Can Trump compel Putin to achieve a peaceful resolution?
In the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, President Zelensky of Ukraine has called for an unconditional ceasefire to initiate negotiations on the withdrawal of Russian troops. However, prospects for a peace agreement remain low, despite a recent meeting between President Trump and President Putin in Alaska.
The Kremlin continues to reject the legitimacy of Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations, fearing reputational risks and domestic political consequences. This reluctance is evident in the Kremlin's refusal to arrange a direct meeting between Putin and Zelensky. Russian officials, including Lavrov, have explicitly rejected any immediate Putin-Zelensky meeting.
Instead, Moscow aims to institutionalize the peace process by creating three working groups to focus on political, military, and humanitarian issues. A follow-up meeting between Trump and Putin in Russia has been agreed upon, with questions of nuclear armament on the agenda. The future of further negotiation steps towards a ceasefire and genuine peace talks remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, the situation in the northeastern city of Konstantinovka is deteriorating. If the Russian army manages to break through the front between Konstantinovka and Pokrovsk, the remaining northern part of the Donetsk region could be threatened.
On a positive note, the warring parties have agreed to exchange prisoners and the bodies of soldiers. The return of Ukrainian children abducted to Russia is also set to continue. From Ukraine's perspective, a peace agreement would require security guarantees from Western partners, potentially in the form of NATO membership or bilateral mutual defense treaties.
Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine for an end to the war have resumed under Turkish mediation since President Trump took office. However, Ukrainian troops are facing heavy pressure at several front sections in eastern and southern Ukraine, with shortages of soldiers due to recruitment problems and widespread desertion often leading to Russian territorial gains.
The Ukrainian leadership also expects Russia to pay reparations for the rebuilding of destroyed cities and villages and for the prosecution of Russian war crimes. As the stalemate continues, the international community watches with bated breath, hoping for a resolution that brings peace to the embattled nation.
[1] Source: The Washington Post, "Ukraine-Russia peace talks stall despite Trump-Putin meeting," 30 August 2025.
The Kremlin's rejection of direct Putin-Zelensky meetings prolongs the uncertainty of a genuine peace agreement, considering the ongoing institutionalization of the peace process by Moscow. Other general news reports suggest that Ukrainian troops, particularly in eastern and southern Ukraine, face heavy pressure, which may hinder any potential ceasefire or peace talks.
