Morning Brief: Putin Says He’ll Stop War in Exchange for Eastern Ukraine, India Halts Plan to Buy US Weapons

· Guy D. McCardle

Putin and Trump meet in 2017. Image Credit: The Guardian

Vladimir Putin is floating what he claims is a peace offer, but it comes with strings so thick they might as well be steel cables. He wants Ukraine to pull its forces out of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts entirely, handing full control of those regions—along with Crimea—to Russia. In return, Moscow says it would stop the fighting. Some reports suggest Russia is also open to freezing the conflict along the current frontlines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, but details are murky and not consistent across sources.

This proposal was passed to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and later discussed with President Donald Trump, who plans to meet Putin in Alaska to hammer out more specifics. But the plan doesn’t stop at land grabs—Russia is also reportedly demanding that Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitions, scale back its military, and push for an end to Western sanctions.

Ukraine’s response has been blunt: no deal. President Zelensky has made it clear Kyiv will not give up territory, and both Ukraine and most of its European allies view these demands as nothing short of a forced surrender. For them, any talk of borders and sovereignty should come only after a full ceasefire backed by strong security guarantees. In other words, Putin’s version of peace looks a lot like Ukraine giving up the fight before it’s over—and no one in Kyiv is buying it.

 

India Denies Reports of U.S. Arms Deal Freeze Amid Tariff Dispute

Several media outlets are reporting that India has hit the brakes on buying American weapons, supposedly in protest over steep tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. The claimed reason? Washington slapped a 25% tariff on Indian goods—bringing total duties to a hefty 50%—after New Delhi kept importing Russian oil. According to these reports, big-ticket acquisitions like Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, Stryker combat vehicles, and Javelin anti-tank missiles were close to being inked but are now stalled. Some even say Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s planned U.S. trip, where he was expected to announce these deals, was quietly scrapped as a signal of displeasure.

The Indian government, however, says that’s all nonsense. The Defence Ministry has flat-out denied any pause in U.S. arms procurement, calling the reports “false and fabricated.” They insist that every deal is moving forward under normal procedures and that high-level talks are still ongoing. The ministry’s message is clear: don’t believe anonymous whispers over official statements. While it’s obvious trade and defense ties have been under pressure, especially over tariffs and Russia, New Delhi is officially standing firm—business as usual when it comes to buying American hardware.

 

Forty Million Americans Brace For Dangerous Heat

More than 40 million Americans are facing dangerous, widespread extreme heat this week, with advisories and warnings stretching from the blazing deserts of Phoenix and Palm Springs to the Midwest, the Plains, and even parts of the Northeast. In many cities, the thermometer is pushing 100 to 115 degrees, and when you add the heavy humidity, the “feels like” temperatures climb even higher—making it downright dangerous to be outside for long.

The National Weather Service is urging people to pay close attention to heat alerts, and local governments are opening cooling centers in libraries, malls, and other public spaces for those without air conditioning. Folks are adjusting their routines, moving outdoor work and exercise to early mornings or evenings, and checking in on neighbors—especially older adults and anyone with health conditions.

If you’re in the danger zone, the basics can save you: drink plenty of water before you even feel thirsty, avoid alcohol and sugary drinks, and stay indoors as much as you can—particularly between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothes, slap on sunscreen, and take cool showers or baths if your home is hot. And whatever you do, never leave kids or pets in a parked car—not even for a minute. Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and be ready to act. Extreme heat is a serious threat, even for the young and healthy, so plan ahead, keep cool, and look out for each other.

 

Zelensky Says He Will Not Give Up Land to Russia for Peace

Volodymyr Zelensky isn’t mincing words—Ukraine will not hand over land to Russia in exchange for peace. Responding directly to President Donald Trump’s suggestion of a territorial swap as part of peace talks, Zelensky said flat out, “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.” He’s made it clear that Ukraine’s borders are protected by its constitution, and giving up territory isn’t just politically impossible—it’s morally wrong. Any deal struck without Ukraine at the table, he warned, is a “dead decision” that “will never work.”

For Zelensky, a lasting peace can only come through direct negotiations with Kyiv, and he refuses to let Russia be “awarded” for its aggression. European allies have backed him, saying no settlement should force Ukraine to accept Russian claims. But with high-profile meetings like the Alaska summit stirring fears in Kyiv of being sidelined, Zelensky is doubling down on his message: Ukraine won’t step back, won’t cede an inch, and won’t let others decide its fate.

 

Blast at Hezbollah-Linked Depot Kills Six Lebanese Army Experts

Six Lebanese Army explosives experts were killed on August 9, 2025, when a blast ripped through a weapons depot near the village of Zibqin in the Tyre region. The soldiers were dismantling munitions at a site once used by Hezbollah when the explosion happened.

The depot reportedly held a large cache of explosives and may have been either booby-trapped or dangerously unstable, though investigators haven’t confirmed the cause yet. These troops were part of a broader mission to clear southern Lebanon of leftover weapons and unexploded ordnance following Hezbollah’s withdrawal under a ceasefire deal with Israel in November 2024.

The operation is tied to a U.S.-backed plan to disarm armed groups and put all weapons under state control by year’s end—a plan Hezbollah openly opposes. Several other soldiers were wounded in the blast, but the army hasn’t released exact numbers. This deadly incident underscores the risks faced by those trying to dismantle the region’s shadow arsenals while tensions between the government and Hezbollah remain high.