The Alaska Illusion: Russia Admits Peace Talks Have Collapsed
BREAKING: Moscow Deputy Foreign Minister Says “Powerful Momentum” From Trump Summit “All But Unravelled”
Kremlin Blames Europe As Drones Violate NATO Airspace And Attacks On Ukraine Continue
MOSCOW — Russia has essentially admitted what Ukraine has been warning for months: peace negotiations are going nowhere, and the “powerful momentum” generated by President Trump’s historic August summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska has completely evaporated.
Speaking to Russia’s federal assembly Wednesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov delivered the grim assessment that whatever progress emerged from the Anchorage meeting “has all but unravelled.”
Translation: The peace talks are dead. Again.
And while Russian diplomats complain about negotiations stalling, Russian drones keep pounding Ukrainian cities and violating NATO airspace.
THE RYABKOV ADMISSION: “We Must Admit”
Ryabkov’s language was remarkably candid for a Russian official.
“Unfortunately, we must admit that the powerful momentum generated by Anchorage in favour of agreements has largely been undermined,” he told the assembly.
That’s diplomatic speak for: The Alaska summit accomplished nothing lasting.
Remember the August 15 meeting? Trump and Putin met at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska — the first time an American president had hosted Putin on US soil in years.
The White House hyped it as a potential breakthrough. European leaders expressed cautious optimism. There was talk of ceasefire agreements and territorial settlements.
Less than two months later? Russia admits it’s all fallen apart.
BLAMING EUROPE: Russia’s Favorite Scapegoat
Of course, Ryabkov couldn’t admit failure without blaming someone else.
“The powerful momentum generated by Anchorage in favour of agreements has been largely exhausted due to the efforts of opponents… primarily Europeans,” he said.
This is standard Russian playbook: When negotiations fail, blame the West.
The reality is more complicated:
European countries have been more aligned with Ukrainian proposals than with Trump’s approach. They’ve planned for a ceasefire guarded by a “coalition of the willing” with troops on the ground in Ukraine.
Russia has openly rejected any proposal involving NATO country troops on Ukrainian soil.
Moscow wants Ukraine to accept:
- Recognition of Russian control over Crimea and occupied territories
- Guarantee that Ukraine will never join NATO
- Limits on Ukraine’s military capabilities
- Lifting of all sanctions against Russia
Ukraine and its European allies have rejected these demands as tantamount to surrender.
So yeah, the talks stalled. But blaming “Europeans” ignores Russia’s refusal to compromise on anything meaningful.
TRUMP’S GROWING FRUSTRATION: From Optimism To Disappointment
The President has grown increasingly frustrated with Putin.
Trump initially believed he could broker a deal quickly — maybe not the infamous “24 hours” he once promised, but certainly within months.
The Alaska summit was supposed to be the breakthrough.
Instead, Trump has watched Putin:
- Refuse direct talks with Zelenskyy
- Continue massive attacks on Ukrainian civilians
- Demand ever-more-maximalist terms
- Capture an additional 5,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in 2025
Trump said recently he is “very disappointed” with the Russian leader.
That’s significant coming from a president who came into office hoping to improve US-Russian relations and who resisted providing long-range weapons to Ukraine for months.
Now Trump is threatening to send Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine — a dramatic shift that shows his patience with Putin has limits.
THE NATO AIRSPACE VIOLATIONS: Drones “Accidentally” Cross Borders
While Ryabkov complained about stalled negotiations, Russian drones have been violating NATO airspace.
Recent incidents include:
- Russian drones entering Romanian airspace
- Drones crossing into Polish territory
- Multiple “accidental” incursions that NATO doesn’t believe are accidental at all
These violations came right before Ryabkov’s speech about how negotiations have stalled.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the Alliance will “further strengthen our posture along our eastern flank” in response.
So Russia’s position is apparently: We’re disappointed peace talks failed, but we’re going to keep attacking Ukraine and occasionally violating NATO airspace.
That’s certainly one approach to diplomacy.
THE OVERNIGHT ATTACKS: 183 Drones Hit Ukraine
While Russian diplomats lamented the collapse of peace efforts, Russian military launched one of its largest drone attacks in months.
Between late Tuesday and early Wednesday, Russia fired at least 183 drones at Ukrainian territory, according to the Ukrainian air force.
Targets included:
- Rail infrastructure critical for logistics
- Energy facilities ahead of winter
- One thermal power plant seriously damaged
- Civilian areas in Kherson (two elderly people killed)
Moscow’s Ministry of Defence claimed it intercepted 53 Ukrainian drones overnight, most over Belgorod region.
This is the reality of Russia’s “disappointment” about failed peace talks: complaining about negotiations while continuing the war with maximum intensity.
ZELENSKYY’S CONSISTENT MESSAGE: Only Sanctions Will Stop Russia
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has reiterated his position that only increased punishing sanctions — including from the US — will force Russia to negotiate seriously.
“Everything should be done to take money away from Russia’s war machine,” Zelenskyy said Friday, thanking the UK for new sanctions targeting Moscow’s shadow fleet of oil tankers and military supply chains.
Japan also imposed further sanctions on Russian companies Friday and joined countries implementing a price cap on Russian oil.
“This is the only way to stop Russia and end this war,” Zelenskyy stated.
The Ukrainian position emphasizes that without substantial economic consequences, Russia has insufficient incentive to compromise on core territorial and sovereignty issues.
NEGOTIATION HISTORY: Multiple Rounds, Limited Progress
Several rounds of direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials have occurred in 2025:
- May 15-16: First direct talks in three years, held in Istanbul
- June 2: Second round where both sides presented memorandums outlining peace proposals
- July: Additional rounds producing prisoner exchange agreements but no ceasefire
None of these negotiating sessions achieved breakthroughs toward ending military operations.
Russian negotiating positions have reportedly become more demanding over time, with officials seeking greater territorial concessions and more stringent limitations on Ukrainian sovereignty and military capabilities than in earlier 2022 negotiations.
PROPOSALS AND COUNTER-PROPOSALS: Incompatible Positions
Reports indicate fundamental disagreements remain on core issues:
Russian demands reportedly include:
- Recognition of Russian control over Crimea and occupied territories
- Ukrainian commitment never to join NATO
- Limitations on Ukrainian military capabilities
- Removal of Western sanctions
- Buffer zones in additional Ukrainian provinces
Ukrainian and European positions emphasize:
- Restoration of territorial integrity
- Security guarantees to prevent future aggression
- War crimes accountability
- Return of prisoners and displaced persons
The Trump administration presented proposals in April 2025 attempting to bridge these positions, but neither Ukraine nor Russia accepted those terms.
MILITARY SITUATION: Russian Territorial Gains
Putin has claimed that Russian forces have captured 5,000 square kilometers in Ukraine in 2025 alone.
Russian military advances, despite significant casualties, appear to reinforce Moscow’s belief that time favors its position and that territorial gains strengthen its negotiating leverage.
However, military analysts note that Ukrainian forces have adapted defensive strategies effectively, making further Russian advances increasingly costly.
EUROPEAN SECURITY ARCHITECTURE: Competing Visions
European leaders have proposed robust security guarantees for Ukraine similar to NATO Article 5 mutual defense provisions.
An August 18 White House meeting brought together leaders from the United Kingdom, Finland, France, Italy, Germany, NATO, the European Union, and Ukraine to discuss post-conflict security arrangements.
Trump indicated that European nations were “willing to put people on the ground” for security guarantees, while the US would provide support “probably by air.”
Russia has categorically rejected any proposals involving foreign military presence in Ukraine, viewing such arrangements as NATO expansion in practice if not in name.
OUTLOOK: No Clear Path Forward
Ryabkov’s acknowledgment that peace talk momentum has been “undermined” suggests Russia does not anticipate near-term breakthrough in negotiations.
The assessment came the same day Russian officials issued warnings about “severe consequences” if the United States provides long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, a move Trump has recently threatened.With fundamental disagreements unresolved, military operations continuing intensively, and mutual recriminations about negotiating failures, prospects for near-term peace agreement appear limited.