Kyiv's leader, Zelenskyy, spurns Putin's invite: "He's welcome in Kyiv"
In the Pacific, Hurricane Kiko has forced Hawaii authorities to declare a state of emergency, as the powerful storm threatens the islands with heavy rain and strong winds.
Meanwhile, in international politics, a series of developments have unfolded. President Donald Trump has expressed uncertainty about a reported North Korea SEAL Team 6 mission, while he has made a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy a priority in his efforts to broker a peace deal.
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has been at the centre of these diplomatic efforts. In a recent interview, he accused Putin of "playing games with the United States," and stated that he cannot visit Moscow while Ukraine is under missile attacks and under attack.
Zelenskyy has also declined Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation to negotiate in Moscow, expressing concerns that if a meeting does not occur during the war, Putin could propose something unacceptable. Putin, however, has expressed understanding of Zelenskyy's position.
Trump has stated his intention to put the two leaders in a room together, but a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy has yet to be confirmed. In an interview with "This Week" co-anchor Raddatz, Zelenskyy stated that Putin's offer for a meeting was intended to "postpone the meeting."
Zelenskyy and Martha Raddatz, Chief Global Affairs Correspondent for ABC News, toured a manufacturing plant in western Ukraine that was recently targeted by a Russian missile attack. Zelenskyy expressed readiness for a meeting with Putin in "any kind of format."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy will not take place. Instead, Zelenskyy mentioned seven countries (Austria, the Holy See, Switzerland, Türkiye, and three Gulf states) as potential hosts for peace talks that he would attend.
Countries that have expressed readiness to mediate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, in which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to participate, include Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Switzerland.
Trump later stated that a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy would happen after the Ukrainian leader came to the White House. However, Trump's aim to make a trilateral meeting between the leaders of the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine the goal of his summit in Alaska with Putin remains uncertain, as Trump indicated that he is unsure about a bilateral meeting.
In a separate development, a man pardoned by Trump after a Jan. 6 conviction has been arrested following an animal attack. This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing legal and political challenges that Trump faces.
Amidst these global shifts, the situation in Ukraine continues to be a focal point, with both parties seeking a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
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