US President Donald Trump on Monday (August 18) again blasted fake news, calling them "stupid people, with no common sense or intelligence." Noting the coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war, he further said that they have made the ongoing "disaster" more difficult to fix.&nbsp;Again claiming credit for mediating six wars in six months, Trump in a post on Truth Social said, "I’ve settled 6 Wars in 6 months, one of them a possible nuclear disaster, and yet I have to read &amp; listen to the Wall Street Journal, and many other who truly don’t have a clue, tell me everything that I am doing wrong on the Russia/Ukraine MESS, that is Sleepy Joe Biden’s war, not mine."&nbsp;The US president stressed that he is only trying to stop it and "not to prosecute it any further". He said that he does not need the advice of people who have not been able to stop these things.&nbsp;"It would have NEVER happened if I were President. I know exactly what I’m doing, and I don’t need the advice of people who have been working on all of these conflicts for years, and were never able to do a thing to stop them," he wrote.&nbsp;"They are “STUPID” people, with no common sense, intelligence, or understanding, and they only make the current R/U disaster more difficult to FIX. Despite all of my lightweight and very jealous critics, I’ll get it done — I always do," Trump said.&nbsp;He further lambasted the fake news media, saying that he is totally convinced that if Russia raised their hands and said, "We give up, we concede, we surrender, we will GIVE Ukraine and the great United States of America, the most revered, respected, and powerful of all countries, EVER, Moscow and St. Petersburg, and everything surrounding them for a thousand miles, the Fake News Media and their Democrat Partners would say that this was a bad and humiliating day for Donald J. Trump, one of the worst days in the history of our Country.”&nbsp;Trump said that's why they are the "FAKE NEWS" and the badly failing Radical Left Democrats.&nbsp;Just hours before his meeting with Zelensky and the European leaders, Trump said, "A big day at the White House. We have never had so many European Leaders here at one time", and called it a "great honor for America".&nbsp;

The US president stressed that he is only trying to stop it and "not to prosecute it any further". He said that he does not need the advice of people who have not been able to stop these things.

US President Donald Trump on Monday (August 18) again blasted fake news, calling them "stupid people, with no common sense or intelligence." Noting the coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war, he further said that they have made the ongoing "disaster" more difficult to fix. Again claiming credit for mediating six wars in six months, Trump in a post on Truth Social said, "I’ve settled 6 Wars in 6 months, one of them a possible nuclear disaster, and yet I have to read & listen to the Wall Street Journal, and many other who truly don’t have a clue, tell me everything that I am doing wrong on the Russia/Ukraine MESS, that is Sleepy Joe Biden’s war, not mine." The US president stressed that he is only trying to stop it and "not to prosecute it any further". He said that he does not need the advice of people who have not been able to stop these things. "It would have NEVER happened if I were President. I know exactly what I’m doing, and I don’t need the advice of people who have been working on all of these conflicts for years, and were never able to do a thing to stop them," he wrote. "They are “STUPID” people, with no common sense, intelligence, or understanding, and they only make the current R/U disaster more difficult to FIX. Despite all of my lightweight and very jealous critics, I’ll get it done — I always do," Trump said. He further lambasted the fake news media, saying that he is totally convinced that if Russia raised their hands and said, "We give up, we concede, we surrender, we will GIVE Ukraine and the great United States of America, the most revered, respected, and powerful of all countries, EVER, Moscow and St. Petersburg, and everything surrounding them for a thousand miles, the Fake News Media and their Democrat Partners would say that this was a bad and humiliating day for Donald J. Trump, one of the worst days in the history of our Country.” Trump said that's why they are the "FAKE NEWS" and the badly failing Radical Left Democrats. Just hours before his meeting with Zelensky and the European leaders, Trump said, "A big day at the White House. We have never had so many European Leaders here at one time", and called it a "great honor for America".

The US president stressed that he is only trying to stop it and "not to prosecute it any further". He said that he does not need the advice of people who have not been able to stop these things.

'Big day at White House': Trump blasts fake news media ahead of Zelensky meeting, calls them 'stupid people'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to overnight Russian strikes on Ukraine, stressing that they were "demonstrative and cynical Russian strikes." This comes just ahead of the high-stakes US President Donald Trump and Zelensky meeting at the White House.&nbsp;Zelensky took to X, saying, "They are aware that a meeting is taking place today in Washington that will address the end of the war."&nbsp;He added that he will have a discussion with President Trump about key issues. Along with Ukraine, the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Union, and NATO will also participate in the conversation.&nbsp;Zelensky stressed that the Russians are attacking Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, the Sumy region, and Odesa, “destroying residential buildings and our civilian infrastructure.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This was a demonstrative and cynical Russian strike. They are aware that a meeting is taking place today in Washington that will address the end of the war. We will have a discussion with President Trump about key issues. Along with Ukraine, the leaders of the United Kingdom,… <a href="https://t.co/p62L8tAKx5">pic.twitter.com/p62L8tAKx5</a>&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1957388236998746441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;The Ukrainian president said that Russians are "deliberately killing people, particularly children", as he noted that as of now, seven people have been killed as a result of the drone strike in Kharkiv.&nbsp;He said that the youngest person who died in the attack is a year and a half old girl, while dozens have been injured, including children.&nbsp;"In Zaporizhzhia, missile strikes injured 20 people and killed three. My condolences go out to all of the victims' families and loved ones," Zelensky expressed grief.&nbsp;The Russian war machine continues to destroy lives despite everything, Zelensky said, just hours ahead of the Trump meeting. “Putin will commit demonstrative killings to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe, as well as to humiliate diplomatic efforts.”Zelensky continued, “That is why reliable security guarantees are required. That is why Russia should not be rewarded for its participation in this war. The war must be ended. And it is Moscow that must hear the word: “Stop.”&nbsp;Zelensky is set to meet US President Donald Trump on Monday (August 18), as the two leaders aim to discuss the Russia-Ukraine peace and ceasefire deal to put an end to the killings of thousands of people. Zelensky will be accompanied by other European leaders to the White House.

The Ukrainian president said that Russians are "deliberately killing people, particularly children", as he noted that as of now, seven people have been killed as a result of the drone strike in Kharkiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to overnight Russian strikes on Ukraine, stressing that they were "demonstrative and cynical Russian strikes." This comes just ahead of the high-stakes US President Donald Trump and Zelensky meeting at the White House. Zelensky took to X, saying, "They are aware that a meeting is taking place today in Washington that will address the end of the war." He added that he will have a discussion with President Trump about key issues. Along with Ukraine, the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Union, and NATO will also participate in the conversation. Zelensky stressed that the Russians are attacking Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, the Sumy region, and Odesa, “destroying residential buildings and our civilian infrastructure.”

The Ukrainian president said that Russians are "deliberately killing people, particularly children", as he noted that as of now, seven people have been killed as a result of the drone strike in Kharkiv.

'Russia must hear: STOP', Zelensky blasts Putin for killing people ahead of Trump meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump advised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to give up Crimea and commit to not joining NATO, sparking debates over potential solutions to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.


Trump-Zelensky Talks: Zelensky Rejects Deal, Demands Ceasefire | Russia Ukraine War

The Trump-Putin summit in Alaska has ended, but peace in Ukraine still feels distant. Instead of clarity, two outcomes are coming into focus. Ukraine could emerge as a smaller but sovereign nation, shielded by the West. Or it could lose not just territory but also its independence. Which of these paths the war will take remains unclear after the Alaska summit, which was more of a photo-op.<h2>What did Putin signal in Alaska?</h2>Russian President Vladimir Putin brushed aside Western calls for a ceasefire that would freeze the front line before negotiations. Instead, he made clear he intends to press on until Moscow’s broader goals are met.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-s-future-on-the-line-zelensky-and-trump-to-meet-in-washington-on-monday-european-leaders-invited-all-you-need-to-know-1755371420179">Ukraine’s future on the line? Zelensky and Trump to meet in Washington on Monday; European leaders invited - All you need to know</a>“We are convinced that, in order for the Ukrainian settlement to be sustainable and long-term, all the root causes of the crisis, which have been repeatedly discussed, must be eliminated, all of Russia’s legitimate concerns must be taken into account, and a fair balance in the field of security in Europe and the world as a whole must be restored,” Putin said after the summit. He added that Ukraine’s security should be guaranteed, but past talks have shown how contested such promises are.Russia’s full conquest of Kyiv has already failed, and Ukraine’s resistance continues to blunt Russian advances. Yet Kyiv’s ability to expel Moscow’s troops entirely is fading. The war has settled into a grinding stalemate where neither side can achieve outright victory. This reality has narrowed the options for how Europe’s biggest war since 1945 might end.<h2>Scenario one: Partition with protection</h2>Kyiv has quietly accepted that regaining all of its lost territory may be beyond its reach. President Volodymyr Zelensky recently signalled he was open to talks about territory, after a cease-fire that locks in current positions. Neither Ukraine nor its European allies would formally accept Russia’s gains, fearing it would reward aggression. But they may live with Moscow’s control of roughly a fifth of Ukraine’s land. The priority then would be securing the rest of Ukraine’s sovereignty. That could involve strengthening Ukrainian defences, coupled with Western and possibly US security guarantees. Trump’s recent hints of support have raised European hopes, though America’s role is still unclear.<h2>Scenario two: Partition with subordination</h2>Another scenario is not just territorial loss, but political submission. Russia has demanded limits on Ukraine’s army, restrictions on Western weapons, and even changes to Ukraine’s constitution, leadership, and cultural identity. If Kyiv is forced into such concessions, what remains of Ukraine could become a de facto protectorate under Moscow. That would leave it vulnerable to future invasions and erode its democratic ambitions. For Ukrainians, this outcome would represent more than lost land, it would mean surrendering their sovereignty.

As the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska ended without a conclusive way to end the Ukraine war, here are two possible scenarios for how Europe’s biggest war since 1945 might end.

The Trump-Putin summit in Alaska has ended, but peace in Ukraine still feels distant. Instead of clarity, two outcomes are coming into focus. Ukraine could emerge as a smaller but sovereign nation, shielded by the West. Or it could lose not just territory but also its independence. Which of these paths the war will take remains unclear after the Alaska summit, which was more of a photo-op. What did Putin signal in Alaska? Russian President Vladimir Putin brushed aside Western calls for a ceasefire that would freeze the front line before negotiations. Instead, he made clear he intends to press on until Moscow’s broader goals are met. Also read: Ukraine’s future on the line? Zelensky and Trump to meet in Washington on Monday; European leaders invited - All you need to know “We are convinced that, in order for the Ukrainian settlement to be sustainable and long-term, all the root causes of the crisis, which have been repeatedly discussed, must be eliminated, all of Russia’s legitimate concerns must be taken into account, and a fair balance in the field of security in Europe and the world as a whole must be restored,” Putin said after the summit. He added that Ukraine’s security should be guaranteed, but past talks have shown how contested such promises are. Russia’s full conquest of Kyiv has already failed, and Ukraine’s resistance continues to blunt Russian advances. Yet Kyiv’s ability to expel Moscow’s troops entirely is fading. The war has settled into a grinding stalemate where neither side can achieve outright victory. This reality has narrowed the options for how Europe’s biggest war since 1945 might end. Scenario one: Partition with protection Kyiv has quietly accepted that regaining all of its lost territory may be beyond its reach. President Volodymyr Zelensky recently signalled he was open to talks about territory, after a cease-fire that locks in current positions. Neither Ukraine nor its European allies would formally accept Russia’s gains, fearing it would reward aggression. But they may live with Moscow’s control of roughly a fifth of Ukraine’s land. The priority then would be securing the rest of Ukraine’s sovereignty. That could involve strengthening Ukrainian defences, coupled with Western and possibly US security guarantees. Trump’s recent hints of support have raised European hopes, though America’s role is still unclear. Scenario two: Partition with subordination Another scenario is not just territorial loss, but political submission. Russia has demanded limits on Ukraine’s army, restrictions on Western weapons, and even changes to Ukraine’s constitution, leadership, and cultural identity. If Kyiv is forced into such concessions, what remains of Ukraine could become a de facto protectorate under Moscow. That would leave it vulnerable to future invasions and erode its democratic ambitions. For Ukrainians, this outcome would represent more than lost land, it would mean surrendering their sovereignty.

As the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska ended without a conclusive way to end the Ukraine war, here are two possible scenarios for how Europe’s biggest war since 1945 might end.

How will the Ukraine war end? Here are the two possible futures ahead of Trump-Zelensky meet

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet US President Donald Trump on Monday (August 18), as the two leaders aim to discuss the Russia-Ukraine peace and ceasefire deal to put an end to the killings of thousands of people. Zelensky will be accompanied by other European leaders to the White House.&nbsp;This comes after Trump held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week. The two leaders discussed the Russia-Ukraine war; however, no ceasefire or peace deal was announced following their meeting.&nbsp;On late Sunday night, the Ukrainian president arrived in Washington as he announced on his social media X. He wrote, "Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS &nbsp;for the invitation. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting."&nbsp;Later, the White House released the schedule for the Trump-Zelensky meeting at the White House, along with the European leaders.<h2>Schedule</h2>12:00 pm ET (9:30 pm IST) - EU leaders to arriveThe European leaders are expected to arrive at the White House at the South Portico, ahead of the high-stakes meeting.&nbsp;1:00 pm ET (10:30 pm IST) - Trump to greet Zelensky The US president will greet his Ukrainian counterpart after the EU leaders' arrival. Soon after that, they will head for the meeting in the Oval Office.&nbsp;2:15 pm ET (11:45 pm IST) - Trump to greet European leaders&nbsp; Trump will greet other European leaders in the State Dining Room an hour after he began his Oval Office meeting with Zelensky.&nbsp;2:30 pm ET (12 am IST) - Family photo 15 minutes after the greetings, the US president and European leaders will take a family photo together in the Cross Hall.&nbsp;3:00 pm ET (12:15 am IST) - Trump, Zelensky, EU leaders meeting Trump, Zelensky, and other European leaders will then head into their own high-stakes meeting in the East Room of the White House.&nbsp;<h2>Who all are attending the Trump-Zelensky meet?</h2><ul><li>UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer</li><li>Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni</li><li>French President Emmanuel Macron</li><li>German Chancellor Friedrich Merz</li><li>Finnish President Alexander Stubb</li><li>European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen&nbsp;</li><li>Nato secretary general Mark Rutte</li></ul><h2>Agenda for meeting</h2>Laying out the goal for the White House meeting, &nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said that the goal is to recall what unites Ukraine, Europe, and the United States, pointing to Russia.&nbsp;"There can be no territorial discussions about Ukraine without Ukrainian leaders," the French president stressed.He added that if partners are weak with Russia, they create preconditions for future conflicts.&nbsp;In order to have a “lasting peace deal for Ukraine, Ukraine needs a strong army", he said, adding that European allies want "Ukraine’s territorial integrity to be respected” and that “Ukraine must be represented in any talks on Ukraine’s future.”&nbsp;Macron stressed that the goal for talks is to " present a united front between Ukraine and its European allies", further warning that “if we show weakness today in front of Russia, we are laying the ground for future conflict.”

On late Sunday night, the Ukrainian president arrived in Washington as he announced on his social media X. Later, the White House released the schedule for the Trump-Zelensky meeting at the White House.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet US President Donald Trump on Monday (August 18), as the two leaders aim to discuss the Russia-Ukraine peace and ceasefire deal to put an end to the killings of thousands of people. Zelensky will be accompanied by other European leaders to the White House. This comes after Trump held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week. The two leaders discussed the Russia-Ukraine war; however, no ceasefire or peace deal was announced following their meeting. On late Sunday night, the Ukrainian president arrived in Washington as he announced on his social media X. He wrote, "Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS for the invitation. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting." Later, the White House released the schedule for the Trump-Zelensky meeting at the White House, along with the European leaders. Schedule 12:00 pm ET (9:30 pm IST) - EU leaders to arrive The European leaders are expected to arrive at the White House at the South Portico, ahead of the high-stakes meeting. 1:00 pm ET (10:30 pm IST) - Trump to greet Zelensky The US president will greet his Ukrainian counterpart after the EU leaders' arrival. Soon after that, they will head for the meeting in the Oval Office. 2:15 pm ET (11:45 pm IST) - Trump to greet European leaders Trump will greet other European leaders in the State Dining Room an hour after he began his Oval Office meeting with Zelensky. 2:30 pm ET (12 am IST) - Family photo 15 minutes after the greetings, the US president and European leaders will take a family photo together in the Cross Hall. 3:00 pm ET (12:15 am IST) - Trump, Zelensky, EU leaders meeting Trump, Zelensky, and other European leaders will then head into their own high-stakes meeting in the East Room of the White House. Who all are attending the Trump-Zelensky meet? UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni French President Emmanuel Macron German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Finnish President Alexander Stubb European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Nato secretary general Mark Rutte Agenda for meeting Laying out the goal for the White House meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said that the goal is to recall what unites Ukraine, Europe, and the United States, pointing to Russia. "There can be no territorial discussions about Ukraine without Ukrainian leaders," the French president stressed. He added that if partners are weak with Russia, they create preconditions for future conflicts. In order to have a “lasting peace deal for Ukraine, Ukraine needs a strong army", he said, adding that European allies want "Ukraine’s territorial integrity to be respected” and that “Ukraine must be represented in any talks on Ukraine’s future.” Macron stressed that the goal for talks is to " present a united front between Ukraine and its European allies", further warning that “if we show weakness today in front of Russia, we are laying the ground for future conflict.”

On late Sunday night, the Ukrainian president arrived in Washington as he announced on his social media X. Later, the White House released the schedule for the Trump-Zelensky meeting at the White House.

Trump-Zelensky meet: Here's the full schedule and agenda - Who all are attending the high-stakes summit

After his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, Vladimir Putin once again blamed the West for the war in Ukraine. The Russian president insisted the real issue, or the so-called 'root cause' lies in what he called the 'situation around Ukraine.' By this, he meant a long-running struggle over Russia’s security and its place in the world.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-will-the-ukraine-war-end-here-are-the-two-possible-futures-after-trump-putin-summit-1755428286504">How will the Ukraine war end? Here are the two possible futures after Trump-Putin summit</a><h2>Balance of power at the centre</h2>Putin said the root cause of the conflict was the collapse of what he views as a “fair balance in the security sphere in Europe and the world as a whole.” He said peace could only come if that balance is restored, with Russia treated as an equal to the United States and NATO. For the Kremlin, this means undoing the West’s dominance since the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991 during the Cold War.<h2>Claiming Russia is the victim</h2>Putin has repeatedly called the war a tragedy, saying Russians and Ukrainians “have the same roots.” He said he wanted it to end, but blamed the West for pushing Ukraine away from Russia. In his view, Russia is not the aggressor, instead, he portrays his country as a victim of Western bullying.<h2>NATO expansion as the trigger</h2>For years, Putin has said NATO’s growth in Eastern Europe is the main reason for the conflict. Countries such as Poland and Romania joined NATO after the Soviet Union collapsed. When Ukraine looked to follow the same path, Russia drew a red line. Western leaders rejected Moscow’s demands to stop NATO’s expansion, and soon after, Russia invaded.<h2>A Cold War mindset</h2>For Putin, the “root causes” are less about Ukraine itself and more about restoring Russia’s place as a global power, equal to the United States and respected in Europe. Putin's mindset is to restore Russia as one of two global superpowers and revive the Cold War order, where Moscow held sway over its neighbours and sat at the top table of world politics.<h2>A gamble that has backfired</h2>But instead of weakening NATO, Russia’s invasion has made it stronger. Finland and Sweden, once neutral, have now joined the alliance, bringing it even closer to Russia’s borders. What Putin sees as fixing an imbalance may have only deepened it.

Putin argued that the conflict started because the “balance of security” in Europe and beyond was broken after the Cold War. He said peace could only come if that balance is restored, with Russia treated as an equal to the United States and NATO.

After his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, Vladimir Putin once again blamed the West for the war in Ukraine. The Russian president insisted the real issue, or the so-called 'root cause' lies in what he called the 'situation around Ukraine.' By this, he meant a long-running struggle over Russia’s security and its place in the world. Also read: How will the Ukraine war end? Here are the two possible futures after Trump-Putin summit Balance of power at the centre Putin said the root cause of the conflict was the collapse of what he views as a “fair balance in the security sphere in Europe and the world as a whole.” He said peace could only come if that balance is restored, with Russia treated as an equal to the United States and NATO. For the Kremlin, this means undoing the West’s dominance since the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991 during the Cold War. Claiming Russia is the victim Putin has repeatedly called the war a tragedy, saying Russians and Ukrainians “have the same roots.” He said he wanted it to end, but blamed the West for pushing Ukraine away from Russia. In his view, Russia is not the aggressor, instead, he portrays his country as a victim of Western bullying. NATO expansion as the trigger For years, Putin has said NATO’s growth in Eastern Europe is the main reason for the conflict. Countries such as Poland and Romania joined NATO after the Soviet Union collapsed. When Ukraine looked to follow the same path, Russia drew a red line. Western leaders rejected Moscow’s demands to stop NATO’s expansion, and soon after, Russia invaded. A Cold War mindset For Putin, the “root causes” are less about Ukraine itself and more about restoring Russia’s place as a global power, equal to the United States and respected in Europe. Putin's mindset is to restore Russia as one of two global superpowers and revive the Cold War order, where Moscow held sway over its neighbours and sat at the top table of world politics. A gamble that has backfired But instead of weakening NATO, Russia’s invasion has made it stronger. Finland and Sweden, once neutral, have now joined the alliance, bringing it even closer to Russia’s borders. What Putin sees as fixing an imbalance may have only deepened it.

Putin argued that the conflict started because the “balance of security” in Europe and beyond was broken after the Cold War. He said peace could only come if that balance is restored, with Russia treated as an equal to the United States and NATO.

Is 'western bullying' real reason for Ukraine war? Putin reveals 'root causes' behind Moscow's invasion of Kyiv

A fleet of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers has set sail for Asia from a US-sanctioned Arctic facility, raising questions over how far Washington will go in enforcing its restrictions while pushing for a peace deal in Ukraine. According to Bloomberg, ship-tracking data shows that at least four LNG vessels have departed from the Arctic LNG 2 project in Siberia, operated by Novatek PJSC. Two of these ships, the Iris and the Voskhod began their journey towards North Asia via the Northern Sea Route on August 15 after being idle for weeks. Two other tankers also left the sanctioned terminal last week.<h2>Arctic LNG 2: Russia’s strategic energy pivot</h2>The Arctic LNG 2 plant is central to Moscow’s ambition of tripling LNG exports by 2030, as it seeks new markets following the collapse of pipeline sales to Europe. The project, sanctioned by the Biden administration in 2023, was forced to halt exports last October due to a lack of buyers and seasonal ice buildup.&nbsp;Bloomberg reports that the plant resumed loading cargoes in June this year, but so far none of the shipments have been received at an import terminal. The four vessels currently sailing may test Asian demand, though it remains uncertain whether they will secure buyers.&nbsp;Industry observers note that Russia has marshalled a “shadow fleet” of about a dozen ships, some specially equipped for icy waters, to move LNG from the Arctic facility. Several of these tankers have switched management companies multiple times, a strategy aimed at concealing ultimate ownership and avoiding sanctions scrutiny.<h2>Geopolitics clouds energy flows</h2>The renewed activity comes at a delicate moment in international diplomacy. US President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week, describing the talks as “extremely productive.” Trump has so far held back from tightening sanctions on countries buying Russian energy, including China, as Washington seeks to push forward ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine.&nbsp;This calibrated approach means Russian LNG continues to move, albeit cautiously through grey market channels. Asian buyers, especially in China and India, may be tempted by discounted cargoes, though the risk of secondary sanctions remains a looming deterrent.<h2>What it means for global gas markets?</h2>The Arctic LNG 2 shipments underline how energy trade remains a powerful lever in the Ukraine conflict. If the tankers manage to unload in Asia, Moscow will see it as a victory in diversifying away from&nbsp;&nbsp;European dependence. But if buyers hesitate, it could expose the limitations of Russia’s strategy.Either way, the voyages place Washington in a difficult spot, caught between enforcing sanctions strictly and leaving room for diplomacy in its push for a peace deal.&nbsp;(With inputs from the agencies)&nbsp;&nbsp;

At least four Russian LNG tankers have departed the US-sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project in Siberia, marking Moscow’s latest attempt to tap Asian demand amid the Ukraine conflict. 

A fleet of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers has set sail for Asia from a US-sanctioned Arctic facility, raising questions over how far Washington will go in enforcing its restrictions while pushing for a peace deal in Ukraine. According to Bloomberg, ship-tracking data shows that at least four LNG vessels have departed from the Arctic LNG 2 project in Siberia, operated by Novatek PJSC. Two of these ships, the Iris and the Voskhod began their journey towards North Asia via the Northern Sea Route on August 15 after being idle for weeks. Two other tankers also left the sanctioned terminal last week. Arctic LNG 2: Russia’s strategic energy pivot The Arctic LNG 2 plant is central to Moscow’s ambition of tripling LNG exports by 2030, as it seeks new markets following the collapse of pipeline sales to Europe. The project, sanctioned by the Biden administration in 2023, was forced to halt exports last October due to a lack of buyers and seasonal ice buildup. Bloomberg reports that the plant resumed loading cargoes in June this year, but so far none of the shipments have been received at an import terminal. The four vessels currently sailing may test Asian demand, though it remains uncertain whether they will secure buyers. Industry observers note that Russia has marshalled a “shadow fleet” of about a dozen ships, some specially equipped for icy waters, to move LNG from the Arctic facility. Several of these tankers have switched management companies multiple times, a strategy aimed at concealing ultimate ownership and avoiding sanctions scrutiny. Geopolitics clouds energy flows The renewed activity comes at a delicate moment in international diplomacy. US President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week, describing the talks as “extremely productive.” Trump has so far held back from tightening sanctions on countries buying Russian energy, including China, as Washington seeks to push forward ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine. This calibrated approach means Russian LNG continues to move, albeit cautiously through grey market channels. Asian buyers, especially in China and India, may be tempted by discounted cargoes, though the risk of secondary sanctions remains a looming deterrent. What it means for global gas markets? The Arctic LNG 2 shipments underline how energy trade remains a powerful lever in the Ukraine conflict. If the tankers manage to unload in Asia, Moscow will see it as a victory in diversifying away from European dependence. But if buyers hesitate, it could expose the limitations of Russia’s strategy. Either way, the voyages place Washington in a difficult spot, caught between enforcing sanctions strictly and leaving room for diplomacy in its push for a peace deal. (With inputs from the agencies)

Russian Arctic LNG tankers head for Asia, testing US sanctions and global gas markets.

US-sanctioned Russian LNG tankers head to Asia amid Ukraine peace talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to allow “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine from the United States as part of a potential peace deal during his summit with President Donald Trump, senior envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN. “We agreed to robust security guarantees that I would describe as game-changing,” Witkoff said, likening the arrangement to NATO’s Article 5 protection. He explained that this mechanism would offer Ukraine defence commitments similar to NATO’s collective security clause, without the country formally joining the alliance, a long-standing Russian red line.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-will-the-ukraine-war-end-here-are-the-two-possible-futures-after-trump-putin-summit-1755428286504">How will the Ukraine war end? Here are the two possible futures after Trump-Putin summit</a><h2>How would the security guarantee work?</h2>According to Witkoff, the deal would mean the United States and European partners could provide “Article 5-like language” to deter any future Russian aggression. “Putin has said that a red flag is NATO admission,” Witkoff told CNN. “Assuming that the Ukrainians could agree to that and could live with that… we were able to win the following concession that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection,” he added.Witkoff stressed that it was “the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree” to such a clause. He added that Putin had also accepted the idea of “legislative enshrinement” to guarantee Russia would not invade Ukraine or other European countries again.<h2>What did Putin demand in return?</h2>Despite the breakthrough, Putin reportedly repeated demands for territorial concessions. European officials said Trump told them afterwards that the Russian leader insisted Ukraine hand over the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. In exchange, Putin suggested he would freeze the front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia and pledge not to launch further attacks. He also stuck to his condition that Ukraine scale back its military, abandon NATO ambitions and remain neutral, which he described as addressing the “root causes” of the war.<h2>Why does this matter for a peace deal?</h2>Witkoff said the talks made more progress than previous efforts, with Moscow showing “accommodation more than we’ve seen in the past, certainly more than we saw in the last administration.” “We are intent on trying to hammer out a peace deal that ends the fighting permanently very, very quickly. Quicker than a ceasefire,” he said. “We cut through all kinds of issues that would have to be discussed and agreed to during a ceasefire,” he added. So far, the Kremlin has not publicly responded to the Trump team’s description of the summit.

Putin reportedly agreed to US-backed “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine, similar to NATO’s Article 5, during talks with Trump, offering defence assurances without Ukraine formally joining the alliance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to allow “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine from the United States as part of a potential peace deal during his summit with President Donald Trump, senior envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN. “We agreed to robust security guarantees that I would describe as game-changing,” Witkoff said, likening the arrangement to NATO’s Article 5 protection. He explained that this mechanism would offer Ukraine defence commitments similar to NATO’s collective security clause, without the country formally joining the alliance, a long-standing Russian red line. Also read: How will the Ukraine war end? Here are the two possible futures after Trump-Putin summit How would the security guarantee work? According to Witkoff, the deal would mean the United States and European partners could provide “Article 5-like language” to deter any future Russian aggression. “Putin has said that a red flag is NATO admission,” Witkoff told CNN. “Assuming that the Ukrainians could agree to that and could live with that… we were able to win the following concession that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection,” he added. Witkoff stressed that it was “the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree” to such a clause. He added that Putin had also accepted the idea of “legislative enshrinement” to guarantee Russia would not invade Ukraine or other European countries again. What did Putin demand in return? Despite the breakthrough, Putin reportedly repeated demands for territorial concessions. European officials said Trump told them afterwards that the Russian leader insisted Ukraine hand over the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. In exchange, Putin suggested he would freeze the front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia and pledge not to launch further attacks. He also stuck to his condition that Ukraine scale back its military, abandon NATO ambitions and remain neutral, which he described as addressing the “root causes” of the war. Why does this matter for a peace deal? Witkoff said the talks made more progress than previous efforts, with Moscow showing “accommodation more than we’ve seen in the past, certainly more than we saw in the last administration.” “We are intent on trying to hammer out a peace deal that ends the fighting permanently very, very quickly. Quicker than a ceasefire,” he said. “We cut through all kinds of issues that would have to be discussed and agreed to during a ceasefire,” he added. So far, the Kremlin has not publicly responded to the Trump team’s description of the summit.

Putin reportedly agreed to US-backed “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine, similar to NATO’s Article 5, during talks with Trump, offering defence assurances without Ukraine formally joining the alliance.

Putin agreed to ‘NATO-style’ security guarantees for Ukraine? Top US envoy's 'game-changing' revelation ahead of Trump-Zelensky meet

Russian forces have targeted Ukraine's temporary deployment sites, escalating the ongoing conflict.


Breaking: Russia-Ukraine War: Russia Strikes Ukraine's Temporary Deployment Sites

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Aug 17) told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to come to the negotiating table without the dream of "getting back" Crimea or "going into NATO". Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said that Zelensky can end the three-and-a-half-year-old conflict with Russia "almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight". "Some things never change," he insisted ahead of the Ukrainian president's Washington visit. On Monday (Aug 18) Trump is scheduled to hold much-anticipated talks with Zelensky and a cohort of European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and others.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-ghost-ukrainian-sniper-takes-out-two-russian-soldiers-with-record-breaking-kill-shot-from-4km-away-1755483790363">Watch: 'Ghost' Ukrainian sniper takes out two Russian soldiers with record-breaking kill shot from 4km away</a><h2>What did Trump say?</h2>In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump insisted that "President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately if he wants to, or he can continue to fight." Throwing cold water on Ukraine's NATO membership dreams, the POTUS, who recently met Russian President Vladimir Putin, added that retaking Russian-occupied Crimea or joining NATO were off the table. "Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!" he posted on the eve of a White House meeting with the Ukrainian president and European leaders.

<h2>Zelensky expresses desire to end the war as he arrives in Washington</h2>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday night called for lasting peace as he arrived in Washington. In a post on X, he said, "We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably," Zelensky posted on social media. However, in what could be seen as a commentary on Trump's post that Crimea, NATO were off the table, he added, “Peace must be lasting. Not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our East—part of Donbas—and Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack.”Watch | Europe promises to stand firmly with Ukraine as Trump-Zelensky meeting approaches <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/europe-promises-to-stand-firmly-with-ukraine-as-trump-zelensky-meeting-approaches-1755459867520/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/europe-promises-to-stand-firmly-with-ukraine-as-trump-zelensky-meeting-approaches-1755459867520/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trump told Zelensky to drop hopes of reclaiming Crimea or joining NATO, saying Ukraine could end the war with Russia “almost immediately” if it wanted. His remarks came ahead of talks in Washington with the Ukrainian President and European leaders.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Aug 17) told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to come to the negotiating table without the dream of "getting back" Crimea or "going into NATO". Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said that Zelensky can end the three-and-a-half-year-old conflict with Russia "almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight". "Some things never change," he insisted ahead of the Ukrainian president's Washington visit. On Monday (Aug 18) Trump is scheduled to hold much-anticipated talks with Zelensky and a cohort of European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and others. Also read | Watch: 'Ghost' Ukrainian sniper takes out two Russian soldiers with record-breaking kill shot from 4km away What did Trump say? In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump insisted that "President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately if he wants to, or he can continue to fight." Throwing cold water on Ukraine's NATO membership dreams, the POTUS, who recently met Russian President Vladimir Putin, added that retaking Russian-occupied Crimea or joining NATO were off the table. "Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!" he posted on the eve of a White House meeting with the Ukrainian president and European leaders.

Trump told Zelensky to drop hopes of reclaiming Crimea or joining NATO, saying Ukraine could end the war with Russia “almost immediately” if it wanted. His remarks came ahead of talks in Washington with the Ukrainian President and European leaders.

Trump drops bombshell before Zelensky meet — tells Ukraine to give up on NATO, Crimea dream

U.S. President Donald Trump advised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to give up Crimea and commit to not joining NATO, sparking debates over potential solutions to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. Dr Charles Kupchan (Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations) gives his thoughts on the upcoming meeting of the two. 


Trump Urges Zelensky to Relinquish Crimea, Stay Out of NATO 

A Ukrainian sniper is believed to have set a new world record for the longest confirmed kill shot in history — taking out two Russian soldiers from more than 4 kilometres (around 2.5 miles) away with a single bullet. The historic strike was reportedly carried out on Thursday (Aug 14). According to reports, it was made with a 14.5&nbsp;mm Alligator sniper rifle on the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad defensive line in Donetsk. The bullet reportedly pierced a glass window of a building where Russian troops were stationed before killing not just one, but two Russian soldiers.<h2>Kill shot world record</h2>The operation was executed by the elite Pryvyd, or Ghost, sniper unit of Ukraine’s Ground Forces, which has killed nearly 1,000 Russian troops in the past year, according to Ukrainian military reports.Dramatic footage shows the Ukrainian sniper and his spotter firing multiple rounds before taking the kill shot. A flash of light can be seen as the bullet makes its impact, eliminating the Russian soldiers.According to The Sun, artificial intelligence was used to guide the mission. The AI was used alongside a drone reconnaissance system to locate the Russian soldiers. Watch it here:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">We got a new World Record - 4 kilometers 😊 (2.485 miles for crazy people) The record hit was carried out on August 14, 2025, in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad sector by a sniper from the combined sniper unit ‘Pryvid.’ (eng link in the thread) <a href="https://t.co/2dgF4pnFre">https://t.co/2dgF4pnFre</a> <a href="https://t.co/mIJwghAKoc">pic.twitter.com/mIJwghAKoc</a>&mdash; Харківська Нишпорка (@ne_vluchiv) <a href="https://twitter.com/ne_vluchiv/status/1956558702573388149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The shot — measured at 13,123 feet (4 kilometres) — obliterates the previous record of 3.7 kilometres (2.3 miles) set in 2023 by another Ukrainian sniper, Viacheslav Kovalskyi. Before that, the record was held by a Canadian special forces sniper who killed an ISIS fighter from 3.52 kilometres (2.19 miles) away in Iraq in 2017.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/what-did-melania-trump-tell-vladimir-putin-in-secret-letter-hand-delivered-by-donald-trump-appeal-to-restore-children-s-laughter-1755392541031">'Restore children’s laughter': What did Melania Trump tell Vladimir Putin in secret letter hand-delivered by Donald Trump?</a>The record-breaking kill shot was made on the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad defensive line, where Ukrainian forces continue to defend against Russian incursions. As of Friday (Aug 15), the area remains under Ukraine's control, claims the nation's military.Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukrainian snipers have earned a reputation for long-range precision shooting. In another impressive feat, a Ukrainian sniper reportedly killed two Russian soldiers with a single bullet while shooting five men in five minutes. The shots were reportedly taken from nearly 4,000 feet (1.22 kilometres) away by a sniper of Ukraine's 3rd Special Purpose Regiment of the Special Operations Forces.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/europe-promises-to-stand-firmly-with-ukraine-as-trump-zelensky-meeting-approaches-1755459867520/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/europe-promises-to-stand-firmly-with-ukraine-as-trump-zelensky-meeting-approaches-1755459867520/embed</a> &nbsp;

A Ukrainian sniper has reportedly set a new world record for the longest confirmed kill shot in history — eliminating two Russian soldiers with a single bullet fired from more than 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) away.

A Ukrainian sniper is believed to have set a new world record for the longest confirmed kill shot in history — taking out two Russian soldiers from more than 4 kilometres (around 2.5 miles) away with a single bullet. The historic strike was reportedly carried out on Thursday (Aug 14). According to reports, it was made with a 14.5 mm Alligator sniper rifle on the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad defensive line in Donetsk. The bullet reportedly pierced a glass window of a building where Russian troops were stationed before killing not just one, but two Russian soldiers. Kill shot world record The operation was executed by the elite Pryvyd, or Ghost, sniper unit of Ukraine’s Ground Forces, which has killed nearly 1,000 Russian troops in the past year, according to Ukrainian military reports. Dramatic footage shows the Ukrainian sniper and his spotter firing multiple rounds before taking the kill shot. A flash of light can be seen as the bullet makes its impact, eliminating the Russian soldiers. According to The Sun, artificial intelligence was used to guide the mission. The AI was used alongside a drone reconnaissance system to locate the Russian soldiers. Watch it here:

A Ukrainian sniper has reportedly set a new world record for the longest confirmed kill shot in history — eliminating two Russian soldiers with a single bullet fired from more than 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) away.

Watch: 'Ghost' Ukrainian sniper takes out two Russian soldiers with record-breaking kill shot from 4km away

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday (August 17) that both Russia and Ukraine will need to make compromises if the war is to end, signalling the difficult road ahead for peace negotiations, and Russia will face “additional consequences” if negotiations fail. “We want to wind up with a peace deal that ends this war so Ukraine can go on with the rest of their lives and rebuild their country and be assured that this is never going to happen again,” Rubio told CBS News.He added that a settlement would not come without both sides making sacrifices, “If one side gets everything they want, that’s called surrender. And that’s not what we’re close to doing, because neither side here is on the verge of surrender, or anything close to it.”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-will-the-ukraine-war-end-here-are-the-two-possible-futures-after-trump-putin-summit-1755428286504">How will the Ukraine war end? Here are the two possible futures after Trump-Putin summit</a>He said the US will continue efforts to create a path toward ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, but acknowledged it may not succeed, noting that American life wouldn’t be drastically affected without peace. “If peace is not going to be possible here and this is just going to continue on as a war, people will continue to die by the thousands … we may unfortunately wind up there, but we don’t want to wind up there,” Rubio said.“There are things that were discussed as part of this meeting that are potentials for breakthroughs, that are potential for progress,” he added, mentioning that talks would include security guarantees for Ukraine.<h2>What happens next in the talks?</h2>President Donald Trump is due to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House on Monday, days after his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump described the three-hour meeting with Putin as “extremely productive” with “many points” of agreement, but noted that “there’s no deal until there’s a deal” and no ceasefire was announced.Rubio, who attended the Alaska summit, said there had been “some concepts and ideas discussed” with Putin that could pave the way for a breakthrough, but stressed details would be thrashed out in Monday’s meetings.<h2>What are the sticking points?</h2>Rubio outlined several key issues still to be resolved, including security guarantees for Ukraine, the fate of contested territories and “where the lines are going to be drawn,” as well as the long-term rebuilding of the country. He said these ideas “require some more specificity” and would need coordination with European partners before being finalised.“We have to make enough progress so that we can sit down President Zelensky and President Putin in the same place, which is what President Zelensky has been asking for, and reach a final agreement that ends this war,” Rubio said.<h2>Why are European leaders joining Zelensky in Washington?</h2>Zelensky’s trip to Washington comes with European leaders at his side, sparking speculation they are acting as a counterweight to prevent Ukraine from being pressured into a bad deal. Rubio rejected that notion, insisting the visit was pre-arranged. “We’ve been working with these people for weeks, for weeks on this stuff,” he said. “They’re coming here tomorrow because they’re supposed to come here tomorrow. We invited them to come. The president invited them to come,” he added.He added that while a breakthrough was not imminent, the Alaska talks had created momentum. “I’m not saying we’re on the verge of a peace deal, but I am saying that we saw movement. Enough movement to justify a follow-up meeting with Zelensky and the Europeans, enough movement for us to dedicate even more time to this.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said peace in Ukraine requires compromises from both sides, warned of consequences for Russia if talks fail, and admitted peace may be unreachable despite ongoing US efforts.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday (August 17) that both Russia and Ukraine will need to make compromises if the war is to end, signalling the difficult road ahead for peace negotiations, and Russia will face “additional consequences” if negotiations fail. “We want to wind up with a peace deal that ends this war so Ukraine can go on with the rest of their lives and rebuild their country and be assured that this is never going to happen again,” Rubio told CBS News. He added that a settlement would not come without both sides making sacrifices, “If one side gets everything they want, that’s called surrender. And that’s not what we’re close to doing, because neither side here is on the verge of surrender, or anything close to it.” Also read: How will the Ukraine war end? Here are the two possible futures after Trump-Putin summit He said the US will continue efforts to create a path toward ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, but acknowledged it may not succeed, noting that American life wouldn’t be drastically affected without peace. “If peace is not going to be possible here and this is just going to continue on as a war, people will continue to die by the thousands … we may unfortunately wind up there, but we don’t want to wind up there,” Rubio said. “There are things that were discussed as part of this meeting that are potentials for breakthroughs, that are potential for progress,” he added, mentioning that talks would include security guarantees for Ukraine. What happens next in the talks? President Donald Trump is due to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House on Monday, days after his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump described the three-hour meeting with Putin as “extremely productive” with “many points” of agreement, but noted that “there’s no deal until there’s a deal” and no ceasefire was announced. Rubio, who attended the Alaska summit, said there had been “some concepts and ideas discussed” with Putin that could pave the way for a breakthrough, but stressed details would be thrashed out in Monday’s meetings. What are the sticking points? Rubio outlined several key issues still to be resolved, including security guarantees for Ukraine, the fate of contested territories and “where the lines are going to be drawn,” as well as the long-term rebuilding of the country. He said these ideas “require some more specificity” and would need coordination with European partners before being finalised. “We have to make enough progress so that we can sit down President Zelensky and President Putin in the same place, which is what President Zelensky has been asking for, and reach a final agreement that ends this war,” Rubio said. Why are European leaders joining Zelensky in Washington? Zelensky’s trip to Washington comes with European leaders at his side, sparking speculation they are acting as a counterweight to prevent Ukraine from being pressured into a bad deal. Rubio rejected that notion, insisting the visit was pre-arranged. “We’ve been working with these people for weeks, for weeks on this stuff,” he said. “They’re coming here tomorrow because they’re supposed to come here tomorrow. We invited them to come. The president invited them to come,” he added. He added that while a breakthrough was not imminent, the Alaska talks had created momentum. “I’m not saying we’re on the verge of a peace deal, but I am saying that we saw movement. Enough movement to justify a follow-up meeting with Zelensky and the Europeans, enough movement for us to dedicate even more time to this.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said peace in Ukraine requires compromises from both sides, warned of consequences for Russia if talks fail, and admitted peace may be unreachable despite ongoing US efforts.

US to step back if Ukraine-Russia talks fail? Rubio warns both sides must compromise for peace deal

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (August 17) stressed that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want peace, while US President Donald Trump wants peace in Ukraine. This comes just a day ahead of a high-stakes meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.&nbsp;Macron, when asked about whether he thinks Putin wants peace. The French president replied, "The answer is no. Do I think President Trump wants peace? Yes...) I think he (the Russian president) wants Ukraine's surrender, and that's what he has proposed."&nbsp;He further said that an important moment of conflict and security of Ukraine is being resolved "in an extremely serious situation". “No country can accept the loss of territories unless it has security guarantees for its remaining territory.”<h2>The goal for White House meeting</h2>Laying out the goal for tomorrow's meeting at the White House, Macron said, "The goal is simple - to recall what unites Ukraine, Europe, and the United States," pointing to Russia.&nbsp;"There can be no territorial discussions about Ukraine without Ukrainian leaders," the French president stressed.He added that if partners are weak with Russia, they create preconditions for future conflicts. "If we are weak today, we will pay a heavy price tomorrow … If Europe wants to be free and independent, we need to be feared and we need to be strong.”&nbsp;In order to have a “lasting peace deal for Ukraine, Ukraine needs a strong army", he said, adding that European allies want "Ukraine’s territorial integrity to be respected” and that “Ukraine must be represented in any talks on Ukraine’s future.”&nbsp;He added that “our goal for tomorrow’s talks is to present a united front between Ukraine and its European allies.”Macron further warned that “if we show weakness today in front of Russia, we are laying the ground for future conflict.”

Laying out the goal for tomorrow's meeting at the White House, Macron said, "The goal is simple - to recall what unites Ukraine, Europe, and the United States," pointing to Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (August 17) stressed that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want peace, while US President Donald Trump wants peace in Ukraine. This comes just a day ahead of a high-stakes meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Macron, when asked about whether he thinks Putin wants peace. The French president replied, "The answer is no. Do I think President Trump wants peace? Yes...) I think he (the Russian president) wants Ukraine's surrender, and that's what he has proposed." He further said that an important moment of conflict and security of Ukraine is being resolved "in an extremely serious situation". “No country can accept the loss of territories unless it has security guarantees for its remaining territory.” The goal for White House meeting Laying out the goal for tomorrow's meeting at the White House, Macron said, "The goal is simple - to recall what unites Ukraine, Europe, and the United States," pointing to Russia. "There can be no territorial discussions about Ukraine without Ukrainian leaders," the French president stressed. He added that if partners are weak with Russia, they create preconditions for future conflicts. "If we are weak today, we will pay a heavy price tomorrow … If Europe wants to be free and independent, we need to be feared and we need to be strong.” In order to have a “lasting peace deal for Ukraine, Ukraine needs a strong army", he said, adding that European allies want "Ukraine’s territorial integrity to be respected” and that “Ukraine must be represented in any talks on Ukraine’s future.” He added that “our goal for tomorrow’s talks is to present a united front between Ukraine and its European allies.” Macron further warned that “if we show weakness today in front of Russia, we are laying the ground for future conflict.”

Laying out the goal for tomorrow's meeting at the White House, Macron said, "The goal is simple - to recall what unites Ukraine, Europe, and the United States," pointing to Russia.

'Trump wants peace, Putin wants Ukraine's surrender': Here's what Macron said ahead of high-stakes Trump-Zelensky meet

Russian President Vladimir Putin made concessions on his long-standing demand for Ukrainian “land swaps” during his summit with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, according to Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff did not provide exact details but suggested Moscow is now considering swaps based on the current front lines rather than the official administrative borders of several contested regions.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-will-the-ukraine-war-end-here-are-the-two-possible-futures-after-trump-putin-summit-1755428286504">How will the Ukraine war end? Here are the two possible futures after Trump-Putin summit</a>“The Russians made some concessions at the table with regard to all five of those regions,” Witkoff said. He added that the issue would be raised with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when he visits the White House. “Hopefully we can cut through and make some decisions right then and there,” he said.<h2>How big a shift is this from Russia?</h2>Witkoff described the move as the first sign of flexibility from Moscow, but stressed that it was still short of a full peace deal. “It was significant. And, that doesn’t mean it’s enough,” he said. “The point was that we began to see some moderation in the way they’re thinking about getting to a final peace deal,” he added. Putin has allegedly demanded that Ukraine cede Donetsk and Luhansk in the east as a condition to end the war, while agreeing to freeze the current battle lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south.<h2>What about security guarantees for Ukraine?</h2>The envoy also revealed that Putin accepted a separate proposal allowing the United States and European allies to give Ukraine “Article 5-like” security guarantees, language similar to NATO’s collective defence principle. “We got to an agreement that the United States and other European nations could effectively offer Article 5-like language to cover a security guarantee,” Witkoff said.He explained that this approach sidestepped Russia’s red line on NATO membership, “So Putin has said that a red flag is NATO admission. And so what we were discussing was assuming that that held, assuming that the Ukrainians could agree to that… we were able to win the following concession: that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection.”Witkoff noted it was “the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that,” framing it as one of the most important outcomes of the Alaska talks.

After a summit with Trump, Putin eased his position on Ukrainian land swaps, now open to proposals based on current front lines. Envoy Witkoff said the issue will be discussed with Zelensky soon.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made concessions on his long-standing demand for Ukrainian “land swaps” during his summit with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, according to Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff did not provide exact details but suggested Moscow is now considering swaps based on the current front lines rather than the official administrative borders of several contested regions. Also read: How will the Ukraine war end? Here are the two possible futures after Trump-Putin summit “The Russians made some concessions at the table with regard to all five of those regions,” Witkoff said. He added that the issue would be raised with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when he visits the White House. “Hopefully we can cut through and make some decisions right then and there,” he said. How big a shift is this from Russia? Witkoff described the move as the first sign of flexibility from Moscow, but stressed that it was still short of a full peace deal. “It was significant. And, that doesn’t mean it’s enough,” he said. “The point was that we began to see some moderation in the way they’re thinking about getting to a final peace deal,” he added. Putin has allegedly demanded that Ukraine cede Donetsk and Luhansk in the east as a condition to end the war, while agreeing to freeze the current battle lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south. What about security guarantees for Ukraine? The envoy also revealed that Putin accepted a separate proposal allowing the United States and European allies to give Ukraine “Article 5-like” security guarantees, language similar to NATO’s collective defence principle. “We got to an agreement that the United States and other European nations could effectively offer Article 5-like language to cover a security guarantee,” Witkoff said. He explained that this approach sidestepped Russia’s red line on NATO membership, “So Putin has said that a red flag is NATO admission. And so what we were discussing was assuming that that held, assuming that the Ukrainians could agree to that… we were able to win the following concession: that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection.” Witkoff noted it was “the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that,” framing it as one of the most important outcomes of the Alaska talks.

After a summit with Trump, Putin eased his position on Ukrainian land swaps, now open to proposals based on current front lines. Envoy Witkoff said the issue will be discussed with Zelensky soon.

Putin’s first real compromise? Russia agrees to 'rare' concessions on five Ukrainian regions central to the war

The Russian propaganda has been actively using a new "tactic" to lie about the gains of Ukrainian territory. Ukraine's Intelligence Directorate claimed that they are using this tactic to spread misinformation, staging captures of settlements to create an illusion of success.&nbsp;Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in a post on Telegram, wrote that the Russian propaganda is sending small groups to bypass the position of the Ukrainian defenders.&nbsp;"Russian propaganda is actively using a new tactic to spread disinformation – staged 'captures' of settlements to create the illusion of success at the front," they stated.&nbsp;"To do this, the enemy sends small groups with Russian flags (“twos”) to bypass the positions of the Ukrainian defenders. Some of them manage to infiltrate individual settlements and shoot short videos that supposedly confirm the “capture” of the territory," they added.&nbsp;The GUR further stated that such videos are used for “victorious” reports to the Kremlin leadership and "distributed in the media in order to put pressure on Ukrainian society."&nbsp;They added that earlier, "the enemy" distributed another such video from the village of Andriyivka-Klevtsove.&nbsp;As shown in the video, the fighters of the “Russian Volunteer Corps” as part of the “Timur Special Unit” of the GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and soldiers of the 5th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade, are demonstrating the real state of affairs in the village.&nbsp;"We will remind that a similar group of “standard bearers” in the village of Zeleny Gay was recently liquidated by fighters of the “Brotherhood” unit as part of the “Timur Special Unit” of the GUR," it added.&nbsp;According to analysts, the Russian propaganda might be doing this to prove to Trump that Russia is overrunning Zelensky's forces in the Donetsk region as he battles to negotiate a peace deal with Putin.&nbsp;

Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in a post on Telegram, wrote that the Russian propaganda is sending small groups to bypass the position of the Ukrainian defenders.

The Russian propaganda has been actively using a new "tactic" to lie about the gains of Ukrainian territory. Ukraine's Intelligence Directorate claimed that they are using this tactic to spread misinformation, staging captures of settlements to create an illusion of success. Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in a post on Telegram, wrote that the Russian propaganda is sending small groups to bypass the position of the Ukrainian defenders. "Russian propaganda is actively using a new tactic to spread disinformation – staged 'captures' of settlements to create the illusion of success at the front," they stated. "To do this, the enemy sends small groups with Russian flags (“twos”) to bypass the positions of the Ukrainian defenders. Some of them manage to infiltrate individual settlements and shoot short videos that supposedly confirm the “capture” of the territory," they added. The GUR further stated that such videos are used for “victorious” reports to the Kremlin leadership and "distributed in the media in order to put pressure on Ukrainian society." They added that earlier, "the enemy" distributed another such video from the village of Andriyivka-Klevtsove. As shown in the video, the fighters of the “Russian Volunteer Corps” as part of the “Timur Special Unit” of the GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and soldiers of the 5th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade, are demonstrating the real state of affairs in the village. "We will remind that a similar group of “standard bearers” in the village of Zeleny Gay was recently liquidated by fighters of the “Brotherhood” unit as part of the “Timur Special Unit” of the GUR," it added. According to analysts, the Russian propaganda might be doing this to prove to Trump that Russia is overrunning Zelensky's forces in the Donetsk region as he battles to negotiate a peace deal with Putin.

Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in a post on Telegram, wrote that the Russian propaganda is sending small groups to bypass the position of the Ukrainian defenders.

A tactic to fool Trump? Putin's troops creating illusions of 'staged captures' of Ukrainian territory

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (August 17) blasted fake news media for violently distorting the truth when it comes to him. He stressed that the "fake news media" should talk about the six other wars which he claims has "stopped". The US president said that even if he got Russia to give up Moscow as part of their deal, the "fake news" would say that he made a very bad deal."If I got Russia to give up Moscow as part of the Deal, the Fake News, and their PARTNER, the Radical Left Democrats, would say I made a terrible mistake and a very bad deal. That’s why they are the FAKE NEWS! Also, they should talk about the 6 WARS, etc., I JUST STOPPED!!! MAGA," Trump said in a Truth Social post on Sunday.The US president stressed that there is nothing he could say or do that would lead them to write or report honestly about him."It’s incredible how the Fake News violently distorts the TRUTH when it comes to me. There is NOTHING I can say or do that would lead them to write or report honestly about me," he further wrote in another post.Trump then boasted that he had a "great meeting in Alaska" with Putin on "Biden’s stupid War, a war that should have never happened!!!"He further hinted at "big progress" on Russia. This comes two days after Trump held a meeting with Putin in Alaska over the Russia-Ukraine war. The two leaders held a press conference following their meeting. However, no such conclusion was announced after their talks."BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED! President DJT," Trump wrote.Following the meeting with Putin, Trump called Zelensky and European leaders to brief them about his meeting with Putin. The Ukrainian president said that he had a “long and substantive” call with Trump, joined by European leaders, where “the main points” were covered.The US described the Trump-Putin Alaska meeting as showing “great progress” but admitted no breakthrough was reached to end the war in Ukraine.Right after Trump held a meeting with Putin, he will now be meeting Zelensky and other European leaders at the White House to discuss the war in Ukraine. Zelensky will be accompanied by several European leaders to hold a meeting with Trump on Monday (August 18).

Trump boasted that he had a ‘great meeting in Alaska’ with Putin on ‘Biden’s stupid War’, a war that should have never happened.  He stressed that there is nothing he could say or do that would lead the "fake news" to write or report honestly about him.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (August 17) blasted fake news media for violently distorting the truth when it comes to him. He stressed that the "fake news media" should talk about the six other wars which he claims has "stopped". The US president said that even if he got Russia to give up Moscow as part of their deal, the "fake news" would say that he made a very bad deal. "If I got Russia to give up Moscow as part of the Deal, the Fake News, and their PARTNER, the Radical Left Democrats, would say I made a terrible mistake and a very bad deal. That’s why they are the FAKE NEWS! Also, they should talk about the 6 WARS, etc., I JUST STOPPED!!! MAGA," Trump said in a Truth Social post on Sunday. The US president stressed that there is nothing he could say or do that would lead them to write or report honestly about him. "It’s incredible how the Fake News violently distorts the TRUTH when it comes to me. There is NOTHING I can say or do that would lead them to write or report honestly about me," he further wrote in another post. Trump then boasted that he had a "great meeting in Alaska" with Putin on "Biden’s stupid War, a war that should have never happened!!!" He further hinted at "big progress" on Russia. This comes two days after Trump held a meeting with Putin in Alaska over the Russia-Ukraine war. The two leaders held a press conference following their meeting. However, no such conclusion was announced after their talks. "BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED! President DJT," Trump wrote. Following the meeting with Putin, Trump called Zelensky and European leaders to brief them about his meeting with Putin. The Ukrainian president said that he had a “long and substantive” call with Trump, joined by European leaders, where “the main points” were covered. The US described the Trump-Putin Alaska meeting as showing “great progress” but admitted no breakthrough was reached to end the war in Ukraine. Right after Trump held a meeting with Putin, he will now be meeting Zelensky and other European leaders at the White House to discuss the war in Ukraine. Zelensky will be accompanied by several European leaders to hold a meeting with Trump on Monday (August 18).

Trump boasted that he had a ‘great meeting in Alaska’ with Putin on ‘Biden’s stupid War’, a war that should have never happened. &nbsp;He stressed that there is nothing he could say or do that would lead the "fake news" to write or report honestly about him.

'Violently distorts the truth': Trump blasts fake news over Putin Alaska meeting; hints at 'BIG PROGRESS on Russia'

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Donald Trump on Saturday demanding Ukraine to withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region if the world wants Russia to end this war. This demand was made by the Russian president during their meeting in Alaska on Friday, as per the report by the Financial Times. Putin has hinted that if Ukraine surrenders Donetsk, he would agree to freeze the rest of the frontline, particularly in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian forces already control large swathes of territory.&nbsp;In response, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has said that the real objective of Putin is to take the remaining 30 per cent of the eastern region, an area that has experienced some of the bloodiest battles in the war that has now been dragged on for over three years.<h3>Why does Vladimir Putin want all of Donetsk?</h3>Located along Ukraine’s eastern border, the Donbas, a short name of the “Donets Coal Basin,” which is about the coal basin along the Donets Ridge and River, is the country's industrial hub, which Putin has long viewed as central to his vision of expanding Russia's sphere of influence.&nbsp;According to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, if Russia captured Donetsk, it would give full control of almost all of the Donbas, the collective name for Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland, which has been coveted for decades. Moreover, holding Donetsk would provide Russia with a strategic land corridor linking Crimea to Luhansk and beyond, consolidating its grip over both the eastern front and critical stretches of the Black Sea coastline.&nbsp;In 2022, a Russian general even outlined a broader ambition of Russia pushing to the west beyond Odesa as it aims to conquer Ukraine's Black Sea coast, according to a report by the BBC.&nbsp;According to a report in the Independent, the Donbas has been partially captured by Russia since 2014, while the Crimean peninsula was annexed by Putin. After the Russian-backed separatists broke away from the Ukrainian government in order to claim the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk's independent people’s republics, Moscow occupied over a third of the eastern territory of Ukraine.&nbsp;The Donbas, which is around 88 per cent under Russian control, includes almost all of the Luhansk region and 75 per cent of the Donetsk region, according to Reuters. However, approximately 6,600 sq km is still under Ukraine's control, but Russia's main focus has been on its energy-rich region in Donetsk, such as Pokrovsk.<h3>'Donbas': Predominantly Russian-speaking region</h3>The hyper-industrialised Donbas economy is influenced by metallurgy and coal mining, and it is also one of the largest coal reserves in Ukraine. Ukraine’s coal-mining enterprises experienced a dip of 22.4 per cent in raw coal production after the conflict broke out in 2014, according to the Kyiv Post. This shows the country’s dependency on Donbas as an energy powerhouse.&nbsp;However, in terms of its economic significance and strategic value, the Institute for the Study of War has described it as a “fortress belt.” In addition, Donetsk also play a significant role in playing a key defensive line across the front line, stretching through Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, and Kostiantynivka.&nbsp;This region, largely Russian-speaking, has been at the center of conflict since 2014, when Russia captured Crimea and its proxy forces seized over a third of eastern Ukraine. However, Luhansk and Donetsk might be broadly Russian-speaking regions, but they are no longer pro-Russian. In a May 2022 Ukrainian opinion poll, it was suggested that 82% of Ukrainians in the territory which was occupied by the Russia since the 24 February invasion had a negative attitude toward Moscow.

The Ukrainian president has said that the real objective of Russian President Vladimir Putin is to take the remaining 30 per cent of the eastern region due to its economic significance and defensive line.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Donald Trump on Saturday demanding Ukraine to withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region if the world wants Russia to end this war. This demand was made by the Russian president during their meeting in Alaska on Friday, as per the report by the Financial Times. Putin has hinted that if Ukraine surrenders Donetsk, he would agree to freeze the rest of the frontline, particularly in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian forces already control large swathes of territory. In response, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has said that the real objective of Putin is to take the remaining 30 per cent of the eastern region, an area that has experienced some of the bloodiest battles in the war that has now been dragged on for over three years. Why does Vladimir Putin want all of Donetsk? Located along Ukraine’s eastern border, the Donbas, a short name of the “Donets Coal Basin,” which is about the coal basin along the Donets Ridge and River, is the country's industrial hub, which Putin has long viewed as central to his vision of expanding Russia's sphere of influence. According to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, if Russia captured Donetsk, it would give full control of almost all of the Donbas, the collective name for Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland, which has been coveted for decades. Moreover, holding Donetsk would provide Russia with a strategic land corridor linking Crimea to Luhansk and beyond, consolidating its grip over both the eastern front and critical stretches of the Black Sea coastline. In 2022, a Russian general even outlined a broader ambition of Russia pushing to the west beyond Odesa as it aims to conquer Ukraine's Black Sea coast, according to a report by the BBC. According to a report in the Independent, the Donbas has been partially captured by Russia since 2014, while the Crimean peninsula was annexed by Putin. After the Russian-backed separatists broke away from the Ukrainian government in order to claim the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk's independent people’s republics, Moscow occupied over a third of the eastern territory of Ukraine. The Donbas, which is around 88 per cent under Russian control, includes almost all of the Luhansk region and 75 per cent of the Donetsk region, according to Reuters. However, approximately 6,600 sq km is still under Ukraine's control, but Russia's main focus has been on its energy-rich region in Donetsk, such as Pokrovsk. 'Donbas': Predominantly Russian-speaking region The hyper-industrialised Donbas economy is influenced by metallurgy and coal mining, and it is also one of the largest coal reserves in Ukraine. Ukraine’s coal-mining enterprises experienced a dip of 22.4 per cent in raw coal production after the conflict broke out in 2014, according to the Kyiv Post. This shows the country’s dependency on Donbas as an energy powerhouse. However, in terms of its economic significance and strategic value, the Institute for the Study of War has described it as a “fortress belt.” In addition, Donetsk also play a significant role in playing a key defensive line across the front line, stretching through Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, and Kostiantynivka. This region, largely Russian-speaking, has been at the center of conflict since 2014, when Russia captured Crimea and its proxy forces seized over a third of eastern Ukraine. However, Luhansk and Donetsk might be broadly Russian-speaking regions, but they are no longer pro-Russian. In a May 2022 Ukrainian opinion poll, it was suggested that 82% of Ukrainians in the territory which was occupied by the Russia since the 24 February invasion had a negative attitude toward Moscow.

The Ukrainian president has said that the real objective of Russian President Vladimir Putin is to take the remaining 30 per cent of the eastern region due to its economic significance and defensive line.

Why does Russia want control of Ukraine’s Donetsk? What makes the region critical for Moscow — EXPLAINED

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (Aug 16) accused Russia of complicating peace efforts by refusing to agree to a ceasefire, more than three years into the conflict. "We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation," Zelensky said in a social media post. Slamming Moscow for lacking "the will to carry out a simple order to stop the strikes," he noted that "it may take a lot of effort to get Russia to have the will to implement far greater -- peaceful coexistence with its neighbours for decades." He stressed that “Stopping the killing is a key element of stopping the war.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thank you for the support! All the points mentioned are important to achieve a truly sustainable and reliable peace. We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation. If they lack… <a href="https://t.co/bkTXwjMSnX">pic.twitter.com/bkTXwjMSnX</a>&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1956813600300958028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Nordic-Baltic Eight back Ukraine</h2>The Ukrainian president made the remarks while posting a document from the leaders of eight Nordic-Baltic nations. In the joint statement, the Nordic-Baltic eight – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden – reaffirmed their strong backing for Kyiv and US President Donald Trump's mediation efforts."We welcome President Trump's statement that the U.S. is prepared to participate in security guarantees. No limitations should be placed on Ukraine's armed forces or on its cooperation with other countries," the statement said.<h2>Trump-Zelensky to meet soon</h2>In his post late on Saturday, Zelensky confirmed that he will meet US President Donald Trump on Monday (Aug 18), calling it an important opportunity for leaders to clarify "all the details and determine which steps are necessary and will work."This comes as Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday (Aug 15). Despite the massive buildup to the Trump-Putin Alaska summit, it was all for nought, as a ceasefire was not achieved. The outcome of the much-anticipated meet can be summed up by a remark Trump made at a press conference after huddling with Putin for three hours: "No deal until there’s a deal". The high-stakes summit in Anchorage concluded without a formal agreement on ending the war. However, both leaders still termed it "very productive" at their joint press conference, at which they refused to take any questions from the press.&nbsp;

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of rejecting ceasefire calls, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin was complicating peace. After the failed Trump-Putin Alaska summit, Zelensky also confirmed he’ll meet Trump on Aug 18 to discuss ending the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (Aug 16) accused Russia of complicating peace efforts by refusing to agree to a ceasefire, more than three years into the conflict. "We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation," Zelensky said in a social media post. Slamming Moscow for lacking "the will to carry out a simple order to stop the strikes," he noted that "it may take a lot of effort to get Russia to have the will to implement far greater -- peaceful coexistence with its neighbours for decades." He stressed that “Stopping the killing is a key element of stopping the war.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of rejecting ceasefire calls, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin was complicating peace. After the failed Trump-Putin Alaska summit, Zelensky also confirmed he’ll meet Trump on Aug 18 to discuss ending the war.

Zelensky slams Russia for rejecting ceasefire, says Putin 'complicating the situation'

Russia-Ukraine War: European Leaders Urge More 'Pressure' on Russia Ahead of Trump-Putin Meet

US President Donald Trump has signalled support for a plan that would see Ukraine hand over parts of its territory to Russia in return for a peace deal, according to a report by The New York Times. The move came after he met with Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Trump told European leaders that he was no longer pushing for an immediate ceasefire, but instead wanted a peace treaty to be reached quickly, provided Ukraine agreed to cede the remainder of the Donbas region, including areas not under Russian control.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-told-trump-russia-would-end-war-if-ukraine-gave-up-this-region-why-it-s-so-important-1755361075167">Putin told Trump Russia would end war if Ukraine gave up THIS region: Why it’s so important?</a><h2>What is Ukraine’s position?</h2>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders have strongly rejected the idea. Officials in Kyiv stressed that no final settlement can involve Ukraine giving up sovereign land permanently, since this would breach the country’s constitution. The Donbas region is not only strategically important for Ukraine’s defences but also rich in minerals, making it vital for Kyiv to keep it under its control.<h2>What did Putin offer in return?</h2>In exchange, Putin reportedly offered a ceasefire along current battle lines and a written pledge not to launch further attacks against Ukraine or European countries. But European officials reminded Trump that the Russian leader has often broken written commitments in the past. Putin also demanded that Russian be restored as an official language in Ukraine and that Russian Orthodox churches receive added protection, officials said.<h2>How did Europe react?</h2>European leaders emphasised to Trump that international borders cannot be altered by force and insisted that sanctions on Russia will remain until the war ends. While Trump made no mention of further sanctions or economic pressure during his calls, officials said he highlighted the possibility of strong security guarantees for Ukraine after any settlement, though not under NATO. He suggested that American troops could play a role.<h2>Will there be a trilateral meeting?</h2>Trump is expected to raise the plan directly with Zelensky at the White House on Monday, with European leaders invited to join. He has also spoken of the possibility of a three-way meeting with Putin and Zelensky. However, Putin has so far refused to meet Zelensky, whom he continues to dismiss as the leader of what he calls an “artificial country”. The White House has not commented on the talks.

Trump signaled support for a peace plan where Ukraine gives up Donbas to Russia. Ukraine and European leaders rejected it, insisting no peace deal can involve surrendering sovereign, strategic territory.

US President Donald Trump has signalled support for a plan that would see Ukraine hand over parts of its territory to Russia in return for a peace deal, according to a report by The New York Times. The move came after he met with Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Trump told European leaders that he was no longer pushing for an immediate ceasefire, but instead wanted a peace treaty to be reached quickly, provided Ukraine agreed to cede the remainder of the Donbas region, including areas not under Russian control. Also read: Putin told Trump Russia would end war if Ukraine gave up THIS region: Why it’s so important? What is Ukraine’s position? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders have strongly rejected the idea. Officials in Kyiv stressed that no final settlement can involve Ukraine giving up sovereign land permanently, since this would breach the country’s constitution. The Donbas region is not only strategically important for Ukraine’s defences but also rich in minerals, making it vital for Kyiv to keep it under its control. What did Putin offer in return? In exchange, Putin reportedly offered a ceasefire along current battle lines and a written pledge not to launch further attacks against Ukraine or European countries. But European officials reminded Trump that the Russian leader has often broken written commitments in the past. Putin also demanded that Russian be restored as an official language in Ukraine and that Russian Orthodox churches receive added protection, officials said. How did Europe react? European leaders emphasised to Trump that international borders cannot be altered by force and insisted that sanctions on Russia will remain until the war ends. While Trump made no mention of further sanctions or economic pressure during his calls, officials said he highlighted the possibility of strong security guarantees for Ukraine after any settlement, though not under NATO. He suggested that American troops could play a role. Will there be a trilateral meeting? Trump is expected to raise the plan directly with Zelensky at the White House on Monday, with European leaders invited to join. He has also spoken of the possibility of a three-way meeting with Putin and Zelensky. However, Putin has so far refused to meet Zelensky, whom he continues to dismiss as the leader of what he calls an “artificial country”. The White House has not commented on the talks.

Trump signaled support for a peace plan where Ukraine gives up Donbas to Russia. Ukraine and European leaders rejected it, insisting no peace deal can involve surrendering sovereign, strategic territory.

Trump flip-flops on Ukraine again: US president backs plan to cede land to Russia for peace in Kyiv

Vladimir Putin has told Donald Trump that Ukraine must withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region if Russia is to end its war. The Russian president made this demand during their meeting in Alaska on Friday, according to a report by Financial Times. Putin suggested that if Ukraine gave up Donetsk, he would agree to freeze the rest of the frontline, particularly in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian troops already hold large areas.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-told-trump-russia-would-end-war-if-ukraine-gave-up-this-region-why-it-s-so-important-1755361075167">Putin told Trump Russia would end war if Ukraine gave up THIS region: Why it’s so important?</a><h2>How did Trump respond?</h2>The next day, Trump relayed Putin’s position to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders during a call. He urged them to abandon the push for a ceasefire, saying a full peace agreement was the only way to end the war. “It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after the call with leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron. Trump added, “If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin.”<h2>Why Donetsk matters?</h2>Donetsk has been partially under Russian control for more than a decade. Moscow currently controls around 70 per cent of the region, but Ukraine still holds a crucial western strip of cities that are key to its eastern defences. Giving up Donetsk would hand Russia its biggest prize since the invasion began and cement Moscow’s fastest advance since last November.<h2>What is Zelensky’s position?</h2>Sources close to Zelensky said he would not agree to hand over Donetsk. However, he is open to discussing territory with Trump when they meet in Washington on Monday. They added that he may also consider a three-way meeting with Trump and Putin. The Kremlin has denied that such a trilateral meeting was discussed in Anchorage.<h2>Why is Europe worried?</h2>Before the Alaska talks, European leaders were already anxious after Trump hinted at land swaps as part of a peace deal. They had been reassured when Trump said he would press Putin to halt hostilities first, warning of “severe consequences” if he refused. Instead, the three-hour meeting produced no ceasefire and gave Putin, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, a rare chance to appear on the global stage. He was greeted by Trump with a red carpet and light-hearted exchanges before the talks began.

Putin told Trump Russia would end the war if Ukraine gave up Donetsk. Trump urged Zelensky and European leaders to pursue a full peace deal instead of a ceasefire, seeking lasting resolution.

Vladimir Putin has told Donald Trump that Ukraine must withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region if Russia is to end its war. The Russian president made this demand during their meeting in Alaska on Friday, according to a report by Financial Times. Putin suggested that if Ukraine gave up Donetsk, he would agree to freeze the rest of the frontline, particularly in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian troops already hold large areas. Also read: Putin told Trump Russia would end war if Ukraine gave up THIS region: Why it’s so important? How did Trump respond? The next day, Trump relayed Putin’s position to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders during a call. He urged them to abandon the push for a ceasefire, saying a full peace agreement was the only way to end the war. “It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after the call with leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron. Trump added, “If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin.” Why Donetsk matters? Donetsk has been partially under Russian control for more than a decade. Moscow currently controls around 70 per cent of the region, but Ukraine still holds a crucial western strip of cities that are key to its eastern defences. Giving up Donetsk would hand Russia its biggest prize since the invasion began and cement Moscow’s fastest advance since last November. What is Zelensky’s position? Sources close to Zelensky said he would not agree to hand over Donetsk. However, he is open to discussing territory with Trump when they meet in Washington on Monday. They added that he may also consider a three-way meeting with Trump and Putin. The Kremlin has denied that such a trilateral meeting was discussed in Anchorage. Why is Europe worried? Before the Alaska talks, European leaders were already anxious after Trump hinted at land swaps as part of a peace deal. They had been reassured when Trump said he would press Putin to halt hostilities first, warning of “severe consequences” if he refused. Instead, the three-hour meeting produced no ceasefire and gave Putin, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, a rare chance to appear on the global stage. He was greeted by Trump with a red carpet and light-hearted exchanges before the talks began.

Putin told Trump Russia would end the war if Ukraine gave up Donetsk. Trump urged Zelensky and European leaders to pursue a full peace deal instead of a ceasefire, seeking lasting resolution.

Putin told Trump Russia would end war if Ukraine gave up THIS region: Why it’s so important?

US President Donald Trump's meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, was followed by a flurry of reactions from around the world. Here's what the world leaders had to say about the historic meeting:<h2>EU calls for strong guarantees for Ukraine and Europe</h2>European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said security guarantees were “essential” in any peace deal. “The EU is working closely with Zelensky and the United States to reach a just and lasting peace. Strong security guarantees that protect Ukrainian and European vital security interests are essential,” she wrote on X.<h2>Macron pushes coalition efforts</h2>French President Emmanuel Macron said France would work with the US and partners in the “coalition of the willing” to push for a peace framework with firm guarantees. He confirmed the coalition would convene soon to continue talks.<h2>India urges dialogue over conflict</h2>India’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, reiterated New Delhi’s position on diplomacy. “The way forward can only be through dialogue and diplomacy. The world wants to see an early end to the conflict in Ukraine,” he said.<h2>Slovakia questions European strategy</h2>Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has met Putin twice in the past year, criticised Europe’s current approach. He said in a Facebook statement, “The coming days will show whether the big players in the Union will support this process … or whether the unsuccessful European strategy of trying to weaken Russia through this conflict with all kinds of literally incredible financial, political or military assistance to Kyiv will continue.”<h2>Italy highlights Trump’s move on security guarantees</h2>Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described security guarantees as the “most interesting developments” from the Alaska summit. She added that Trump had backed the Italian proposal of guarantees “inspired by Nato’s article 5”, Reuters reported.<h2>UK praises Trump’s role but insists Zelensky must be part of peace</h2>British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised Trump’s efforts. “President Trump’s efforts have brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. His leadership in pursuit of an end to the killing should be commended,” he said. Starmer stressed that President Zelensky must be included in the next phase of negotiations. “The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without him,” he added.<h2>Joint European statement backs trilateral summit</h2>A European Council statement signed by Macron, Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Council President António Costa and von der Leyen welcomed Trump’s role but insisted Ukraine must be at the table. “As President Trump said ‘there’s no deal until there’s a deal’. The next step must now be further talks including President Zelensky, whom he will meet soon,” it read.<h2>Poland warns of “decisive phase”</h2>Polish President Donald Tusk issued a stark warning, calling Putin a “cunning and ruthless player.” He said, “The game for Ukraine’s future, Poland’s security, and all of Europe has entered a decisive phase. Today, it is even clearer that Russia respects only the strong.”<h2>Trump fails to secure ceasefire but eyes future talks</h2>US President Donald Trump confirmed that no ceasefire was reached in Alaska after three hours of talks with Putin. He insisted his focus was now on securing a “full peace agreement.” Zelensky announced he would travel to Washington on Monday, while European leaders signalled readiness to toughen sanctions on Moscow after consulting Trump and holding their own lengthy discussions.

President Trump's meeting with Russian President Putin led to many reactions from leaders around the world. Here's what the world leaders had to say about the historic meeting:

US President Donald Trump's meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, was followed by a flurry of reactions from around the world. Here's what the world leaders had to say about the historic meeting: EU calls for strong guarantees for Ukraine and Europe European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said security guarantees were “essential” in any peace deal. “The EU is working closely with Zelensky and the United States to reach a just and lasting peace. Strong security guarantees that protect Ukrainian and European vital security interests are essential,” she wrote on X. Macron pushes coalition efforts French President Emmanuel Macron said France would work with the US and partners in the “coalition of the willing” to push for a peace framework with firm guarantees. He confirmed the coalition would convene soon to continue talks. India urges dialogue over conflict India’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, reiterated New Delhi’s position on diplomacy. “The way forward can only be through dialogue and diplomacy. The world wants to see an early end to the conflict in Ukraine,” he said. Slovakia questions European strategy Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has met Putin twice in the past year, criticised Europe’s current approach. He said in a Facebook statement, “The coming days will show whether the big players in the Union will support this process … or whether the unsuccessful European strategy of trying to weaken Russia through this conflict with all kinds of literally incredible financial, political or military assistance to Kyiv will continue.” Italy highlights Trump’s move on security guarantees Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described security guarantees as the “most interesting developments” from the Alaska summit. She added that Trump had backed the Italian proposal of guarantees “inspired by Nato’s article 5”, Reuters reported. UK praises Trump’s role but insists Zelensky must be part of peace British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised Trump’s efforts. “President Trump’s efforts have brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. His leadership in pursuit of an end to the killing should be commended,” he said. Starmer stressed that President Zelensky must be included in the next phase of negotiations. “The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without him,” he added. Joint European statement backs trilateral summit A European Council statement signed by Macron, Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Council President António Costa and von der Leyen welcomed Trump’s role but insisted Ukraine must be at the table. “As President Trump said ‘there’s no deal until there’s a deal’. The next step must now be further talks including President Zelensky, whom he will meet soon,” it read. Poland warns of “decisive phase” Polish President Donald Tusk issued a stark warning, calling Putin a “cunning and ruthless player.” He said, “The game for Ukraine’s future, Poland’s security, and all of Europe has entered a decisive phase. Today, it is even clearer that Russia respects only the strong.” Trump fails to secure ceasefire but eyes future talks US President Donald Trump confirmed that no ceasefire was reached in Alaska after three hours of talks with Putin. He insisted his focus was now on securing a “full peace agreement.” Zelensky announced he would travel to Washington on Monday, while European leaders signalled readiness to toughen sanctions on Moscow after consulting Trump and holding their own lengthy discussions.

President Trump's meeting with Russian President Putin led to many reactions from leaders around the world. Here's what the world leaders had to say about the historic meeting:

'Game for Ukraine’s future entered decisive phase': How did world react to 'historic' Trump-Putin meeting?

After talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska, European leaders said on Saturday that Russia cannot have a "veto" on whether Ukraine joins the European Union or NATO, the US-led military alliance. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed a statement saying the leaders&nbsp;are ready to work towards a trilateral summit including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.&nbsp;The leaders also stated that they are prepared to maintain pressure on Russia through sanctions until a lasting peace is achieved. "We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia's war economy until there is a just and lasting peace," said the statement.&nbsp;The summit between Putin and Trump in Alaska was inconclusive. A day after the meeting, Trump said there won't be an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.&nbsp;"A great and very successful day in Alaska!" Trump proclaimed on his Truth Social platform hours after touching down in Washington.&nbsp;He said that it was agreed during the meeting that the best way to end the war was through a peace agreement and not a ceasefire agreement, which does not hold.Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier that he will go to Washington for a meeting with Trump on Monday.&nbsp;"If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin," Trump added.Zelensky today said that Ukraine wants lasting peace, not a pause between Russian invasions.&nbsp;"Today, following a conversation with President Trump, we further coordinated positions with European leaders. The positions are clear. A real peace must be achieved, one that will be lasting, not just another pause between Russian invasions," he added.&nbsp;He also said that Moscow's killings in Ukraine must be stopped as soon as possible.&nbsp;"Killings must stop as soon as possible, the fire must cease both on the battlefield and in the sky, as well as against our port infrastructure. All Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians must be released, and the children abducted by Russia must be returned," he added.

After talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska, European leaders said on Saturday that Russia cannot have a "veto" on whether Ukraine joins the European Union or NATO, the US-led military alliance.

After talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska, European leaders said on Saturday that Russia cannot have a "veto" on whether Ukraine joins the European Union or NATO, the US-led military alliance. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed a statement saying the leaders are ready to work towards a trilateral summit including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The leaders also stated that they are prepared to maintain pressure on Russia through sanctions until a lasting peace is achieved. "We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia's war economy until there is a just and lasting peace," said the statement. The summit between Putin and Trump in Alaska was inconclusive. A day after the meeting, Trump said there won't be an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. "A great and very successful day in Alaska!" Trump proclaimed on his Truth Social platform hours after touching down in Washington. He said that it was agreed during the meeting that the best way to end the war was through a peace agreement and not a ceasefire agreement, which does not hold. Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier that he will go to Washington for a meeting with Trump on Monday. "If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin," Trump added. Zelensky today said that Ukraine wants lasting peace, not a pause between Russian invasions. "Today, following a conversation with President Trump, we further coordinated positions with European leaders. The positions are clear. A real peace must be achieved, one that will be lasting, not just another pause between Russian invasions," he added. He also said that Moscow's killings in Ukraine must be stopped as soon as possible. "Killings must stop as soon as possible, the fire must cease both on the battlefield and in the sky, as well as against our port infrastructure. All Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians must be released, and the children abducted by Russia must be returned," he added.

The remark came a day after Donald Trump met with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Trump-Putin meet: European leaders say Russia can't veto Ukraine's NATO entry

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he pressed Donald Trump to toughen sanctions on Russia if Moscow refuses to engage in genuine peace talks or blocks a proposed trilateral summit. “In my conversation with President Trump, I said that sanctions should be strengthened if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia tries to evade an honest end to the war. Sanctions are an effective tool,” Zelensky said. He also insisted that “all issues important to Ukraine must be discussed with Ukraine’s participation, and no issue, particularly territorial ones, can be decided without Ukraine”.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-for-peace-agreement-says-ceasefire-agreement-will-not-end-horrific-russia-ukraine-war-putin-zelensky-1755335547844">Trump says ‘Peace Agreement’, not ceasefire, will end Russia-Ukraine war</a><h2>Zelensky’s conditions for peace</h2>The Ukrainian leader called for an immediate ceasefire on the ground and in the air, the release of prisoners of war, and the return of children taken by Russia.“Killings must stop as soon as possible, the fire must cease both on the battlefield and in the sky, as well as against our port infrastructure,” he said, adding that “all Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians must be released, and the children abducted by Russia must be returned”. Zelensky underlined that security guarantees must be “reliable and long term, with the involvement of both Europe and the US.”<h2>Trump and Putin meet in Alaska</h2>US President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin at an air base in Alaska, but the three-hour talks failed to produce a ceasefire. Trump said instead he would now pursue a broader peace agreement that includes Ukraine. “A great and very successful day in Alaska!” Trump wrote afterwards, saying European leaders backed his proposal for a three-way meeting with Putin and Zelensky.<h2>Europe signals support</h2>European leaders, who had feared being sidelined by the Alaska summit, later held their own discussions and said they supported the idea of a trilateral summit. “We are also ready to work with President Trump and President Zelensky towards a trilateral summit with European support,” they said in a joint statement.They also vowed to keep pressure on Moscow, “As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia. We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia’s war economy until there is a just and lasting peace.”<h2>What comes next?</h2>Zelensky is set to travel to Washington on Monday for further talks after Trump briefed him on the Alaska meeting. European leaders including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO chief Mark Rutte and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen joined Trump and Zelensky on a post-summit&nbsp;call.

Ukrainian President Zelensky urged Trump to toughen sanctions on Russia if peace talks fail, demanding a ceasefire, POW release, child repatriation, and lasting security guarantees involving Europe and the US.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he pressed Donald Trump to toughen sanctions on Russia if Moscow refuses to engage in genuine peace talks or blocks a proposed trilateral summit. “In my conversation with President Trump, I said that sanctions should be strengthened if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia tries to evade an honest end to the war. Sanctions are an effective tool,” Zelensky said. He also insisted that “all issues important to Ukraine must be discussed with Ukraine’s participation, and no issue, particularly territorial ones, can be decided without Ukraine”. Also read: Trump says ‘Peace Agreement’, not ceasefire, will end Russia-Ukraine war Zelensky’s conditions for peace The Ukrainian leader called for an immediate ceasefire on the ground and in the air, the release of prisoners of war, and the return of children taken by Russia.“Killings must stop as soon as possible, the fire must cease both on the battlefield and in the sky, as well as against our port infrastructure,” he said, adding that “all Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians must be released, and the children abducted by Russia must be returned”. Zelensky underlined that security guarantees must be “reliable and long term, with the involvement of both Europe and the US.” Trump and Putin meet in Alaska US President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin at an air base in Alaska, but the three-hour talks failed to produce a ceasefire. Trump said instead he would now pursue a broader peace agreement that includes Ukraine. “A great and very successful day in Alaska!” Trump wrote afterwards, saying European leaders backed his proposal for a three-way meeting with Putin and Zelensky. Europe signals support European leaders, who had feared being sidelined by the Alaska summit, later held their own discussions and said they supported the idea of a trilateral summit. “We are also ready to work with President Trump and President Zelensky towards a trilateral summit with European support,” they said in a joint statement. They also vowed to keep pressure on Moscow, “As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia. We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia’s war economy until there is a just and lasting peace.” What comes next? Zelensky is set to travel to Washington on Monday for further talks after Trump briefed him on the Alaska meeting. European leaders including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO chief Mark Rutte and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen joined Trump and Zelensky on a post-summit call.

Ukrainian President Zelensky urged Trump to toughen sanctions on Russia if peace talks fail, demanding a ceasefire, POW release, child repatriation, and lasting security guarantees involving Europe and the US.

'Nothing can be decided without Ukraine': Zelensky tells Trump no peace deal without Kyiv as Europe backs trilateral summit with Putin

Melania Trump, the wife of US President Donald Trump, on Friday (Au 15) raised the plight of Ukrainian and Russian children in a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to reports. The letter, as per a Reuters report citing two White House officials, was hand-delivered to Putin by Trump as the two presidents met in Alaska for talks over the Ukraine war. Melania herself was not a part of the Alaska trip.<h2>What did Melania say in her letter?</h2>The contents of Melania Trump's letter have not been disclosed. It was reported that it repeatedly emphasised that the removal of thousands of Ukrainian children from their country without the approval of their parents or guardians was a war crime.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-and-putin-largely-agreed-on-ukraine-land-swaps-us-security-guarantees-1755314323946">Trump says he and Putin 'largely' agreed on Ukraine land swaps, claims war 'pretty close to the end' but Ukraine needs to 'make&nbsp;a&nbsp;deal'</a><h2>Ukraine's 'lost children'</h2>The abduction of Ukrainian children by Russian forces has been a deeply sensitive issue for Kyiv. Ukraine has accused Russia of illegally carrying out the forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children. Russia has, however, denied the "abduction" allegation and says they were transported for their own safety and to save them from the horrors of the war.As per Kyiv, hundreds of thousands of children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea since the beginning of the invasion. The war-torn nation has alleged that many of these children have reportedly been placed in institutions and foster homes.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-putin-alaska-summit-ends-without-peace-deal-here-s-what-they-said-at-the-no-questions-press-conference-1755309067551">Trump–Putin Alaska summit ends without peace deal — here's what they said at the 'no-questions' press conference</a>The Alaska summit was the first time Putin, who faces an international arrest warrant, set foot on Western soil since ordering the invasion of Ukraine. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war crime of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children. At the time, another warrant on similar charges was also issued for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights. Reports claim that amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow has "stolen" thousands of Ukrainian children and has subjected them to "Russification".Russia has vehemently denied these allegations. Moreover, given that Russia is not a member of the ICC, the country has dismissed the validity of the arrest warrant and calls it "void".Watch | Trump-Putin Meet: Trump &amp; Putin Wrap Up 3-Hour High-Stakes Meeting <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-trump-putin-wrap-up-3-hour-high-stakes-meeting-1755314061673/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-trump-putin-wrap-up-3-hour-high-stakes-meeting-1755314061673/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Melania Trump sent a letter to Vladimir Putin, delivered by President Trump at the Alaska summit, raising concern over the deportation of Ukrainian children. Reports say the letter stressed such removals were a war crime, a charge Russia denies despite an ICC arrest warrant against Putin.

Melania Trump, the wife of US President Donald Trump, on Friday (Au 15) raised the plight of Ukrainian and Russian children in a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to reports. The letter, as per a Reuters report citing two White House officials, was hand-delivered to Putin by Trump as the two presidents met in Alaska for talks over the Ukraine war. Melania herself was not a part of the Alaska trip. What did Melania say in her letter? The contents of Melania Trump's letter have not been disclosed. It was reported that it repeatedly emphasised that the removal of thousands of Ukrainian children from their country without the approval of their parents or guardians was a war crime. Also read | Trump says he and Putin 'largely' agreed on Ukraine land swaps, claims war 'pretty close to the end' but Ukraine needs to 'make a deal' Ukraine's 'lost children' The abduction of Ukrainian children by Russian forces has been a deeply sensitive issue for Kyiv. Ukraine has accused Russia of illegally carrying out the forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children. Russia has, however, denied the "abduction" allegation and says they were transported for their own safety and to save them from the horrors of the war. As per Kyiv, hundreds of thousands of children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea since the beginning of the invasion. The war-torn nation has alleged that many of these children have reportedly been placed in institutions and foster homes. Also read | Trump–Putin Alaska summit ends without peace deal — here's what they said at the 'no-questions' press conference The Alaska summit was the first time Putin, who faces an international arrest warrant, set foot on Western soil since ordering the invasion of Ukraine. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war crime of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children. At the time, another warrant on similar charges was also issued for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights. Reports claim that amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow has "stolen" thousands of Ukrainian children and has subjected them to "Russification". Russia has vehemently denied these allegations. Moreover, given that Russia is not a member of the ICC, the country has dismissed the validity of the arrest warrant and calls it "void". Watch | Trump-Putin Meet: Trump & Putin Wrap Up 3-Hour High-Stakes Meeting https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-trump-putin-wrap-up-3-hour-high-stakes-meeting-1755314061673/embed

Melania Trump sent a letter to Vladimir Putin, delivered by President Trump at the Alaska summit, raising concern over the deportation of Ukrainian children. Reports say the letter stressed such removals were a war crime, a charge Russia denies despite an ICC arrest warrant against Putin.

Melania Trump sent Putin letter on Ukraine’s ‘stolen children’ during Alaska summit. What did she say? All we know

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Aug 15) said that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have "largely" agreed on land swaps and some type of security guarantee from the US as part of a ceasefire deal in Ukraine. Speaking to Fox News, the US president, referring to his meeting with Putin as “warm,” said that they have agreed that the Ukraine war will end with territorial concessions.<h2>Land swap</h2>Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that territorial concessions would give Russia land it did not have previously and also spoke about potential US security assurances for Ukraine. He confirmed that land swaps were part of the point of agreement. "Well, I think those are points that we negotiated, and those are points that we largely have agreed on," he said, adding, "Actually, I think we agree on a lot. I can tell you, the meeting was a warm meeting."Calling Putin a “strong guy” and “tough as hell,” Trump called the meeting was positive and said, “I think we’re pretty close to the end.”&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-brushes-off-question-about-civilian-killings-in-ukraine-trump-criticised-for-red-carpet-welcome-to-war-criminal-watch-1755302259384">Putin dodges question on civilian killings in Ukraine; Trump smirks. Watch!</a>The US president, however, insisted that Ukraine has to agree to any deal. "Maybe they'll say no," he said, urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “Make a deal”.Previously, on Friday (Aug 8), Trump, during a peace summit for Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House, had told reporters that the land in question had "been fought over for three and a half years" and that any swap would be "to the betterment of both." Zelensky, meanwhile, has ruled out ceding territory seized by force. Trump, who during the February meeting with Zelensky at the White House had publicly scolded the Ukrainian leader, declared he was "a little bothered" by Zelensky's position and demanded land swaps. "There'll be some swapping, there'll be some changes in land," he said.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump, in an interview, revealed that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had “largely” agreed on land swaps and possible US security guarantees as part of a future ceasefire deal in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Aug 15) said that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have "largely" agreed on land swaps and some type of security guarantee from the US as part of a ceasefire deal in Ukraine. Speaking to Fox News, the US president, referring to his meeting with Putin as “warm,” said that they have agreed that the Ukraine war will end with territorial concessions. Land swap Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that territorial concessions would give Russia land it did not have previously and also spoke about potential US security assurances for Ukraine. He confirmed that land swaps were part of the point of agreement. "Well, I think those are points that we negotiated, and those are points that we largely have agreed on," he said, adding, "Actually, I think we agree on a lot. I can tell you, the meeting was a warm meeting." Calling Putin a “strong guy” and “tough as hell,” Trump called the meeting was positive and said, “I think we’re pretty close to the end.” Also read | Putin dodges question on civilian killings in Ukraine; Trump smirks. Watch! The US president, however, insisted that Ukraine has to agree to any deal. "Maybe they'll say no," he said, urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “Make a deal”. Previously, on Friday (Aug 8), Trump, during a peace summit for Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House, had told reporters that the land in question had "been fought over for three and a half years" and that any swap would be "to the betterment of both." Zelensky, meanwhile, has ruled out ceding territory seized by force. Trump, who during the February meeting with Zelensky at the White House had publicly scolded the Ukrainian leader, declared he was "a little bothered" by Zelensky's position and demanded land swaps. "There'll be some swapping, there'll be some changes in land," he said.

US President Donald Trump, in an interview, revealed that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had “largely” agreed on land swaps and possible US security guarantees as part of a future ceasefire deal in Ukraine.

Trump says he and Putin 'largely' agreed on Ukraine land swaps, claims war 'pretty close to the end' but Ukraine needs to 'make a deal'

The highly anticipated Alaska summit of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine war, officially dubbed '2025 Russia–US Summit in Anchorage,' could last up to seven hours, or end in just minutes. This is the vibe one gets based on official accounts and comments made by Trump. The Alaska 2025 summit is taking place on Friday (Aug 15) at Elmendorf‑Richardson base, even as the war continued on the ground, with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky accusing Putin of continuing the killing.<h2>Trump: Will walk if Putin meeting doesn't work out</h2>Trump has hinted at the risk of talks collapsing, telling media accompanying him that "there is nothing set in stone." Trump said he would know within “the first two minutes, three minutes, four minutes or five minutes” whether the summit would succeed, and would end it quickly if not. &nbsp;Speaking to Fox News from Air Force One, Trump said he "would walk" if the summit does not go the way he wanted, which is an end to the killing and a ceasefire.<h2>Land swaps, arms control, nuclear disarmament</h2>While the ceasefire is the main expected focus, there could be some talk about land swaps, something Ukraine firmly poses. There is a possibility that the two sides would talk about arms control and nuclear disarmament.If the talks extend into six hours, they might come up with a framework for a Ukraine peace deal. Sources cited in global media talked of potential sanctions relief and broader economic incentives for Russia.Trump had said he would not "let Putin mess with me.”&nbsp;There is a sense that the meeting might collapse in six or seven minutes if talks stall or veer off script, like it did when Zelensky met Trump at the White House earlier this year.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-u-s-warns-of-additional-tariffs-on-india-if-putin-talks-don-t-succeed-1755264525327/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-u-s-warns-of-additional-tariffs-on-india-if-putin-talks-don-t-succeed-1755264525327/embed</a>&nbsp;<h2>Ukraine's absence is a sore point</h2>Western allies of Ukraine are deeply disappointed that it's not included in the talks, amid growing alarm over potential territorial compromises without Kyiv’s consent. Ukraine is feeling sidelined and Trump is being accused of appeasement, but the outcome will decide which of these arguments is correct.<h2>Alaska summit: Stakes and symbolism</h2>Being held at a US military base in Alaska, which was sold to the US by Russia in 19th century, the summit carries heavy symbolism and strategic weight.&nbsp; If it becomes a marathon summit, the meeting might result in at least a roadmap for peace in Ukraine, and a firming up of terms for the ceasefire, and follow-up action agreements.&nbsp;

The Alaska 2025 summit is taking place on Friday even as the war continued on the ground, with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky accusing Putin of continuing the killing.

The highly anticipated Alaska summit of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine war, officially dubbed '2025 Russia–US Summit in Anchorage,' could last up to seven hours, or end in just minutes. This is the vibe one gets based on official accounts and comments made by Trump. The Alaska 2025 summit is taking place on Friday (Aug 15) at Elmendorf‑Richardson base, even as the war continued on the ground, with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky accusing Putin of continuing the killing. Trump: Will walk if Putin meeting doesn't work out Trump has hinted at the risk of talks collapsing, telling media accompanying him that "there is nothing set in stone." Trump said he would know within “the first two minutes, three minutes, four minutes or five minutes” whether the summit would succeed, and would end it quickly if not. Speaking to Fox News from Air Force One, Trump said he "would walk" if the summit does not go the way he wanted, which is an end to the killing and a ceasefire. Land swaps, arms control, nuclear disarmament While the ceasefire is the main expected focus, there could be some talk about land swaps, something Ukraine firmly poses. There is a possibility that the two sides would talk about arms control and nuclear disarmament. If the talks extend into six hours, they might come up with a framework for a Ukraine peace deal. Sources cited in global media talked of potential sanctions relief and broader economic incentives for Russia. Trump had said he would not "let Putin mess with me.” There is a sense that the meeting might collapse in six or seven minutes if talks stall or veer off script, like it did when Zelensky met Trump at the White House earlier this year. https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-meet-u-s-warns-of-additional-tariffs-on-india-if-putin-talks-don-t-succeed-1755264525327/embed Ukraine's absence is a sore point Western allies of Ukraine are deeply disappointed that it's not included in the talks, amid growing alarm over potential territorial compromises without Kyiv’s consent. Ukraine is feeling sidelined and Trump is being accused of appeasement, but the outcome will decide which of these arguments is correct. Alaska summit: Stakes and symbolism Being held at a US military base in Alaska, which was sold to the US by Russia in 19th century, the summit carries heavy symbolism and strategic weight. If it becomes a marathon summit, the meeting might result in at least a roadmap for peace in Ukraine, and a firming up of terms for the ceasefire, and follow-up action agreements.

The Alaska 2025 summit is taking place on Friday, even as the war continued on the ground, with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky accusing Putin of continuing the killing.

'I will walk if...': Trump–Putin Alaska summit on Ukraine war could last six hours, or end in five minutes

Ahead of the high-stakes Meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska to discuss the end of the war with Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky's country has amped up attacks against Russia. Ukrainian forces carried out a precision strike on the Olya seaport in Russia’s Astrakhan region, hitting a ship reportedly carrying Iranian-supplied Shahed drone components and ammunition, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed in a statement on Friday (Aug 15). Additionally, Ukrainian drones also hit Syzran oil refinery in Samara Oblast of Russia. The attack comes hours before the scheduled meeting between top US and Russian leaders in Alaska.&nbsp;&nbsp;The operation was reportedly conducted on August 14 by Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) in coordination with other branches of the Defence Forces. Ukraine said it was aimed at disrupting Russia’s ability to launch aerial attacks using Iranian UAVs.Port Olya, situated on the Caspian Sea, plays a critical role as a logistics hub for the import of military supplies from Iran to Russia. The targeted vessel, identified as Port Olya 4, was reportedly loaded with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) parts and munitions. A battle damage assessment (BDA) is currently underway to determine the full extent of the strike’s impact.&nbsp;Earlier on Thursday night, Ukraine also launched drone attacks on southern Russian cities. A drone strike in Rostov-on-Don injured 13 people, while attacks in Belgorod injured three and killed one person in the village of Pristen. Russian regional officials confirmed the incidents.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed Ukrainian drone strikes on the Syzran oil refinery in Samara Oblast of Russia this early morning. The facility is located over 850km from the current frontline in Ukraine. <a href="https://t.co/Mfuxapjjv5">pic.twitter.com/Mfuxapjjv5</a>&mdash; Status-6 (Military &amp; Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) <a href="https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1956270268596240427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Trump-Putin Alaska meet</h2>It was confirmed on Friday (Aug 8) that Trump will meet with Putin on August 15 to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. The US had proposed a tri-party meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelensky, but Putin expressed his reservations about the same. Trump has said that he would know within two minutes of the meeting with Putin if he is interested in ending the Russia-Ukraine war. The White House also said that meeting with Putin will be a ‘listening exercise’ for the US president. Moreover, a day ahead of the scheduled meeting in Alaska, Trump said that there is a 25 per cent chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting, while emphasising that both leaders would have to meet a second time for a deal to be done. Notably, this will be the first in-person summit between Trump and Putin after their last meeting at the Helsinki Summit in 2018 in Finland. They met briefly at the 2019 G20 Summit in Osaka, but no formal summit was held.

Ukraine confirmed a drone strike on the Syzran oil refinery in Russia's Samara Oblast, located over 850 km from the frontline. The attack marks another long-range strike deep into Russian territory amid ongoing war and ahead of Putin-Trump summit in Alaska

Ahead of the high-stakes Meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska to discuss the end of the war with Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky's country has amped up attacks against Russia. Ukrainian forces carried out a precision strike on the Olya seaport in Russia’s Astrakhan region, hitting a ship reportedly carrying Iranian-supplied Shahed drone components and ammunition, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed in a statement on Friday (Aug 15). Additionally, Ukrainian drones also hit Syzran oil refinery in Samara Oblast of Russia. The attack comes hours before the scheduled meeting between top US and Russian leaders in Alaska. The operation was reportedly conducted on August 14 by Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) in coordination with other branches of the Defence Forces. Ukraine said it was aimed at disrupting Russia’s ability to launch aerial attacks using Iranian UAVs. Port Olya, situated on the Caspian Sea, plays a critical role as a logistics hub for the import of military supplies from Iran to Russia. The targeted vessel, identified as Port Olya 4, was reportedly loaded with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) parts and munitions. A battle damage assessment (BDA) is currently underway to determine the full extent of the strike’s impact. Earlier on Thursday night, Ukraine also launched drone attacks on southern Russian cities. A drone strike in Rostov-on-Don injured 13 people, while attacks in Belgorod injured three and killed one person in the village of Pristen. Russian regional officials confirmed the incidents.

Ukraine confirmed a drone strike on the Syzran oil refinery in Russia's Samara Oblast, located over 850 km from the frontline. The attack marks another long-range strike deep into Russian territory amid ongoing war and ahead of Putin-Trump summit in Alaska

Ukrainian drones blow up Russian ship carrying Iranian UAV parts, hit oil refinery ahead of Trump-Putin meet

Russia is preparing to conduct a nuclear-capable missile test just days before the planned summit between President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska. 


Trump-Putin Talks: Russia Prepares World's First Nuclear-Powered Missile Ahead of Trump Summit

The Ukrainian Navy on Thursday (Aug 14) said that Russia has likely lost a Su-30SM fighter jet during a mission southeast of Snake Island (Zmiinyi Island). The aircraft, a twin-engine, two-seat multirole fighter, reportedly crashed for unknown reasons. Ukrainian intelligence intercepted Russian radio communications indicating the loss of contact with the jet, prompting a search and rescue mission by Russian forces. As per reports, debris was spotted on the sea’s surface, but the pilots remain unaccounted for.&nbsp;The reported crash adds to the growing number of Russian Su-30 losses during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. On May 2, Ukraine claimed it shot down two Su-30 jets using air-to-air missiles launched from sea drones near Novorossiysk. A third aircraft was likely damaged during a strike on an airfield used for launching Kinzhal missiles on May 9. These incidents indicate increasing challenges for Russia’s aerial operations. While Russia has not officially confirmed the loss, pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Fighterbomber, indirectly acknowledged it with a poetic caption and a black-and-white image of a Su-30. Other sources, like the Crimean Wind monitoring group, suggest the jet may have been based at the Saki or Belbek airfields in occupied Crimea. Russian Telegram channel Military Informer claimed the aircraft belonged to the Black Sea Fleet’s naval aviation.<h2>About the Su-30SM</h2>The Su-30SM, NATO reporting name “Flanker-H,” is a 4+ generation multirole fighter developed by Russia’s Irkut Corporation. It is equipped with thrust-vectoring engines, a phased-array radar, and advanced avionics, allowing it to perform both air superiority and ground attack missions.<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-alaska-meet-scott-bessent-warns-secondary-tariffs-could-go-up-1755236653303/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-alaska-meet-scott-bessent-warns-secondary-tariffs-could-go-up-1755236653303/embed</a></h2>&nbsp;<h2>Trump-Putin Alaska meet</h2>It was confirmed on Friday (Aug 8) that Trump will meet with Putin on August 15 to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. Both the Kremlin and the White House confirmed the summit. The US had proposed a tri-party meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelensky, but Putin expressed his reservations about the same. Trump has now said that he would know withing two minutes of the meeting with Putin if he is interested in ending the Russia-Ukraine war. This will be the first in-person summit between Trump and Putin after their last meeting at the Helsinki Summit in 2018 in Finland. They met briefly at the 2019 G20 Summit in Osaka, but no formal summit was held.

The Ukrainian Navy reported that a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet likely crashed near Snake Island during a mission. This adds to recent Su-30 losses amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The aircraft may have been based in Crimea and belonged to the Black Sea Fleet.

The Ukrainian Navy on Thursday (Aug 14) said that Russia has likely lost a Su-30SM fighter jet during a mission southeast of Snake Island (Zmiinyi Island). The aircraft, a twin-engine, two-seat multirole fighter, reportedly crashed for unknown reasons. Ukrainian intelligence intercepted Russian radio communications indicating the loss of contact with the jet, prompting a search and rescue mission by Russian forces. As per reports, debris was spotted on the sea’s surface, but the pilots remain unaccounted for. The reported crash adds to the growing number of Russian Su-30 losses during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. On May 2, Ukraine claimed it shot down two Su-30 jets using air-to-air missiles launched from sea drones near Novorossiysk. A third aircraft was likely damaged during a strike on an airfield used for launching Kinzhal missiles on May 9. These incidents indicate increasing challenges for Russia’s aerial operations. While Russia has not officially confirmed the loss, pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Fighterbomber, indirectly acknowledged it with a poetic caption and a black-and-white image of a Su-30. Other sources, like the Crimean Wind monitoring group, suggest the jet may have been based at the Saki or Belbek airfields in occupied Crimea. Russian Telegram channel Military Informer claimed the aircraft belonged to the Black Sea Fleet’s naval aviation. About the Su-30SM The Su-30SM, NATO reporting name “Flanker-H,” is a 4+ generation multirole fighter developed by Russia’s Irkut Corporation. It is equipped with thrust-vectoring engines, a phased-array radar, and advanced avionics, allowing it to perform both air superiority and ground attack missions. https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-putin-alaska-meet-scott-bessent-warns-secondary-tariffs-could-go-up-1755236653303/embed Trump-Putin Alaska meet It was confirmed on Friday (Aug 8) that Trump will meet with Putin on August 15 to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. Both the Kremlin and the White House confirmed the summit. The US had proposed a tri-party meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelensky, but Putin expressed his reservations about the same. Trump has now said that he would know withing two minutes of the meeting with Putin if he is interested in ending the Russia-Ukraine war. This will be the first in-person summit between Trump and Putin after their last meeting at the Helsinki Summit in 2018 in Finland. They met briefly at the 2019 G20 Summit in Osaka, but no formal summit was held.

The Ukrainian Navy reported that a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet likely crashed near Snake Island during a mission. This adds to recent Su-30 losses amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The aircraft may have been based in Crimea and belonged to the Black Sea Fleet.

Russian fighter jet Su-30SM worth $50 million crashes in Black Sea, no confirmation from Moscow yet