Merz and Selensky are set to hold a joint news conference at 10:50

Merz and Selensky are set to hold a joint news conference at 10:50

The stage is set for a historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled to take place in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday. The much-anticipated summit comes amidst ongoing negotiations regarding the Ukraine conflict.

Sabine Fischer, an Osteuropa expert, believes that Putin is manipulating Trump, while Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister, believes Ukraine has already lost the war against Russia. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ruled out decisions about Ukraine being made at the meeting.

Russia is reportedly pushing deep behind Ukrainian lines and is said to have concentrated more than 100,000 soldiers in the Donbass region. The Ukrainian army is engaged in heavy fighting with Russian units near the cities of Pokrovsk and Dobropillia. In response, a team of Ukrainian special forces has destroyed a radar station in the Russian-occupied Crimea.

Russia insists on being involved in security guarantee discussions and seeks control over part of eastern Ukraine. Ukraine, led by Zelenskyy, rejects any territorial concessions, emphasizing sovereignty and constitutional limits. The US and European partners offer support for security guarantees to Ukraine, but mixed signals from Moscow complicate progress.

Peace efforts for Ukraine will be discussed during the Putin-Trump meeting. However, no sign of compromise has been seen from Russia's perspective. Independent Russian media outlet Mediazona confirms the identity of 121,507 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine between February 24, 2022 and July 31, 2025.

Ahead of the summit, Zelensky is set to come to Berlin today to personally participate in video talks at the Chancellery. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for security guarantees for Ukraine, while Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, has joined forces with partners ahead of the meeting.

Meanwhile, some commanders compare the massive concentration of troops in the Donbass to World War II. Steffen Bilger, the parliamentary business manager of the Union faction, believes that Ukrainian benefit recipients should accept jobs, even if they don't match their profession.

Amidst these complexities, there is a glimmer of hope. The rising prices of Ukrainian government bonds suggest hope for an end to the war, driven by upcoming talks between Trump and Putin. However, the outcome remains uncertain pending whether direct talks can take place and how the conflicting positions on territory and security guarantees can be reconciled.

1. Despite the ongoing violence in the Donbass region and ongoing negotiations, the community policy and general news about the Ukraine conflict remain at the forefront of discussions, especially in light of the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
2. As the summit approaches, politics, particularly regarding war-and-conflicts, continue to dominate conversations, with talks surrounding Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial concessions, and security guarantees being key points of contention.

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