Ukraine-Russia News
LAST UPDATE: July 24, 2025
Russia-Ukraine Talks End With Deal on POWs, No Progress on Peace
Recent peace talks between Russia and Ukraine secured another prisoner-of-war exchange but failed to advance ceasefire or broader peace initiatives.
Insight
The limited agreement highlights persistent deadlock: humanitarian progress without strategic breakthroughs signals that conflict resolution remains distant.
Ukraine, Russia attack each other’s Black Sea coasts after latest round of peace talks
Hours after their latest direct talks concluded, both Ukraine and Russia launched air and drone strikes on each other’s Black Sea coastal areas, causing civilian injuries and military escalation.
Insight
The resumption of hostilities immediately after diplomacy reveals mutual distrust and fragility of ceasefire prospects, imperiling any forthcoming agreements.
Kremlin says it’s hard to see how Putin and Zelenskiy could meet by end of August, RIA reports
The Kremlin stated that scheduling a meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy by late August is “hard to see,” citing practical constraints, per Russian RIA agency.
Insight
The reluctant tone from Moscow dampens hopes for imminent summit, suggesting that diplomatic engagement remains uncertain and contingent on broader negotiation dynamics.
EU Council chief urges China to ‘use its influence on Russia’ to end Ukraine war
European Council President António Costa, speaking during a summit in Beijing on July 24, called on China—as a permanent UN Security Council member—to leverage its relationship with Russia to help halt the invasion of Ukraine and uphold the UN Charter.
Insight
Costa’s appeal shows the EU’s strategy of enlisting Beijing as a diplomatic actor in the Ukraine conflict. It acknowledges China’s de‑facto influence over Russia and signals the EU’s readiness to employ multilateral pressure, testing China’s balancing act.
Trump says European allies will pay 100% for military equipment
Former President Trump announced that European NATO allies will fully finance U.S.-manufactured military hardware being sent to Ukraine, following a bilateral agreement.
Insight
The shift places cost responsibility on allies and may deepen burden-sharing debates within NATO, signaling U.S. leverage in defense procurement.
