By LORNE COOK, Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders appealed on Tuesday to U.S. President Donald Trump to defend their security interests at a key summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin later this week over the war in Ukraine.

Putin appeared to be on the verge of making a key territorial grab ahead of Friday’s summit, potentially to use as leverage in any peace negotiations.

Concerns over the summit

The Europeans are desperate to exert some influence over the meeting from which they have been sidelined. It remains unclear whether even Ukraine will take part. Trump has said that he wants to see whether Putin is serious about ending the war, now in its fourth year.

But Trump has disappointed U.S. allies in Europe by saying that Ukraine will have to give up some Russian-held territory. He also said that Russia must accept land swaps, although it remains unclear what Putin might be expected to surrender.

FILE – President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington, as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, left, and Attorney General Pam Bondi look on. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

The Europeans and Ukraine are wary that Putin, who has waged the biggest land war in Europe since 1945 and used Russia’s energy might to try to cow the EU, might secure favorable concessions and set the outlines of a peace deal without them.

The overarching fear for European countries is that Putin will set his sights on one of them next if he wins in Ukraine.

In a statement early on Tuesday, the leaders said that they “welcome the efforts of President Trump towards ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.” But, they underlined, “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.”

“A just and lasting peace that brings stability and security must respect international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and that international borders must not be changed by force,” they said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected the idea that Ukraine must commit to giving up land to secure a ceasefire. Russia holds shaky control over four of the country’s regions, two in the country’s east and two in the south.

Zelenskyy on Monday thanked European leaders for their support and urged for more diplomatic and economic pressure on Moscow as long as “they continue the war and occupation.”

“We see that the Russian army is not preparing to end the war,” Zelenskyy posted on Telegram. “On the contrary, they are carrying out movements that indicate preparations for new offensive operations. Under such conditions, it is important that nothing threatens the unity of the world.”

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the chief of Zelenskyy’s office, said anything short of Russia’s strategic defeat would mean that any ceasefire deal would be on Moscow’s terms, erode international law and send a dangerous signal to the world.

Putin’s ultimate goal is to “eliminate Ukraine as a sovereign state by dismantling its military, foreign policy and right to self-determination,” Podolyak said on Telegram.

Russia closes in on a major city

In Ukraine, a Russian missile attack on a Ukrainian military training facility left one soldier dead and 11 others wounded, the Ukrainian Ground Forces posted on Telegram. Soldiers rushing to shelters were hit with cluster munitions, according to the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

Meanwhile, Russia appeared close to taking an important city in the Donetsk region, as its forces were reported to be rapidly infiltrating positions north of Pokrovsk.

In this photo provided by Ukraine’s 65th Mechanized Brigade press service, recruits practice military skills on a training ground on a sunflower field in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, (Andriy Andriyenko/Ukraine’s 65th Mechanized Brigade via AP)

Military analysts using open source information to monitor the battles say the next 24-48 hours could be critical. Losing Pokrovsk would hand Russia an important battlefield victory ahead of the summit. It would also complicate Ukrainian supply lines to the Donetsk region, where the Kremlin has focused the bulk of its military efforts.

“A lot will depend on availability, quantity and quality of Ukrainian reserves,” Pasi Paroinen, an analyst with the Finland-based Black Bird Group, wrote in a post on X late Monday.

Ukraine’s military said its forces are fending off Russian infantry units trying to infiltrate their defensive positions in the Donetsk region. The region’s Ukrainian military command posted on Facebook Monday that enemy soldiers penetrating Ukrainian lines to capture more territory “face inevitable death” but acknowledges that the situation remains “difficult, unpleasant and dynamic.”

Putin’s public rehabilitation

On Monday, Trump repeated that “there’ll be some land swapping going on.” He said that this would involve “some bad stuff for both” Ukraine and Russia. His seemingly public rehabilitation of Putin — a pariah in most of Europe — has unnerved Ukraine’s backers.

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Trump was also critical of Zelenskyy, noting that Ukraine’s leader had been in power for the duration of the war and said “nothing happened” during that time. He contrasted that with Putin, who has wielded power unchallenged in Russia for decades.

It’s unclear whether the Europeans were unsettled by Trump mistakenly saying twice he would be traveling to Russia on Friday to meet Putin. The summit is taking place in the U.S. state of Alaska, which was colonized by Russia in the 18th century until Czar Alexander II sold it to the U.S. in a land deal in 1867.

The Europeans will make a fresh attempt to rally Trump to Ukraine’s cause on Wednesday at virtual meetings convened by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Trump did not confirm whether he would take part, but he did say: “I’m going to get everybody’s ideas” before meeting with Putin.

Tuesday’s statement was also meant to be a demonstration of European unity. But Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is Putin’s closest ally in Europe and has tried to block EU support for Ukraine, did not endorse it. He was the only one of the bloc’s 27 leaders who refused to do so.

Associated Press writers Samya Kullab and Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv contributed to this report.

Today is Tuesday, Aug. 12, the 224th day of 2025. There are 141 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Aug. 12, 2017, a driver sped into a crowd of people peacefully protesting a white nationalist rally in the Virginia college town of Charlottesville, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring more than a dozen others. (The attacker, James Alex Fields, was sentenced to life in prison on 29 federal hate crime charges, and life plus 419 years on state charges.)

Also on this date:

In 1867, President Andrew Johnson sparked a move to impeach him as he defied Congress by suspending Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, with whom he had clashed over Reconstruction policies. (Johnson was acquitted by the Senate.)

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In 1898, fighting in the Spanish-American War came to an end.

In 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home to the Indianapolis 500, first opened.

In 1944, during World War II, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., eldest son of Joseph and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, was killed with his co-pilot when their explosives-laden Navy plane blew up over England.

In 1953, the Soviet Union conducted a secret test of its first hydrogen bomb.

In 1960, the first balloon communications satellite — the Echo 1 — was launched by the United States from Cape Canaveral.

In 1981, IBM introduced its first personal computer, the model 5150, at a press conference in New York.

In 1985, the world’s worst single-aircraft disaster occurred as a crippled Japan Airlines Boeing 747 on a domestic flight crashed into a mountain, killing 520 people. Four passengers survived.

In 1990, fossil collector Sue Hendrickson found one of the largest and best preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons ever discovered; nicknamed “Sue” after Hendrickson, the skeleton is now on display at Chicago’s Field Museum.

In 1994, in baseball’s eighth work stoppage since 1972, players went on strike rather than allow team owners to limit their salaries.

In 2000, the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk and its 118-man crew were lost during naval exercises in the Barents Sea.

In 2013, James “Whitey” Bulger, the feared Boston mob boss who became one of the nation’s most-wanted fugitives, was convicted in a string of 11 killings and dozens of other gangland crimes, many of them committed while he was said to be an FBI informant. (Bulger was sentenced to life; he was fatally beaten at a West Virginia prison in 2018, hours after being transferred from a facility in Florida.)

In 2022, Salman Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked and stabbed in the neck by a man who rushed the stage as he was about to give a lecture in western New York.

Today’s Birthdays:

Investor and philanthropist George Soros is 95.
Actor George Hamilton is 86.
Singer-musician Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) is 76.
Singer Kid Creole (Kid Creole and the Coconuts) is 75.
Film director Chen Kaige is 73.
Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny is 71.
Actor Bruce Greenwood is 69.
Basketball Hall of Famer Lynette Woodard is 66.
Rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot is 62.
Actor Peter Krause (KROW’-zuh) is 60.
Tennis Hall of Famer Pete Sampras is 54.
Actor-comedian Michael Ian Black is 54.
Actor Yvette Nicole Brown is 54.
Actor Casey Affleck is 50.
Boxer Tyson Fury is 37.
Actor Lakeith Stanfield is 34.
NBA All-Star Khris Middleton is 34.
Actor Cara Delevingne (DEHL’-eh-veen) is 33.
Tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas is 27.

Which curved monitor is best?

There seems to be an almost endless choice of computer monitors that you can use, whether it’s for video games or doing office work. Depending on the size of your desk, you might also decide to have multiple monitors.

No matter your setup or what you use the monitors for, most people can easily be distracted by their environment. A great step toward minimizing a dwindling attention span is to get a curved monitor.

What to know before you buy a curved monitor

Curved vs. flat-screen monitor

Curved screens have one advantage over flat-screen monitors, especially when it comes to video games. Due to the curve, the monitor will appear to be larger, as all sides are an equal distance away from your eyes. On a flat-screen monitor, the edges are the farthest away, which your eyes can interpret as slight distortion. There’s also less glare on a curved monitor while filling more of your peripheral vision.

The curve is different depending on the model

There is no “standard” curve when it comes to curved monitors. For one manufacturer, you may find several models with different curve dimensions. What is standard is how the curvature is measured and presented. You might find a monitor with a 1500R or 1800R curve — this means the radius of the curve is 1,500 or 1,800 millimeters.

The best curve radius is closer to the human eye

While it can differ between users, the best radius for a curved monitor is one that’s closer to the radius of the human eye. An 1800R monitor has less of a curve than a 1500R monitor, while the human eye has a curve of around 1000R. The closer the radius of the monitor is to 1,000 millimeters, the better visuals it will provide.

What to look for in a quality curved monitor

A native curve is better than a non-native one

It might seem strange, but there are two different kinds of curves, also related to the radius. A monitor with a native curve is the best, as the model was originally designed at the specific 1500R curvature. A monitor with a non-native curve is when an 1800R monitor is adapted to have a 1500R radius. Essentially forced into the tighter radius, non-native curved monitors can suffer from backlight bleed and a shorter life span.

The resolution should be relative to the display’s size

As with any monitor, the resolution is important for graphical quality. If you have a curved monitor of more than 27 inches, the best resolution would be 2K (2560 x 1440). If it’s less than that, you could notice graphical elements that give the impression of lower quality. For monitors below 27 inches, a resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080) would be perfect, while 4K (4096 x 2160) is best suited for monitors 32 inches or more.

Multiple connections and settings

A monitor connects to a computer or laptop through a cable, and having a choice of which cable you want to use is excellent. The most common method is through an HDMI connection, while some monitors also support DisplayPort technology. A good-quality curved monitor should have additional connections like USB-C, USB 3.0 and a headphone jack.

How much you can expect to spend on a curved monitor

The average price of a curved monitor depends on the size of the display, the maximum resolution and additional functions. An entry-level curved monitor can retail for $100-$200, while larger widescreen monitors can retail for $1,000-$1,500.

Curved monitor FAQ

Can you mount a curved monitor on a wall?

A. In theory, it’s possible, but you need a special mounting bracket. Since curved monitors don’t have a flat back, the industry-standard VESA mounting system might not work.

Is a curved monitor good for gaming?

A. Yes, as is any monitor that you connect to a computer or console. The important aspects to take into consideration are the refresh rate and the resolution — both of which can affect the visual quality of gaming consoles.

What’s the best curved monitor to buy?

Top curved monitor

LG 38WP85C-W 38-Inch Curved UltraWide Monitor

What you need to know: This ultrawide monitor is perfect for anybody who has limited space on their desk and is looking for a multiple-monitor solution.

What you’ll love: With a resolution of 3840 x 1600 pixels, this 38-inch display has extra-thin bezels on three sides. It has two 7-watt speakers built in, features two USB 3.0 ports, a USB-C connection, DisplayPort and a headphone jack.

What you should consider: While it has a USB-C port on the back panel, it automatically stops supplying power to any connected device when the monitor is turned off or goes into power-saving mode.

Top curved monitor for the money

Samsung 27″ Essential S3 (S36GD) Series FHD 1800R Curved Computer Monitor

What you need to know: This affordable option has both a high-quality refresh rate and stunning visuals.

What you’ll love: The 100Hz refresh rate makes it suitable for most video games. It has an anti-eye-fatigue technology that gives your eyes a break from blue light and flickering. It has an 1800R curve.

What you should consider: Making settings adjustments on the monitor itself can be frustrating.

Worth checking out

Samsung S65UA Series 34-Inch Ultrawide Curved Monitor

What you need to know: With its mammoth display of 34 inches, this monitor is the ideal accessory for power users or creative workers who need to have a lot of windows open at the same time.

What you’ll love: With a maximum resolution of 3440 x 1440, it has a 1000R curve, which is the closest to the human eye you’ll get from a monitor. It features a USB-C port, HDMI connection, two USB 3.0 ports and an Ethernet connection. The monitor has a refresh rate of 100 hertz and is compatible with AMD’s FreeSync technology.

What you should consider: While the display can be split into two windows, users have indicated that the control panel is difficult to use.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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An Iron Range City Council member who cut down a Minnesota Power support wire on his property in May, knocking out electricity to three cities, entered into a plea agreement Monday.

Joseph Christopher Vaida, 64, of McKinley, was immediately sentenced by St. Louis County District Judge Robert Friday to five years of unsupervised probation after pleading guilty to a count of damaging an electric line.

Vaida received a stay of imposition, under which the court does not impose a felony-level sentence. Rather, the conviction will be deemed a misdemeanor if he remains law-abiding until August 2030.

Joseph Christopher Vaida, 63, of McKinley (Forum News Service)

Authorities said Vaida had a “long and contentious history” and engaged in “many instances of intimidating and disorderly conduct toward Minnesota Power employees” before the May 19 incident in which he disrupted service to McKinley, Gilbert and Biwabik.

According to court documents, a company employee spoke with the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office days earlier to report that Vaida was threatening to cut down a guy wire anchored on his property. A guy wire is a tensioned cable that runs diagonally from a freestanding pole to add stability.

Minnesota Power indicated an easement had been in place since 1990, and officials were looking into the issue, but they would not have time to resolve it within seven days, as Vaida demanded.

A deputy warned Vaida not to damage the line and encouraged him to resolve the situation in court, according to a criminal complaint. But he began listing various grievances with the utility and declared, “Monday at noon it’s going down, period.”

After Vaida followed through on the promise, crews were able to quickly restore service to the two neighboring cities. However, they would not go near his McKinley property until he was located, and warned authorities that the ground around the pole was hazardous.

Deputies said they went to the area and found Vaida driving nearby. Metal cutters and an ax were located inside his pickup truck as he was arrested.

Authorities said the severed wire was found wrapped in barbed wire “to hinder any attempts to investigate or repair the damage,” and it appeared there had been recent digging in an attempt to remove the anchor.

The St. Louis County Attorney’s Office agreed to drop two other felony counts of damaging utility property and first-degree property damage.

Vaida was elected to the McKinley City Council in 2018 and reelected four years later. The city, which is about an 8-mile drive east of Virginia, had a population of 103 at the 2020 Census.

He remained an active member of the council as of last week, according to the St. Louis County Auditor’s Office.

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