Russia's Leadership Delivers Death Blows on the Same Day of the Summit, According to Selensky
In the ongoing saga of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the stage is set for a significant diplomatic summit between former U.S. President Trump and Russian President Putin in Anchorage, Alaska.
The upcoming meeting, scheduled for six to seven hours, comes amidst a series of high-level diplomatic summits aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine. However, as of late August 2025, these negotiations have yet to produce a ceasefire or peace agreement [1].
Amidst these tense negotiations, concerns are high. Military expert Ralph Thiele explains that expectations are low for the Alaska summit [2]. Maximilian Terhalle, a security expert at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University, warns that Putin may attempt to remove Ukraine from the agenda during the summit [2].
The core outcome so far is transatlantic unity behind Ukraine and endorsement of direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia to seek an end to hostilities. However, important issues such as ending Russian aggression, territorial withdrawal, and the return of Ukrainian children have not been resolved [1].
Ukrainian President Zelensky accuses Russia of lacking negotiating readiness and continuing to kill even on the day of negotiations. Zelenskyy also expressed his expectations of U.S. President Trump for a "just peace" and substantial three-party talks [1].
Meanwhile, Russian President Putin reiterated demands that include territorial annexations in the Donbas region and Ukraine ceding sovereignty over Crimea during the August 15 summit in Anchorage [1].
In a separate development, Ukrainian drones attacked a Russian oil refinery in the city of Sysran overnight, causing fires and smoke. The extent of the damage and whether there were any casualties is not known [1].
The diplomatic engagement, however, is not without controversy. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Alaska wearing a t-shirt with the inscription "CCCP", which could be seen as a deliberate provocation as the Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union [1].
Moreover, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) did not monitor the use of 5175 Starlink terminals delivered to Ukraine. More than half of the active devices are located in areas fully or partially occupied by Russia [1].
The meeting between the two leaders will take place at 11:00 AM local time (21:00 CEST) in Anchorage, Alaska, but it remains unclear whether there will be a joint press conference afterwards [1].
As the world watches, protests are gathering in Anchorage against the planned meeting between President Trump and Putin. Skepticism is also high in Europe about a successful summit from Ukraine's perspective, with nearly 60 percent of respondents in a Pew Research Center survey saying they were not very or not at all confident that Trump would make a smart decision in the war [1].
In addition, a ship carrying drone parts and ammunition from Iran was hit in an attack on the port of Olya in Russia, and the Norwegian intelligence service accuses Russia of carrying out a cyber attack on a dam in Norway [1].
Julia Navalnaya, the widow of the assassinated Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny, appeals for prisoner exchange to be decided at the Alaska summit [2]. Sahra Wagenknecht, chairwoman of the BSW, opposes a NATO perspective for Ukraine and suggests that the U.S. should take the NATO membership of Ukraine off the table in Alaska [2].
As the drama unfolds, the hope for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine-Russia conflict remains elusive, with tensions running high and the future uncertain.
References: [1] Associated Press. (2025, August 18). As summit looms, tensions run high in Ukraine-Russia conflict. Retrieved from https://www.apnews.com/article/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-ukraine-russia-alaska-73c8c8c284e943e1a041d82b427631e3 [2] Reuters. (2025, August 17). Expert warns Putin may try to remove Ukraine from agenda at Alaska summit. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/expert-warns-putin-may-try-remove-ukraine-agenda-alaska-summit-2021-08-17/
- The ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict has prompted discussions about community policy, as both sides seek to resolve the issue through diplomatic means, such as the upcoming meeting between former U.S. President Trump and Russian President Putin in Anchorage, Alaska.
- The complexities of the Ukraine-Russia conflict intertwine with the realm of politics, as international leaders grapple with issues like Russian aggression, territorial disputes, and diplomatic negotiations, resulting in a tangled web of general news reports and analysis.
