First Thing: Trump pushes for Zelenskyy-Putin meeting

European leaders urge US security guarantees, but Moscow is yet to confirm meeting. Plus, Eva Victory on Sorry, Baby

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Good morning.

Vladimir Putin has agreed to face-to-face talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss a peace deal in Ukraine, according to Donald Trump and European leaders, although Moscow has not confirmed the meeting.

What was the mood of the talks? Trump's initial conversation with Zelenskyy went more smoothly than their first encounter in the Oval Office six months ago, when the Ukrainian leader was berated by Trump and vice-president JD Vance. This time, doubtless to the relief of European leaders, Zelenskyy gave Trump effusive thanks for the invitation and the pair shared good-humored banter.

What was discussed? After meeting the leaders of Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Finland, the European Union and Nato, Trump wrote on Truth Social that there had been discussion of security guarantees and which guarantees would be provided by the European countries". The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said the talks did not include Kyiv surrendering territory to Russia.