We've got the European nations, and they'll front-load it, and they'll have some of them, France and Germany, a couple of them, UK. They want to have, you know, boots on the ground. Not in, not in, I don't think it's going to be a problem, to be honest with you. I think, I think Putin is tired of it. I think they're all tired of it. But you never know. We're going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks that I can tell you.

And we're going to see

where it all goes. It's possible that he doesn't want to make a deal.

You never know. That was President Trump yesterday questioning whether Vladimir Putin

wants to end his war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Kremlin's pushing back on the possibility of a meeting between the Russian president and Ukraine's

president, Volodymyr Zelensky. The question is, has any progress been made after President

Trump's meetings with both leaders? Plus, more National Guard troops from other states are now

in Washington, D.C., creating noticeable changes in some neighborhoods. The question is, are they actually patrolling the high crime areas? Also ahead, another Republican lawmaker faces a hostile crowd at a public event. And the question is, will other Republicans lay low until the August recess is over? It's way too early for this.

Good morning and welcome to way too early, the show that is keeping a watchful eye on Hurricane Erin as it brings dangerous conditions to the eastern seaboard.

We're going to have the latest forecast for you coming right up. I'm Ali Vitale on this Wednesday, August 20th, and we'll start with the news. Russia is downplaying the prospect of a face-to-face meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. President Trump had been pushing for in-person negotiations following his meetings with both of those leaders. The White House says Putin has agreed to begin the next phase of the peace process, but Russia's foreign minister is suggesting a bilateral or trilateral

meeting won't be happening quickly, saying, quote, any contacts involving the heads of state

need to be thoroughly prepared. A Russian representative for the United Nations echoed that

sentiment, telling the BBC, quote, nobody had rejected the opportunity for

direct talks, but it shouldn't be a meeting for the sake of a meeting. But last night, President Trump

told a conservative radio host that plans for a meeting are actually in the works.

I had a very successful meeting with President Putin. I had a very successful meeting with

President Zelensky,

and now I thought it would be better if they met without me,

just to see.

I want to see what goes on.

They had a hard relationship, very bad, very bad relationship.

And now we'll see how they do.

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