BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO defense chiefs were due to hold a virtual meeting Wednesday, a senior alliance official said, as Western countries pushing for an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine devise possible future security guarantees for Kyiv that could help forge a peace agreement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeing his hand steadily strengthen in negotiations over a potential peace deal as President Trump seeks to plot out a path to end Russia’s war with Ukraine. The Kremlin has escaped the imminent threat of additional U.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised President Trump during a White House meeting on Monday for "breaking the deadlock" of the Ukraine War by starting a dialogue with Russia. "I really want to thank you,

Romania's "aerial surveillance system" identified "groups of drones launched by the Russian Federation that attacked Ukrainian ports on the Danube," the ministry said. "During the mission, there were no penetrations of aircraft in the national airspace."

"The Black Sea will define the future of the European security order for generations to come," write Galip Dalay and Natalie Sabanadze.

For Putin, the war in Ukraine is not only about Kyiv's independence, it's about preserving Russia's power over former Soviet states.

Donald Trump has told Ukraine to give up hopes of getting back annexed Crimea or joining NATO as he prepares to host President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Washington on Monday to press Kyiv into accepting a peace deal with Russia.

Trump: “President Zelensky can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight."