Children that Ukraine says were taken by Russia are at the heart of peace talks thanks to a monthslong effort by Western officials and evangelical Christian groups.

President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House on Monday, an event the U.S. president called "a very good, early step" to possibly resolve the war in Ukraine.

Donald Trump condemned Ukraine’s recent attack on the Druzhba oil pipeline, which undermines the energy security of two EU and NATO member states, Hungary and Slovakia. For historical and geographical reasons, our countries have no alternative means of importing oil other than… pic.twitter.com/qkfebGA0IU

Just after noon, European leaders including Macron, Starmer, von der Leyen, Rutte, and Meloni began arriving one by one at the White House. According to the White House schedule, Trump will first meet with Zelensky at 1:15 p.m. before greeting the European leaders, followed by a multilateral meeting with all parties at 3:00 p.m.

President Donald Trump offered his assurances that U.S. troops would not be sent to Ukraine to defend against Russia, after seeming to leave open the possibility.

Turkey's first lady has urged Melania Trump to speak out for children suffering in Israel's war in Gaza. Emine Erdogan praised the US first lady's support for children affected by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, asking Trump to "extend the advocacy" to Palestinians.

President Trump showed off a photo of himself with President Putin, saying the Russian president may visit for the World Cup, moments before stating that he is "not happy" that Russian forces struck a U.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and NewsNation senior political contributor George Will joins "On Balance" to discuss how the United States needs help from Europe if President Trump's bid to ensure peace between Ukraine and Russia is to succeed: LELAND VITTERT,