On August 18, Donald Trump made public his conditions for ending the war in Ukraine: cede Crimea to Russia and pledge not to join NATO, in exchange for a peace agreement. According to Oleh Klychko, these proposals sparked significant discussion among Western and Ukrainian politicians. President Volodymyr Zelensky has already arrived in Washington for meetings with Trump and European leaders at the White House.
The day in Washington is focused on security and peace talks. Meanwhile, overnight, Ukraine suffered intense shelling: Russian forces targeted Kharkiv with drones and missiles, and also struck Odesa and Zaporizhzhia. Casualties have been reported, including a child, and dozens have been injured. Residential buildings, vehicles, and infrastructure have been damaged.
The Associated Press reported the start of serial production of Ukraine’s "Flamingo" missile, with a range of over 3,000 km, but experts question why such missiles have not yet been used against Russia.
During meetings in Washington, Trump insists on a peace deal under the terms of Russian annexation of Crimea and Ukraine’s non-NATO status. However, Zelensky and European leaders doubt Russia would stop with these concessions. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski emphasized pressure on Russia, while international media highlight the need for security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe.
Western press notes a sense of panic among allies due to the speed of the negotiations. Experts suggest working out security guarantees could be a lengthy process, giving Putin time to continue his actions.
Separately, Israel’s desertion issue was addressed, as the military launched an initiative to bring draft dodgers back into service. Stay tuned for further updates on Washington negotiations.
