Peace still distant prospect for Ukrainians despite Trump-Zelensky talks
"The war will continue as long as Russia remains as it is," said 45-year-old Ukrainian serviceman Vitaliy, who withheld his full name in line with military protocol.
"These barbarians will not stop until they are stopped by force. They only understand force," he told AFP.
His assessment came the morning after Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump met together with Kyiv's European allies to present a united front and push for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his invasion grinding through its fourth year.
It ended with Trump pushing for a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky, who has said that the conflict can only be ended with talks involving leaders.
In Kramatorsk, a Ukrainian garrison city and the largest still under Kyiv's control in the eastern Donetsk region, serviceman Vitaliy was firmly against the prospect of a meeting between the two leaders.
"You must not meet with an international criminal, and you must not make any concessions to him because he can't be trusted," he said.
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First Post
2 minutes ago
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Why Putin-Zelenskyy meet won't happen soon and peace is a distant dream
An Alaska summit, followed up by a White House summit. There's been a flurry of activity on the Russia-Ukraine war, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy even agreeing to a meeting with Vladimir Putin. But is the Russian leader ready to end the conflict? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian President Vladimir Putin told US counterpart Donald Trump on August 18 that he is willing to meet Ukranian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy. File image/AFP Many years ago, John Lennon sang the famous song Give peace a chance. The question that everyone is asking now is — will Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy give it a chance after it was announced on Monday (August 19) that the Ukrainian leader was willing to meet his Russian counterpart as a means to end this war, which has been on since February 2022. While Trump, his administration and European leaders hailed the Oval Office meeting on Monday, there were few positive outcomes to derive from it, apart from the fact that Zelenskyy had agreed to meet with Putin. Also, the US has indicated some sort of security guarantees to Ukraine — Trump has now rejected the idea of putting American troops on Ukrainian soil but added that it may provide air support as part of a peace deal with Russia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But many believe that peace between Russia and Ukraine is still a distant dream as both sides remain far apart on what terms they would accept to end the war that began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A ceasefire vs a peace deal Perhaps, one of the biggest hurdles to peace between Russia and Ukraine is Kyiv's demand of a ceasefire while holding talks. Putin, however, has dismissed this demand, as his forces continue to inch forward in Ukraine. Earlier it seemed that even Trump wanted a ceasefire but ditched that call after his Alaska summit with Putin. The US president dropped that demand and said it was best to focus on a comprehensive peace deal — an approach that Putin has pushed for. In fact, at Monday's meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump said that a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was 'unnecessary.' However, Europe has insisted that a ceasefire be agreed upon. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday, 'I can't imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire. So let's work on that, and let's try to put pressure on Russia because the credibility of these efforts, these efforts we are undertaking today are depending on at least a ceasefire from the beginning of the serious negotiations from next step on.' US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte amid negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine, at the White House. Reuters International law experts also note that while many believe that ceasefire and peace deal are thought to be the same thing, there is a big difference between the two in the eyes of international law. During a ceasefire, warring parties agree to stop fighting with each side keeping hold of the territory under its military control. But the understanding is that the pause is temporary – usually to provide a window to negotiate, deliver humanitarian help or evacuate civilians. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, what Putin wants and Trump, seems to be supporting, is a permanent peace agreement. According to international law, a peace agreement is formal and a long-term treaty, which dictates the future relationship between two countries. As Jeremy Pizzi, an international lawyer and a legal adviser of Global Rights Compliance, a human rights foundation, told CNN, 'There is a uniquely core principle to international law that is inscribed front and centre in the UN Charter: Use of force is emphatically prohibited. So what that also (means) is that any treaty that you procure by use of force is effectively illegal and is inherently void.' Also, while details haven't been released, Putin appears to be insistent on his demand of acquiring control of the entire eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, known as the Donbas. However, the Ukrainian constitution doesn't permit Zelenskyy from handing over territory. As per law, any change to the country's borders must be approved by a referendum. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A scaled model of the Statue of Liberty stands draped in a Ukrainian flag in the gardens of the French Embassy in Washington. Reuters A Putin-Zelenskyy meet One of the biggest outcomes of the Oval Office meeting was the fact that Zelenskyy would meet with Vladimir Putin with the White House stating that planning had already begun for this. As White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later told the media that the US National Security Council is working on a framework for the same. This was followed up by Putin suggesting to hold a possible meeting with Zelenskyy in Moscow, according to two sources. 'Putin mentioned Moscow', one of the sources told AFP, adding that Zelenskyy had said 'no' in response. And now, Russian media is playing down the potential meet between the two with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggesting that it would require intense preparation. Members of the Ukrainian community in Australia hold placards showing Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia's President Vladimir Putin during a vigil. File image/AFP Moreover, there are doubts if Putin would actually meet Zelenskyy, a leader he has deemed as illegitimate. As the Wall Street Journal noted in one report, negotiating directly with Zelenskyy runs counter to the narrative the Russian leader has carefully constructed and sold to Russians in an effort to justify his 2022 invasion of Ukraine: that the war is part of a broader conflict with the West in which Zelenskyy and his country are mere pawns. Putin has also questioned Zelenskyy's legitimacy after he extended his presidential term beyond five years, citing the challenges in holding an election during a war. Putin has questioned his authority to sign any peace agreement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lavrov even referred to the Ukrainian leader as 'this character' and 'this man' when speaking on the chances of a bilateral between the two. Even Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre, was quoted as telling Wall Street Journal, 'In Putin's eyes, Zelenskyy is not a player. The fact Ukrainians are fighting at all is because of Western support.' Orysia Lutsevich, the director of Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia programme, also shares similar views. In a CNN report, she is quoted as saying that Putin meeting Zelenskyy would be a huge reversal in tone that would be tough to explain to the Russian people. '(Putin) so much brainwashed Russians on state television that Zelenskyy's a Nazi, that (Ukraine's) a puppet state of the West … that Zelenskyy's illegitimate, why is he suddenly talking to him?' Security guarantees to Ukraine One other obstacle that lies on the path to peace is the kind of security guarantees to be given to Ukraine. Zelenskyy has maintained that his nation needs assurances that it can deter any future attacks by the Kremlin's forces. While Europe has backed this demand, stating that Nato's Article 5-like protection could be provided to Kyiv, the US has remains vague on it. Europe has also suggested setting up a force that could backstop any peace agreement in Ukraine. A coalition of 30 countries, including European nations, Japan and Australia, have even signed up to support the initiative. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A woman passes by a house which was hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine. Reuters However, Putin has remained adamant that Ukraine cannot and should never be allowed to join Nato, a demand that Trump has voiced, writing on social media that for Ukraine, there is 'no getting back' Crimea and 'no going into Nato.' 'Some things never change!!!' Trump said. The Kremlin has also ruled out the presence of foreign peacekeepers in Ukraine — especially from Nato countries. It said a peace agreement would require a ban on military activity of third states on the territory of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the war grinds on with the death toll rising and the destruction continuing unabated. With inputs from agencies
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First Post
2 minutes ago
- First Post
Hosting European leaders, Trump brings out ‘Trump 2028' hat from his closet: Eyes on another term?
A picture was posted following Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy and other European leaders, including French President Emannuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It showed the US president showing a red hat with the words '4 More Years' US President Donald Trump showed off Maga hat collection displayed at the gift shop to European leaders who visited the White House earlier this week for a meeting on the Russia-Ukraine war. A photo circulating on social media, shared by Special Assistant to the President and Communications Advisor Margo Martin, shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gazing at a wall filled with red and white Maga hats and other pro-Trump merchandise in a room resembling a gift shop, seemingly located within the White House. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD President @realDonaldTrump showing President Zelenskyy and President Macron his 4 More Years hat 🤣🇺🇸 — Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) August 19, 2025 The picture was posted following Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy and other European leaders, including French President Emannuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It showed the US president showing a red hat with the words '4 More Years'. Is it a sign? Trump has time and again indicated that he intends to run for a third term, a move that is barred by the 22nd Amendment, which does not allow a president to run more than two terms. In March, Trump told NBC that he does not rule out the possibility of running for another term. 'A lot of people want me to do it. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it's very early in the administration,' he said. Changing the Constitution to eliminate the two-term presidential limit would be extremely challenging. It would require either a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress or approval from two-thirds of the states to convene a constitutional convention. In either case, any proposed amendment would then need to be ratified by three-quarters of the states. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
India.com
2 minutes ago
- India.com
Ukraine's new 'Flamingo' missile can strike targets up to 3000 kms away, has ability to hit deep inside Russia, including Moscow and St. Petersburg
The war between Ukraine and Russia is constantly bringing new weapons into focus. Recently, Ukraine surprised the world by unveiling its new cruise missile called 'Flamingo.' Reports claim that this missile can strike targets up to 3,000 kilometers away and carry a heavy warhead weighing up to one ton. This means Ukraine now has the ability to hit deep inside Russia, including major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. How was the Flamingo missile made? Photos of the Flamingo missile were shared by Associated Press photojournalist Efrem Lukatsky. According to reports, it has been developed by a Ukrainian company named Fire Point. Its design is quite similar to the earlier FP-5 model, which was originally linked to a Dubai-based company called Milanion. The Flamingo missile is about six meters long and weighs nearly six tons. It flies at high subsonic speed and is an unmanned cruise missile, in simple words, it can be called a 'large drone.' Why Flamingo missile dangerous for Russia? So far, Russia's big cities have largely been shielded from the direct impact of the war. Most of the casualties have come from rural areas or non-Russian regions. But if missiles like Flamingo repeatedly strike Moscow or St. Petersburg, it could shake Putin's political grip. History shows that when ordinary city residents start suffering the pain of war, the foundation of power begins to weaken. The Soviet Union's withdrawal from Afghanistan was also accelerated for this very reason. Ukraine's challenges However, the Flamingo missile has its own weaknesses. Being a cruise missile, it can travel long distances but does not fly very fast. Cities like Moscow have strong air defense systems, making it unlikely that one or two missiles alone could succeed. To make an impact, Ukraine would need to launch them in large numbers, using decoys and electronic warfare for support. In this, weapons like the American MALD (Miniature Air-Launched Decoy), which has a range of over 900 km, could play a big role. Is this missile a gamechanger? The Flamingo missile alone will not change the course of the war. But if Ukraine launches it in large numbers, along with local decoys, electronic jamming, and ballistic weapons, the situation could shift. Such a strategy could bring the war's impact directly to ordinary citizens living in Russia's capital.
