Trump at Zelensky presser: "We can work on a peace deal while they're fighting. They have to fight."

[bigtree]

Trump:

"...we can work a deal where we're working on a peace deal while they're fighting. They have to fight. I wish they could stop. I'd like them to stop, but strategically, that could be a disadvantage for one side or the other. But all of these deals I made without even the mention of the word ceasefire."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/trump-says-ukraine-ceasefire-not-needed-zelenskyy-open-to-meeting-putin/ar-

Russia bombards Ukrainian city hours after Washington summit



KYIV, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Russia struck the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk overnight, leaving a thick column of smoke hovering over the city in an attack that the local mayor called a sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want peace.

The bombardment on that city as well as other locations in Ukraine was Russia's largest so far in August, according to the Ukrainian air force. It followed Donald Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European leaders in Washington on Monday as the U.S. president seeks an end to Russia's war in Ukraine.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-bombards-ukrainian-city-hours-after-washington-summit-2025-08-19/

Russia Responds To Washington Talks With Mass Drone And Missile Strikes On Ukraine

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-peace-talks-airstrike-casulaties-kharkiv-donetsk-zaporizhzhya-kherson-poltava-chernihiv/33507183.html

Vladimir Putin turns up the heat, while the White House cajoles Kyiv to accept a deal.

Russia killed at least nine people during a wave of attacks on dozens of Ukrainian cities and towns hours before a high-stakes summit at the White House featuring President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders.

Moscow’s drones and missiles rained down on Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Odesa late Sunday and early Monday, targeting apartment buildings and other civilian infrastructure, according to local officials. In Kharkiv, five people were killed, including two children, with at least 17 others injured, the region’s governor wrote on Telegram.

At least three people were killed in Russian strikes in Donetsk, the region’s governor said. Large parts of the territory on Russia’s border have been occupied by Moscow’s troops, but Ukraine maintains critical defensive fortifications in the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin last week demanded Ukraine cede full control of the region as part of a peace deal, according to reports.

https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-bomb-ukraine-donald-trump-volodymyr-zelenskyy-summit/

...just in this hour:

CSPAN @cspan 1h
@PressSec Karoline Leavitt: "President Trump is the only president this century, Republican or Democrat, who has held Russia in check and ensured peace in Europe."

Link to tweet

[notinkansas]

1. trump has held Russia in check?

I think the 'check' is actually the other way around.

[emulatorloo]

2. You're right. She's just another Trump administration liar.

[Tommy Carcetti]

3. If Russian soldiers stop fighting, they get to go home to Russia.

If Ukrainian soldiers stop fighting, they lose their country.

[Deuxcents]

4. TSF did not seem to hear a word from the German representative that said a ceasefire or truce

Needed to be done right away before the next meeting to be of any progress. I’m beginning to think it’s TSF is the stumbling block to any peaceful resolution because he’s too far up Putin’s back side to be of any rational thought process

[markie]

5. TSF IS DEFINITELY

getting in the way of any peaceful solution.... so very frustrating to see this happening