Democrat Senator said Alaska summit was ‘great day’ for Russia: Putin was ‘absolved of his crimes in front of the world’
Jabed Ahmed17 August 2025 21:20
European leaders react after Coalition of the Willing talks with Zelensky
Poland: Foreign minister Radosław Sikorski said peace can only come if “pressure is placed on the aggressor, not the victim,” stressing the need to maintain pressure on Russia.
European Council: President Antonio Costa said “transatlantic unity is paramount” for peace. He warned that if no ceasefire is reached, the EU and US must increase pressure on Moscow, and welcomed Washington’s readiness to provide security guarantees for Ukraine.
Czech Republic: Prime minister Petr Fiala said leaders agreed the immediate priority must be to “bring an end to the killing,” with clear US and European security guarantees for Ukraine “absolutely essential” for further negotiations.
Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky described the talks as “very useful,” calling the US decision to join in providing security guarantees a “historic decision.” He said peace must be “fair, swift, and effective.”
Ireland: Taoiseach Micheal Martin reiterated that borders cannot be changed by force and said Ireland will “steadfastly support Ukraine.” He said sanctions will be reinforced if Russia continues its war and stressed the need for long-term security guarantees.
France: President Emmanuel Macron said Europe’s plan was to “present a united front” alongside Ukraine in Washington. He warned that showing weakness towards Russia would “lay the ground for future conflicts.”
Jabed Ahmed17 August 2025 20:59
What happened the last time Zelensky met Trump?
Their previous Oval Office meeting in February ended in a dramatic confrontation.
A planned mineral deal signing ceremony collapsed as Mr Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Mr Zelensky of being “ungrateful” and “gambling with World War III”.
Mr Zelensky pushed back, insisting there could be “no compromises with a killer” – a reference to Mr Putin.
The meeting was cut short, the joint press conference cancelled, and Mr Trump declared afterwards that Zelensky could “come back when he is ready for peace”, and temporarily suspended aid to Ukraine.
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speak amid a chaotic meeting at the Oval Office in February (AFP via Getty Images)
Jabed Ahmed17 August 2025 20:28
Ukraine reports serious injury to Russian general in cross-border strike
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HRU) has said that Ukrainian forces struck a Russian military column in the Kursk region overnight.
The strike reportedly seriously injured Lieutenant General Abachev, deputy commander of Russia’s North Group of Forces.
He was urgently flown to Moscow’s Vishnevsky Central Clinical Hospital by military transport aircraft, according to the HRU, where he underwent amputation of an arm and a leg as a result of his injuries.
Jabed Ahmed17 August 2025 20:01
European leaders confirmed to be attending include:
- Sir Keir Starmer, UK prime minister
- Emmanuel Macron, French president
- Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor
- Alexander Stubb, President of Finland
- Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
- Mark Rutte, Nato Secretary General
- Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister
The Ukrainian president will travel with a strong backing after participating in a coalition call on Sunday afternoon, hosted by the UK, France, and Germany.
The so-called “coalition of the willing” aims to provide security guarantees, including policing any future peace deal with troops on the ground in Ukraine.
Jabed Ahmed17 August 2025 19:59
What’s at stake when Zelensky meets Trump at the White House with Starmer and EU allies in tow
Jabed Ahmed17 August 2025 19:41
Donbas: Why Russia is desperate to capture eastern Ukraine’s industrial heartland
Jabed Ahmed17 August 2025 19:11
Watch | Ukraine residents hit out at Trump for ‘rolling out red carpet to tyrant Putin’Ukraine residents hit out at Trump for ‘rolling out red carpet to tyrant Putin’
Jabed Ahmed17 August 2025 18:46
Starmer and Macron praise Zelensky’s push for ‘just and lasting peace’
Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron praised Volodymyr Zelensky’s desire for a “just and lasting peace”, as the leaders prepare for talks in Washington with Donald Trump amid worries of a Russian land grab.
Giving a readout of the coalition of the willing call, a No 10 spokesman said: “President Macron and Prime Minister Starmer today co-chaired a virtual meeting of a grouping of ‘coalition of the willing’ leaders with the participation of President Zelensky.
“Leaders convened to discuss support for Ukraine and next steps in peace negotiations following President Trump’s meeting with President Putin in Alaska.
“The leaders reaffirmed their continued support to Ukraine, and praised President Zelensky’s desire for a just and lasting peace as he prepares for further consultations with President Trump in Washington DC.
“The leaders also commended President Trump’s commitment to providing security guarantees to Ukraine, in which the coalition of the willing will play a vital role through the Multinational Force Ukraine, among other measures.
“They re-emphasised the readiness to deploy a reassurance force once hostilities have ceased, and to help secure Ukraine’s skies and seas and regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces.
“The President and Prime Minister also informed leaders that they would travel to Washington DC tomorrow for a meeting with President Trump, alongside President Zelensky.”
Jabed Ahmed17 August 2025 18:39
What are Russia’s demands for ending the war?
At the Alaska summit, Mr Putin reportedly insisted Ukraine must surrender Donetsk and Luhansk in full, abandon its Nato aspirations and declare neutrality. He offered to freeze the front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, sources close to the meeting told The Independent.
Around 88 per cent of the Donbas is under Russian control. This includes almost all of the Luhansk region and 75 per cent of the Donetsk region.
Russia controls nearly 44,600 square miles or 19 per cent of Ukraine in total, including the Crimean peninsula, according to open-source maps of the battlefield.
Mr Zelensky has rejected the idea of handing over territory, insisting talks must be based on current front lines and begin with a ceasefire.
Speaking to CBS on Sunday, Rubio said both Ukraine and Russia would have to make concessions to reach a peace deal and that security guarantees for Ukraine would be discussed on Monday.
He also said there would have to be additional consequences for Russia if no deal were reached. However, he said the US may not be able to create a scenario to end the war.
Jabed Ahmed17 August 2025 18:24