Ukrainian cities hit as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict gain momentum.

 

Ukraine has faced one of its most intense bombardments in recent weeks, with Russian forces launching 574 drones and 40 missiles, Ukrainian officials report. The attack resulted in one death in the western city of Lviv and injured 15 in the southwestern Transcarpathia region.

 

This escalation occurs as US President Donald Trump spearheads diplomatic moves to negotiate an end to the war. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasised the importance of ending the conflict, especially considering the recent strikes.

 

President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed willingness to engage in direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in neutral settings such as Switzerland or Austria. While open to various formats, Zelensky dismissed Budapest due to its political ties with Moscow, stating it was not ideal.

 

The possibility of direct negotiations emerged after Trump met Putin in Alaska and hosted Zelensky and European leaders at the White House. Initially, Trump proposed trilateral talks but later suggested that direct discussions between Putin and Zelensky might be more productive.

 

Ukraine’s air force announced successfully intercepting 577 of 614 airborne threats during the overnight assault, marking the most significant air attack since July. Unlike previous attacks focused on eastern regions, this offensive targeted western areas, with a mix of hypersonic, ballistic, and cruise missiles.

 

In Lviv, missile strikes damaged over 20 civilian structures, including residential homes and a nursery, resulting in one fatality and injuries to three individuals. In Mukachevo, a US electronics plant that produces household goods was struck, leaving 15 wounded and highlighting the attack's widespread impact.

 

Despite the prospects of peace talks, Zelensky acknowledged Moscow has shown little genuine intent to engage in meaningful negotiations. He reiterated his reservations about Budapest as a host city, pointing to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's close relations with Moscow.

 

In the face of ongoing diplomatic discussions, military tensions continue as Russian troops reportedly mass in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. Zelensky reported movements of forces from Kursk to Zaporizhzhia, suggesting continued conflict on the ground.

 

As diplomatic and military developments unfold, the international community remains vigilant, hopeful for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The BBC 2025-08-20

 

 

Putin just wants to control all of Europe; to achieve what Hitler could not.

Zielinsky is not going to agree with anything because as soon as peace is declared he has to have an election which he will lose.

Red carpet treatment and warm handshakes in Alaska seems to be working............

54 minutes ago, wombat said:

Zielinsky is not going to agree with anything because as soon as peace is declared he has to have an election which he will lose.

That’s your misguided opinion but let’s hear from the man himself.
 

Zelenskiy says he is willing to quit presidency if it means peace in Ukraine

Taco man had on record said some chest beating statements like bombing Moscow and more heavy sanctions but does not have to fortitude to follow through. Now he resorting to blaming Biden for not going on the offensive against Russia. This blame game coming from a man who blocked congressional approved $400 m weapons aid to Ukraine to force a quid pro quo deal with Zelensky. He is seen now as a Putin sympathizer than the leader of the free world. Utterly nauseating and indecent man. 

Putin obviously doesn’t want peace he wants Ukraine and to subjugate the people who live there obviously all the diplomatic stuff is moot especially because he knows trump is in his back pocket.

40 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

That’s your misguided opinion but let’s hear from the man himself.
 

Zelenskiy says he is willing to quit presidency if it means peace in Ukraine

 

And you believe him?

 

He could put an end to the pounding tomorrow, All he has to do is accept reality.  The only way to get back the Donbass and Crimea is NATO boots on the ground and WW3.

 

It's time for the killing to stop and the rebuilding to begin.  It's 2 years past time.

19 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Taco man had on record said some chest beating statements like bombing Moscow and more heavy sanctions but does not have to fortitude to follow through. Now he resorting to blaming Biden for not going on the offensive against Russia. This blame game coming from a man who blocked congressional approved $400 m weapons aid to Ukraine to force a quid pro quo deal with Zelensky. He is seen now as a Putin sympathizer than the leader of the free world. Utterly nauseating and indecent man. 

Does not have the fortitude?  Who knocked out Iran's nuclear sites.  The blame belongs to Biden for 1)  The terribly botched Afghanistan fiasco and 2)  The comment that it may be OK for Russia to enter Ukraine and maybe just take a little bit of the country.  Which Presidents funded out enemies.  You have Obama flying a plane load of cash into Iran that was used to are terrorist in the region.  Trump has Iran down to $4 billion is reserves to spend and then Biden comes in and gives them $100 billion and removed the restriction on the selling of oil.  Iran had $300 billion is reserves at the end of Biden's administration.  But you useful idiots can only find fault with Trump.  

7 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

And you believe him?

 

He could put an end to the pounding tomorrow, All he has to do is accept reality.  The only way to get back the Donbass and Crimea is NATO boots on the ground and WW3.

 

It's time for the killing to stop and the rebuilding to begin.  It's 2 years past time.

 Zelensky’s words are a million times more trustworthy than Trump and Putin with proven empirical facts. 
 

I thought Trump will stop the killing in 24 hours? What happened? Russia invaded Ukraine sovereignty and you want them to be rewarded? What kind of twisted logic is that? 

 

10 minutes ago, thaipo7 said:

Does not have the fortitude?  Who knocked out Iran's nuclear sites.  The blame belongs to Biden for 1)  The terribly botched Afghanistan fiasco and 2)  The comment that it may be OK for Russia to enter Ukraine and maybe just take a little bit of the country.  Which Presidents funded out enemies.  You have Obama flying a plane load of cash into Iran that was used to are terrorist in the region.  Trump has Iran down to $4 billion is reserves to spend and then Biden comes in and gives them $100 billion and removed the restriction on the selling of oil.  Iran had $300 billion is reserves at the end of Biden's administration.  But you useful idiots can only find fault with Trump.  

Too much hogwash and heavy dose of deflections worthy of a reply.
 

17 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

 Zelensky’s words are a million times more trustworthy than Trump and Putin with proven empirical facts. 
 

I thought Trump will stop the killing in 24 hours? What happened? Russia invaded Ukraine sovereignty and you want them to be rewarded? What kind of twisted logic is that? 

 

So you'd have them killing each other for another decade or 2?

 

I'd rather see them stop the killing and start the rebuilding.  Even if that's not on Zelensky's terms.  But it would comport with the votes they took where the residents of Crimea and Donbass voted to stay with Russia.

 

11 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

So you'd have them killing each other for another decade or 2?

 

I'd rather see them stop the killing and start the rebuilding.  Even if that's not on Zelensky's terms.  But it would comport with the votes they took where the residents of Crimea and Donbass voted to stay with Russia.

 

Russia can stop the killing. They are the aggressor and has a much powerful military than Ukraine. There are much more deaths and injuries of Ukrainian civilians than Russians.
 

Crimea and Donbass belong to Ukraine and were invaded and forcefully taken over. Russia has been condemned and Crimea not recognized by the international community. The referendum was illegitimate and a sham. No one in their right mind will think the elections held under the supervision of Russia were legal. 
 

Russians in Donbass formed a minority of citizens and Crimea ethnicity claims are complex. 

7 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Russia can stop the killing. They are the aggressor and has a much powerful military than Ukraine. There are much more deaths and injuries of Ukrainian civilians than Russians.
 

Crimea and Donbass belong to Ukraine and were invaded and forcefully taken over. Russia has been condemned and Crimea not recognized by the international community. The referendum was illegitimate and a sham. No one in their right mind will think the elections held under the supervision of Russia were legal. 
 

Russians in Donbass formed a minority of citizens and Crimea ethnicity claims are complex. 

 

Blah, blah, blah.

 

I would make a through check on all the domestic and offshore bank accounts of the ruling elite in Ukraine. 

2 minutes ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

I would make a through check on all the domestic and offshore bank accounts of the ruling elite in Ukraine. 

No real need for your indulgence. 
 

The Inspectors general from the Defense and State Departments and the US Agency for International Development oversee Ukraine aid and have published dozens of audits & assessments of funding programs since 2022. 
 

Go and read one. 

2 hours ago, wombat said:

Zielinsky is not going to agree with anything because as soon as peace is declared he has to have an election which he will lose.

And historically would that shock anyone? Wartime leaders changing after a peace is established. I do not find this to be necessarily unexpected as a student of history ...

3 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Putin just wants to control all of Europe; to achieve what Hitler could not.

Nonsense, he doesn't want to have NATO on his border.

The coalition of western states invaded Iraq because of "evidence of WMD". Turned out to be a lie. Russia really does have WMD but no one seems interested.

Screw the sanctions on tighter. It probably will have more effect.

2 hours ago, Tug said:

Putin obviously doesn’t want peace he wants Ukraine and to subjugate the people who live there obviously all the diplomatic stuff is moot especially because he knows trump is in his back pocket.

 

I think Trump is in Putins front pocket and there is a convenient access hole in said pocket.

58 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Nonsense, he doesn't want to have NATO on his border.

Funny. Russia doesn't seem much bothered about FINLAND who would have never joined NATO except for Putin's genocidal war on Ukraine. 

NATO is an excuse. Putin wants total control of Ukraine and to erase their identity as separate from Russia.

 

1 hour ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

I would make a through check on all the domestic and offshore bank accounts of the ruling elite in Ukraine. 

Putin thanks you.

1 hour ago, Wrwest said:

And historically would that shock anyone? Wartime leaders changing after a peace is established. I do not find this to be necessarily unexpected as a student of history ...

The war will end sometime in the future.

We don't know when yet.

If Zelensky is still in power at that time, his potential continuation in power will be dependent on how the war ended.

Did Ukraine actually win? He would win overwhelmingly if he wanted to run again.

Did Ukraine and Russia agree to an end that can be sold as acceptable to Ukraine and having security guarantees much stronger than the previous Budapest memorandum? 

Then Zelensky would probably win if he wanted to run again.

Any outcome worse for Ukraine than above and yes Zelinsky's political career would be over.

Zelinsky is not interested in being leader for life like Putin. 

Putin on the other hand is largely fighting this war for his own REGIME survival.

2 hours ago, impulse said:

 

So you'd have them killing each other for another decade or 2?

 

I'd rather see them stop the killing and start the rebuilding.  Even if that's not on Zelensky's terms.  But it would comport with the votes they took where the residents of Crimea and Donbass voted to stay with Russia.

 

What such a POV ignores is that if Trump and Putin succeed in forcing Zelinsky to surrender, the killing will NOT stop. Putin would then murder and force out millions of Ukrainians (causing an even bigger refugee crisis) any and all Ukrainians deemed not loyal to Russia or impossible to brainwash. A surrender would mean the set up for complete Russian political control of all of Ukraine and erasing the identity of Ukraine as a sovereign nation. Any Ukrainian not on board with that will be toast.

Surrender is NOT the best solution!

4 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Putin just wants to control all of Europe; to achieve what Hitler could not.

He can’t even take Ukraine,

 

Europe,  Not a chance.

2 hours ago, impulse said:

 

And you believe him?

 

He could put an end to the pounding tomorrow, All he has to do is accept reality.  The only way to get back the Donbass and Crimea is NATO boots on the ground and WW3.

 

It's time for the killing to stop and the rebuilding to begin.  It's 2 years past time.

So incredibly naive.

4 hours ago, CANSIAM said:

Red carpet treatment and warm handshakes in Alaska seems to be working............

Ultimately it’s up to Putin and Zelensky.

 

Trump is only the facilitator.

 

Much more than Biden could ever dream of accomplishing.

3 hours ago, Tug said:

Putin obviously doesn’t want peace he wants Ukraine and to subjugate the people who live there obviously all the diplomatic stuff is moot especially because he knows trump is in his back pocket.

You have proof Trump is in whoever’s (this time) back pocket?

 

As I recall Hunter and the “Big Guy “ were.

1 hour ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

I would make a through check on all the domestic and offshore bank accounts of the ruling elite in Ukraine. 

Oh, those yachts!

3 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

That’s your misguided opinion but let’s hear from the man himself.
 

Zelenskiy says he is willing to quit presidency if it means peace in Ukraine

PROTIP: He's not President. His "presidency" ended months ago. He only holds command through martial law. So much for democracy.

 

If he gives in the UkroNazis will shorten his lifespan considerably. He won't be able to enjoy that comfortable mansion in Palm Beach, on the US taxpayers' dime.