By [Your Name], August 18th 2025
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly denounced a series of Russian military strikes which killed at least ten civilians–including children–hours before crucial diplomatic negotiations at the White House, branding these attacks a deliberate attempt by Moscow to “humiliate diplomatic efforts.”
Zelensky posted on social media with an outraged post calling Russia’s strikes against Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia “demonstrative and cynical,” intended to undermine peace initiatives and exert pressure on Ukraine and its Western allies. He asserted that their timing coincided with knowing a meeting will take place today in Washington that will discuss ending of conflict resolution, while noting “Putin will commit demonstrative killings to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe.” He noted “knowing a meeting is taking place today that will discuss ending it, while asserted “Putin will commit demonstrative killings to maintain pressure.” The Independent, The Guardian + New York Post
Initial reports confirmed eight deaths across two regions – seven deaths were confirmed in Kharkiv alone (including an infant and other civilians who were caught up in a drone strike) while another three died from another strike in Zaporizhzhia; furthermore authorities reported multiple injuries across both regions.
Regional officials pointed to one particularly tragic case – in which a 15-year-old boy was killed during a Russian airstrike on Novoyakovlivka village, in Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, where his house had been damaged and family members injured in the blast.
These deadly attacks came as Zelensky prepared to visit Washington, DC where he would meet with U.S. President Donald Trump before convening with key European leaders for talks that are expected to focus on Ukraine’s war trajectory, security assurances for Ukrainian forces and potential peace deals (The Moscow Times/Guardian/The Washington Post/TIME, among others). The meeting between Zelensky and Trump would follow up on what’s expected to be an engaging discussion on those matters as well. Depending on how talks progress they could lead directly into discussions regarding war trajectories/security arrangements/peace deals (The Moscow Times/Guardian/The Washington Post/The Moscow Times/Guardian).
Zelensky reinforced Ukraine’s demands for a dignified peace which includes strong, enforceable security guarantees–not concessions of territory–during his visit, insisting that Moscow hears the word’stop.’ Yahoo News +5 The Washington Post +5 | The Guardian
U.S. President Trump has reportedly advocated for a comprehensive peace settlement that would require Ukraine to relinquish claims to Crimea and forgo NATO accession – two policies repeatedly rejected by European and Ukrainian leaders, according to The Guardian and The Sun.
European leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Finland as well as EU institutions have come out in support of Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky at his press conference in Washington. Their aim is to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty while creating lasting peace agreements while at the same time demanding strong security mechanisms to deter further aggression against their nation.
The Guardian reports on this development.
As the summit unfolds, Western diplomats are keeping a keen eye out to prevent normalizing Russian aggression by coercion and protect Ukraine’s right to determine its borders and alliances.