National Guard troops in DC are now armed, defense official says

Earlier, Trump offered to send troops to Baltimore, Maryland.

ByKevin Shalvey, Alexandra Hutzler, Meredith Deliso, and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: August 24, 2025, 5:57 PM EDT

President Donald Trump on Sunday responded to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's invitation to attend a public safety walk next month in Baltimore, offering to send "troops" to the city.

On Friday, Trump announced on social media that the U.S. "now fully owns and controls 10% of INTEL." Trump said he negotiated the deal with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

Earlier Friday, federal agents were seen searching the Maryland residence of former Trump national security adviser turned critic John Bolton. Sources told ABC News the search was related to allegations that Bolton is in possession of classified records.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Aug 18, 2025, 12:22 PM EDT

European leaders begin arriving at the White House

European leaders have begun to arrive at the White House ahead of the meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen exited their vehicles at the South Portico. Also set to be in attendance today are the leaders of Germany, Finland, France, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Monica Crowley, White House chief of protocol, left, greets Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni upon arriving to meet with President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Aug. 18, 2025, at White House in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is greeted by US Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley (L) upon arrival at the White House South Portico in Washington, August 18, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Aug 18, 2025, 11:25 AM EDT

Zelenskyy slams Russian attacks ahead of Trump meeting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posting on X from Washington, slammed Russia's attacks on Ukraine overnight.

“This was a demonstrative and cynical Russian strike," Zelenskyy said. "They are aware that a meeting is taking place today in Washington that will address the end of the war. We will have a discussion with President Trump about key issues."

Ukrainian rescuers work inside a destroyed residential building after an air attack in Kharkiv, on August 18, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ivan Samoilov/AFP via Getty Images

Zelenskyy highlighted that the talks will include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Union and NATO.

"Everyone seeks dignified peace and true security. And at this very moment, the Russians are attacking Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, the Sumy region, and Odesa, destroying residential buildings and our civilian infrastructure. Russians are deliberately killing people, particularly children," Zelenskyy wrote.

Aug 18, 2025, 10:05 AM EDT

Vance to attend meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy: Source

Vice President JD Vance will be in Monday's bilateral meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, a source familiar confirmed to ABC News.

Vance was in that White House meeting that took place six months ago, where he berated Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, claiming he was not grateful for the aid and support the U.S. has provided to Ukraine.

JD Vance delivers a speech during a visit to RAF Fairford, south west England on August 13, 2025.
Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie

Aug 18, 2025, 6:54 AM EDT

'Everyone seeks dignified peace,' Zelenskyy says ahead of Trump meeting

As he prepares for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lamented an overnight Russian attack that he described as "demonstrative and cynical."

The deadly Russian aerial strike hit a residential building in Ukraine, according to Zelenskyy and local officials.

"They are aware that a meeting is taking place today in Washington that will address the end of the war," Zelenskyy said of officials in Moscow.


PHOTO: A drone view shows smoke rising from damaged buildings, at the site of an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at a location given as Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Aug. 18, 2025.
A drone view shows smoke rising from damaged buildings, at the site of an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at a location given as Kharkiv, Ukraine, in this screengrab taken from a video released on Aug. 18, 2025.
Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office via Reuters

He said the European and NATO officials who are scheduled to join Trump at the White House all seek "dignified peace and true security."

"Russians are deliberately killing people, particularly children," Zelenskyy said. "As of now, seven people have been killed as a result of the drone strike in Kharkiv, the youngest being a girl who is only a year and a half old, and dozens have been injured, including children."

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