Putin holds call with South Africa’s Ramaphosa to debrief Alaska summit
From xenixnews Anna Chernova and Lauren Kent
Republic of South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa in Cape Town, South Africa on May 27. ER Lombard/Gallo Images/Getty Images
“Cyril Ramaphosa expressed support for the ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis,” the Kremlin said in its readout of the call.strike on the city of Zaporizhzhia, with scores more injured, according to Ukrainian authorities.
“This was a demonstrative and cynical Russian strike,” Zelensky added.
In a development prompting both controversy and discussion, former U.S. President Donald Trump has allegedly suggested to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to relinquish claims on Crimea and set aside desires of joining NATO, just days ahead of planned White House talks.The proposal emphasizes Trump’s usual diplomatic approach—centering on transactional deals and “pragmatic outcomes,” while possibly endangering current Western strategies regarding Russia and Ukraine.
- Trump’s remarks, revealed through private conversations that have emerged, emphasize his enduring doubts about NATO’s function in Eastern Europe and his tendency to engage directly with Moscow. Sources indicate that Trump proposed that relinquishing Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, might lead to a ceasefire or a wider peace deal. He further underscored that Ukraine’s pursuit of NATO membership presented “unnecessary risks” of escalation with Russia, portraying his viewpoint as a means to avert a larger conflict.
For Zelensky, nonetheless, this guidance creates an unresolvable political dilemma. Ukraine has repeatedly emphasized its sovereignty over Crimea and its strategic objective of NATO integration as essential to national security. Any concession would be seen at home as a betrayal to the countless individuals who have sacrificed in the conflict, and internationally, it might undermine Ukraine’s standing with allies who have significantly invested in countering Russian aggression.
- The meeting at the White House is anticipated to center on Ukraine’s reconstruction requirements, prospective security assurances, and ongoing Western assistance. Nevertheless, Trump’s comments prepared the ground for possibly strained conversations, especially with European leaders who consider Ukraine’s sovereignty essential for European stability. Analysts indicate that his stance is more in harmony with Russia’s strategic goals than with those of Washington’s usual allies
Critics caution that Trump’s strategy may validate Moscow’s territorial assertions and diminish NATO coherence. “Proposing that Ukraine relinquish Crimea and forgo NATO membership weakens the core tenets of sovereignty and collective defense,” remarked a European diplomat. In contrast, supporters of Trump contend that his practical approach might achieve breakthroughs in areas where conventional diplomacy has been unsuccessful, presenting a potential “endgame” to a lengthy and expensive conflict.
- The result of the discussions at the White House is still unclear, yet one fact stands out: Trump’s comments have rekindled the conversation about the equilibrium between realism and principle in American foreign policy. It will soon be determined whether this position is a strategic move to advance negotiations or a risky compromise to Russian interests, as the world’s focus shifts to Washington.
Trump, Donald Trump, Zelensky, Volodymyr Zelensky, Crimea, NATO, White House talks, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, U.S. foreign policy, European stability, NATO membership, sovereignty, Ukraine conflict, peace deal, ceasefire, Russian aggression, Ukraine reconstruction, security guarantees, Washington summit, Trump foreign policy, Ukraine Russia war, NATO alliance, Ukraine sovereignty, PutinAnalysis: Zelensky faces an almost impossible dilemma
- He has had more cordial, more productive, meetings with US President Donald Trump since that now-notorious encounter on February 28.
But for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, today’s meeting at the White House will surely trigger awkward memories of that very public clash with the US President almost six months ago. Navigating the treacherous waters in which he finds himself today will be no easier.
Increasingly, it appears likely he will be told to give up land in exchange for some sort of security guarantees.- The land side of that “deal” will be obvious. It can be drawn on a map. Crimea: gone, says Trump. Donetsk: give all of it up, says Putin, apparently with Trump’s blessing.
- But the security guarantees? That’s where far more challenging ideas, like credibility, come into play. Could Zelensky rely on the US to deliver on some NATO Article 5-type promise, to defend Ukraine if Russia breaches any peace agreement?
- Putin himself might even see an opportunity to further weaken the West, by testing any such guarantees, confident they are a bluff he could call. But all that would be for the future.
For now, it looks like Zelensky will have to weigh up whether he could bring his country with him if he were to cede territory to Russia – some of it still in Ukrainian hands – or whether he and his people could bear the costs of potentially defying Trump a Nobel Peace Prize, and say no.
- If he chose the latter, would the US President immediately end all remaining American support for Ukraine, in terms of military aid and intelligence sharing, for instance?
- If that happened, to what extent could Zelensky’s European allies really step in and fill in the gaps left by any full US retreat?
It is an almost impossibly hard choice before him.
What we know about a potential Ukraine peace deal
From (xenixnews) Lauren Kent, Billy Stockwell and Kevin Liptak
Russian President Vladimir Putin spelled out his demands for “land swaps” with Ukraine during his summit with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, including his insistence that Ukraine give up its eastern Donbas region, according to European officials. Russia has also demanded that Ukraine give up Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, and agree to never join NATO.
In exchange, Putin said he would be willing to freeze the current front lines in the rest of Ukraine, Trump told European leaders.Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has continued to push for security guarantees that ensure any peace deal reached is “lasting,” and has reiterated that Ukraine’s “borders must not be changed by force.”
Putin signed off on allowing “robust” security guarantees as part of an eventual peace accord, including a provision that would provide for a collective defense of Ukraine by the US and Europe should Russia attempt another invasion, according to the Trump administration’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.
“We agreed to robust security guarantees that I would describe as game-changing,” Witkoff told CNN on Sunday, adding that the Kremlin had also pledged “legislative enshrinement” of a promise not to invade Ukraine or another European country. Neither provision has been mentioned in Russian accounts of the Alaska summit.- Ukraine’s European allies have said they are ready to deploy a “reassurance force” to Ukraine once fighting has ceased, which could form part of those guarantees on the ground.
What are the next steps? Trump told European leaders that he wants to arrange a trilateral meeting with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts by Friday — assuming his Monday meeting with Zelensky goes well.
- Zelensky has insisted that a peace deal can only be reached through direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv at the leadership level.
Here’s what European leaders will push for in today’s White House meeting
From (xenixnews) staff
- As we’ve been reporting, seven European leaders will attend today’s talks at the White House alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In yesterday’s meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” — Ukraine’s main European allies — leaders discussed the need to “stop the killing” in Ukraine, maintain pressure on Russia through sanctions, and uphold the principle that Ukraine must make decisions on its own territory.
- European leaders will be pushing for US President Donald Trump to join them in taking a hard line with Russian President Vladimir Putin on these issues.
Here’s what three of the leaders joining talks said yesterday:French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Europe must remain tough on Russia in order to avoid future conflicts. The French leader also said Europe is ready to take responsibility regarding security guarantees in Ukraine.
- “We must enter into a new diplomatic phase … one in which we have to defend European interests,” Macron said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine must become a “steel porcupine, undigestible for potential invaders,” as she called for security guarantees for both Ukraine and what she described as “Europe’s vital security interests.”
- “There can be no limitations on Ukrainian armed forces, be it cooperation with or other third countries, or assistance from other third countries. No limitations for the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” she said.
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed that his backing for Ukraine will continue “for as long as it takes.”
- Starmer and Macron on Saturday welcomed the “openness” of the US to provide security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any future peace deal.
See here for a rundown of today’s talks.
US envoy says Putin has agreed to allow NATO-style security guarantees for Ukraine. Here’s what that means
From xenixnews staff
Russia's President Vladimir Putin greets US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff prior to their talks in Moscow on August 6, 2025. Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/AFP/Getty Images- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed off on allowing “robust” security guarantees as part of an eventual peace accord, including a provision that would provide for a collective defense of Ukraine by the US and Europe should Russia attempt another invasion, US envoy Steve Witkoff told xenixnews
- Witkoff said the clause agreed to by Russia was a workaround for Russia’s insistence that Ukraine never be able to join NATO. He said the Russians had also pledged “legislative enshrinement” of a promise not to invade Ukraine or another European country in any forthcoming peace plan.
Russia has yet to mention such agreements.
- But they echo a proposal for security guarantees for Ukraine akin to NATO’s Article 5 in President Donald Trump’s call with European leaders on the weekend.
- A European official told xenixnews that part of the conversations with Trump involved “Article 5-type” security guarantees for Ukraine, with European and US backing, in the event of a peace deal. The official added that there would be no NATO involvement in the guarantees.
What is NATO Article 5? It’s “collective defense” part of the alliance’s treaty, which stipulates that an attack against one is considered an attack against all the allies and members will take mutual action.
- Trump has previously been dismissive of Kyiv’s frequent calls for security guarantees — some way to ensure that Russia won’t violate a ceasefire agreement or renew its offensive in Ukraine in a few years.
- European powers have also proposed a “reassurance force” for Ukraine, which they have said cannot work without a US “backstop,” but Trump has so far been reluctant to commit US forces or resources.
Ukrainian commander expects new Russian offensives
From Svitlana Vlasova and Tim Lister
A serviceman of 152nd Separate Jaeger Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces checks the sky to look out for Russian combat drones, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, near the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, Ukraine on August 5, 2025. Stringer/Reuters
- While Washington gets set for a busy day of diplomacy, events on the ground continue to rage on.
- The commander of Ukraine’s military has described the situation on the frontline as “currently very difficult” and said he expects a new Russian offensive in the south of the country.
- The military’s commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, told Ukrainian media today that Russian forces were regrouping and focusing on two main directions.
One was Pokrovsk in Donetsk “which remains crucial for the Russians,” he said. The Ukrainian military has previously estimated that Russia has gathered more than 100,000 troops in the area.
Syrskyi said the Russians were also transferring units to the Zaporizhzhia front in southern Ukraine, which has moved little in the past year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin “doesn’t want to gain time, he wants to gain territory, and this takes time,” Syrskyi asserted, even though “the capture of every kilometer and every position costs him more and more dead and wounded.”
- Syrskyi said the Russians had adopted what he called the ‘thousand cuts’ tactic in the Pokrovsk direction, using small assault groups.
- “They had some success when their groups advanced 10-12 kilometers (6 to 8 miles) to several of our settlements and suddenly appeared there.” But Ukraine had deployed additional forces, including airborne units, “and the enemy’s victorious mood turned to despair,” Syrskyi claimed.
The Ukrainian commander also spoke of efforts to conserve troops, where Ukraine is heavily outnumbered by Russian forces.
Analysts say Russian gains in eastern Ukraine have accelerated this year, despite a lack of major breakthroughs. Russian forces are estimated to have gained more than 600 square kilometers in July.
Death toll in Russian attack on Kharkiv rises to 7
From (xenixnews )Svitlana Vlasova and Lauren Kent
At least 20 other people were wounded in the strike, which caused a fire and the collapse of the structure, according to the head of the region’s military administration.
- An 18-month-old girl and a 16-year-old boy were among those killed in the attack, the military administration said earlier.
- Elsewhere in the Zaporizhzhia region, a 15-year-old boy was killed when a bomb fell on a home in the village of Novoyakovlivka, the head of the regional military administration Ivan Fedorov said. The boy’s brother, sister and parents were also wounded.
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