The war in Ukraine, now grinding into its fourth year, continues to intensify with no clear path to peace in sight.
Hopes for direct negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faced a fresh setback on August 24 after Moscow dismissed the possibility of a summit.
The latest escalation coincided with Ukraine’s Independence Day, marked by drone strikes deep into Russian territory and heavy fighting in eastern Donetsk.
Why Moscow rejected the summit with Zelenskyy?
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ that President Putin cannot sign a peace agreement with Zelenskyy because Moscow views the Ukrainian leader as “illegitimate.”
He emphasised that any summit between the two leaders would require a carefully prepared “presidential agenda” acceptable to Putin. However, he admitted that such an agenda is “not ready at all,” effectively ruling out talks in the near term.
The remarks add another obstacle to direct negotiations, despite international calls for dialogue. US President Donald Trump has urged both Kyiv and Moscow to hold a summit, but Russia reiterated on August 22 that no immediate meeting was under consideration.
How Zelenskyy pushes for dialogue with Russia?
In contrast, President Zelenskyy renewed his call for direct talks with Putin, telling AFP that “the format of talks between leaders is the most effective way forward.”
Despite Moscow’s rejection, Kyiv insists that a bilateral summit remains the best chance to end the bloodshed. Lavrov, however, accused Western nations of deliberately blocking peace efforts and criticised Zelenskyy for “demanding an immediate meeting at all costs.”
How did the conflict escalate on Ukraine’s Independence Day?
The diplomatic deadlock comes as the conflict rages on multiple fronts. On August 24, Russia announced the capture of two villages in eastern Donetsk, while Ukraine’s top commander, Oleksandr Syrsky, said Ukrainian forces had reclaimed three nearby villages. Donetsk remains at the heart of ongoing territorial battles shaping the wider peace debate.
Meanwhile, Ukraine marked its Independence Day with drone strikes that reached into Russian territory. One attack sparked a fire at a Russian nuclear facility, while another drone was intercepted near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in western Russia, raising fears of wider escalation.
Why is there no ceasefire in sight after four years of war?
Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, annexed in 2014. Despite mounting international pressure, President Putin has consistently rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire. The war has already killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and left swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine in ruins.
With both sides claiming territorial gains and Moscow refusing to recognise Zelenskyy as a negotiating partner, prospects for peace remain remote. Instead, the conflict shows every sign of deepening, with military escalation overshadowing diplomatic outreach.
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