President Donald Trump on Monday described an end to the war in Ukraine as closer than ever, with American officials earlier in the day suggesting beefed-up security guarantees for Kyiv had advanced the peace talks — but that the US offer would not be on the table forever.

The president said he had exchanged “pretty strong words” with European leaders, while Russia signaled it saw itself as increasingly on the same page as the U.S.

The fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, authorizes a record $901 billion in annual military spending, with a 4% pay raise for the troops.

US and Ukrainian officials said they made substantial progress in two days of talks aimed to bring an end to Russia's invasion closer, with Washington reportedly offering Kyiv security guarantees modeled on NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense pledge.

Lawmakers debate Trump's timeline for Ukraine peace deal as territorial concessions remain a sticking point in negotiations to end the four-year conflict.

The United States just wrapped up two days of talks with Ukrainian and European negotiators in Berlin, followed by more discussions among leaders in Europe – all of which ended with positive signals about a future peace agreement.

U.S. President Donald Trump's August summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, is looming large as the White House presses its latest effort to secure a peace deal ending Moscow's full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine.