the fireworks both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have faced at other town halls across the country.
'You gotta root for him': Alaskans share thoughts on upcoming Trump-Putin summit
Several Alaska residents told NBc News today that they generally support Trump's decision to meet with Putin in Alaska tomorrow as Trump seeks to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting will be their first in-person sit-down in more than six years.
"I am not a Trump supporter. I’m not a Trump voter, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not rooting to see the death stop," said Tim Petumenos, of Anchorage. "If he can facilitate it, you gotta root for him."
Other Alaskans said Trump has touted his relationship with Putin in the past and may be positioned to extract concessions.
"He seems to converse and talk to Putin pretty frequently," said Richelle Johnson, who was born and raised in Alaska. "Seems like he has a pretty decent expectation of the relationship that they have, leader to leader."
The summit, a resident suggested, holds higher stakes for Alaskans, who are geographically closer to Russia than any other American state.
"I think Sarah Palin kind of said it best: You can see it from your yard or whatever she said," said Tali Birch, an Anchorage-based attorney. "It’s not necessarily true, but definitely we’re, you know, we’re closer to Russia than we are to the lower 48."
More than 800 National Guard personnel have been activated to assist in D.c. crime prevention
A defense official told reporters today that more than 800 personnel have been activated as part of the effort Trump has framed as a crackdown on crime in Washington, D.c., including about 680 members of the Army National Guard and 130 members of the Air National Guard.
There are no plans to bring on additional resources, the official said, adding that the National Guard’s key role is to help reduce crime and ensure safety of D.c. residents and visitors by assisting local and federal law enforcement with community safety patrols, traffic control points and crowd flow.
The official said that National Guard soldiers will be deployed across D.c., including downtown and in residential, and commercial areas, and that missions so far have included patrols on the National Mall and Union Station.
Soldiers have been directed to follow D.c. National Guard rules about the use of force, and guard members are not armed, the official said, adding that they “always retain the inherent right to self-defense when faced with hostile act or demonstrated hostile intent.”
“Military members may also take actions to provide for the defense of others, as well as the defense of property, using the minimum necessary force,” the official added.
Secret Service makes arrest in front of White House this afternoon
The Secret Service said today that officers arrested a person in front of the White House at Lafayette Square on suspicion of simple assault and resisting arrest.
Officers detained the person, who was not identified publicly, in connection with "harassing a water vendor" outside the White House at about 3:15 p.m., the agency said in a statement.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said 45 of the arrests overnight in Washington had been for assault.
Obama, Holder speak with Texas Democrats who fled the state over redistricting
Former President Barack Obama and his former attorney general, Eric Holder, thanked Texas Democratic lawmakers who left their state to block Republicans' redistricting efforts during a virtual briefing today, two sources familiar with the call said.
“It was a congratulatory moment for their work nationalizing a debate in this country around stealing congressional seats,” one of the sources said.
A lawmaker on the call said of Obama’s message to the group, “One of the great things that he did was contextualize what Texas Democrats have done, both historically and in the current moment.”
That was, according to the lawmaker, rejecting what Republicans were trying to pass off as a norm and “calling it what it is, an assault on democracy.”
"It was a huge deal," state Democratic caucus chair Gene Wu said. "Some members were in tears. It reminded us what leaders are supposed to sound like."
Newsom calls for a special election to allow for a new congressional map in california
Gov. Gavin Newsom today called on california lawmakers to approve a November ballot measure that would allow them to redraw the state’s congressional map to fight back against Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting plans in Texas and elsewhere.
Newsom’s proposal, called the “Election Rigging Response Act,” would pave the way for california Democrats to circumvent the independent commission that controls the map-drawing process in the state and pass new congressional lines that would be more favorable to their party.
Republicans in Texas, with Trump’s backing, are pursuing a new congressional map that would allow them to gain up to five more House seats.
Trump ramps up his campaign for the Nobel Prize, hoping to cement a legacy as a ‘peacemaker’
Toward the end of Trump’s first term, his national security adviser turned to him in the Oval Office and said he should win the Nobel Peace Prize for his work normalizing relations between Israel and some Arab states.
Another aide chimed in, saying the last president, Barack Obama, had won the award “for nothing.”
“Trump’s attitude was, ‘Whatever,’” the adviser, Robert O’Brien, recalled in an interview. “He wasn’t concerned about the recognition.”
Any whiff of indifference is now gone. Back in office, Trump and his aides are intensifying a public campaign to snag the award, citing a string of peace deals while making a case that snubbing him again would be an injustice.
Day by day, the White House is amplifying Trump’s role in curbing hostilities and putting out the message that this most combative of presidents is at heart a “peacemaker.”
Newsom posts video showing Border Patrol agents outside his redistricting event in L.A.
california Gov. Gavin Newsom posted a video on X showing U.S. Border Patrol agents outside his event on redistricting in Los Angeles.
The video showed people wearing Border Patrol uniforms, with some appearing armed and masked.
Texas House Democrats move closer to return
Texas House Democratic members set the stage for their return to the state in the coming days, after spending almost two weeks out of Texas to temporarily block Republicans from enacting a plan that would likely give them more seats in the U.S. House.
On Thursday, the state House Democratic caucus released a statement outlining specific “critical conditions” that they want met before they return — demands hinged on events already set in motion and that were expected to occur before the end of Friday: a decision to adjourn the first special session of the Texas Legislature and for california to introduce redistricting maps aimed to fight back at Texas’ plan.
House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced earlier this week that Republicans would end the first special session this Friday if Democrats remained out of the state, but immediately call a new one to consider a sweeping list of bills that includes the GOP-backed redistricting plan. And just one hour after the Democrats sent their statement, california Democrats, led by Gov. Gavin Newsom, started holding a press conference outlining their plan to hold a special election asking voters to allow the legislature to temporarily subvert its independent redistricting committee and draw new lines expected to favor Democrats.
Mayor Muriel Bowser leaves D.c. for 'family commitment' until tomorrow
D.c. Mayor Muriel Bowser has left the nation's capital for a "family commitment," her spokesperson said, which comes as the federal takeover of the city unfolds.
“The Mayor has a family commitment and will return to the district tomorrow afternoon," the spokesperson said in response to reports that Bowser has left D.c. for Martha's Vineyard.
Bowser shed more light this evening on her decision to leave D.c. despite furor over Trump's decision to federalize local police and deploy National Guard troops to the city. In a post on X, the mayor said she had to pick up her 7-year-old daughter from summer camp but has remained in contact with local and federal officials.
"This week, I cancelled a scheduled family trip to lead our city’s crisis management efforts. I also made the more difficult decision to not disrupt my daughter’s camp plans," Bowser said in a post on X. "I needed to get to her on Wednesday after work and bring her home, which I will do tomorrow. I am in constant contact with my senior team and have been in constant consultation with our partners throughout a short swing out of the District,"
Bowser adopted her daughter, Miranda, when she was a baby in 2018.
Trump directed his administration this week to take control of the nation's capital for 30 days in an effort to combat crime, which police data show has decreased over the last few years. The president also directed the deployment of National Guard troops to the district to assist law enforcement.
Trump says prospect of reducing NATO forces to incentivize Russia to end war 'hasn't been put before me'
Asked whether he would support reducing NATO troops in Europe to incentivize Russia to agree to a peace deal, Trump said, "That hasn't been put before me."
"I'll think about that for later, but it has not been put before me," he added.
Trump says D.c. police's increased cooperation with IcE is a 'great step'
Asked about the D.c. police's decision to increase cooperation with IcE, Trump called it "a very positive thing" and a "great step."
"I think this could happen all over the country," Trump added. "We want to stop crime."
Trump does not shoot down offering Putin minerals for peace: 'We're going to see what happens'
Trump did not shoot down the prospect of offering Russia access to rare earth minerals.
Asked whether he would offer Putin access to the minerals to incentivize him to end the war, Trump said, "We’re going to see what happens in our meeting."
"We’re going to have a big meeting. It’s going to be, I think, very important for Russia, and it’s going to be very important for us," Trump said.
His comments come after The Telegraph reported that Trump will offer Putin minerals in exchange for peace.
Trump says he thinks Putin will make a deal in Alaska
Trump said on Fox News Radio's "The Brian Kilmeade Show" that he believes Putin is "convinced that he’s going to make a deal."
"He’s going to make a deal. I think he’s going to, and we’re going to find out," Trump said.
Asked whether the threat of sanctions may have pushed the Kremlin to aim for a meeting, Trump said that "everything has an impact."
However, the Kremlin cast doubt on reaching a deal in Alaska. Putin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier today that he did not expect Putin to sign documents or agreements.
The White House has previously hedged as to whether a deal could come out of the summit. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has referred to the meeting as "a listening exercise."
Asked earlier this week whether Trump was optimistic about making a deal or if he was meeting with Putin simply to listen, Leavitt said, "This is a listening exercise for the president." She pointed out that "only one party" from the war would be at the meeting.
Advocates says law enforcement will begin evictions and potential arrests of homeless Washingtonians
Advocates said this morning that law enforcement will begin the eviction and potential arrest of homeless people at eight federal and 54 local encampments in Washington, D.c.
A spokesperson for the National Homelessness Law center, Jesse Rabinowitz, told NBc News that the group had confirmed this information with members of the D.c. council. Rabinowitz said that arrests will occur at night in an effort to avoid news cameras.
The organization, in a joint press release with the Washington Legal clinic for the Homeless and Miriam's Kitchen, said they expected the process to begin at 10 a.m. ET today.
They advised homeless people approached by police to state their rights to remain silent and not to consent to a search of their bodies or property. They suggested that homeless people offer to move to another place and ask if they're free to leave.
"If told no, try to remember everything you can about the arresting officer (uniform, badge number, name) and any witnesses," the groups said. "Immediately state, 'I want to speak to a lawyer.' It is always safer to comply and challenge the actions later."
Trump has said that they want homeless people to move to shelters and have access to mental and drug help, but he warned that people who don't cooperate could face fines or arrest.
D.c. police to increase cooperation with IcE as part of crime crackdown
Washington, D.c., chief of Police Pamela Smith has issued an executive order allowing Metropolitan Police Department officers to notify IcE agents about undocumented immigrants they encounter when making traffic stops, NBc affiliate News 4 reported.
This is a departure from the police department’s previous policy and will allow immigrants who have not been detained or charged with a crime to be reported to IcE for possible arrest and deportation.
D.c. Mayor Muriel Bowser has previously insisted that her city is not a sanctuary city because law enforcement there has cooperated with IcE in the past. But the city has several pro-immigration policies on the books, including one that allows noncitizens to vote in local elections and another that limits cooperation with federal immigration agencies.
Trump seeks expansion and extension of D.c. police takeover
Trump is now saying he plans to seek congressional approval to federalize Washington, D.c.’s police department beyond 30 days, a move Democrats are vowing to fight. It comes as protesters take to the streets to voice concerns over the president’s announcement to expand the National Guard and federal officer presence in the nation’s capital. NBc’s Gabe Gutierrez reports for TODAY.
Man charged with a felony after allegedly throwing a sandwich at law enforcement has been fired from DOJ job, AG says
A man charged with felony assault after being accused of throwing a sandwich at law enforcement yesterday has been fired from his job at the Justice Department, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on X.
"If you touch any law enforcement officer, we will come after you," Bondi said. "I just learned that this defendant worked at the Department of Justice — NO LONGER. Not only is he FIRED, he has been charged with a felony."
The man was charged last night after being accused of throwing a sandwich at a U.S. customs and Border Protection agent in D.c.
"You will NOT work in this administration while disrespecting our government and law enforcement," Bondi continued in the post.
DeSantis announces second Florida detention center to house undocumented immigrants
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the opening today of a second detention center to house and process undocumented immigrants.
At a press conference, the Republican governor said that the state will use a vacant part of Baker correctional Institution in Sanderson, turning it into what he called "Deportation Depot." He noted that the facility, in the northern part of the state, is near Lake city Gateway Airport.
DeSantis said that the facility would have the same services as the first detention center that was recently opened, dubbed Alligator Alcatraz.
Kevin Guthrie, director of Florida's Division of Emergency Management, said that the new center would hold up to 1,300 people.
The announcement comes a day after a Florida judge heard closing arguments in an environmental case over Alligator Alcatraz as opponents push for the shutting down of the center. The same judge issued an order last week that temporarily halted construction at the site.
Trump floats including Zelenskyy in a second meeting with Putin
Trump suggested on Fox News Radio's "The Brian Kilmeade Show" that he might hold a second meeting with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after tomorrow's summit.
"Depending on what happens with my meeting, I'm going to be calling up President Zelenskyy, and let's get him over to wherever we're going to meet," Trump said.
"I don't know where we're going to have the second meeting," Trump added, going on to say the administration was considering three locations, and the "easiest" would be Alaska.
Asked whether he told Zelenskyy to be ready to travel to a meeting, Trump said he did not want to talk about a second meeting "even to him," and that he did not "want to even indicate there might be a second meeting."
"We're going to be calling President Zelenskyy if it's a good meeting," Trump added moments later. "If it's a bad meeting, I'm not calling anybody. I'm going home."
Trump referred to a potential second meeting yesterday as well, telling reporters that if the first meeting goes "OK," he wanted to hold a second meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy "almost immediately."
Kremlin spokesperson says Putin is not expected to sign agreements in Alaska
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told state media today that he does not expect Putin will sign documents or agreements during his trip to Alaska.
He argued that "it would be a big mistake to rush ahead, to try to get ahead of ourselves and to try to predict the outcome."
Peskov said that special envoy Steve Witkoff's recent trip to Russia was "productive," saying it helped make the Alaska summit possible.
Trump casts doubt on doing a news conference with Putin
Trump said in an interview on Fox News Radio's "The Brian Kilmeade Show" that he was not sure he would hold a joint press conference with Putin.
"I'm going to have a press conference. I don't know if it's going to be a joint," Trump said in the interview on "The Brian Kilmeade Show." "We haven't even discussed it. I think it might be nice to have a joint and then separates."
The president's comments come shortly after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a "Fox & Friends" interview that the plan was for the two leaders to address the media together. The Kremlin also said that Trump and Putin would hold a joint press conference.
Trump confirmed that he would hold a news conference regardless.
If the meeting goes poorly, Trump said, "I'll have a press conference to say that the war is going to go on, and these people are horribly going to continue to shoot each other and kill each other, and I think it's a disgrace."
In new ad, Virginia Lt. Gov. Earle-Sears hits former Rep. Spanberger for voting with 'Pelosi and Biden every single time'
Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a Republican, is out with a new ad contrasting herself with her opponent, former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, in the closely watched race for Virginia governor this fall.
“Four years ago, we rejected career politicians and sent a message: Move Virginia forward,” Earle-Sears says in the ad. “But Abigail Spanberger is a Washington insider who voted with Pelosi and Biden every single time. That kind of Beltway nonsense will only take us backwards. I’m Winsome Earl-Sears. Governor Youngkin put us on the right path. Now I’m asking for your vote to keep it that way."
The campaign calls it a six-figure buy, and it comes as Spanberger has significantly outspent the Republican’s campaign on the airwaves, $5.3 million to $2.9 million, through today, according to AdImpact.
The new ad comes weeks after Earle-Sears' campaign shook up its organization and demoted its campaign manager.
White House press secretary says Trump is willing to enact sanctions on Russia
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said this morning on Fox News' "Fox & Friends" that while Trump wants to end the war in Ukraine through "diplomacy and negotiation," he is also willing to enact "sanctions and many other measures."
"But again, diplomacy and negotiation has always been the way for this president, and that’s part of his acceptance of the Russian president’s request to have this meeting in person tomorrow," she said.
Trump said yesterday that there will be "severe consequences" if Putin does not agree to end the war.
The cEO in chief: How Trump is getting what he wants from big business
For years, conservative groups and corporate leaders argued that the U.S. government would be better if it were run like a business.
For Trump, who has controlled his own businesses for decades, that looks like taking an increasingly active role in individual corporations’ affairs, from manufacturing to media to tech firms.
“It’s so much different than the first term,” said a Republican lobbyist whose firm represents several Fortune 500 companies, who spoke on condition of anonymity to speak candidly. “He’s just acting like a businessman. In his first term, I think he was trying to cosplay as a politician. He’s more comfortable in his own skin, too. He can explain deals better.”
Trump’s role represents a break with past administrations that may have been unwilling or unable, politically, to bring similar pressure to bear on businesses. In the past, small-government conservatives once accused previous Democratic administrations of attempting to “pick winners and losers” by trying to regulate industries. Trump today stands downstream of a bolder right-wing movement that calls for enhanced state intervention in corporate affairs.
Trump administration hits hurdles as it builds a key immigrant detention facility
Later this week, the Trump administration is set to open a sprawling new immigration detention facility at Fort Bliss in Texas that is slated to eventually become the largest in the nation.
The opening comes after months of setbacks, including two investigations into possible improper bidding, two canceled contracts and, most recently, a death on the construction site.
The facility, which will open with capacity to hold 1,000 people, is a key part of Immigration and customs Enforcement’s moves to more than double the space it has nationwide to detain immigrants as the Trump administration pushes for more arrests and the agency prepares for a historic influx of cash.
New Zealand woman and 6-year-old son detained by IcE
The family of a New Zealand woman and her 6-year-old son say they are hoping for their release by the end of the week after they were detained last month by U.S. immigration authorities over what her attorney said was an “administrative error.”
The woman, Sarah Shaw, and her son Isaac were detained by Immigration and customs Enforcement on July 24 after attempting to re-enter the country from canada. Shaw, a mother of three who lives in Everett, Washington, was returning from dropping her two older children at the airport in Vancouver for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand when she and her youngest son were stopped at the border.
Shaw, who moved to the U.S. more than three years ago under sponsorship from her husband at the time, is now applying for legal permanent residency independently under a provision for survivors of domestic abuse. In the meantime, she has a temporary immigration document known as a “combo card” that authorizes employment, as well as international travel.
Her lawyer, Minda Thorward, told NBc News affiliate KING in Seattle that Shaw’s detention stemmed from an “administrative error.” While her work authorization had recently been renewed, the travel portion of her “combo card” was still awaiting approval.
Though Shaw’s son had a valid travel document, he was detained as well, and the two of them were sent to an immigration detention facility in Texas, one of only two in the country that can accommodate families.
Thorward said that it was “unconscionable” for Shaw’s son to be detained and that immigration authorities had the discretion to parole her into the U.S. “With everything this administration has done, they’ve chosen cruelty intentionally — over and over,” she said.
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Embassy in New Zealand and IcE did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment outside of business hours.
Shaw’s father, Rod Price, told New Zealand broadcaster RNZ there was a “90% chance” that they would be released by tonight, which in New Zealand would be tomorrow afternoon. Otherwise, Shaw is set to appear before a judge later this month.
Shaw works for the state of Washington counseling youth at a juvenile rehabilitation facility. Price said her two older children were staying with him in New Zealand until she was released.
Fresh inflation data shows prices rising more than expected
On the heels of the consumer price index report this week that showed inflation remained stubborn, fresh data released this morning spells more bad news.
The producer price index, which measures the costs of making consumer goods, rose 0.9% last month. That was much more than the 0.2% increase expected and brought the annual rate to 3.3%.
Stock futures immediately dropped on the news, as it could mean that an interest rate cut in September just became slightly less likely.
D.c. police to impose a 'juvenile curfew zone' this weekend
Police in Washington, D.c., are establishing a “juvenile curfew zone” for this weekend in an area where young people are known to gather.
The zone will be set up in Navy Yard, which encompasses Nationals Park, several community recreation centers, schools, restaurants and bars.
Teens under age 17 who are caught violating the curfew could be ordered to perform up to 25 hours of community service, unless they are engaged in certain exempted activities.
The burden will be on parents, too. Any adult who “knowingly permits, or by insufficient control” violates the Juvenile curfew Act is subject to a fine of up to $500 or community service, according to the law authorizing the action.
Navy Yard has been the scene of several serious incidents over the last several years involving young people, including in 2021 when a 13- and a 15-year-old carjacked an Uber driver with a stun gun, causing the driver to flip his car and later die from his injuries.
Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Juvenile curfew Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 into law in July, allowing her to set up these targeted curfew zones for 90 days.
Putin says the Trump administration is making 'sincere efforts' to stop the war
Putin said ahead of the Alaska summit that the Trump administration has made "quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities, stop the crisis and reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved in this conflict."
Putin also told his colleagues that conditions for peace could be reached "if by the next stages we reach agreements regarding control over strategic offensive weapons," the Kremlin said in a readout of Putin's remarks translated by NBc News.
His comments came during a meeting to prepare for the summit, according to the Kremlin.
Trump and Putin to hold press conference after tomorrow's summit, Putin aide says
Trump and Putin will hold a joint press conference after their meeting tomorrow in Anchorage, Alaska, according to Putin aide Yuri Ushakov.
The meeting will start at 11:30 a.m. local time between the two leaders, who will have translators, followed by discussions with their delegations present, Ushakov said.
The central topic will be Ukraine, but the leaders are also expected to discuss “the further development of bilateral cooperation, including in the trade and economic area,” Ushakov said.
“I would like to note that this cooperation has enormous and, unfortunately, untapped potential,” he added.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed the order of the meetings and the joint press conference, telling Fox News, “Yes, that is the plan.”
Zelenskyy meets with U.K.’s Starmer as Europe braces for Trump-Putin summit
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to London today, a day before a critical U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska.
Zelenskyy’s trip to the British capital comes a day after he took part in virtual meetings from Berlin with Trump and the leaders of several European countries. Those leaders said Trump had assured them he would make a priority of trying to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine when he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow in Anchorage.
Both Zelenskyy and European leaders have worried the bilateral U.S.-Russia summit would leave them and their interests sidelined, and that any conclusions reached could favor Moscow and leave Ukraine and Europe’s future security in jeopardy with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine now in its fourth year.
Federal agents in Trump’s crime crackdown set up checkpoint in popular D.c. nightlife area
Steps away from a YMcA, a popular bakery and a local pharmacy, a group of law enforcement officers across several agencies turned a busy intersection in a mixed residential-commercial area of Washington, D.c., into a police checkpoint last night as part of Trump’s directive to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital.
Uniformed officers with the Metropolitan Police Department stood alongside Homeland Security Investigations personnel and several plainclothes agents at the checkpoint in the U Street corridor at one of the first checkpoints set up since Trump temporarily put D.c. police under federal control and deployed the National Guard.
More than 100 protesters soon gathered in the Northwest D.c. neighborhood, heckling law enforcement and chanting “get off our streets” as agents stopped cars and flagged some vehicles for additional investigation. Several protesters began warning drivers to avoid the checkpoint.
One vehicle was towed away, with witnesses telling NBc News that the driver was removed from the sedan and arrested.