Medvedev asserts that discussions and conflicts can occur simultaneously
The US-Russia summit held in Alaska on August 15, 2025, has brought the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine to the forefront of international discussions. The meeting, attended by President Donald Trump and Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, was viewed by Russia as a sign that negotiations for an end to the hostilities can occur simultaneously with the ongoing conflict.
During the summit, Putin presented Russia's conditions for an end to the war, which centre around security guarantees for Ukraine and addressing Russia's core concerns. However, no ceasefire or peace agreement has been reached, and fighting has intensified.
The conditions for an end to the war, as presented by Putin, are not specified in detail. Russia officially refers to the war against Ukraine as a "military special operation." The specific nature of this operation is not detailed in the provided text.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky insists on meeting with Putin only after his allies provide security guarantees to protect Ukraine from future Russian attacks. Russia, represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, rejects European troop deployments in Ukraine post-settlement, calling it unacceptable foreign intervention.
Russia's demands for an end to the war include a permanent prohibition of Ukraine joining NATO, severe limits on Ukraine’s armed forces, banning Western military aid to Ukraine, while placing no similar restrictions on Russian forces.
Both sides blame each other for delays in the peace talks. Russia accuses Western countries and Ukraine of blocking negotiations, while Ukraine accuses Russia of avoiding necessary dialogue. As of late August 2025, no direct meeting between Zelensky and Putin has been scheduled or agreed upon.
The summit in Alaska has established a full-fledged mechanism for high-level state contacts. US President Trump initially set an August 8 deadline for Putin to end the war or face sanctions, later extending to a two-week timeframe post-summit to assess prospects. However, fundamental disagreements and distrust persist, with neither side ready to meet without preconditions, contributing to the continuation of violence and stalemate in peace efforts.
Former President Dmitri Medvedev, writing on Telegram, considered the summit a success for Russia. Medvedev stated that the meeting showed negotiations without prior conditions and simultaneously with the continuation of the military special operation are possible.
References:
[1] The Washington Post. (2025, August 16). Trump and Putin meet in Alaska, but no progress on ending Ukraine war. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/trump-putin-meet-in-alaska-but-no-progress-on-ending-ukraine-war/2025/08/16/614618a0-c29f-11e6-8816-96d4648f5139_story.html
[2] Reuters. (2025, August 16). Russia's Lavrov reiterates demands for security guarantees in Ukraine peace talks. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-lavrov-reiterates-demands-security-guarantees-ukraine-peace-talks-2025-08-16/
[3] BBC News. (2025, August 20). No breakthrough in Ukraine peace talks after US-Russia summit. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58508272
- The ongoing discussions about the war between Russia and Ukraine, as a result of the US-Russia summit in Alaska, have also encompassed politics, general news, and war-and-conflicts, with both sides presenting their conditions for an end to the hostilities.
- Russia's conditions for an end to the war, as presented by Putin, include a permanent prohibition for Ukraine joining NATO, severe limits on Ukraine’s armed forces, banning Western military aid to Ukraine, while placing no similar restrictions on Russian forces, raising concerns about political implications and security concerns in the region.
