Donald Trump had seemed to be firmly back under the sway of Vladimir Putin following their summit in Alaska last Friday. But an intense push by European leaders appeared to coax Trump out of pro-Russian positions on Ukraine and led to a remarkable gathering in Washington on Monday.
Have their efforts done enough to give Volodymr Zelenskyy a meaningful role in negotiations? Washington correspondent David Smith reports on the hectic diplomatic efforts.
Trump’s talk of “land swaps” between Ukraine and Russia, as a simple transactional path to a peace deal, belies the grim reality of what it would mean for people in Zaporizhzhia. Shaun Walker reports from the Ukrainian frontline city where emotions are running high.
Trump’s meeting with Putin in Anchorage – where the US president rolled out the red carpet for his Russian counterpart – was widely viewed as a diplomatic triumph for Moscow. International affairs expert Rajan Menon explains why Putin is likely to be delighted with the way events are unfolding.
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Five essential reads in this week’s edition
Spotlight | Wildfires leave their mark across Spain and Canada
A near-disaster has highlighted Spain’s vulnerability to the climate emergency, while wildfires in Canada are now burning where they never used to. From opposite sides of the Atlantic, Sam Jones, Stephen Burgen and Leyland Cecco report on a rising crisis
Technology | Fascination and fear over the rise of the AI deathbot
Ozzy Osbourne appeared as an AI-generated image at a recent Rod Stewart concert, prompting questions about how the ghoulish phenomenon will affect grieving. Harriet Sherwood reports
Feature | Tuvalu dreams of dry land
With sea levels rising, much of the Pacific nation’s population is confronting the prospect that their home may soon cease to exist. Where are they going to go? Atul Dev visited the islands to find out
Opinion | Remember when having women in power was supposed to change everything?
The careers of Nicola Sturgeon, Angela Merkel and Jacinda Ardern show how foolish it is to idealise leaders just for being women, says Gaby Hinsliff
Culture | Novelist Douglas Stuart meets painter Jenny Saville
The Booker prize-winning author of Shuggie Bain sits down with the record-breaking artist to talk early success, bad reviews and the joys of making art
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What else we’ve been reading
British pop star Jade Thirlwall became famous at a young and vulnerable age via reality TV, when tabloid intrusion was rife and social media commentary was cruel. Here, Jade the solo artist talks about how her beginnings in the industry provided material for her maximalist, witty and very catchy debut single and why she’ll never shy away from protest. Emily El Nusairi, deputy production editor
As a parent living in London, this piece on why the capital’s schools outperform the rest of the UK was really interesting to me. I worry that we’ve made the right choice to bring up our children in central London, and the existence of such inequality across the country is shocking. Dave Kirwan, production director
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Other highlights from the Guardian website
• Audio | Ghosting, breadcrumbing, one-night stands: are we done with dating apps?
• Video | It’s complicated: How to solve the global housing crisis
• Gallery | Pipe dreams: a pipe band’s ‘world’ tour in Northumberland
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