Saturday, March 29, 2025
Moscow/Kyiv – August 21, 2025:
Prospects for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war have taken a major hit after Moscow declared that no direct talks would take place between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the near future.
The Kremlin stated that while Russia must be included in any discussions concerning Ukraine’s security guarantees, it sees no possibility of a Putin–Zelensky summit. This stance comes as international calls grow for a strong security framework to protect Ukraine. Kyiv and its Western allies maintain that Moscow cannot be trusted and are working to reinforce Europe’s defense architecture.
Efforts to end the war recently saw the involvement of former U.S. President Donald Trump. On August 15, Trump met Putin in Alaska to explore a potential ceasefire path. Trump reportedly pressed for a peace deal, while Putin reiterated that Ukraine must not be allowed to join NATO.
On August 18, Trump followed up with a meeting in Washington with Zelensky, joined by several European leaders. During the talks, Zelensky accused Russia of breaking past agreements and demanded robust international security guarantees before considering any ceasefire arrangement.
While Trump’s mediation raised hopes for progress, Russia’s outright rejection of talks with Zelensky has cast fresh doubt on the chances of a breakthrough. Analysts warn that this hardened position could prolong the conflict, despite ongoing international efforts to broker peace.
