U.S. President Donald J. Trump pictured speaking on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier today in the Oval Office, during his meeting with European officials, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has refused to commit to a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, following yesterday’s meeting at the White House between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald J. Trump. So far, the Kremlin has only said it is prepared to “raise the level” of the delegation it sends to negotiate with Ukraine, but refused to say if Putin is prepared to meet Zelensky.

Speaking earlier with Fox News, President Donald J. Trump said that U.S. boots will not be on the ground in Ukraine, with Ukrainian security guarantees to be potentially provided “by air” via the United States.

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Russian President Vladimir Putin has “promised” to hold direct talks in the coming weeks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

During yesterday’s call between U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump reportedly told Putin that he will have to meet directly with Zelensky to discuss his territorial demands and urged him to be “realistic” in his concessions, according to officials who spoke to Axios.

An American-European-Ukrainian Commission has reportedly been formed, led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with national security and military advisers from Ukraine and Europe, in order to draft a proposal for security guarantees, similar to those provided by NATO’s Article 5, for Ukraine, with hopes that a framework will be established by Friday.

Following yesterday’s summit at the White House between U.S. President Donald J. Trump and several European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump called and spoke with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to discuss several topic related to recent talks with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky. During the call, Trump reportedly asked Orban why he was blocking attempts by Ukraine to join the European Union, urging him to drop his opposition to Ukraine’s E.U. membership bid, which is supported by a majority of other countries in Europe. Additionally, Orban is said to have expressed interest in Hungary hosting the next round of talks between Putin and Zelensky. -Bloomberg

Ukrainian channels on Telegram are reporting that a Russian GAZ-71, seen flying both the Russian and American Flag earlier this week near the frontline in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast of Russian-occupied Eastern Ukraine, was destroyed and its entire crew eliminated after being targeted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The U.S. Navy’s Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), consisting of the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28) and USS San Antonio (LPD-17), which was recently ordered to the Southern Caribbean Sea off the coast of Venezuela, has been forced to return to its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia, in order to wait out Hurricane Erin.

The United States has reportedly pledged air support and other critical defense capabilities to a European-led coalition of ground forces to enforce security guarantees in Ukraine. NATO and U.S. military planners, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, are expected to meet on Wednesday in Washington to finalize a framework for post-conflict security guarantees for Ukraine.

The USS New Orleans (LPD-18), a San Antonio-Class Amphibious Transport Dock with the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan, has suffered a fire onboard off the coast of Okinawa, according to the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet. Firefighting boats from the Japanese Coast Guard are assisting the ship’s crew in battling the blaze, with additional details still unknown at this time.

Footage showing firefighting ships with the Japanese Coast Guard fighting a fire onboard the San Antonio-Class Amphibious Transport Dock, USS New Orleans (LPD-18), off the coast of Okinawa, Japan.

Some Russians had a very bad time near the frontline in Eastern Ukraine.

An Oshkosh M-ATV (MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle) with the 273rd Military Police Company of the District of Columbia National Guard was involved in a traffic collision with a civilian vehicle early this morning on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The driver of the vehicle required extraction by D.C. Fire and EMS, before being transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, the incident is under investigation by the D.C. National Guard.