Ukrainian soldiers on the frontlines expressed little hope for a diplomatic resolution to the war with Russia as U.S. President Donald Trump’s Friday deadline for Moscow to seek peace arrived, amid talks of a possible summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Frustrated by Putin’s refusal to halt attacks on Ukrainian cities, Trump had earlier moved up his ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs on countries importing Russian oil if no progress toward peace was made. However, his next steps remained unclear.
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Despite pressure, Russia’s larger forces continue to advance into Ukraine at heavy cost, relentlessly bombing cities. The two sides remain far apart on terms for peace.
Intense fighting continues along the 1,000-kilometer frontline stretching across northeast to southeast Ukraine. The eastern Donetsk region around Pokrovsk faces the heaviest attacks as Russia aims to push into neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk. Ukrainian forces are also engaged in fierce clashes in the northern Sumy region to block Russian reinforcements.
A Ukrainian commander in Donetsk, using the call sign Buda, said Moscow shows no interest in negotiations. “It is impossible to negotiate with them. The only option is to defeat them,” he told The Associated Press.
In southern Zaporizhzhia, another commander known as Warsaw reaffirmed the troops’ resolve to defend their homeland. “We are on our land, we have no way out. So we stand our ground, we have no choice.”
Trump recently said he would meet Putin even if the Russian leader refuses talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, raising concerns in Europe about Ukraine potentially being excluded from peace efforts.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said Putin remains uninterested in ending the conflict and aims to extract concessions from the U.S. without engaging sincerely in peace talks. “Putin believes time is on Russia’s side and that Russia can outlast Ukraine and the West,” the institute said.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán urged European leaders to take the lead in resolving the war, calling on Germany and France to negotiate directly with Moscow. He warned Europe risks being sidelined in managing its own security if it does not act.
“This war cannot be ended on the frontline; it must be resolved through diplomacy and negotiations,” Orbán said.