Evening Brief: Zelenskyy, Trump Open Door to Three-Way Talks with Putin; Hamas Accepts New Gaza Ceasefire Proposal

· Guy D. McCardle

US President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, joined by senior officials from both sides. (@WhiteHouse/X)

Zelenskyy, Trump, and European Leaders Open Door to Three-Way Talks with Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump met Monday at the White House with top European leaders to explore a possible path toward ending Russia’s war on Ukraine. Both leaders voiced cautious optimism that trilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin could soon take place.

Trump said a breakthrough could come “in a week or two,” while Zelenskyy expressed readiness to engage.

Trump stopped short of promising direct US military involvement but pledged support for a NATO-like security arrangement for Ukraine.

European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, joined the talks and called for binding security guarantees and a clear path to peace.

Merz and others pushed Trump to secure a ceasefire in the next round of negotiations.

The meeting marked a major shift from Zelenskyy’s tense Oval Office visit in February, which ended with Trump pausing aid and criticizing Kyiv’s lack of gratitude. This time, Zelenskyy offered Trump a personal letter from his wife and appeared in formal attire, signaling a more diplomatic tone.

Trump, who met Putin in Alaska days earlier, floated the idea that Zelenskyy should consider territorial concessions, especially in the Donbas region and Crimea. He has publicly said Ukraine “cannot go into NATO” and framed the war’s continuation as Ukraine’s choice.

Zelenskyy responded by insisting peace must be lasting and cannot repeat past compromises that emboldened future aggression.

European leaders emphasized the need to finalize a durable security framework for Ukraine. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed a NATO-style guarantee is under consideration.

Trump continues to resist an immediate ceasefire, aligning with Putin’s stance, but said he would press forward with a settlement.

Zelenskyy faces pressure not to appear as the obstacle to peace while rejecting any deal that concedes the Donbas, which he says would be unconstitutional and dangerous. Talks remain fluid, with Trump planning further discussions with Putin.

European leaders are still waiting for specifics on US commitments, but NATO’s Rutte called the moment a “breakthrough” in laying the groundwork for a peace deal.

 

Ukraine Blamed for Disruption of Russian Oil Flow to Hungary and Slovakia via Druzhba Pipeline

Russian crude oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline were halted Monday following what Hungarian officials claim was a Ukrainian drone strike on a transformer station.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin confirmed experts are working to restore operations, but it is unclear when supplies will resume.

Hungary, which remains heavily reliant on Russian energy, called the incident an attack on its energy security.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha did not confirm the strike but emphasized that Hungary should direct its grievances toward Moscow, accusing Budapest of ignoring warnings about Russia’s unreliability.

Slovakia’s pipeline operator, Transpetrol, confirmed the suspension but said it had no further details as the disruption occurred outside its territory.

Hungarian oil company MOL said technical restoration is underway and that regional oil supply remains secure.

The suspension follows another disruption last week when Ukrainian forces targeted the Uniecha oil pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk region.

The Druzhba pipeline remains a vital route for Hungary’s crude imports, despite the broader European Union push to reduce reliance on Russian energy since the war in Ukraine began.

 

Hamas Accepts New Ceasefire Proposal as Gaza Death Toll Tops 62,000

Hamas accepted on Monday a new ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, pending Israel’s response. The plan includes a 60-day truce, partial hostage releases, and negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire.

Israel has not officially joined the latest round of talks, as of writing, but has received the proposal.

The announcement comes as Gaza’s Health Ministry reports the death toll from 22 months of war has surpassed 62,000, with over 156,000 wounded. Israel disputes the figures but has not released its own.

The ministry also reported five new deaths from malnutrition on Monday, pushing total famine-linked deaths to over 260, including at least 112 children.

The US, while involved in mediation, appeared skeptical. President Donald Trump said hostages would only return once Hamas is “confronted and destroyed.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Hamas’ acceptance by calling it a sign of the group being “under massive pressure,” but reaffirmed Israel’s goal to dismantle Hamas and maintain long-term control over Gaza.

Israel’s military has resumed offensive operations in Gaza City and surrounding areas, with plans to expand the campaign despite growing global condemnation. Mass protests erupted in Israel over the fate of remaining hostages, with thousands demanding action.

Meanwhile, tensions flared diplomatically as Australia denied a visa to far-right Israeli lawmaker Simcha Rothman, citing concerns over hate speech. Israel responded by revoking visas for Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority and said it would scrutinize future Australian visa applications.

Amnesty International accused Israel of deliberately using starvation as a weapon. Israel rejected the claim and blamed the United Nations and aid groups for logistical failures, despite repeated reports of Israeli fire on aid-seeking civilians.

Humanitarian groups warn Gaza is on the brink of famine.

 

Burkina Faso Expels Top UN Official Over Child Abuse Report

Burkina Faso’s military junta declared UN Resident Coordinator Carol Flore-Smereczniak “persona non grata” on Monday in response to a UN report that accused both jihadist groups and government forces of serious child rights violations.

The government claimed the April report, Children and Armed Conflict in Burkina Faso, lacked evidence and spread “false information.”

The report, covering July 2022 to June 2024, documented 2,483 verified grave violations against 2,255 children, including recruitment as child soldiers, sexual abuse, and attacks on schools and hospitals. The junta accused Flore-Smereczniak of participating in the report’s preparation.

Flore-Smereczniak was appointed to her post in July 2024 with the government’s formal approval. The UN has not yet responded publicly to the expulsion.

Burkina Faso, along with Mali and Niger, has faced a decade-long jihadist insurgency. Following military coups in all three countries, the juntas expelled French troops and partnered with Russian mercenaries.

Despite the shift, violence in the Sahel region has surged, with record levels of civilian deaths linked to both Islamist militants and state-backed forces.

In 2023, the UN human rights office called for an investigation into the killing of at least 28 people in Burkina Faso, which local rights groups blamed on army-aligned militias.

 

India and China Resume High-Level Talks to Ease Border Tensions

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi on Monday to restart efforts aimed at deescalating the military standoff along the disputed Himalayan border.

The two nuclear-armed nations have been locked in tension since a deadly 2020 clash killed 20 Indian and 4 Chinese troops, freezing political engagement and triggering a buildup of tens of thousands of troops.

Jaishankar called for a “candid and constructive approach” to move forward, urging both sides to reduce tensions and restore normalcy in bilateral ties.

Wang claimed the border has remained stable and highlighted that China recently allowed Indian pilgrims access to key sites in Tibet.

Talks will continue Tuesday when Wang meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, with troop reductions expected to be on the agenda.

Wang’s visit also comes as US-India tensions rise following US President Trump’s new 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, including a 25 percent penalty targeting India’s purchases of Russian crude.

The tariffs take effect August 27.

 

Sources: News Agencies