Bloomberg L.P.
US President Donald Trump ordered the southern border wall to be painted black so that it would become too hot for migrants to touch. This is also intended to extend the steel's lifespan by slowing down the rusting process.
The White House has opened an official TikTok account under the name @whitehouse. The first video features footage of Trump saying, "I am your voice," and the caption for the video reads: "America, we are BACK! Hello, TikTok?".
European officials are discussing a plan to send British and French troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement. About ten countries are ready to join this initiative.
US President Donald Trump called Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to find out why he is blocking Ukraine's EU accession talks. European leaders asked Trump to use his influence on Orban.
The visit of the European delegation to Washington and Trump's negotiations with Zelensky impressed and surprised, but did not change the situation - the war of the Russian Federation in Ukraine continues. Putin insists on his terms - currently the Kremlin is not interested in a truce and continues to launch airstrikes.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares denied that the country's failure to meet NATO targets was the reason for its absence from the Ukraine talks. Albares emphasized Spain's commitment as an ally and its provision of military aid to Ukraine.
Chinese refineries increased purchases of Russian Urals oil, taking advantage of India's refusal of preferential batches due to Washington's increased trade tariffs. Urals exports to China almost doubled in August, while they significantly decreased to India.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Donald Trump to influence Vladimir Putin to achieve a ceasefire before the next trilateral meeting. Trump replied that a ceasefire was not in his previous wars, but he would consider such an option.
US President Donald Trump announced the possibility of deploying American troops to Ukraine as peacekeepers. He will announce this later, after a meeting with Zelenskyy.
The meeting between the US and Ukrainian presidents, Trump and Zelenskyy, in the Oval Office was significantly friendlier. Zelenskyy was in a suit, brought a letter from his wife, and thanked Trump four times.
During the meeting of the US and Ukrainian presidents in the Oval Office of the White House, journalists were removed from the room. This is reported by Western media.
Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy held a meeting in the Oval Office, noting a "completely different tone" compared to previous ones. Trump reduced criticism, and Zelenskyy expressed gratitude.
Gold prices fell by 1. 8% for the week to $3340 per ounce. This is due to accelerating wholesale inflation in the US and expectations regarding interest rates.
President Zelenskyy arrived in Washington to discuss possible peace agreement terms that were discussed between Trump and Putin in Alaska. Allies are concerned about potential territorial concessions and seek clear security guarantees for Ukraine.
The presidents of the United States and Russia held a summit in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine. The parties did not reach a final agreement.
Donald Trump, in a conversation with European leaders and Zelenskyy, stated that Putin demands Ukraine to cede control over the entire Donbas. European leaders confirmed that Ukraine independently decides on its territory and needs security guarantees.
The meeting between the US and Russian presidents in Alaska did not yield public results regarding an end to the war in Ukraine. Details of the conversations, particularly in the limousine, remained undisclosed, raising concerns about possible agreements.
US President Donald Trump stated that Xi Jinping assured him there were no plans for forceful pressure on Taiwan. This happened during a personal conversation between the leaders.
Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs of up to 300% on semiconductor imports, citing national security. This will expand his tariff policy and could affect the global economy.
The United States is considering imposing sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil to force Russia to end the war in Ukraine. These measures are aimed at cutting the Kremlin's energy revenues if negotiations fail.
US President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska, each with their own vision of success. Trump seeks peace in Ukraine, while Putin views the meeting itself as a victory, without making concessions.
In the first half of 2025, "Rusal" incurred a net loss of $87 million. This was due to rising costs, interest payments, and currency fluctuations.
Natural gas prices in Europe fell to May lows. This happened amid the anticipated summit of the US and Russian presidents, which could affect the energy market.
Intel shares rose 7% after reports that the Trump administration was discussing acquiring a stake in the company. This is related to plans to revive American chip manufacturing and Intel's Ohio plant.
Today, August 15, the presidents of the USA and the Russian Federation will meet at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Anchorage. The US Secret Service is providing unprecedented security for both leaders, deploying hundreds of reinforcements and special equipment.
Russian government hackers gained access to the US court records storage system, stealing confidential documents. The attackers specifically sought classified records related to espionage and other important cases.
Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar accused Russia of interfering in the 2026 parliamentary elections. Russian intelligence published a statement that echoes Orbán's theses against Magyar.
The Israeli government has begun construction of 3,401 homes in the E1 area of the West Bank, which, according to the finance minister, "will bury the idea of a Palestinian state. " This move has drawn sharp criticism from the Palestinian Authority and concern from Western allies.
The European Union plans to adopt the 19th package of sanctions against Russia next month. This will continue to pressure the Kremlin over the war in Ukraine.
Donald Trump told European and Ukrainian leaders that the US is ready to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, but under certain conditions. This was discussed at a virtual meeting organized by Germany, before Trump's summit with Putin.