Trump's 'secret' plan: convince Putin to peace with Kiev by doing business with Moscow

"We hope to resolve the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza by the end of the year." This was said by Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, speaking about meetings on these dossiers this week.

Billionaire business as leverage for peace. Donald Trump is also pursuing this avenue to convince Vladimir Putin to reach an agreement for peace in Ukraine. The tycoon has put on the table a series of energy deals and the easing of sanctions on the sidelines of negotiations this month as incentives to encourage the Kremlin to stop the war. Russia has been cut off from most international investment in its key sector precisely because of the sanctions that followed the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The Reuters revealed that the possibility of Exxon Mobil joining the Sakhalin-1 gas-oil project in Russia has been discussed. The possibility of Moscow purchasing US equipment for its LNG projects, such as Arctic Lng 2, currently under Western sanctions, was also raised. Another idea is for the US to buy nuclear-powered icebreakers from Russia. The talks took place during US envoySteve Witkoff's trip to Moscow earlier this month, when he met with Putin and the head of the Russian investment fund Kirill Dmitriev. This was later discussed at the White House with the Tycoon. These agreements were also briefly mentioned at the summit in Alaska on 15 August. So much so that, according to one source, 'the White House really wanted to launch a sensational news story after the summit, announcing a big investment deal'.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that domestic mass production of the Flamingo missile should begin between January and February. Images published by the Ukrainian news agency ZN.UA show the test firing of this long-range cruise missile. Equipped with a 1,150-kilogram warhead and a range of over 3,000 kilometres, it represents a major step forward in Ukraine's strike capabilities.

"The tests of this missile have been successful. And so far it is the most successful missile we have: it has a range of 3,000 kilometres, which is important,' Zelensky told the press, adding that 'we won't be able to talk much about it until we can deploy hundreds of missiles. By December we will have more. And by the end of December or between January and February, mass production should begin'.

"I know there are governments that dream of being able to seize those funds. But I think it is fair to say that it is not that simple from a legal point of view'. This was said in Berlin by the Belgian premer, Bart De Wever, during a press conference with the Federal Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, about the frozen Russian funds. The Belgian prime minister emphasised: 'These are Russian central bank funds. Central bank money is legally immune. If you send a signal to the world that a political decision can be taken in Europe to seize state funds, then this will have systemic consequences'. Merz also underlined similar objections: 'I also recognise the impact on the capital market if central bank balances were to be accessed. In this regard, I share the prime minister's concerns, especially since the Belgian state would be responsible for illegal access to this money because of Euroclear's location'. For De Wever the money 'is like a golden goose', and could play a role during the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. According to the European Commission, it is about EUR 210 billion.

For the first time, Ukraine has confirmed that the Russian army has entered the Dnipropetrovsk region, the central administrative area so far relatively spared from the fighting. "Yes, they have entered and fighting is going on right now," Viktor Tregubov, spokesman for the Operational-Strategic Group of the Dnipro Forces, told Afp. The Ukrainian army, however, denied Moscow's claims that Russian troops had already taken full control of the Zaporizke and Novogeorgiivka settlements, reiterating that the fighting is still ongoing.

"Trump's contradiction on Russia. He says Biden didn't let Ukraine fight back. Will he do better?" is the headline of a Wall Street Journal editorial criticising Donald Trump for his line on the Ukrainian conflict, made even more ambiguous by Pentagon vetoes that contradict his public statements. So much so that it prompted the Wsj to ask who is 'first in line for US policy towards Ukraine? Is Trump running the show or is it Vice President J.D. Vance's man in the Pentagon?": a reference to Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's chief of strategy, who "is also said to have been the architect of the suspension of US arms shipments this summer, which took Trump by surprise". "The much-publicised summit in Alaska," the paper writes, "seems to have led to nothing except to let Putin avoid further sanctions pressure. Trump now claims he needs another two weeks to figure out what to do. He puts the onus on both sides. 'I'll see whose fault it is,' he said. 'We'll see if they meet or not'."

'The same mistake,' the Wsj continued, 'was caught in Vance's interview with Nbc this weekend. 'We are trying to negotiate as much as we can with both the Russians and the Ukrainians to find a middle ground that will stop the killing,' he said. 'We are in fact mediating'.' But the editorial asks 'How much more obvious can it be that it is Russia that is the obstacle to peace? Putin's intent is to wipe out a relatively free western neighbour whose existence threatens his vision of a Greater Russia. What is the compromise position for this project? It will not be solved by choosing plots of land to trade'.

US and Russian officials discussed several energy deals on the sidelines of this month's peace talks in Ukraine. Reuters online writes this, citing five sources familiar with the talks, according to which the agreements are incentives to encourage the Kremlin to accept peace. Officials have discussed the possibility of Exxon Mobil rejoining the Russian Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project, and the possibility of Moscow buying US equipment for its LNG projects, such as the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2, has also been opened up. Another idea is for the US to buy nuclear-powered icebreakers from Moscow.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has condemned four-time Oscar-winning actor and director Woody Allen's decision to attend Moscow International Film Week. "Woody Allen's participation in Moscow International Film Week is a disgrace and an insult to the sacrifice of Ukrainian actors and filmmakers killed or wounded by Russian war criminals in their ongoing war against Ukraine," the ministry quoted Ukrinform as saying that by participating in a festival that brings together supporters and voices of Putin, Allen is choosing to "turn a blind eye" to Moscow's atrocities.

China develops 'friendly relations with many countries around the world based on the principles of mutual respect and win-win cooperation'. This is how Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun, in the daily briefing, confined himself to responding to a confirmation question and a request for more information on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's dissemination via social media of a congratulatory message from President Xi Jinping, received on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day.

It is Putin who must show the world that he is finally ready to end his war against Ukraine. Yesterday I spoke with my colleagues from Finland, France, the UK, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, the US and the EU. We are in agreement: Ukraine needs security guarantees. The pressure on Russia must be increased'. This was written in a message on X by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

Russian forces attacked Ukraine last night with 59 drones of various types, 47 of which were shot down by Kiev's air defences in the north and east of the country, the Ukrainian Air Force reported. Twelve enemy unmanned drones hit nine locations, a press release published on Telegram also stated.

Russian air defences shot down 43 Ukrainian drones over 15 regions of the country overnight, the Moscow Defence Ministry announced, as reported by Tass.

Relations between China and Russia "are the most stable, mature and strategically significant among the great powers in today's turbulent and changing world". President Xi Jinping, meeting with Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin at the Great Hall of the People, added that "promoting the high-level development of bilateral relations serves the fundamental interests of the peoples of both countries and is a source of stability for world peace". The two sides, Xi added in the report by state-run network Cctv, "should continue the traditional friendship" and "strengthen exchanges"

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, had a telephone conversation this evening with the Foreign Ministers of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Finland, Poland, Ukraine and the EU High Representative. In the aftermath of Ukrainian Independence Day and the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting convened for the occasion, a Farnesina note said, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio updated his colleagues on the follow-up to the leaders' meeting in Washington on 18 August and the prospects for peace in Ukraine. Tajani expressed his appreciation for the Secretary of State's initiative, confirming the importance of close coordination between the United States and Europe on the Ukrainian dossier and European security. These issues were also raised in his conversation with the Holy Father this morning, on which the Deputy Prime Minister updated his colleagues. Reiterating the centrality of the transatlantic relationship, the minister confirmed his willingness to contribute to effective negotiations and stressed the importance of ensuring solid and credible security measures for Ukraine, including the strengthening of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and its defence industry. Tajani recalled in this regard the Italian proposal for a collective security mechanism modelled on Article 5 of the NATO founding treaty. In this framework, the minister confirmed Italy's readiness for land and sea demining operations. On the humanitarian front, the incumbent of the Farnesina recalled the importance of the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, which Italy is also working on in cooperation with the Holy See through the International Coalition.

The Russian region of Volgograd was the target of a massive drone attack, one of which damaged an agricultural building. This was reported - as reported by the Interfax news agency - by the head of the region, Andrei Bocharov. 'According to the first information, the remains of one of the drones damaged an outbuilding of a gardening association in the south of Volgograd,' he said on the regional administration's Telegram channel. According to Bocharov, no one was injured in the attack.

Demining work continues in the Kharkiv region. Today, specialists will carry out clearance work, from 8 to 10.30 am, near the settlement of Mykolaivka, Chuhuyiv district; and from 9 to 11 am near the village of Ivanchukivka, Izyum district

New Zelensky-Trump clash over negotiations with Putin. 'I don't think it's a concession to have said they are ready not to continue occupying Ukraine or the offer to withdraw from territories they don't control,' says the Ukrainian president. The White House number one says the US will not spend 'one more penny' on Kiev, lets it be known that he has had 'positive' talks with the tsar again, and accuses Zelensky of being 'the world's biggest salesman'.