US President Donald Trump told Fox News on Thursday he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin would make a deal. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that while the Alaska summit might succeed in bringing a halt to the fighting in Ukraine, a long-term resolution to the war will need more time. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has warned of predicting the outcome of the summit. In London, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as European leaders prepare a unified stance on Ukraine ahead of the summit. This blog is now closed, please click here to follow developments on the Trump-Putin talks in Alaska. Here is a roundup of news about Russia's war on Ukraine on Thursday, August 14: Skip next section Merz: Putin has 'opportunity' to agree to Ukraine ceasefire 08/15/2025August 15, 2025 Merz: Putin has 'opportunity' to agree to Ukraine ceasefire German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Russian President Vladimir Putin will have "an opportunity" to end the war in Ukraine when he meets with US President Donald Trump in Alaska. However, he said that peace must be agreed upon with Ukrainian participation. "The goal must be a summit also attended by President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy" of Ukraine where "a ceasefire must be agreed", Merz said on social media. He added that Trump "can now take a major step toward peace" more than three years since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Trump: 'I think President Putin will make peace'