Mr Zelenskyy travelled to the US as he attempted to secure a ceasefire agreement with Russia and a possible mineral deal with the United States.

But his visit to the White House ended prematurely – with the signing of an agreement and a joint press conference with Mr Trump called off following their Oval Office clash.

Ukraine latest: Russian official responds to White House meeting

As the pair met with US vice president JD Vance joining them, tensions rose and a shouting match unfolded – all while cameras rolled and representatives from the media looked on.

The last 10 minutes of the almost 45-minute meeting descended into a tense back-and-forth, which began with Mr Vance telling Mr Zelenksyy: “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.

“You should be thanking the President [Trump] for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”

As the Ukrainian president tried to object, Mr Trump raised his voice and told him: “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.

“You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have.”

“You’re right now not in a very good position,” he continued. “You don’t have the cards right now with us, you start having problems right now.”

‘This will be great television,’ says Trump

At one point, Mr Vance blasted Mr Zelenskyy for airing “disagreements” in front of the press, but the US president remarked: “I think it’s good for the American people to see what’s going on.”

“You’re not acting at all thankful,” he said. “This is going to be great television.”

Defending himself and his country, the Ukrainian president openly challenged Mr Trump on his softer approach to Vladimir Putin and urged him to make “no compromises with a killer”.

This fiery spectacle was hard to witness

Deborah Haynes

Security and Defence Editor

@haynesdeborah

The fiery and very public bust-up between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a disaster for Ukraine and its European allies, and a triumph for Russia.

The spectacle of the US president berating his Ukrainian counterpart and telling him he is gambling with World War Three – played out on television from the Oval Office – was hard to witness.

Zelenskyy, looking increasingly uncomfortable, decided to fight back. He likely felt he had little choice but to defend himself and his war-torn country.

But this act of defiance drew even more condemnation from Trump as well as from JD Vance, who also started attacking the Ukrainian leader.

It is hard to imagine a greater contrast from the chummy scenes between Sir Keir Starmer and Trump and the scolding language used by the American president against Zelenskyy, at times addressing him as though he were a naughty schoolboy.

Ukraine’s president, his arms crossed, tried his best to speak up, but he was clearly fighting a losing battle. The extraordinary breakdown is far more serious than just a made-for-television drama.

American support for Ukraine is critical if Kyiv is to withstand Russia’s war. The UK, France and Ukraine’s other European allies have been working overtime to try to keep Trump on their side.

The US president has vowed to end the war and has started talks with Vladimir Putin. The two presidents also plan to meet. That alone was hard for Ukraine to witness.

But the Ukrainian side has attempted to work with Washington rather than against it, including by being willing to part with profits from its minerals and other natural resources in return for locking Trump into a long-term partnership with Ukraine.

That all looks to be shattered – or at best is in serious jeopardy.

If Trump, in anger, withdraws all his military support to Ukraine, Kyiv’s ability to withstand Russia’s military will be seriously diminished.

The Europeans lack the capability to fill the void. The only person who wins in this scenario is Vladimir Putin.

Posting on his Truth Social platform shortly after the clash, Mr Trump described the meeting as “very meaningful” and said: “Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.

“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.”

More from Sky News:
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Inside the Oval Office with Trump and Starmer

He continued: “I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

Zelenskyy posts on X after early exit

Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy had been due to have lunch with their delegations in the White House’s cabinet room after the meeting – but untouched salad plates and other items were seen being packed up as the meal was hastily called off.

👉Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim on your podcast app👈

Having left the White House early, Mr Zelenskyy said in a post on X: “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit.

“Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”

The post Trump berates Zelenskyy for several minutes in fiery White House meeting appeared first on World News Stories.

Mr Zelenskyy travelled to Washington DC as he attempted to secure a ceasefire agreement with Russia and a possible mineral deal with the US.

But his visit ended prematurely – with the signing of an agreement and a joint press conference with Mr Trump cancelled following their clash in the Oval Office.

Ukraine latest: Russian official responds to White House meeting

After the extraordinary meeting, both Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy spoke to the media and gave their reactions.

Meanwhile, European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Poland’s Donald Tusk shared their support for Ukraine.

And in a statement, a Downing Street spokesperson said Sir Keir had spoken to both Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy.

The spokesperson said: “He [Sir Keir] retains unwavering support for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.”

The spokesperson added that the prime minister was “looking forward” to welcoming Mr Zelenskyy to the UK for a summit of international leaders on Sunday.

‘Disrespectful’

As Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy met, with US vice president JD Vance joining them, tensions rose and a shouting match unfolded – all while cameras rolled and representatives from the media looked on.

The last 10 minutes of the almost 45-minute meeting descended into a tense back-and-forth, which began with Mr Vance telling Mr Zelenksyy: “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.

“You should be thanking the President [Trump] for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”

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As the Ukrainian president tried to object, Mr Trump raised his voice and told him: “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.

“You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have.”

“You’re right now not in a very good position,” he continued. “You don’t have the cards right now with us, you start having problems right now.”

‘This will be great television,’ says Trump

At one point, Mr Vance blasted Mr Zelenskyy for airing “disagreements” in front of the media, but the US president remarked: “I think it’s good for the American people to see what’s going on.”

“You’re not acting at all thankful,” he said. “This is going to be great television.”

Defending himself and his country, the Ukrainian president openly challenged Mr Trump on his softer approach to Vladimir Putin and urged him to make “no compromises with a killer”.

This fiery spectacle was hard to witness

Deborah Haynes

Security and Defence Editor

@haynesdeborah

The fiery and very public bust-up between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a disaster for Ukraine and its European allies, and a triumph for Russia.

The spectacle of the US president berating his Ukrainian counterpart and telling him he is gambling with World War Three – played out on television from the Oval Office – was hard to witness.

Zelenskyy, looking increasingly uncomfortable, decided to fight back. He likely felt he had little choice but to defend himself and his war-torn country.

But this act of defiance drew even more condemnation from Trump as well as from JD Vance, who also started attacking the Ukrainian leader.

It is hard to imagine a greater contrast from the chummy scenes between Sir Keir Starmer and Trump and the scolding language used by the American president against Zelenskyy, at times addressing him as though he were a naughty schoolboy.

Ukraine’s president, his arms crossed, tried his best to speak up, but he was clearly fighting a losing battle. The extraordinary breakdown is far more serious than just a made-for-television drama.

American support for Ukraine is critical if Kyiv is to withstand Russia’s war. The UK, France and Ukraine’s other European allies have been working overtime to try to keep Trump on their side.

The US president has vowed to end the war and has started talks with Vladimir Putin. The two presidents also plan to meet. That alone was hard for Ukraine to witness.

But the Ukrainian side has attempted to work with Washington rather than against it, including by being willing to part with profits from its minerals and other natural resources in return for locking Trump into a long-term partnership with Ukraine.

That all looks to be shattered – or at best is in serious jeopardy.

If Trump, in anger, withdraws all his military support to Ukraine, Kyiv’s ability to withstand Russia’s military will be seriously diminished.

The Europeans lack the capability to fill the void. The only person who wins in this scenario is Vladimir Putin.

Posting on his Truth Social platform shortly after the clash, Mr Trump described the meeting as “very meaningful” and said: “Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.

“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.”

More from Sky News:
How Starmer secured wins at the White House
Inside the Oval Office with Trump and Starmer

He continued: “I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

Zelenskyy posts on X after early exit

Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy had been due to have lunch with their delegations in the White House’s cabinet room after the meeting – but untouched salad plates and other items were seen being packed up as the meal was hastily called off.

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Such was the gulf following the row that Mr Trump told the Ukrainian leader to leave the White House, according to a US official, with the minerals deal now stuck in limbo.

Having left the White House early, Mr Zelenskyy said in a post on X: “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit.

“Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”

Zelenskyy speaks to Fox News

What was supposed to be a victory lap on Fox News turned into disaster management for Mr Zelenskyy.

In an interview, he portrayed the meeting as a moment of frank and divergent views between the two but said he did not see the need to apologise.

He added he wished that Mr Trump was “more on our side” after the US president said he was in the middle of Ukraine and Russia.

“I want, really, him to be more on our side,” Mr Zelenskyy said. “It’s not just that the war began somewhere between our countries. The war began when Russia brought this war to our country. And they’re not right.”

Mr Zelenskyy also expressed a belief that the relationship could be salvaged.

Trump jets off to Florida – but not without a last word

After the White House row, Mr Trump later spoke to reporters as he left for a weekend at his Florida home.

“What he’s got to say is, ‘I want to make peace.’ He doesn’t have to stand there and say ‘Putin this, Putin that,’ all negative things. He’s got to say, ‘I want to make peace. I don’t want to fight a war anymore’,” Mr Trump said.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev appeared to revel in the spectacle, writing on Telegram that the Ukrainian leader had received a “brutal dressing down”.

European leaders rally on social media

Meanwhile, in the fallout, European and world leaders were quick to rally and express their support for Mr Zelenskyy ahead of a summit in the UK on Sunday.

A number of leaders including Canada’s Justin Trudeau, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Olaf Scholz all tweeted.

After the Ukrainian leader was criticised in the White House for insufficient thanks to the US, he thanked the leaders individually on X.

Mr Zelenskyy also spoke with Mr Macron, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte and EU Council president Antonio Costa by phone.

This all comes as on Sunday, Sir Keir Starmer is hosting a meeting of European leaders and Mr Zelenskyy to discuss any potential security backstop in Ukraine.

The post Starmer in crisis talks with Zelenskyy and Trump following heated White House exchange appeared first on World News Stories.

Sentiment was already sour on the tariff front, given the spectre of 25% import duties being slapped on the EU, before the US president confirmed his intention to target Canada, Mexico and China next week.

Mr Trump said his proposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods – delayed by a month – would take effect on 4 March as planned, alongside an extra 10% duty on Chinese imports.

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Beijing’s reaction was to threaten further retaliation, building on the market fears the Trump administration was risking a deepening global trade war.

The mood was already sour in the US on Thursday when a tech sell-off linked to poorly received results from Nvidia knocked almost 2.7% from the Nasdaq.

Tech shares were among those hammered as the focus switched to Asia on Friday morning though trades were increasingly dominated by trade war concerns.

The Hang Seng in Hong Kong fell more than 3%, while Japan’s Nikkei slumped to a five-month low as demand soared for the safe haven yen.

In Europe, the DAX in Germany and French CAC were on course to build on declines seen on Thursday, with the manufacturing-heavy DAX losing just shy of 1% at the open.

The UK may have been spared Trump tariff threats – and even promised renewed trade talks during Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s meeting at the White House on Thursday – but the FTSE 100 was still feeling some pain.

A decline of 0.4% was registered in early trading though it later entered positive territory, aided by some strong corporate earnings including full-year results for British Airways parent firm IAG.

Read more:
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The effects of Trump trade tariffs explained

The main fear among investors is damage to the global economy from a widening and protracted trade fight as Mr Trump battles to secure American jobs through the imposition of tariffs.

But one consequence of higher import costs due to the duties is the fact they risk stoking US inflation, as costs are passed on.

Brent crude oil was down by almost 1% to trade at $73 a barrel.

Cryptocurrencies took the largest hammering.

Bitcoin was 27% below its record high set in January at $79,740 and down by 6% on the day.

Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he decided to add the extra tariffs on China and stick to the deadline for Canada and Mexico because of what his administration sees as insufficient progress on curbing fentanyl flows into the country.

“There are ongoing discussions with the Chinese, Mexico and Canada,” a White House official told the Reuters news agency.

“We’ve gotten a good handle on the migration issue, but there are still concerns on the other issue of fentanyl deaths.”

It was a narrative that was firmly rejected by China’s foreign ministry.

A spokesperson said China would take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its legitimate interest.

“The US is once again using the fentanyl issue as a pretext to threaten China”, Lin Jian told a regular news conference.

Commenting on the downbeat market mood, Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said:
“The only certainty in this saga is uncertainty, so keep a close eye on developments between now and 4 March.

“Next on the agenda is reciprocal tariffs pencilled in for 2 April with other major US trading partners. The EU, in particular, will be in focus.

“An amicable start to talks with UK premier Keir Starmer looks to have set the tone for a potential trade deal with the UK but with no details outlined it has not been enough to boost enthusiasm for London listed shares.”

The post Trump’s China tariff escalation spooks global markets appeared first on World News Stories.

I had two tactics going in: one – smile at Donald Trump, try to catch his eye because then he might ask you for a question, and I did get called.

And two, wear something bright so he sees you in the sea of grey. Well, that worked.

The colourful approach also really worked for Sir Keir Starmer, who produced a letter from the King inviting Trump for a second state visit.

The US president genuinely seemed utterly delighted.

He loves the Royal Family, so this was really some smart diplomacy from the prime minister.

Starmer will be so happy with how that went off, because there were lots of potential landmines on certain areas.

Mr Trump was charming. He did not get into it with the prime minister on the issue of the Chagos Islands and that deal – he was pretty nice about that. And he did not say anything controversial.

On tariffs, the president chose to really lay into the European Union and did not really go to town on tariffs when it comes to the UK.

On Ukraine, he was asked about a peace deal. He thinks it’s going to happen. He was asked about security guarantees. He said: “We’re going to get the deal, and then we’re going to work all of that stuff out.”

When he was asked about whether he would back up UK troops if necessary – well, he did not say no.

Read more:
Donald Trump says he will visit UK in ‘near future’
Two reasons why Starmer’s meeting with Trump really matters

Overall, it was a pretty good outing for Starmer and the atmospherics were good.

But blimey – Trump, it is free-flowing. I’ve never been into the Oval Office and had a situation where a president would answer so many questions from journalists.

In the past with President Biden, it was all very ordered and certain people got to ask questions.

Here, it really is free-flowing. It was quite an intense session.

The post ‘That was a lot’: Inside the Oval Office with Donald Trump and Keir Starmer appeared first on World News Stories.

Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, were found dead with their dog, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said.

A statement to Sky News said: “We do not believe foul play was a factor in their deaths, however exact cause of death has not been determined at this time.”

Spokesperson Denise Avila said deputies responded to a request to do a welfare check on Wednesday around 1.45pm local time to find the couple and their dog dead at the scene.

Hackman won an Oscar for a leading role in The French Connection, a 1971 action movie by William Friedkin, and another for best supporting actor in Clint Eastwood’s 1992 western, Unforgiven.

He was also known for playing Lex Luthor in the Superman films of the late 1970s and 1980s.

Roles in the Francis Ford Coppola mystery thriller The Conversation and in the historical drama Mississippi Burning, where he starred as an FBI agent alongside Willem Dafoe, helped cement his career as one of Hollywood’s greats.

Long career

The former US Marine appeared in more than 80 films, as well as on television and the stage, during a lengthy career that started in the early 1960s.

He earned his first Oscar nomination for his breakout role as the brother of bank robber Clyde Barrow in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde.

He is also remembered for playing Captain Frank Ramsey alongside Denzel Washington in the 1995 thriller Crimson Tide.

In the early 2000s, he starred as an eccentric patriarch in The Royal Tenenbaums by Wes Anderson.

Hackman’s final film appearance was in 2004’s Welcome to Mooseport, after which he retired from acting and began co-writing adventure novels with friend and underwater archaeologist Daniel Lenihan.

“It’s very relaxing for me,” Hackman told Empire Magazine in 2020. “I don’t picture myself as a great writer, but I really enjoy the process.”

‘He could play anyone’

Michael Caine revered Hackman as “one of the greatest actors” he had known while presenting him with the Cecil B DeMille Award in 2003.

Arakawa was a classical pianist. The couple married in 1991 and lived outside Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Hackman had three children, Christopher, Elizabeth Jean and Leslie Anne, with his late ex-wife, Faye Maltese, who died in 2017.

Star Trek star George Takei said: “We have lost one of the true giants of the screen,” in a tribute on X.

“Gene Hackman could play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind it.

“He could be everyone and no one, a towering presence or an everyday Joe. That’s how powerful an actor he was,” Takei wrote on X.

“He will be missed, but his work will live on forever.”

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Irish comedian Dara O Briain called Hackman “the finest screen actor ever”.

“Not a single duff performance, in a long, long career,” he wrote in a post on X.

Hackman was versatile on screen, working with a face that he described to the New York Times in 1989 as that of “your everyday mine worker.”

StudioCanal, the UK arm of the leading European film studio, called Hackman’s death “a colossal loss for cinema” in a tribute posted on X.

The post Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and wife found dead at home with their dog appeared first on World News Stories.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a crucial meeting at the White House, Sir Keir insisted that the UK was working “in lockstep” with the president on the matter of Ukraine.

Asked if he could trust President Trump in light of what has happened in recent weeks, the prime minister replied “yes”.

“I’ve got a good relationship with him,” Sir Keir said.

“As you know, I’ve met him, I’ve spoken to him on the phone, and this relationship between our two countries is a special relationship with a long history, forged as we fought wars together, as we traded together.

“And as I say, I want it to go from strength to strength.”

Politics latest: PM’s ‘very stupid decision’ condemned

The prime minister has now arrived in Washington, but even before he touched down, the choreography of the trip hit a little turbulence as President Trump appeared to pour cold water on the prospect of a US military backstop for Ukraine as part of any peace deal – a key UK and European demand.

“I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much,” Mr Trump said at his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

“We’re going to have Europe do that because Europe is the next-door neighbour.”

His remarks seemed at odds with those made by the prime minister on the way to Washington as he reiterated how important a US military backstop was for Ukraine.

“We all want a peaceful outcome,” the prime minister said.

“It’s got to be a lasting peace, and that requires us to put in place an effective security guarantee.

“Exactly what the configuration of that is, exactly what the backstop is, is obviously the subject of intense discussion.”

He added: “But the reason I say the backstop is so important is that the security guarantee has to be sufficient to deter Putin from coming again because my concern is if there is a ceasefire without a backstop, it will simply give him the opportunity to wait and to come again because his ambition in relation to Ukraine is pretty obvious, I think, for all to see.”

Read more:
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While European allies such as the UK and France are preparing to put peacekeeping troops on the ground to police the Ukraine-Russian borders, leaders have been clear that US support is essential to containing President Putin and securing that support is the key purpose of the prime minister’s trip to Washington.

President Zelenskyy has also demanded that clear guarantees of US military backing and security be part of his deal with the US on critical minerals, but a framework agreed this week by both sides did not include an explicit reference to any such support.

Ahead of the trip to Washington, the prime minister pledged to increase UK defence spending – a key ask of all NATO members by President Trump – and reiterated his commitment to putting British boots on the ground in Ukraine as he attempts to lower tensions between Europe and the US and demonstrate to President Trump that the UK is willing to play its part.

“When it comes to defence and security, we have for decades acted as a bridge because of the special relationship we have with the US and also our allegiance to our European allies,” Sir Keir said.

“I’ve been absolutely resolute that we’re not going to choose between one side of the Atlantic and the other. We will work with the US, we will work with our European allies, that’s what we’ve done for decades, and it’s what we’ll do whilst I’m prime minister.”

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Sir Keir also gave the British public a “message of reassurance” after his decision to accelerate defence spending in the face of Russian aggression, saying he had done it to “ensure their safety” and increased investment would bring opportunities.

“I want to reassure the British public that what we’re doing is to ensure their safety, their security and defence of our country.

“I want to also be clear that this is an opportunity because, as we increase defence spending, then that gives an opportunity for our industrial strategy, for jobs across the UK, good well-paid jobs in defence.”

The post Sir Keir Starmer arrives in Washington for talks with President Trump – and repeats calls for security guarantee for Ukraine appeared first on World News Stories.

The footage, which the 78-year-old shared without comment, shows the war-ravaged territory before a caption appears: “Gaza 2025… What’s Next?”

It then goes on to show the area transformed into a Middle Eastern paradise with exotic beaches, Dubai-style skyscrapers, luxury yachts and people partying.

It includes a “Trump Gaza” tower and a gigantic, golden statue of the US president – with miniature versions on sale in a souvenir gift shop.

A child is also shown walking in a street, holding a huge, golden balloon of the president’s head.

The video also features the world leader dancing with a scantily clad belly dancer in a bar – and sunbathing and sipping cocktails by a hotel resort pool with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Elon Musk appears in the footage several times – sitting on a beach eating humous with flatbreads as bearded belly dancers perform on the sand.

The billionaire boss of X, Tesla and SpaceX – who also leads the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which has been tasked with cutting government spending – is also shown throwing dollar bills in the air for people.

A song written for the video also plays in the background.

The lyrics go: “Donald’s coming to set you free, bringing the light for all to see, no more tunnels, no more fear: Trump Gaza’s finally here.

“Trump Gaza’s shining bright, golden future, a brand new life.

“Feast and dance the deal is done, Trump Gaza number one.”

Sky News has established the video was first shared online in early February by accounts with no apparent connection to the White House.

Read more from Sky News:
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What you need to know about Trump’s Gaza plan

Mr Trump announced his plan – for when the war between Israel and Hamas ends – earlier this year.

It includes relocating two million Gazans to neighbouring Arab countries and developing the territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East“.

He described Gaza as a “demolition site” where “virtually every building is down”.

Laying out his idea of what would happen beyond an Israel-Hamas ceasefire, he proposed: “The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too.”

He said America would be “responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site”, before it would “get rid of the destroyed buildings”, and “level it out”.

“Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs,” he added.

The White House described the proposal as “out-of-the-box” and “visionary” – but it was condemned as the effective “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians from Gaza.

Hamas described the proposals as “ridiculous and absurd” in a statement from one of its officials.

Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, which as fellow Arab nations support the Palestinian cause, also rejected Mr Trump’s plan.

Read more:
Analysis: Trump’s Gaza plan is so outrageous it might be something bigger

There was a mixed reaction to the video in the comments section below.

One person wrote: “I don’t think that’s funny or cool. Sorry. Am I missing something??? I hope it’s a joke a bad joke..”

“I hate this. I love our president, but this is horrible,” said another.

One Truth Social user wrote: “Mr President while I appreciate what you do, is not about you. To God be the glory and the honor, for without Him, you couldn’t have accomplished anything. The statue is a symbol of the antichrist, please humble yourself to God. Jesus is king and only Him.”

“You’re doing great Mr President. But don’t let it get to your head. God put you in that position for His Glory, not yours,” said another.

“Can we transform our US cities to look like this 2025 vision first? Our cities are dumps with ugly buildings and homeless people,” wrote one user.

“Everything looks good, just stay away from these guys,” said another, reposting a screengrab of the bearded belly dancers.

The post Netanyahu on a sunbed and golden statues – Trump shares bizarre AI video of vision for Gaza appeared first on World News Stories.

There has been no confirmation from the US side yet but Donald Trump said on Monday evening that his Ukrainian counterpart “would like to sign the minerals deal with me”.

The accord, once signed, could unlock a new long-term partnership between Kyiv and Mr Trump‘s White House after weeks of increasingly tense exchanges.

The source said there was a plan for the document to be signed “very soon”.

This could even be during a face-to-face meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mr Trump.

The US president told reporters on Tuesday evening that his Ukrainian counterpart is “coming to visit on Friday”.

He added: “We have pretty much negotiated our deal on rare earths.”

A Ukrainian government source has also said Mr Zelenskyy will meet with Mr Trump in Washington on Friday and that the meeting was proposed by the American side.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have said Kyiv has agreed a framework for an economic deal with the US which will see them trade rights to rare minerals in exchange for continued aid.

The deal sets out the terms to create a new fund to invest in Ukraine’s minerals, rare earth materials and other valuable natural resources.

It no longer contains an initial demand by the United States for a right to $500bn (£394bn) in potential revenue from the resources.

Mr Zelenskyy had previously described such a high price as not being a “serious” conversation.

Mr Trump, however, views the minerals transaction with Ukraine as a fair way to recoup the billions of dollars that the US has given Kyiv – via weapons and financial support – to assist the armed forces in their fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion over the past three years.

The document also does not provide a commitment from Washington to give security guarantees to Ukraine in the wake of any ceasefire deal with Vladimir Putin – something that Kyiv desperately needs and has been asking for.

More granular details about the new partnership are expected to be fleshed out in coming discussions.

Read more:
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The two sides have “agreed on a framework agreement on how to create a fund that will be filled with a share of minerals” and other natural resources, the government source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“This is a political step to ensure that resource revenues are used for the security and reconstruction of Ukraine.”

The fund would comprise US money that would be invested in Ukrainian natural resources, with profits shared between Washington and Kyiv, it is understood.

The Financial Times first reported on the agreement being reached. It said the final version of the deal was dated 24 February.

“The minerals agreement is only part of the picture. We have heard multiple times from the US administration that it’s part of a bigger picture,” Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister and justice minister who has led the negotiations, told the newspaper on Tuesday.

The development comes after Mr Trump shocked European leaders last week by calling Mr Zelenskyy a “dictator with no elections”.

He added that the Ukrainian president “better move fast or he is not going to have a country left” after Mr Zelenskyy had accused him of living in a Russian-made “disinformation space”.

French President Emmanuel Macron flew to Washington to meet with Mr Trump on Monday for talks on Ukraine amid fragile relations between the US and Europe.

Meeting in the White House on the third anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the French president said he and Mr Trump “made substantive steps forward during our discussions”.

It comes as UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer prepares to meet with Mr Trump at the White House on Thursday.

Mr Starmer and Mr Macron spoke on the phone on Tuesday and “agreed that President Trump’s leadership in working towards a durable peace in Ukraine was welcome”, a Downing Street spokesperson continued.

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The remains of a British man who went missing on a trip to Florida nearly two-and-a-half years ago have been found, the FBI has said.

Alex Hodgson Doughty was on holiday in Jacksonville in September 2022 when he was reported missing by his mother after she was unable to contact him.

His remains were found 35 miles north of there in a wooded area on private land near Kingsland, Georgia, the FBI said on Friday.

Overseas missing persons charity LBT Global said on a web page dedicated to Mr Doughty that he was last seen on 11 September 2022.

He was at a Jacksonville bar and grill at around 3.30pm and then got into a taxi which dropped him off in Kingsland around an hour later.

A Facebook page, Help Find Alex, said he continued to make video calls and send text messages up until 6.51pm when his phone went offline.

Federal, state, local, and international agencies were involved in the investigation and search for Mr Doughty, who was 30 when he went missing.

His remains were found on 4 February, the FBI said, adding a medical examiner had confirmed Mr Doughty’s identity.

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“While we had hoped to bring Mr Doughty’s family better news, we are thankful to be able to provide them with some closure,” said special agent Kristin Rehler.

“This discovery is the direct result of our partnerships and special agents from FBI Jacksonville’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST), who were relentless in their efforts to narrow down potential search locations.”

No criminal charges are expected, the FBI said.

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A notably prolonged handshake, reflecting the complex dynamic between the President of the United States and his French counterpart.

Donald Trump may have hoped to see a full turn by Emmanuel Macron – but got a pirouette.

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A half-turn, in a carefully choreographed dance, the US leader asserting optimism, the French one, much more cautious in response.

President Trump repeated his view that the war in Ukraine would soon end.

He signalled a dramatic shift by Russia, suggesting President Putin might accept the deployment of European peacekeepers on the ground in Ukraine.

But Emmanuel Macron cautioned that any peace agreement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Trump claimed Ukraine’s president would be in Washington soon, to sign a deal granting the US access to rare earth minerals to offset US war aid.

Again, the French president gently stressed the need for security guarantees.

Neither side wanted a diplomatic spat, side-stepping the divisions laid bare by events in Kyiv and New York on the third anniversary of the war.

The United States was notably absent when Western leaders convened in Ukraine.

And the United States voted against an amendment to a UN resolution replacing the word “conflict” with the words “full-scale invasion”.

There is a world of difference between Trump’s approach and Macron’s.

In his trademark pragmatic style, the US president seeks a swift end to the war, with economic benefits, even if it risks longstanding alliances.

President Macron’s focus on Ukraine’s sovereignty, prioritising stability and mutual co-operation, represents a more traditional diplomatic stance.

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No one said the wrong thing, but the French president briefly dropped his guard at one point.

Emmanuel Macron appeared to wink towards a journalist who had asked President Trump if he would describe President Putin as a dictator.

Now that is langage corporel.

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