On August 14, an evening news summary was released. The main focus is the upcoming Trump-Putin summit, scheduled for 22:30 Kyiv time in Alaska. Trump expressed his uncertainty about the outcome and said a joint press conference would only be possible if the talks succeed. He also doubted that an agreement on a ceasefire could be reached with Putin.
Today, another round of prisoner exchange took place: 33 servicemen and 51 Ukrainian civilians were freed from Russian captivity, most of whom had been held since 2014. The main feature of this exchange was the release of those detained in occupied territories before the full-scale war and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
The UN reported that in July, civilian casualties in Ukraine reached a three-year high, with 286 killed and 1,388 injured. These are the highest numbers since May 2022.
The summit will focus on security, economic issues, and negotiations regarding the war. The Russian side will be represented by Putin, Lavrov, and key officials. The US delegation includes Trump, Vice President Divens, Secretary of State Rubiov, and Finance Minister Besen. Discussions on the economy, strategic arms control, and future negotiations are expected.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he sees little chance of agreeing to a ceasefire with Putin at this summit, but he announced the possibility of a new meeting and of direct contact with Zelensky. If the talks fail, the US is prepared to consider new sanctions against Russia.
As for Europe, there is discord over their stance on supporting the US and Ukraine. Italian Prime Minister Meloni highlighted Western unity, but Macron expressed a different view. The US finance minister stressed the need for decisive European action.
A new format for the peacekeeping mission is being debated: Britain has declined to send a large contingent to Ukraine and now suggests supporting Western air security, demining the Black Sea, and training Ukrainian troops.
Today’s news was prepared by analysts from the Veza Center for Public Analytics.
