(File Photo: Source for Photo: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, seated from background left, France’s President Emmanuel Macron and President Donald Trump listen during a meeting in the East Room of the White House, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered his assurances that U.S. troops would not be sent to help defend Ukraine against Russia after seeming to leave open the possibility the day before.

Trump also said in a morning TV interview that Ukraine’s hopes of joining NATO and regaining the Crimean Peninsula from Russia are “impossible.”

The Republican president, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders held hours of talks at the White House on Monday aimed at bringing an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine. While answering questions from journalists, Trump did not rule out sending U.S. troops to participate in a European-led effort to defend Ukraine as part of security guarantees sought by Zelenskyy.

Trump said after his meeting in Alaska last week with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Putin was open to the idea of security guarantees for Ukraine.

But asked Tuesday on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” what assurances he could provide going forward and beyond his term that American troops would not be part of defending Ukraine’s border, Trump said, “Well, you have my assurance, and I’m president.”

Trump would have no control over the U.S. military after his term ends in January 2029.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later on Tuesday emphasized that “U.S. boots will not be on the ground” as part of any potential peacekeeping mission.

The president also said in the interview that he is optimistic that a deal can be reached to end the Russian invasion, but he underscored that Ukraine will have to set aside its hope of getting back Crimea, which was seized by Russian forces in 2014, and its long-held aspirations of joining the NATO military alliance.

“Both of those things are impossible,” Trump said.

Putin, as part of any potential deal to pull his forces out of Ukraine, is looking for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as recognition of Crimea as Russian territory.

Trump on Monday said that he was arranging for direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy.

But the Kremlin has not yet said whether Putin, who has resisted previous calls by Trump and others for direct negotiations on ending the war, is committed to a face-to-face meeting with the Ukrainian leader.

Asked whether Putin has promised Trump that he’ll meet directly with the Ukrainian leader, Leavitt responded affirmatively. “He has,” Leavitt said of Putin.

Trump, early on Monday during talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders, said that he was pressing for three-way talks among Zelenskyy, Putin and himself.

But after speaking to Putin later in the day, Trump said that he was arranging first for a face-to-face between Zelenskyy and Putin and that three-way talks would follow if necessary.

“It was an idea that evolved in the course of the president’s conversations with both President Putin, President Zelensky and the European leaders yesterday,” Leavitt explained.

But when discussing a phone call held after the meeting between Trump and the Russian leader, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov gave no indication that either a bilateral or a trilateral meeting with Ukraine had been agreed.

Trump said he believed Putin’s course of action would become clear in the coming weeks.

“I think Putin is tired of it,” Trump said. “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.”

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that this evening, weather permitting, lane restrictions on Route 19 (Perry Highway) in the Town of McCandless in Allegheny County will occur. From 5:30 p.m. to approximately 11:59 p.m. tonight, lane restrictions will occur on southbound Route 19 between Montclair Avenue and West Fairview Avenue. Waterline installation work will be conducted by crews from RCC Building Contractors, LLC. 

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that tonight through Friday, August 22nd, weather permitting, nightly single-lane restrictions on Route 4003 (McKnight Road) in Ross and McCandless townships and in the City of Pittsburgh will occur. From 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night starting tonight through Friday night at those same times, a single-lane restriction will occur as needed on McKnight Road in each direction between Perrymont Road and Roseland Avenue as guide rail installation work there will be conducted by crews. McKnight Road will also be reduced to a single-lane around-the-clock in each direction between Roseland Avenue and Venture Street starting at 8 p.m. tonight through 6 a.m. on Saturday morning as concrete barrier work there will be conducted by crews. 

(File Photo of the PennDOT logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that work for replacement on the structure on the Millers Run Road (Route 978) over Dolphin Run in South Fayette Township of Allegheny County has been completed. That bridge is also open to traffic and on March 25th, 2025, work for replacement began on Millers Run Road between Mohawk Road and Battle Ridge Road (Route 978). Advanced deterioration in the late part of 2022 was discovered after an inspection of the bridge and it was closed to traffic immediately until a structure that was temporary could be installed in the early part of 2023. Traffic restrictions will be intermittent, but rock slope work at a stream there that is minor will continue. Additional work on this bridge replacement project there which is worth $1.9 million includes improvements to drainage, updates to guide rails, installation of pavement marking and milling and paving of the approach roadway. Pugliano Construction Company, Inc is the prime contractor.

(File Photo of Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that lane restrictions that are long-term have been extended on Route 2040 (Curry Hollow Road) in West Mifflin and Pleasant Hills boroughs of Allegheny County. A configuration will stay in place through the end of September where traffic that is westbound on Curry Hollow Road will stay crossed over into the lanes that are eastbound between Arbor Lane and Route 51. This will let a single-lane of traffic to be maintained in each direction there to let crews conduct installation of waterlines, improvements of drainage, adjustments for driveways,  work for traffic signal foundation, construction for walls, concrete road work and operations for paving in the closed westbound lanes. According to a release from PennDOT District 11, here are the prohibited left turns and the detours posted for this work:

The following left-hand turns will be prohibited:

·         Curry Hollow Road to Green Drive

·         Curry Hollow Road to Bliss Drive

·         Green Drive to Curry Hollow Road

·         Bliss Drive to Curry Hollow Road

Posted Detours

Curry Hollow Road to Green Drive

·         From Green Drive, turn left onto Broadway Drive

·         Turn right onto Old Clairton Road

·         Turn right onto West Bruceton Road

·         Turn right onto Arbor Lane

·         Follow Arbor Lane to Curry Hollow Road

·         End detour

Curry Hollow Road to Bliss Drive

·         Continue eastbound on Curry Hollow Road past the closed intersection

·         Take the ramp to northbound Route 51 toward Pittsburgh

·         From northbound Route 51, take the ramp to Curry Hollow Road toward South Park

·         From westbound Curry Hollow Road, turn right onto Bliss Drive

·         End detour

Green Drive to Curry Hollow Road

·         From Green Drive, turn right onto eastbound Curry Hollow Road

·         Take the ramp to northbound Route 51 toward Pittsburgh

·         From northbound Route 51, take the ramp to Curry Hollow Road toward South Park

·         End detour

Bliss Drive to Curry Hollow Road

·         From Bliss Drive, turn right onto westbound Curry Hollow Road

·         Turn left onto Arbor Lane

·         Turn left onto West Bruceton Road

·         Turn left onto Old Clairton Road

·         Turn left onto Broadway Drive

·         Turn right onto Green Drive

·         Turn right onto eastbound Curry Hollow Road

·         End detour

 

(Photo of the Food Trust Logo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Food Trust)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Philadelphia, PA) According to a release from the Food Trust, The Food Trust, in partnership with Pennsylvania-based Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, recently awarded $800,000 in funding to 13 recipients of the 2024-2025 round of the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative (PA FFFI) grant program. This program is for public-private financing statewide to support the expansion or establishment of retail sites for fresh food by providing grants that are one-time to businesses selling affordable and healthy food in moderate- and low-income communities in rural, urban and suburban areas across Pennsylvania. One of the thirteen grantees is from Beaver County, and it is DAT Place Convenience Store in Aliquippa. According to that same release from Food Trust, here are the thirteen grantees, more information about them, and why they received this funding from Food Trust:

Almadina Supermarket (Erie): An international grocery store on the East side of Erie where the nearest supermarket is over one mile away, awarded funds to purchase equipment that will allow the store to increase availability of fresh produce and other affordable, culturally appropriate food offerings in response to Erie’s growing immigrant community.

o   The Best Route (Pottstown): A mobile market awarded funds to renovate a wash/prep and storage facility, update its van with a branded wrap, and conduct a marketing campaign. The market is entering its second season and makes stops at community centers, housing developments and other existing hubs to increase the accessibility of its products.

o   Bravo Supermarket (Easton): A new supermarket on the south side of Easton, awarded funds to purchase an 86-foot reach-in retail refrigerator and freezer for produce, dairy, eggs and meat. Bravo Supermarket is one of the first local investments on the south side in many years, and its opening will encourage further economic development of the area.

o   DAT Place Convenience Store (Aliquippa): A corner store expanding into a 4,000-square-foot building to dramatically increase the availability of fresh and affordable foods to this neighborhood in Aliquippa, an area where most residents buy their groceries at the local dollar store. Awarded funds will be used to furnish the new space with retail equipment.

o   Dylamato’s Market (Pittsburgh): A market awarded funds for renovation and equipment to double its healthy food retail space, expand its commercial kitchen, and update its facade to increase the business’ visibility to the community and become ADA compliant. Dylamato’s has been serving the Pittsburgh community for eight years and is the only non-convenience store retailer in its neighborhood. The nearest supermarket is two miles away.

o   Ewe View Farm (Needmore): A vegetable farm with a mobile market making 11 stops in rural Bedford, Franklin and Fulton Counties. Awarded funds will be used to construct a cold storage shed and wash/pack station, purchase a freezer and conduct marketing. These improvements will allow the business to aggregate local meat, bread, mushrooms and coffee from nearby businesses to complement the produce, eggs and honey already being sold. Marketing will help this business increase its visibility to the wider community.

o   The Farm Store (Pottsville): A new farm-to-market grocery store that supports Schuylkill County farmers and makers was awarded funds to purchase retail equipment for the brick-and-mortar location and a refrigerated truck for its home delivery service. The opening of The Farm Store is an important development for downtown Pottsville, as it has not seen a grocery store in this area for six years.

o   Farmer Girl Eb (Pittsburgh): An urban farm-to-market awarded funds for a walk-in refrigerator and a delivery van. These purchases complement the business’s relocation to a new site, which will provide long-term stability for the market. In the short term, funds will enable Farmer Girl Eb to activate the new location with a pop-up farmers market, as well as stock the new store as soon as their building is connected to utilities. The delivery van will allow the business to formalize its delivery service to seniors, as well as more efficiently transport produce from Farmer Girl Eb’s farm to the store.

o   Grow Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh): A nonprofit focused on urban agriculture and education that operates five farm stands in and around Wilkinsburg. The organization was awarded funds to use toward the construction of its Garden Dreams Community Agriculture Hub. The entire project involves renovating and connecting two existing buildings adjacent to conserved growing space to create a classroom and community kitchen, and to expand the existing wash/pack space and cold storage capacity.

o   Larkin’s Market (Erie): A corner store in a residential neighborhood of Erie, opened September 2024. Larkin’s sells healthy grocery items and is one of the only WIC vendors in the area. Awarded funds will be used to purchase additional equipment for merchandising fresh produce and other healthy grocery items in the retail space, closing the distance between community residents and access to affordable foods.

o   Palace Life Supermarket (Erie): An African food and clothing store that opened September 2024. The store was awarded funds to purchase equipment such as a walk-in cooler, a deep freezer and a produce merchandiser to expand the selection of fresh meat and produce. Palace Life serves the growing African community in the neighborhood, providing essential products that reflect the community’s traditions and dietary needs.

o   Trawka’s Mom & Pop Grocery (Erie): A neighborhood meat and grocery market that will be using funds to purchase new produce, meat and dairy coolers, ensuring long-term access to these products. The store has been in operation for over 80 years and is a critical source of groceries in its community.

o   United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern PA (Scranton and Carbondale): Two farmers markets awarded funds to purchase refrigeration for their indoor facilities and to conduct a bilingual, SNAP user-focused marketing campaign. The addition of cold storage will enable more farms from rural parts Lackawanna, Wayne, Wyoming, Luzerne and Susquehanna counties to participate in the farmers markets as vendors will be able to drop products off outside market hours.

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti announced yesterday that a former Rochester resident has been sentenced in federal court to up to 10 years of prison and three years of parole on a conviction for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Thirty-five-year-old James Gilmore received this sentence upon the conviction that he possessed. According to information presented to the court, on June 9th, 2021, police attempted to stop a vehicle Gilmore was driving because he had an active arrest warrant for a parole violation. Gilmore escaped instead of pulling over at that time and threw a firearm from that vehicle that was loaded with an extended magazine that was attached which was capable of holding ammunition totaling thirty rounds. Gilmore continued to flee on foot through an area that was residential after he abandoned the vehicle after he threw the loaded firearm from that vehicle. A gray sweat shirt was recovered by officers that was similar to one that officers observed Gilmore wearing as he fled and officers also recovered a pill bottle, which was determined later to contain various controlled substances, even though Gilmore evaded police at the time of his crimes. The DNA of Gilmore was a potential contributor to the profiles of DNA found on both the firearm that the defendant threw during the chase of the vehicle he was driving in and the sweatshirt which was recovered from the yard in which he ran in was determined by forensic testing. After the firearm that was thrown during the vehicle chase was examined, it was revealed that the firearm was reported as stolen previously. The New Brighton Area Police Department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were commended by Revetti for the investigation which lead to the prosecution of Gilmore that was successful.