Morning opening: Extra questions than solutions
Jakub Krupa
Three days on from the White Home summit on Ukraine, the indicators are not as constructive as US president Donald Trump would have wished us to imagine.
A firefighter works on the website of the Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s assault on Ukraine, within the village of Sknyliv on the outskirts of Lviv, Ukraine. {Photograph}: Roman Baluk/Reuters
In a single day, Politico reported that the US undersecretary of defence for coverage, Elbridge Colby, instructed European allies that the US would solely supply minimal ensures for Ukraine, with most burden left for Europe to select up.
A Nato diplomat briefered on the talks instructed Politico: “The US just isn’t absolutely dedicated to something.”
Any prospects of creating additional diplomatic progress additionally appeared to have stalled, with quite a few Russian officers and diplomats firming down the expectations for each ceasefire and a possible Zelenskyy-Putin assembly.
Russia’s international minister Sergei Lavrov mentioned that any assembly would must be ready “with the utmost care”, whereas the nation’s deputy consultant to the UN, Dmitry Polansky, instructed the BBC that “it shouldn’t be a gathering for the sake of a gathering.”
Or to translate to plain English: thanks however no, thanks.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to those stalling ways this morning, calling for a “robust response” from the US if Putin refuses to satisfy him, as mentioned with Trump.
The Ukrainian president additionally appeared to minimize the prospect of the Hungarian capital, Budapest, internet hosting the potential summit with Putin, calling it “difficult.”
Hungary has lengthy been Russia’s loudest advocate inside the European Union, usually trying to delay or block the sanctions, and criticising Kyiv and different capitals for his or her strategy to the battle. Budapest can also be blocking Ukraine’s accession course of to the EU.
Zelenskyy additionally identified one other spherical of Russian assaults in a single day, together with towards an American enterprise in Zakarpatia area, which injured 15 folks.
He mentioned the assaults have been “as if nothing had modified in any respect.”
“A response is required to this. There’s nonetheless no sign from Moscow that they’re actually going to enter significant negotiations and finish this battle. Stress is required. Robust sanctions, robust tariffs.”
I’ll convey you all the important thing updates right here.
It’s Thursday, 21 August 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Dwell.
Good morning.
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Up to date at 03.57 EDT
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Drone that fell in Poland ‘most likely’ got here from Belarus, prosecutor says
For those who adopted the weblog yesterday, you understand we checked out an incident with an allegedly Russian drone that crossed into Poland and exploded in a cornfield, some 100 km from Polish-Belarusian border.
A police officer walks close to a police tent, after an unidentified object fell and exploded in a cornfield in a single day, in line with Polish authorities, within the village of Osiny, japanese Poland. {Photograph}: Kacper Pempel/Reuters
A regional prosecutor issued an replace immediately, saying that “there’s a very excessive chance … that the article most likely got here from Belarus.”
That marks a slight shift of tone, as on Wednesday officers claimed the drone was launched from Russia.
However deputy international minister Marcin Bosacki mentioned this morning {that a} protest word can be given to Russia later immediately, Reuters reported.
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European leaders scrambled to protect Ukraine in high-stakes Trump talks – however did they?
Ashifa Kassam
European neighborhood affairs correspondent
Days after the unprecedented flurry of diplomacy, questions proceed to swirl over what – if something – may come out of it. On Monday, Trump and several other European leaders, mentioned Putin had agreed to face-to-face talks with Zelenskyy within the coming weeks.
European leaders assembly with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington DC earlier this week. {Photograph}: Anadolu/Getty Photographs
Moscow, nonetheless, has but to substantiate that any such assembly – which might be the primary since Russia launched its full invasion of Ukraine greater than three years in the past – is being deliberate, with a Kremlin aide saying solely that Putin and Trump mentioned the concept of “elevating the extent of representatives” within the Ukraine talks.
Trump had additionally indicated a willingness to be a part of safety ensures for Kyiv if there was a deal to finish preventing. However the precise nature of these ensures stays to be seen, with Trump later ruling out the opportunity of the US placing troops on the bottom in Ukraine and as an alternative floating that Washington might present air help.
Issues additionally proceed to linger over what precisely Trump proposed in Alaska and what, if something, Putin agreed to throughout the close to three-hour assembly. As Pjotr Sauer, a Guardian Russian affairs reporter, famous, some concern Trump could have overstated the end result and misjudged Moscow’s willingness to compromise.
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‘Let’s first hear what Russia is prepared to do,’ Zelenskyy says on territorial concessions
In additional feedback from Zelenskyy this morning, reported by Reuters, he mentioned it was unclear what concessions relating to territory Moscow was prepared to make to finish the battle.
Trump has beforehand mentioned Kyiv and Moscow will each must cede land.
“To debate what Ukraine is prepared to do, let’s first hear what Russia is prepared to do,” Zelenskiy mentioned. “We have no idea that.“
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Morning opening: Extra questions than solutions
Jakub Krupa
Three days on from the White Home summit on Ukraine, the indicators are not as constructive as US president Donald Trump would have wished us to imagine.
A firefighter works on the website of the Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s assault on Ukraine, within the village of Sknyliv on the outskirts of Lviv, Ukraine. {Photograph}: Roman Baluk/Reuters
In a single day, Politico reported that the US undersecretary of defence for coverage, Elbridge Colby, instructed European allies that the US would solely supply minimal ensures for Ukraine, with most burden left for Europe to select up.
A Nato diplomat briefered on the talks instructed Politico: “The US just isn’t absolutely dedicated to something.”
Any prospects of creating additional diplomatic progress additionally appeared to have stalled, with quite a few Russian officers and diplomats firming down the expectations for each ceasefire and a possible Zelenskyy-Putin assembly.
Russia’s international minister Sergei Lavrov mentioned that any assembly would must be ready “with the utmost care”, whereas the nation’s deputy consultant to the UN, Dmitry Polansky, instructed the BBC that “it shouldn’t be a gathering for the sake of a gathering.”
Or to translate to plain English: thanks however no, thanks.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to those stalling ways this morning, calling for a “robust response” from the US if Putin refuses to satisfy him, as mentioned with Trump.
The Ukrainian president additionally appeared to minimize the prospect of the Hungarian capital, Budapest, internet hosting the potential summit with Putin, calling it “difficult.”
Hungary has lengthy been Russia’s loudest advocate inside the European Union, usually trying to delay or block the sanctions, and criticising Kyiv and different capitals for his or her strategy to the battle. Budapest can also be blocking Ukraine’s accession course of to the EU.
Zelenskyy additionally identified one other spherical of Russian assaults in a single day, together with towards an American enterprise in Zakarpatia area, which injured 15 folks.
He mentioned the assaults have been “as if nothing had modified in any respect.”
“A response is required to this. There’s nonetheless no sign from Moscow that they’re actually going to enter significant negotiations and finish this battle. Stress is required. Robust sanctions, robust tariffs.”
I’ll convey you all the important thing updates right here.
It’s Thursday, 21 August 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Dwell.
Good morning.
Share
Up to date at 03.57 EDT
