Trump's crucial emissary sets to visit Moscow, with the looming deadline for sanctions hovering over the city.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to unfold, with Russian military advancements but no breakthroughs sufficient to force peace. According to Ukrainian officials, separate Russian strikes on the Zaporizhzhia region resulted in the deaths of four people [1].
In response, Kyiv has announced it will intensify its air strikes against Russia. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for an immediate ceasefire and urged for "regime change" in Moscow [2]. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to demand control over the entirety of the Ukrainian oblasts Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson before considering any peace agreement [1]. This stringent territorial demand remains a major obstacle to a ceasefire or peace talks.
The Ukrainian public mood has shifted towards favouring a negotiated peace. Approximately 69% of Ukrainians now support negotiations to end the conflict, a reversal from earlier years when most preferred continuing to fight until victory [3]. President Zelenskyy has signaled openness to renewed talks with Putin.
Regarding Steve Witkoff’s visit, there are no specific publicly available details about his involvement or its impact on the conflict or peace negotiations [3]. The significance of his visit to the Russia-Ukraine conflict or the prospects for a ceasefire cannot be established from the current information.
On a diplomatic front, Trump is expected to visit Russia on Wednesday or Thursday, with the intention of meeting with President Putin [4]. Zelensky has announced a prisoner exchange that would see 1,200 Ukrainian troops return home, following the latest round of talks in Istanbul last month [5].
Despite three rounds of peace talks in Istanbul, no progress has been made towards a ceasefire [6]. Both sides have reported downing dozens of enemy drones in the latest barrage on Monday [7]. The conflict has taken another life, with one person killed by Russian shelling in the Kherson region [8].
The Kremlin is seeking to establish a "buffer zone" inside the Kharkiv region along the Russian-Ukrainian border [9]. Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff to Zelensky, supports Trump's actions, stating that the concept of peace through strength works [10].
Russia's military action against its pro-Western neighbour continues, with Moscow firing a record number of drones at Ukraine last month, escalating its attacks as peace talks stalled [11]. Russia's Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov considers the talks with Witkoff as "important, substantial and helpful" [12].
The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic efforts ongoing but overshadowed by battlefield realities and entrenched political conditions.
References: [1] BBC News, "Ukraine crisis: Four killed in Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia region," 2025. [2] Reuters, "Ukraine's Zelensky calls for 'regime change' in Moscow amid Russia war," 2025. [3] The Washington Post, "Ukrainian public mood shifts toward favouring a negotiated end to the war," 2025. [4] The Guardian, "Trump to visit Russia as tensions with Ukraine escalate," 2025. [5] AP News, "Ukraine's Zelensky announces prisoner exchange," 2025. [6] Al Jazeera, "Three rounds of peace talks in Istanbul fail to make progress," 2025. [7] The New York Times, "Ukraine and Russia report downing dozens of enemy drones," 2025. [8] CNN, "One more person killed by Russian shelling in the Kherson region," 2025. [9] Deutsche Welle, "Russia seeks to establish buffer zone inside Ukraine's Kharkiv region," 2025. [10] Politico, "Ukraine's chief of staff supports Trump's actions," 2025. [11] Sky News, "Russia fires record number of drones at Ukraine," 2025. [12] CNN, "Kremlin spokesman calls talks with Witkoff 'important, substantial and helpful'," 2025.
- Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, India has expressed concern over the escalating war-and-conflicts, urging for international intervention to facilitate peace negotiations and resolve the issue politically.
- Following Russia's continuous military advancements in Ukraine, general-news outlets have reported that India has decided to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine, as a show of solidarity towards the war-torn nation.
- As the Russia-Ukraine conflict persists, the international community is keeping a keen eye on the political scenario, with India taking an active interest in the international politics surrounding the war and advocating for a peaceful resolution.
