The Zelensky-Putin summit is still nowhere in sight, Europe is considering sending troops to Ukraine as a security guarantee
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, together with selected European leaders, has held important talks with US President Donald Trump. At the White House, they managed to strengthen unstable NATO relations with the US, as well as previous disputes with the Ukrainian head of state. After his previous meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump wants to hold joint talks in the future, also in the presence of Ukrainian President Zelensky. However, the Russians have made it clear that a Russian-Ukrainian meeting can only take place once all positions have been clarified from their point of view. European partners are considering sending peacekeeping forces to Ukraine as part of security guarantees that would be offered to Kiev in the event of a peace agreement with Moscow.
Soldiers and civilians across Russia-occupied Ukraine marked the fourth day of Ukrainian independence since the start of full-scale war. The situation on the battlefield and elsewhere in Ukraine is similar to that of a year ago, although in many respects people today speak more often of hope for an end to the conflict. However, Russia has not eased its attacks in any way—on the contrary, the last few weeks have seen the most numerous Russian airstrikes, with hundreds of drones and missiles being sent every night to Ukrainian cities and military positions. The Russians have also made further advances in the Donetsk region towards Pokrovsk, but the country's defenders are still still holding the strategic city on the route westward.
A place of remembrance and deep reverence. Here are the names of those who gave their lives for our independence and freedom. Today, together with First Lady @ZelenskaUA and Prime Minister of Canada @MarkJCarney, we honored the fallen defenders of Ukraine at the Wall of… pic.twitter.com/OSOmM4a3dl
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2025
"We need a just peace. A peace where only we decide our future," Volodymyr Zelensky said during his Independence Day speech, according to the BBC. "Ukraine will defend itself against Russia until the calls for peace are heard. (...) Ukraine has not yet won, but it has certainly not lost," added the Ukrainian president. On this day, Ukrainian drones symbolically struck the Kursk nuclear power plant, where a fire subsequently broke out. Russian authorities claim that they had to temporarily reduce power output but report no major damage. The Ukrainians are thus trying to keep up their military actions against an enemy that has not stopped its attacks even during the most advanced peace talks to date.
During talks in Alaska, Vladimir Putin exchanged smiles with Donald Trump and sent important initial signals about a possible end to the war. Commentators generally agreed that the overall image of the meeting was more helpful to Russia. However, the mere fact that the two leaders met in person after more than six years (and more than four years since their meeting with Joe Biden), during which Putin was informed of the position of the North Atlantic Alliance and Ukraine's allies, can be considered a success. Moscow demands that Ukraine surrender the entire eastern Donbas, renounce its ambitions to join NATO, remain neutral, and prevent Western troops from entering its territory.
However, the latest Russian demand may be an insurmountable obstacle. Europe and the US are already working together to provide security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement. Part of the plan is to send deterrent forces with international troops to Ukrainian territory. Since February, around 30 countries have been holding talks within the so-called coalition of the willing, where one of the ideas under discussion is the deployment of "calming" peacekeeping forces to deter Russia from further attacks.
Photos released by the White House, showing today’s second meeting in the Oval Office between U.S. President Donald J. Trump and several European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Additional officials seen in the office throughout the meeting included:… pic.twitter.com/vO2IWxhNhk
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 19, 2025
"Our chiefs of staff have been working on this within the coalition of the willing. Several countries are ready to do so – from training to logistics to presence in the zones – away from the hot spots, i.e., not on the front lines, not in disputed territories, but for the presence of allied forces alongside Ukraine," French President Emmanuel Macron said, according to Reuters.
In addition to France, Britain, Belgium, Lithuania, and Estonia are also willing to send their troops. According to the president, the US will not have any military forces in the country, and there are ten countries willing to participate in a similar initiative. "I think that with the arrival of President Trump, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel.
We just had a very good, meaningful, and sincere meeting in Alaska. The next steps now depend on the leadership of the United States, but I am confident that the leadership skills of the current President Trump are a good guarantee for the restoration of relations," Vladimir Putin said in his latest statement on communication with the US, according to Reuters.
The Russians are not so positive about negotiations with Ukraine. "Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky once the summit agenda is ready, and this agenda is not ready at all," Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with NBC News. "President Putin has clearly stated that he is ready to meet on the condition that this meeting has a real agenda, a presidential agenda," Lavrov added, saying that, in his opinion, it is Ukraine that is delaying the process. However, the besieged country disagrees, pointing out that it did not start the aggression and is willing to sit down at the negotiating table at any time—provided that the Russian occupiers agree to an immediate ceasefire.
