
President Donald Trump said he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss ending the Ukraine war, potentially without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy present, while criticizing Zelenskyy's leadership and suggesting Ukraine needs a new president.
AI-generated summary
Trump has previously criticized Zelenskyy and suggested Ukraine needs a new leader, while also expressing willingness to engage with Russia and China on ending the Ukraine war amid ongoing sanctions and military support debates.
President Donald Trump said Monday that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss how to end the Ukraine war, while criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump suggested that a meeting between the world leaders, which Putin reportedly proposed, could take place without Zelenskyy present.
"Anything I can do to end the war, whether somebody's there or not," Trump told reporters when asked about the potential meeting as he departed the White House for a campaign rally in Kansas.
Trump also said that Russia and China, which have been accused of supporting Iran in its ongoing military efforts against the U.S., have both done "very little" for Tehran.
When asked about Zelenskyy's criticism of Trump's recent decision to waive new sanctions against Russia — and his recent claim that Trump is the wrong side of history — the U.S. president once again lashed out at the Ukrainian leader.
"Zelenskyy doesn't know what he's talking about," Trump said. "Zelenskyy is a man that should have had this war settled a long time ago."
"I think it's time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine," Trump added, echoing his prior call for Kyiv to "get a new president."
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Trump will proceed with a meeting involving Putin and Xi to discuss Ukraine war resolution.
Likely · Within weeks
Trump will continue to criticize Zelenskyy and advocate for new leadership in Ukraine.
Very likely · Within weeks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and preventing renewed war after talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi in Tehran, while Araqchi warned of an energy crisis if the United States attacks Iran. On the other hand, US President Donald Trump announced his support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the elections scheduled for October 27, and predicted a landslide victory for him in a phone call broadcast by Netanyahu.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a surprise meeting in Israel, eight days before the country's elections, amid discussions between the US and Israel about the possibility of resuming large-scale combat operations against Iran, two sources familiar with the matter told Axios.

A nighttime curfew was imposed in some major cities in France, including Paris, on the 19th. The aim is to put a stop to the deterioration in public order, which has seen repeated arson and looting by mobs since the large-scale demonstration on the 17th. Outside of Paris, Lyon, Nice, Bordeaux, and Lille have banned nighttime curfews in their central areas, with Lille, Nice, and Bordeaux restricting restrictions to minors, and restrictions in those three cities continuing after the 20th. The only prohibited areas in Paris are around Les Halles and Place de la République. District Mayor Ariel Bayle called for the military to be called in, but Prime Minister Le Cornu urged a calm response, saying the situation was concentrated in the city center.

With Israel's general election just a week away, Prime Minister Netanyahu's responsibility for responding to the attack on Gaza has become a point of contention, and Yashar's leader, Eisenkot, has vowed to destroy Hamas's military wing. Opinion polls show Yashar in the lead with 21.5 seats, followed by Likud with 19 seats, with neither camp reaching a majority, and post-election coalition building will be key.

As demonstrations continue in France against high prices and the deterioration of public services, a series of protests took place in Italy, Belgium and other countries from last weekend until the 19th, with some groups turning into rioters, clashing with police, setting fires and destroying stores, with many arrested. Although the background of the demonstrations differs in each country, dissatisfaction with soaring living costs, increased educational costs, and government austerity measures is widespread.

China's statement supporting Iran provides diplomatic cover for Tehran and frames the strikes as illegal aggression, according to Tehran Times, while widening the diplomatic rift with the US and Israel and raising energy market risks due to Gulf-region fighting affecting oil shipping and global prices, per Asia News Network.