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In talks with Zelenskiy, Trump appears to press pause on fresh support

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In talks with Zelenskiy, Trump appears to press pause on fresh support


US President Donald Trump meets with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy over lunch in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on October 17, 2025. — Reuters
  • Zelenskiy’s visit aimed at acquiring weapons to sustain war with Russia.
  • Trump appears more intent on brokering peace deal between two sides. 
  • US, Ukraine presidents discuss call between Russia’s Putin and Trump.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy came to the White House on Friday looking for weapons to keep fighting his country’s war with Russia, but met an American president who appears more intent on brokering a peace deal than upgrading Ukraine’s arsenal.

While US President Donald Trump did not rule out providing the long-range Tomahawk missiles Zelenskiy seeks, Trump appeared cool to the prospect as he looked ahead to a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary in the coming weeks.

The two leaders then went behind closed doors where they also discussed a call the previous day between the Russian president and Trump, who has portrayed himself as a mediator between the warring forces despite the fact that Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

‘Get along a little’

“I think President Zelenskiy wants it done, and I think President Putin wants it done. Now all they have to do is get along a little bit,” Trump told reporters.

Zelenskiy, however, noted how difficult it has been to try to secure a ceasefire. “We want this. Putin doesn’t want (it),” he said.

The Ukrainian leader was frank, telling Trump that Ukraine has thousands of drones ready for an offensive against Russian targets, but needs American missiles.

“We don’t have Tomahawks, that’s why we need Tomahawks,” he said.

Trump responded: “We’d much rather have them not need Tomahawks.”

Later, Trump reiterated that he wants the United States to hold onto its weaponry. “We want Tomahawks also. We don’t want to be giving away things that we need to protect our country,” he said.

After the meeting, which Zelenskiy described as productive, he told reporters he did not want to talk about long-range missiles, saying the US did not want escalation, and that he was “realistic” about his chance of getting them.

The Ukrainian president, who spoke by phone with European leaders after the meeting, said he was counting on Trump to pressure Putin “to stop this war.”

When asked about Trump’s comments, Zelenskiy said: “President (Trump) is right, and we have to stop where we are. This is important, to stop where we are, and then to speak.”

Back to the table

It was unclear what Putin had told Trump that prompted him to agree to the upcoming meeting. Their August summit in Alaska ended early with no major breakthrough.

The Kremlin said much needed to be decided and that the summit might take place “a little later” than within the two-week period mentioned by Trump.

Trump’s conciliatory tone after the call with Putin raised questions over the near-term likelihood of assistance to Ukraine and reignited European fears of a deal that suits Russia. A spokesperson for the European Union said it welcomed the talks if they could help bring peace to Ukraine.

Trump was asked on Friday whether he was concerned Putin might be “playing” him for time by agreeing to talks.

“You know, I’ve been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well, so it’s possible,” Trump replied.

Michael Carpenter, a former US official who is now a senior fellow at International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the meeting with Trump was not what Zelenskiy had been hoping for but was in line with the administration’s approach to the war.

“The underlying reality is that there is no inclination to impose costs on Russia,” he said.

The president expressed affection for Zelenskiy, at one point praising him for wearing what Trump called a “very stylish” dark suit jacket after he was knocked earlier this year for visiting the White House without one.

“He looks beautiful in his jacket,” Trump said. “I hope people notice.”

War has intensified

Trump, who has campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize, is eager to add to the list of conflicts he says he has been instrumental in ending.

More than 3-1/2 years after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has made some territorial gains this year, but Ukraine’s top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Thursday that the Russian offensive had failed.

Putin this month said his forces had taken almost 5,000 square kilometres (1,930 square miles) of land in Ukraine in 2025, equivalent to adding 1% of Ukraine’s territory to the nearly 20% already held.

Both sides have also escalated attacks on each other’s energy systems, and Russian drones and jets have strayed into Nato countries.

Analysts see talks as delaying tactic

The White House had seemed in recent days to be increasingly frustrated with Putin and leaning toward granting Zelenskiy fresh support, including the Tomahawk missiles that Ukrainians say would help them inflict more damage to Russia’s war machine.

After Friday’s talks, Zelenskiy said Russia was “afraid” of Tomahawks. Moscow has warned that supplying such missiles would mark a serious escalation.

Putin’s move appeared meant to make the US transfer of such weapons less likely, said Max Bergmann, a Russia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Mykola Bielieskov, a senior analyst at Come Back Alive, a Ukrainian non-governmental organisation that is a major procurer of military equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces, said Tomahawk missiles would level a playing field that is tipped toward Russia.

“We don’t expect Russia to crumble after one, two or three successful strikes,” Bielieskov said. “But it’s about pressure, constant pressure. It’s about disrupting the military-industrial complex.”





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Louis Tomlinson gets honest about grieving Liam Payne

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Louis Tomlinson gets honest about grieving Liam Payne


Louis Tomlinson opens up about Liam Payne grief

Louis Tomlinson has opened up about the emotional aftermath of Liam Payne’s tragic untimely death.

Louis’ former One Direction bandmate died aged 31 in Buenos Aires after falling from a third floor balcony at the Casa Sur Palmero Hotel on October 16, 2024.

Toxicology report revealed that he had alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant in his system.

In a new interview with The Independent, Louis shared that he has a hard time accepting that Liam is dead.

“I naively thought that, at this point, I’d unfortunately be a little bit more well versed with grief than other people my age,” he reflected, having lost his mother to leukemia in 2016, and his sister to an accidental overdose in 2019.

“I thought that might mean something, but it didn’t at all. It’s something I’ll never really accept. I don’t think,” he added of Liam’s death.

On Thursday, October 16, tributes poured in for the late singer. His girlfriend Kate Cassidy shared a sweet video of Liam attempting to lift her up and failing.

Liam’s sister Ruth penned a heartbreaking note, writing, “1year, 12months, 52weeks, 365days… whichever way I say it, it still means the most heartbreaking truth that you’re not here any more.”

She added, “When you used to go away on tour, and l’d cry that you’d be gone for a while, I always knew you’d come back, but now I can’t get you home, I can’t meet up with you somewhere in the world, I can’t facetime or text to see how you’re doing, it’s an eternal homesick feeling because we can’t go back.”





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PCB confirms tri-nation series to go ahead despite Afghanistan’s pullout

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PCB confirms tri-nation series to go ahead despite Afghanistan’s pullout


Pakistani players celebrate after taking a wicket during a tri-nation series match against Afghanistan in Sharjah on August 29, 2025. — AFP
  • Final decision to be announced soon, says PCB spokesperson.
  • Zimbabwe approached as potential replacement: sources
  • Tri-series set to be held in Pakistan from November 17 to 29.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday confirmed that the Tri-Nation T20I series will take place as per schedule, despite Afghanistan pulling out of the tournament amid the recent tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

A PCB spokesperson told Geo News that the event, set to be held in Pakistan from November 17 to 29, will proceed according to the original schedule, as the cricket board is considering options for the third team.

The spokesperson added that the final decision would be announced soon.

Sources privy to the developments indicated that the PCB has approached the Zimbabwe Cricket Board as a potential replacement for Afghanistan. The tri-nation series was originally slated to feature Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, with the final scheduled at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Islamabad and Kabul witnessed heightened tensions since October 12, when the Taliban forces and India-backed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), alias Fitna al-Khawarij, resorted to an unprovoked attack on Pakistan.

The Pakistan Armed Forces gave a befitting response to the aggression, killing over 200 Afghan Taliban and affiliated militants in a self-defence action. The military’s media wing said that 23 soldiers embraced martyrdom in the clashes with the Taliban forces and the terrorists.





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Pakistan to hold Qatar-mediated talks with Afghan Taliban in Doha today: FO

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Pakistan to hold Qatar-mediated talks with Afghan Taliban in Doha today: FO


A police officer stands guard outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on January 18, 2024. — AFP

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that a high-level delegation led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif will hold talks with representatives of the Afghan Taliban in Doha today (Saturday).

The foreign ministry said that the talks will primarily focus on “immediate measures to end cross-border terrorism against Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan” and on restoring “peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border.”

“Pakistan does not seek escalation, urges the Afghan Taliban authorities to honour their commitments to the international community and address Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns by taking verifiable action against terrorist entities, including the FAK/TTP and FAH/BLA,” the Foreign Office posted on X.

The ministry also appreciated the mediation efforts of Qatar and hopes these discussions contribute to peace and stability in the region.


This is a developing story and is being updated with the latest information.





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