WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 18: U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House on August 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
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Dispatches from Ukraine. Day 1,272.
Trump Meets Zelenskyy After Summit with Putin Amid Ongoing Russia-Ukraine War
U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on August 18 in the Oval Office, alongside European leaders from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. The meeting followed Trump’s August 15 summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska.
According to official readouts and sources present, the atmosphere during the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting was more formal and less tense than their previous encounter in the Oval Office in February. President Zelenskyy wore a suit, marking a departure from his wartime attire used in past meetings with foreign leaders.
During the talks, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for stronger security guarantees for Ukraine. He also acknowledged First Lady Melania Trump’s public remarks concerning Ukrainian children affected by the conflict.
European leaders participated in parallel meetings intended to support Ukraine’s negotiating position. French President Emmanuel Macron described Ukraine as an “outpost of our collective defense” and warned against a lack of Western support.
Prior to the meeting, President Trump posted on Truth Social that “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants.” Trump has publicly stated that Ukraine may need to accept certain Russian conditions for peace, including ceding Crimea and foregoing NATO membership.
Ukrainian officials rejected this position, stating that Ukraine did not initiate the conflict and that only the Russian president has the authority to order a full military withdrawal.
The White House meeting took place three days after President Trump held direct talks with President Putin in Alaska. According to administration sources, Trump abandoned his earlier requirement of a ceasefire as a precondition for negotiations. The summit marked the culmination of several months of back-channel diplomacy.
Russian negotiators reportedly pressed for full control of five disputed regions in Ukraine, including a complete takeover of the eastern Donetsk region. As of August 18, Russian forces control approximately 75% of Donetsk province.
U.S. officials at the summit did not negotiate land boundaries on behalf of Ukraine but conveyed Kyiv’s position, according to the State Department. The two presidents also discussed the concept of future security guarantees for Ukraine, potentially including U.S. military personnel stationed in the country. “It would be a very big move by the President if he were to offer a U.S. commitment to a security guarantee,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. Rubio added that both parties may need to make concessions to reach an agreement.
Criticism of the U.S.-Russia summit has emerged within Ukraine, where some officials have expressed concern over possible shifts in Washington’s stance.
Russian Attacks Between August 16–18
Ukrainian authorities report that Russian missile and artillery strikes between August 16 and 18 resulted in at least 22 civilian deaths and over 80 injuries. The numbers are the following: Donetsk Region: 8 killed, 12 injured, Kharkiv Region: 6 killed (including two children), 23 injured, Zaporizhzhia Region: 4 killed (including a child), 30 injured, Kherson Region: 3 killed, 16 injured, Sumy Region: 1 killed, 4 injured.
Territorial Control and Military Activity
According to data from Ukrainian open-source intelligence group Deep State, Russian forces have gained approximately 2,250 square miles (0.97% of Ukraine’s total land area) since late 2022. As of August 2025, Russia controls approximately 44,200 square miles, or about 20% of Ukraine’s territory.
Initial Russian gains occurred primarily in the early months of the war, with Ukrainian counteroffensives regaining significant areas in Kharkiv and Kherson provinces. Russian advances have slowed but have reportedly accelerated in 2025.
Ukraine Unveils Long-Range “Flamingo” Missile
Ukraine has revealed a new domestically developed long-range cruise missile known as the “Flamingo.” The missile has a reported range of up to 1,865 miles and carries a one-ton warhead. Ukrainian photojournalist Efrem Lukatsky released images of the missile in production. The manufacturing site, named Fire Point, is producing the missile with a six-meter wingspan.
The missile is reported to be capable of reaching major Russian cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. Military analysts have noted that successful deployment would require overcoming advanced Russian air defenses. Deployment of long-range missile systems in Ukraine remains limited as of August 2025.
