Failed Peace Momentum: Russia-Ukraine Conflict Intensifies Despite Trump-Putin Summit

The Trump-Putin summit in Alaska on August 15 failed to produce definitive outcomes for peace in Ukraine.

Russia acknowledged on Wednesday that the positive momentum generated from Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump's meeting in Alaska has significantly diminished, reducing prospects for a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict that has persisted for over three and a half years.

The leaders' meeting at an Anchorage air base in August ended without any peace agreement to halt the ongoing hostilities.

Since then, diplomatic initiatives have come to a standstill, with both Moscow and Kyiv conducting lethal attacks on each other's territories while Russian forces advance on the battlefield.

Trump has expressed growing frustration with Putin's apparent unwillingness to accept a peace deal, stating last month that he was "very disappointed" with the Russian leader's position.

"Unfortunately, we must admit that the powerful momentum generated by Anchorage in favour of agreements... has largely gone," stated Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, according to Russian news agencies.

Ryabkov placed blame on European nations, accusing them of wanting to fight a "war to the last Ukrainian."

Trump initiated contact with Putin shortly after returning to the White House, presenting himself as an impartial mediator. However, he has been unable to secure any significant concessions from the Kremlin.

Trump's stance toward Moscow has subsequently hardened while showing support for Ukraine.

In September, he posted on Truth Social suggesting that Kyiv should attempt to "take back" all occupied territory with support from Europe and NATO.

Last month, US Vice President JD Vance revealed to Fox News that Washington was considering providing long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Putin cautioned that such action would represent a "whole new level of escalation."

On Wednesday, Ryabkov warned that delivering Tomahawks to Ukraine would have "severe" consequences and urged Washington to reconsider this decision.

US-Russian relations were "cracking" at their "foundation," Ryabkov asserted, adding that "the Americans are to blame for this."

Both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of targeting civilians early Wednesday, while Russian forces claimed to have captured another village.

In Russia's border region of Belgorod, a missile strike killed three people in Maslova Pristan, approximately 15 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, according to the local governor.

The governor reported that the strike had partially destroyed a "social facility" and shared images showing what appeared to be a sports hall with its facade partially collapsed.

Meanwhile, a Russian strike on the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson resulted in the deaths of two elderly residents, local officials reported.

The Ukrainian air force stated that Russia launched at least 183 drones at Ukrainian territory between late Tuesday and early Wednesday.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed that rail and energy infrastructure were among the targets.

Moscow's defense ministry claimed it had intercepted 53 Ukrainian drones overnight, with the majority being over the frequently targeted Belgorod region.

Russia initiated its full-scale offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, describing the action as a "special military operation" intended to demilitarize the country and prevent NATO expansion.

Kyiv and its European allies characterize the conflict as an illegal territorial seizure that has caused tens of thousands of civilian and military casualties and widespread destruction.

Since 2022, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to abandon their homes, while Russia now controls approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, much of which has been devastated by the fighting.