August 8 marked the deadline of Trump’s ultimatum to Putin for ending the Russia-Ukraine war. However, talks are dragging on: key decisions have not been made, and summits remain unscheduled. Attacks continue: Ukrainian drones struck targets in Russia's Rostov region, while Russia launched drone strikes on Sumy and Kyiv regions in Ukraine overnight. There were injuries, damaged civilian infrastructure, and air defenses downed 82 out of 108 drones launched at Ukraine.
Despite the deadline passing, peace negotiations have made little progress. Trump confirmed willingness to meet with Putin but refrains from applying new sanctions or significant pressure. The US State Department and Western media note that Russia shows no intention to cease hostilities, and Trump maintains his preference for negotiations with Putin without extra pressure mechanisms.
The idea of a US-Russia-Ukraine summit remains uncertain. According to media reports, the White House is preparing for talks, but there has been no official confirmation of a three-way meeting. Journalists emphasize that Trump’s position on peace does not include concessions acceptable to Ukraine or its allies.
WSJ analysts note that Trump may seek a deal recognizing parts of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories in exchange for Russian withdrawal elsewhere—a scenario unacceptable to Ukraine and most Western partners. There is a risk that, if talks fail, the US could scale back support for Ukraine.
Against this background, the US is imposing secondary tariffs on China and India, which could impact the Russian economy, though the effects remain limited so far. Russia is offering oil discounts to India in response, while Indian state refineries are adjusting procurement strategies.
Internationally, the situation in the Middle East is also relevant. Israel has announced plans for total control of the Gaza Strip, causing disputes between the government and army. The US also participates in the signing of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Experts note that substantive peace deals remain unlikely at this stage.
