Conflict in Ukraine: Examining the state of affairs preceding the Alaska meeting
In the ongoing saga of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, peace negotiations remain stalled as of late August 2025. Despite multiple rounds of talks and high-level diplomatic efforts, a concrete agreement has yet to be reached.
The core of the disagreement revolves around territorial control and security guarantees. Russia insists on recognition of its control over parts of Ukraine, notably in Donbas, while Ukraine demands the withdrawal of Russian forces and refuses to join NATO.
Recently, the U.S. policy has shifted from pushing for a ceasefire towards negotiating a broader peace deal closer to Russia’s demands, including possible Ukrainian concessions over Donbas territory in exchange for a ceasefire and security guarantees. This represents a significant departure from earlier staunch U.S. support for Ukraine’s full sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The upcoming summit between President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, aims to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. However, the respective positions are far apart, with Russia demanding preconditions related to security and territory, and Ukraine wanting clearer offers before such talks.
The European Union, united in the view that no decisions should be made over Ukraine without its involvement, is coordinating before the summit today in a digital conference initiated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Niklas Ebert, an expert on transatlantic security, believes this digital conference is to clarify non-negotiable points for Ukraine and Europe before the summit on Friday.
Meanwhile, the conflict on the ground continues unabated, with ongoing Russian attacks undermining peace talks and signaling Russia's intention to strengthen its leverage before any final settlement. The oblast of Luhansk is considered fully occupied by Russia, while Ukraine still holds parts of the other three regions.
Ukraine is not participating in the summit, and it remains unclear if a direct meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will take place. There is continued skepticism about Russia’s sincerity in negotiations, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasizing Russia’s demand to approve all security guarantees and warning against Western military involvement in Ukraine.
As of now, there is no sign of an impending peace in Ukraine itself. The conflict, which began in 2014 when the Crimea and parts of Luhansk and Donetsk were occupied by Russia or Kremlin-backed separatists, continues to be a significant source of international tension.
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