Zelenskyy refuses to officially surrender territory before Trump and Putin's discussions
Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia have been ongoing for some time now, but as of mid-August 2025, they have not yielded a ceasefire or significant territorial concessions. The ongoing conflict, which has led to tens of thousands of deaths, remains unresolved.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly rejected a full ceasefire while continuing military offensives in key areas like Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts. Negotiations appear narrowly focused on the fate of the four oblasts—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia—that Russia annexed illegally in 2022, but these talks do not address ongoing Russian advances in other regions.
During a recent summit in Alaska, Putin and former U.S. President Trump met for nearly three hours but left without a deal to halt Russia’s assault on Ukraine. While both leaders expressed optimism about ongoing diplomacy, no concrete agreement on peace or territorial concessions was reached.
Potential outcomes of talks remain uncertain but include Russia insisting on retaining control over the four annexed oblasts, seeking formal recognition at the negotiation table. Ukraine and Western partners, on the other hand, are likely to demand restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty and withdrawal of Russian forces from occupied territories. Ongoing Russian military advances outside those oblasts complicate any immediate peace.
The negotiations might continue as a long-term process with limited immediate breakthroughs, partly used by Russia to delay further sanctions and extract concessions.
In other developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed the planned Trump-Putin summit, warning that any negotiations must include Kyiv. The president of the European Union and leaders of several countries issued a joint statement in support of Ukraine and ending the war.
The Kremlin's army is advancing deeper into Ukraine, causing casualties and damage. Two people died and 16 were wounded when a Russian drone hit a minibus in the suburbs of the Ukrainian city of Kherson on Saturday. Two others died after a Russian drone struck their car in the Zaporizhzhia region on Saturday.
Amidst the ongoing conflict, citizens like Svitlana Dobrynska, whose son died fighting, reject concessions but support halting combat to save lives. Anastasia Yemelianova, 31, is torn about the idea, wanting the conflict to end but not wanting to compromise. Ihor Usatenko, a 67-year-old pensioner, would consider ceding territory "on condition for compensation and, possibly, some reparations."
The proposed location for the Trump-Putin summit is Alaska, which Nigel Gould-Davies suggests favors Russia due to the symbolism of the Alaska Purchase. The statement suggested that an approach combining active diplomacy, support for Ukraine, and pressure on Russia could succeed.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will not give any awards to Russia for its actions. He has not heard any partners express doubts about America's ability to ensure the war ends. No details were given by Trump on the "swapping of territories" in his comments at the White House.
European and Ukrainian officials met with US Vice President JD Vance in England to discuss ending the more than three-year war. Representatives from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, and Poland attended the meeting in Kent.
As the peace talks continue, the people of Ukraine remain hopeful for a resolution to the conflict that respects their sovereignty and brings an end to the violence.
[1] "Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks: What's at Stake and What's Being Discussed," The New York Times, August 2025. [2] "Trump-Putin Summit Leaves Ukraine Conflict Unresolved," BBC News, August 2025.
The ongoing diplomatic efforts, categorized under general news, political discussions, and war-and-conflict topics, revolve around the Ukraine-Russia peace talks, with key focus areas being the contested oblasts and the demand for Ukrainian sovereignty. However, as reported by The New York Times and BBC News, the negotiations have yet to produce a concrete agreement, with Russia's military offensives continuing in multiple regions and the potential for further delays in implementing peace and territorial concessions.
