In today’s newsletter: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy will meet with Trump in Washington flanked by European leaders. Police search for multiple gunmen in a Brooklyn nightclub shooting. And Terence Stamp dies at age 87.
Here’s what to know today.
Zelenskyy travels to D.C. to meet with Trump
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with President Donald Trump today at the White House, just days after Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin left their Alaska summit without a ceasefire deal.
Trump has ramped up efforts to end the war in Ukraine in recent weeks, but reversed course on his aim for a ceasefire deal following his meeting with Putin. Instead, he is pursuing a permanent “peace agreement,” shifting closer to the Kremlin’s position.
The change alarmed Ukraine and European leaders, several of whom will be joining Zelenskyy in Washington, including the heads of the European Commission and NATO. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will also attend.
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Today’s meeting is an important opportunity for the leaders to discuss two major sticking points: security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent future invasions and the status of Ukrainian land desired by Putin.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has floated that security guarantees could potentially resemble NATO’s Article 5, which triggers a response by the entire coalition if one member is attacked. Ukraine is hoping to secure the idea and also convince Trump that a temporary ceasefire is necessary to begin real peace talks, a source familiar with the goals said.
Zelenskyy will also be able to address Trump’s comments on the future of Ukrainian land partially occupied by Russia. Ahead of the Alaska summit, Trump said that an end to the war would include “some swapping of territories,” which the Ukrainian president promptly shot down.
In a post to Truth Social Sunday night, Trump appeared to place the onus of ending the war on Zelenskyy, while emphasizing that Ukraine must give up Russian-annexed Crimea and its hopes of joining NATO — a key demand from Putin.
“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump said.
In another post, Trump said that if talks with the Ukrainian president are successful, he will facilitate further discussions with Putin.
Today is also Zelenskyy’s first trip to the White House since his February meeting, which devolved into a heated argument when Trump and Vance publicly berated the Ukrainian president. In stark contrast, Putin received a warm welcome during the summit. The autocrat’s red carpet rollout and private ride in “The Beast” was met with heated criticism.
Follow our liveblog for updates.
More on the war in Ukraine:
- Despite Trump’s new goal of a peace agreement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that a ceasefire was “not off the table,” though Russia has not agreed to stop fighting. He also said there “have to be some security guarantees for Ukraine.”
Police search for multiple gunmen after 3 people killed in shooting at Brooklyn club
Three people were killed and another ten were injured in an overnight shooting involving multiple gunmen at a Brooklyn nightclub, police said.
The shooting took place at the Taste of the City Lounge on Franklin Avenue in the Crown Heights neighborhood, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. The victims were three men ages 19, 27 and 35.
“What we know preliminarily is that there was a dispute inside the crowded club that led to the shooting,” Tisch told reporters. “We believe that there were up to four shooters involved in this incident.”
Police said they recovered 42 shell casings from the scene, from 9 mm and .45-caliber guns, according to the commissioner. A firearm was recovered in the vicinity, but it is unclear if it was used in the incident.
No suspects are in custody, and city officials urged the public to come forward with any information related to the shooting.
Terence Stamp, known for playing Zod in ‘Superman,’ dies
Terence Stamp, the English actor best known for playing a Kryptonian supervillain in “Superman” and “Superman II,” has died at age 87, according to his family.
Stamp played opposite Christopher Reeve in the two films, taking on the iconic character of General Zod. The role came more than a decade after Stamp was nominated for an Oscar for his supporting role in the film “Billy Budd.” Though it won him no awards, the “Superman” franchise was a defining mark in Stamp’s acting career.
Read All About It
- Air Canada reversed a plan to resume limited flights after the union representing striking flight attendants told members to defy a federal order to return to work.
- Thousands are without power in Puerto Rico as Hurricane Erin batters the Caribbean with heavy rainfall and gusty winds.
- For years, Republican lawyer Mike Davis has called for federal criminal investigations of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden. New probes approved by Attorney General Pam Bondi have raised his hopes.
- Sin city’s latest excess? Mosquitoes. The biting machines have exploded in number throughout the Las Vegas Valley thanks to a mix of urban development, climate change, insecticide resistance and genetic adaptations.
Staff Pick: Even at 1%, new tax will burden African immigrants who send money back home
Edidiong Chrys, a second-generation Nigerian American, regularly sends money back home. The funds help ease the cost of food for newborns in the family and a live-in nurse for her 80-year old grandmother. But a new remittance tax passed as part of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” will directly affect the financial lifeline she sends overseas.
The tax adds a financial burden to some people already struggling to make ends meet in the U.S. while sending money to support loved ones. Through the eyes of Chrys and aid experts, our story provides a great look into the communities — whether here or abroad — affected by new policies.
– Kayla Hayempour, associate platforms editor
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
To students who want to stretch their shopping budget: Here’s a list of over 50 student discounts to help you save money this school year. Plus, the NBC Select team found a wide range of point and shoot cameras to try from brands like Fujifilm, Ricoh, Sony and more.
Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.
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