Ukraine-Russia War Latest: Trump Suggests Putin Avoiding Zelensky Summit Due to ‘Personal Dislike’

Published: 26 August 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

The complex dynamics of the ongoing war in Ukraine have once again taken a dramatic turn, with US President Donald Trump claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin is avoiding a face-to-face summit with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky simply because of personal animosity. The assertion, made during remarks on Monday, has injected a fresh layer of intrigue into already fragile diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing an end to the conflict that has now stretched well beyond three years.

President Trump, who has been pushing for direct peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv under US mediation, said his repeated attempts to secure a summit between the two leaders have been met with resistance from the Kremlin. Asked directly why Putin continues to avoid such a meeting, Trump responded candidly: “Because he doesn’t like him,” before adding, “I have people I don’t like, I don’t like to meet with them.” The remark has sparked criticism that the US president is oversimplifying a deeply entrenched geopolitical conflict, although it reflects Trump’s longstanding belief in the role of personal diplomacy in international relations.

Despite the lack of progress on arranging the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that US and Ukrainian officials are due to meet later this week to discuss potential frameworks for talks with Putin. The discussions are also expected to cover broader issues, particularly post-ceasefire security guarantees for Ukraine, a topic that remains critical as Kyiv seeks assurances that any negotiated peace will not pave the way for renewed Russian aggression in the future.

On the diplomatic front, Finnish President Alexander Stubb revealed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently held calls with several European leaders, including UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The talks reportedly focused on security guarantees for Ukraine and the role of the United States in ensuring the country’s long-term stability. President Trump has tasked Rubio with spearheading these negotiations following his recent separate summits with both Putin and Zelensky.

Amid these developments, reports continue to circulate about the terms Moscow may demand in order to end the war. According to sources familiar with the matter, Russia is pressing for Kyiv to cede control of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, effectively handing over Ukraine’s industrial heartland to Russian control. While Russia already occupies nearly all of Luhansk and around 70 per cent of Donetsk, any concession of territory would be politically and strategically devastating for Ukraine. President Zelensky has consistently rejected such proposals, warning that surrendering the Donbas would open the door for future Russian offensives deeper into Ukrainian territory.

The situation is further complicated by developments in Poland, where President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed a bill that included funding for Ukrainian refugees. According to Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski, the veto has inadvertently jeopardised Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service, which Poland has been financing. The service is a vital communications tool for both the Ukrainian government and its military, and the potential withdrawal of support could leave Kyiv facing significant operational setbacks.

Meanwhile, North Korea has deepened its involvement in the conflict, releasing a state-produced video showing its troops fighting in Russia’s western Kursk region. South Korean intelligence estimates that nearly 15,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia, with around 600 reported casualties. Although Pyongyang has maintained its military presence solely on Russian soil, the move marks an extraordinary step as it becomes the only country aside from Russia and Ukraine to commit combat troops to the war.

President Trump also revealed that nuclear disarmament had been discussed in his most recent talks with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump described nuclear proliferation as “a big game” and insisted that both Russia and potentially China were willing to consider reducing their stockpiles. His comments come against the backdrop of Moscow’s announcement earlier this month that it would no longer adhere to its self-imposed moratorium on deploying intermediate-range nuclear-capable missiles, a move that has raised fears of a new arms race.

Trump’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg, speaking after attending Ukraine’s National Prayer Breakfast in Kyiv, confirmed that officials were “working very, very hard” to devise security guarantees that could reassure Ukraine of protection against further Russian aggression. Yet with little progress to show so far, doubts remain as to whether the path to a negotiated peace can be reached any time soon.

Beyond politics, cultural tensions have also spilled over into the conflict. The Ukrainian foreign ministry has condemned veteran filmmaker Woody Allen for appearing at the Moscow International Film Week, calling his participation “a disgrace.” The 89-year-old director, speaking via video link, insisted that while he considered the war “appalling,” his presence at the festival was not intended as an insult and expressed admiration for Russian cinema.

On the battlefield, the Russian defence ministry has reported the downing of 43 Ukrainian drones overnight, a figure that underscores the ongoing intensity of daily military operations despite parallel diplomatic efforts. At the same time, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his call for China and Russia to “jointly safeguard security and development interests,” underscoring Beijing’s continuing alignment with Moscow. Xi characterised China-Russia relations as a “source of stability for world peace,” while Trump threatened to impose “massive” sanctions on Russia within two weeks if no progress is made on peace efforts.

With competing geopolitical interests, stalled diplomacy, and continuing violence on the ground, the war shows little sign of resolution. The coming weeks may prove decisive in determining whether Trump’s proposed summit between Zelensky and Putin materialises, or whether the conflict continues to spiral further into uncertainty.