Donald Trump is set to make a mystery announcement from the White House Oval Office today on Friday.
The topic of the address has not been disclosed yet but the U.S. President’s speech is scheduled for 12:00 pm ET (5pm UK time).
It comes amid feverish speculation over peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders on Monday to discuss resolving the three-and-a-half-year conflict.
This meeting coincided with the FBI’s raid on the home of John Bolton, one of President Trump’s most vocal critics and his former national security adviser, earlier today.
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents entered Bolton’s residence in Bethesda, a Washington suburb, early in the morning, according to an AFP journalist present at the scene.
As reported by The New York Times and other media outlets in the U.S., the search aimed to ascertain if Bolton had unlawfully shared or owned classified information.
Donald Trump is set to make a mystery announcement from the White House Oval Office today on Friday, August 22
Trump and Zelensky had a White House meeting on Monday where they discussed the path to peace
Trump has said he is helping to facilitate a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, who he met on Friday in Alaska
With rising speculation about Trump’s statement this afternoon, the prospects for arranging a meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin seem to be diminishing.
On Monday, Trump was joined by Sir Keir Starmer, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and the leaders of France, Italy, Finland, the EU and Nato.
The Prime Minister praised a ‘breakthrough’ after the extraordinary gathering resulted in a U.S. pledge for military involvement in security assurances for Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky hopes to have such a proposal in writing within the next ten days to strengthen his hand before heading to any meeting with Putin to discuss territory.
In a 40-minute phone call after Monday’s meeting, the U.S. President said on social media that he and Putin discussed plans for a summit between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, at a location to be determined.
Following that diplomatic showdown, Trump said he will then sit down with both leaders in an attempt to make peace in the war torn country.
‘This was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years,’ he said.
Zelensky responded by saying ‘we are ready’ for any leader-level meetings while speaking to reporters after the White House. He said it’s the only way to solve these ‘complicated and painful issues’.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said: ‘If everything works out well, we will have a tri-lat [between himself, Zelensky and Putin] and have a good chance of ending the war.’
‘When it comes to security, there’s going to be a lot of help,’ Trump told reporters, adding that European countries would be involved. ‘They are a first line of defence because they’re there, but we’ll help them out.’
Zelensky hailed the promise as ‘a major step forward,’ adding that Ukraine offered to buy about $90 billion worth of U.S. weapons.
The meeting was far more successful than the last time the two leaders met in February, which ended in disaster when tensions boiled over and the Ukrainian president was kicked out of the Oval Office early.
During the blistering row, Trump threatened to abandon Ukraine completely if Zelensky did not agree to his peace terms, and he also accused Zelensky of not being grateful.
While Trump ruled out U.S. boots on the ground as part of Kyiv’s security guarantees, Britain is ready to send troops to help defend Ukraine’s skies and ports
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) meeting with US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg in Washington, DC
No ceasefire was agreed when Russian leader Putin and Trump met for a high stakes summit on Friday in Anchorage, Alaska
‘You’re gambling with World War III,’ Trump bellowed at the Ukrainian President at one point.
The U.S. President also pointed out that Zelensky was ‘all dressed up today’ when he arrived for the meeting in the Oval Office wearing a black military-style sweat shirt with an Ukrainian trident logo.
That was the first of many tensions at the meeting that blew up as Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelensky for his behavior toward Trump his failure to properly thank the American people for their support.
But on Monday, the Ukrainian President was praised by Trump for wearing the more formal attire of a ‘suit-style’ black jacket over a buttoned up black collared shirt.
The U.S. President complimented Zelensky’s attire and put his arm around him approvingly.
While Trump ruled out U.S. boots on the ground as part of Kyiv’s security guarantees, Britain is ready to send troops to help defend Ukraine’s skies and ports – but will not deploy them to the front line near Russia.
The focus will be on protecting Ukrainian airspace and ports rather than risking combat with Russian soldiers. Britain has not been involved in a major combat operation since the Afghanistan war ended in 2014. More recent missions have focused on training, protection and peacekeeping.
Monday’s extraordinary summit at the White House followed the U.S. President’s high stakes meeting with Putin on Friday in Anchorage, Alaska, where the two leaders said they had an ‘extremely productive meeting’.
Zelensky was complimented for wearing a suit by reporters and issued a hilarious takedown of the journalist who criticised his military fatigues during his infamous White House visit in February
UK prime minister Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron appeared to be engaged in a side conversation during Monday’s press conference
Vladimir Putin launched new savage attacks on Tuesday night, casting doubts on his commitment to seek a peace deal
The recent attacks on Ukraine, which officials say were ‘directed against the civilian population’, will underscore the importance of security guarantees for the country
No ceasefire was agreed, with Putin telling reporters that Russia still needed to ‘eliminate the primary roots, the primary causes, of that conflict’.
On Tuesday night, Putin launched new savage attacks on Ukrainians, casting doubts on his commitment to seek a peace deal.
The terror strike was on Okhtyrka, some 28 miles from the border, where 13 homes were hit.
Some 14 people were wounded, including 3 children from one family.
