No Agreement Reached for trump-Brokered Ukraine–Russia Summit, Kremlin Advisor Says
Moscow, Russia – September 4, 2024 – Despite former U.S. President Donald Trump‘s assertions regarding arrangements for a potential trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, no concrete agreement exists between Putin and Trump to facilitate such a summit, according to a senior Kremlin official.Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s advisor on foreign policy, stated unequivocally that discussions have not yielded a firm commitment for a meeting between the two leaders.This disclosure casts doubt on the prospects for a swift, U.S.-mediated negotiation to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The potential for direct talks between Zelenskyy and Putin has been a recurring theme, especially as the war enters its 19th month with no clear resolution in sight. A prosperous summit could dramatically alter the trajectory of the war, perhaps leading to a ceasefire or a more comprehensive peace agreement, but Ushakov’s statement suggests significant hurdles remain. The lack of a confirmed agreement underscores the complex geopolitical landscape and the challenges of brokering a resolution acceptable to all parties.
Simultaneously occurring, scrutiny of Russia’s military performance continues. igor Girkin, a former Russian commander and vocal critic of the Kremlin’s war strategy in Ukraine, has publicly questioned the effectiveness of Russia’s recent offensives. Girkin noted that Ukraine’s allowance of travel abroad for men aged 18-22 suggests the situation on the ground is not as dire as portrayed by Russian state media.
girkin further characterized Russia’s failure to achieve breakthroughs along any front line this summer as “a disgrace,” specifically citing the protracted battle for Chasiv Yar, which took 16 months without a decisive outcome. His comments, shared via the “Ukraine Online” Telegram channel, reflect growing discontent within certain segments of the Russian military establishment regarding the pace and success of the war effort.
Adding to the international dimension of the conflict, South Korean intelligence estimates that approximately 2,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to assist Russia in the war against Ukraine have been killed. Initially reporting at least 600 deaths in April,the National Intelligence Service (NIS) revised its assessment upwards following updated evaluations. Lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun relayed the facts to journalists following a briefing on the intelligence report.
