Trump hints US could back European security guarantees after Zelenskyy meeting

Donald Trump has said that the US could aid European security guarantees as he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.

He later said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had accepted security guarantees for Ukraine.

Trump also said they would discuss "the possible exchanges of territory", before abruptly appearing to change his position on a ceasefire saying: "all of us would prefer an immediate ceasefire while we work on a lasting peace."

Trump sat down with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, before meeting with European leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, President Macron of France and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The Oval Office meeting was much more cordial than their infamous meeting in February, in which Trump berated Zelenskyy in front of the world's media.

Trump said there was a “good chance” of ending the war through these meetings.

“I know the president, I know myself, and I believe Vladimir Putin wants to see it end,” Trump said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy's meeting with Donald Trump was much less fractious than their last encounter in the Oval Office. Credit: AP

"If everything works out today, we'll have a trilat," Trump said, referring to possible trilateral talks among Zelenskyy, Putin and Trump. "We're going to work with Russia, we're going to work with Ukraine."

Zelenskyy also expressed openness to trilateral talks.

"We are ready for trilateral as the president said," Zelenskyy said. "It's a good signal about trilateral. I think this is very good."

Trump also hinted that the US could join Europe in providing security guarantees to Ukraine, although he did not give any details on what that would entail.

"They want to give protection," Trump said of European allies. "They feel very strongly about it and we'll help them out with it. I think it's very important."

Trump stopped short of committing U.S. troops to the effort, saying instead that details would be hashed out in their afternoon meeting with EU leaders.

European leaders have joined President Zelenskyy and President Trump for talks on Ukraine Credit: AP

Also in Washington are Sir Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, and Alexander Stubb, president of Finland.

Nato Chief Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are also attending.

Sitting in the East Room, Trump recognised all of those around the table, with each leader taking the opportunity to speak. The President also appeared to change his mind on a ceasefire, saying: "all of us would obviously prefer the immediate ceasefire while we work on a lasting peace.”He added that he likes a ceasefire because it would “immediately stop the killing,” but reiterated that a peace agreement between the two countries is “very attainable” at this point in the war.The German chancellor said he would “like to see a ceasefire from the next meeting, which should be a trilateral meeting” with Ukraine, Russia and the US. He praised Trump for his efforts to help work out an ending to the war.

Earlier, Trump said on his Truth Social platform that Zelenskyy "can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight."

He added there would be "no going into Nato by Ukraine" and "no getting back" of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

The US president appeared excited for Monday's meeting, adding "big day at the White House tomorrow. Never had so many European Leaders at one time. My great honour to host them!!!"

Zelenskyy appeared to respond to Trump, saying: "Peace must be lasting. Not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our East—part of Donbas—and Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack," he added.

Donetsk and Luhansk, two mineral-rich regions of Ukraine that are mostly occupied by Russian forces, could be the proposed price for peace.

In exchange, the Russian president would reportedly withdraw his forces from other areas of Ukraine and accept a Nato-like security guarantee that Ukraine would be protected from further incursion.

By arriving as a group, leaders hope to avoid any debacles like 

Zelenskyy's February meeting with Trump, where the Ukrainian president left early after being chastised by Trump  and his Vice-President JD Vance in front of the press.

The public spat, which saw Vance accuse Zelenskyy of not being thankful enough to the US, resulted in American aid to Ukraine being temporarily halted.

The European leaders will also push to protect Ukraine from having to submit to Russian land grabs as a price for peace.

The European leaders have said it is up to Ukraine to decide how it wishes to end the war, and hailed Zelenskyy’s commitment to a peace.

US President Donald Trump appeared to drop calls for a ceasefire following a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Credit: AP

Trump has appeared to drop his calls for a ceasefire after his summit in Alaska with the Russian President.

Putin has long refused to agree to a ceasefire as a precondition for talks to end the war, prompting fears that Russia could continue gaining ground in Ukraine as negotiations take place.

The US president has instead said he wants to focus on a long-term peace deal, though his secretary of state Marco Rubio has signalled a deal is “still a long way off”.

There will be “additional consequences” for Russia if it does not agree to a peace deal, Mr Rubio added, though he suggested fresh financial sanctions would be unlikely to force Putin to the negotiating table.

Zelenskyy, however, had indicated that a ceasefire is his preference, telling reporters on Sunday "it’s impossible to do this under the pressure of weapons. So it’s necessary to cease fire and work quickly on a final deal."

Scores of Transport for London staff face deportation under new UK visa rules

Scores of foreign Transport for London (TfL) staff could be deported because of rule changes which mean they no longer qualify for visa sponsorship.

More than 60 employees who came to the UK on skilled worker visas may have to leave because salary thresholds have gone up and key transport roles have been taken off the eligible list.

TfL said it was "working with all colleagues affected by the changes... to understand whether they have other routes to work in the UK available to them and to support them where possible".

Some London Assembly members called the move "unfair and short-sighted", but the Home Office said its immigration white paper, external was designed to "restore order" to immigration.

It added: "Under this approach, every sector will be required to implement a workforce strategy focused on training British workers, or risk losing access to the immigration system, as part of wider efforts to reinforce the integrity of the points-based system and end dependence on lower-skilled international recruitment."

TfL is obliged to comply with the changes, which took effect on 22 July and will remain until at least the end of 2026.

It is believed many of the workers took jobs on two-year graduate visa schemes thinking they could later move into skilled worker positions, according to the RMT union.

The transport body currently pays a £31,000 starting salary for graduates and advises candidates who need sponsorship to see if they can get this before applying.

Trainee station staff are believed to earn between £35,300 and £41,800, the latter of which is only £100 above the new £41,700 per year minimum salary threshold.

RMT general secretary, Eddie Dempsey, said: "Our members took these jobs in good faith, on the understanding that they could progress and continue building their futures here.

"Now the new government rules risk shattering these workers' lives and leaving gaps in employment for London Underground."

Image caption,

The Home Office has been urged to reverse the "unfair and short-sighted" changes

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, an anonymous at-risk employee said they just wanted a fair chance to work and loved their job.

They added: "What did I do wrong? What did any of my 60 colleagues facing the same fate, do wrong? I have seen them go above and beyond their normal work duties, even preventing vulnerable members of the travelling public from committing suicide on the network.

"Getting the news that my job was now not on a list which would make me eligible to stay in the country, has taken an enormous toll on me and my family. It was like a nuclear bomb going off in our household."

The leader of London Assembly's Liberal Democrat group, Hina Bokhari, said: "Deporting vital Tube staff because of sudden last-minute rule changes is unfair and short-sighted.

"London relies on the skills and commitment of these people."

Green Party Assembly member Caroline Russell said: "The government should withdraw these cruel changes that are going to ruin lives by sending away the workers London depends upon."

US demands $15,000 deposit for visa applicants from two African countries

The US will require citizens from Malawi and Zambia to pay a $15,000 (£11,300) deposit for a tourist or business visa, according to the US state department.

The 12-month pilot programme aims to curb visa overstays "or where screening and vetting information is considered deficient, external", according to a notice published by the state department.

Officials say that citizens of countries other than Malawi and Zambia may soon also need to pay a similar deposit, which will be returned at the end of their visit to the US.

The US administration has taken several steps to further President Donald Trump's agenda of stemming illegal immigration.

Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term to this effect.

The state department notice, published on Tuesday, says: "Aliens applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure (B-1/B-2) and who are nationals of countries identified by the Department as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or offering Citizenship by Investment, if the alien obtained citizenship with no residency requirement, may be subject to the pilot program.

"Consular officers may require covered non-immigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers."

Figures published in 2023 by the US Department of Homeland Security, external show that about 14% of visitors from Malawi overstay their visas, compared to 11% of Zambian visitors.

Other countries with high overstay rates include Haiti (31%), Myanmar (27%) and Yemen (20%).

Zambia Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe told the BBC that the government was "engaging our counterparts to get a full understanding of the implications and what can be done, if anything, to address the underlying issues".

Since coming to office in January, Trump has signed orders to roll back humanitarian programmes for migrants from certain countries who are already in the US.

The Republican president has also banned foreign nationals from 12 countries from travelling to the US, and imposed partial restrictions on another seven.

His administration has revoked visas for hundreds of international students and detained several others on college campuses across the US, often without any warning or recourse for appeals.

The state department has said it is targeting those who were involved in activities that "run counter" to US national interests.

Many of those targeted have participated in some form of pro-Palestinian activity.

But there have been other cases where cancellations appear to be connected to those with some sort of criminal record, or legal infractions like driving over the speed limit, immigration lawyers have said.

Additional reporting by Shingai Nyoka

Team Adebayo Adelabu-In-Diaspora Converges in UK, Solicits Support Ahead 2027 Election

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A collective of professionals, technocrats, entrepreneurs and businessmen, operating under the banner of Team Adebayo Adelabu-In-Diaspora  comprising associates and colleagues of the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu has assembled in Manchester City, United Kingdom 

The objective is to consolidate strategies to ensure Chief Adelabu becomes the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer in Oyo State and secures victory in the 2027 gubernatorial election.

Under the leadership of Chief Coordinator Otunba Bushie Ferrari, the team is actively canvassing support across Europe to favor the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, in his upcoming electoral pursuit in 2027.

Members of the team, who addressed the gathering in turn, praised Chief Adelabu’s contributions and achievements within the power sector, asserting that electricity supply in Nigeria has markedly improved.

The group urged the residents of Oyo State across political divides to place their confidence in Chief Adelabu, emphasizing that he is the sole gubernatorial candidate with extensive experience who comprehends the political landscape and the aspirations of the state’s populace, and he is committed to advancing Oyo's social-economic progress.

Team Adebayo Adelabu-In-Diaspora elaborated that  Mr. Adelab is a reliable figure with proven integrity who will not diminish the morale of the people of Oyo State.

"He is committed to ensuring fair distribution of the state’s resources and promoting grassroots development, which has previously suffered from neglect" Otunba Bushie Ferrari emphasised 

The group highlighted their intention to deploy all available resources, both domestic and international, to guarantee the success of the Minister of Power’s ambition in the 2027 general election.

Articulating the resolve of Team Adebayo Adelabu-In-Diaspora, Otunba Ferrari assured that the group is strategically positioned and possesses the necessary capabilities to secure Chief Adelabu’s victory in 2027.

The Director, Mobilisation and Strategic Planning, Friend of Bayo Adelabu in Diaspora, Mr Rasheed Kunle Alatise further stated that the team is mobilizing efforts across Europe in support of Chief Adebayo Adelabu and is resolute in deploying all necessary mechanisms to achieve its objectives and accomplishments.

Earlier in an address, the Chief Host, and also the Co-ordinator Team Adebayo Adelabu in London and Europe, Mr. Bayo Animasaun thanked the members for coming down to Manchester and affirmed the determination of the team to succeed.

Others who also graced the gathering are: Mr. Adeyemi Adekunle, Mr. Oluwadamilare Sowunmi, Mr Wole Ogunkeyede,  Prince Frederick Ademola, Dr Vincent Ajayi, Mr Hassan Kuku Segun, Mr. Collins Sanyaolu.

Others include Mr Femi Adimula and Mr Olusegun Abioye.

Report updated by Lashley Oladigbolu, London