Trump on his meeting with the Europeans and Zelensky:

I would rate it a 10. Very friendly.

Trump on Ukraine:

There is a very good chance we will have a second meeting.

Trump:

If the first meeting goes okay, I would like to have a second meeting almost immediately between Putin, Zelensky and myself if they want me there.

Trump:

If I don't get the answers I want, there will be no second meeting.

Reporter: Will there be consequences for Putin and Russia if he does not agree to stop the war on Friday?

Trump: There will be very severe consequences.

Trump's call with European leaders discussed possible locations for a meeting between Zelensky, Trump, and Putin after the Alaska summit.

Possible locations included cities in Europe and the Middle East.

Source: Reuters

Reporter: Do you believe you can convince Putin to stop targeting civilians in Ukraine?

Trump: I guess the answer is no. Because I had that conversation.

Trump’s envoy Witkoff is backing a proposal reportedly discussed with Russian officials to model a Ukraine settlement on Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.

Under the idea, Russia would control occupied Ukrainian territories militarily and economically but without formal annexation, keeping Ukraine’s borders intact on paper.

This would bypass Ukraine’s constitutional ban on ceding land.

Source: The Times

NEW: Russia appears to be preparing to test its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile at Novaya Zemlya, satellite images show, even as Putin readies for Trump talks on Ukraine.

Source: Reuters

While dozens of children stood in line for a single plate of food, a Gaza aid worker ran out of meals and held up the empty pot in despair, struggling to hold back tears.

Zelensky:

Trump suggested we call after Alaska. We discussed possible formats for further conversations and meetings.

Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy:

We all became Israelis on October 7th.

Trump is preparing to offer Putin access to rare earth minerals, including lithium in Russian-occupied Ukraine and resources in Alaska, as part of economic incentives to encourage an end to the Ukraine war.

Source: The Telegraph

Netanyahu:

If we had a starvation policy, now, nearly 2 years after the beginning of the war, everybody in Gaza would be dead. But they are not.

Netanyahu:

That hunger problem (in Gaza) has basically been solved.

Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif announced the creation of the Army Rocket Force Command, capable of striking “from all directions” with advanced tech.

Poland signed a $3.8B deal to modernize its 48 F-16 jets, boosting reconnaissance, communications, and integration with newer military systems.

Banner at the UEFA Super Cup final:

"Stop killing children. Stop killing civilians."

Lithuania will open nine drone training centers to teach 22,000 people, including kids as young as 8, to build and fly drones as part of its defense against potential Russian threats.

By 2028, 15,500 adults and 7,000 children are expected to be trained, with younger students learning basic piloting and high schoolers mastering full drone design.

The $4 million program will launch its first three centers this September.

German defence supplier Renk is weighing shifting gearbox production to the US to keep supplying Israeli tanks, after Berlin imposed a ban on exports that could be used in Gaza.

CEO Alexander Sagel said the company had a “responsibility” to help Israel maintain its deterrence capabilities.

Source: FT

Apple is planning a major AI-driven hardware push, including a tabletop “robot” assistant (targeted for 2027), a smart speaker with a display (due next year), and home-security cameras.

The robot will feature a lifelike, conversational Siri and be able to swivel, track users, and actively join discussions.

Source: Bloomberg