In the lead-up to the Putin-Trump meeting, Zelensky issues a caution about potential Russian military advancements - Upcoming Putin-Trump meeting: Zelensky issues alert on potential Russian aggressive actions
In the ongoing Ukraine conflict, the recent summit between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska has raised hopes for a potential ceasefire, but as of August 2025, no agreement has been reached.
The meeting, which took place in mid-August, was initiated at Putin's request, according to the White House. However, Putin did not agree to pause the conflict during the talks, and Russian forces continued attacks on Ukraine. Despite the possibility of another meeting—potentially in Moscow—no firm commitments or concessions were made.
Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, described the summit as a "personal victory" for Putin. Meanwhile, Zelensky himself was not invited to the meeting, raising concerns in Kyiv and Europe about possible unfavorable concessions by Russia and the U.S.
Zelensky has ruled out withdrawing Ukrainian troops from the Donbass region, fearing it would provide the Russians with a foothold to prepare an offensive. A map published by "DeepState" shows a corridor now under Russian control, making the garrison town of Dobropillia vulnerable.
In a joint statement, the heads of state and government of the EU reiterated the right of Ukrainians to a self-determined future and stated that a just and lasting peace for Ukraine must be in line with international law, with international borders not changeable by force. Hungary was the only country to refuse to sign the joint statement.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Lavrov, to prepare for the meeting of the two leaders. Rubio stated that a meeting between President Trump and Vladimir Putin is not a concession.
In a separate development, Russian forces have advanced ten kilometers into Ukrainian territory at several points, according to Zelensky. The targets of the new Russian offensives are Saporishshya, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlivka, as stated by Zelensky.
Moscow demands that Kyiv cede the four partially occupied eastern Ukrainian regions of Saporishshya, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson, as well as the annexed Crimean peninsula, and renounce Western military aid and NATO membership. However, Zelensky stated that the U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff had hinted that Russia might be ready to agree to a ceasefire.
The current status of ceasefire negotiations remains stalled, with no ceasefire agreement reached. Analysts anticipate that Putin may conclude that a ceasefire is necessary by the end of 2025, but prior to that, efforts will involve diplomatic deadlock and ongoing conflict.
In a bid to address the situation, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) will hold virtual meetings with Trump and several heads of state and government on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The next steps may involve continued diplomatic pressure and possibly a re-evaluation of negotiation strategies toward a ceasefire later this year.
References: 1. The Washington Post 2. The New York Times 3. BBC News 4. Politico
- During the Putin-Trump summit in Alaska, neither party agreed to a pause in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, as Russian forces continued attacks while talks were underway.
- Despite the lack of a ceasefire agreement after the summit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have continued discussions, hinting at Russia's possible willingness to agree to a ceasefire in the future.
