Donald Trump could not find the president of Finland among the gathered European leaders at his White House summit on Ukraine.

Oil prices climbed about 2% on Wednesday on a bigger-than-expected weekly drop in U.S. crude inventories as investors awaited the next steps in talks to end the Ukraine war, with sanctions on Russian crude remaining in place for now.

The White House laid out the next steps for Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Pete Hegseth’s personal security requirements are straining an Army protective unit. Jeanine Pirro, D.C.’s top prosecutor, confirmed a major change to gun policy.

Moscow continues to say that the presence of any western troops in Ukraine is unacceptable, however, and accuses Kyiv and European capitals of trying to undermine the attempts of Mr Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin to end the war and rebuild US-Russia relations.

Some doubts and one big question have emerged in Donald Trump’s push for Ukraine peace talks. A heat wave is set to grip the Southwest, while the East Coast braces for potential effects from Hurricane Erin. And after the NBA got rid of microbets, will other pro sports do the same?

NATO's top military officials emerged from talks without a concrete plan to guarantee Ukraine's security – at least not one they were willing to discuss publicly.