Watan-While the world’s attention is fixed on the Israel-Iran war, Ukraine fears being sidelined, despite enduring a three-year-long war with Russia. International focus, particularly from the United States, has shifted away from Ukraine as Russia intensifies military operations in the country’s northeast.
The city of Kharkiv was hit this week by a wave of Russian drone and glide bomb attacks, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accuse Moscow of committing deliberate acts of terror. Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at the potential capture of Sumy, a strategic city near the border, stating, “Where the Russian soldier sets foot, that land becomes ours.”
Moscow claims it is establishing a buffer zone in Sumy to prevent future Ukrainian incursions into Russian territory, citing past attacks such as the one in Kursk.
Russia Claims Buffer Zone in Sumy as Ukraine Slams Putin for Undermining Peace Talks
Ukrainian officials, however, accused Putin of derailing peace efforts, which had seen limited progress through talks brokered in Istanbul and backed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Putin’s remarks “show absolute disdain” for peace initiatives.
Amid the tension, Ukraine and Russia completed a prisoner exchange on Friday, releasing injured or sick soldiers under agreements reached in early June in Istanbul. While both sides confirmed the swap, they did not disclose the number of prisoners released.
Photos posted by Zelensky showed visibly traumatized and wounded Ukrainian soldiers wrapped in national flags. Russia also released images of returning POWs, stating they were receiving medical and psychological care in Belarus.
Russia and Ukraine have launched the first phase of a new prisoner exchange, following recent peace talks in Istanbul.
Ceasefire Stalls as Russia Sets Demands and Ukraine Seeks NATO Guarantees
Though the exchange marks the only tangible outcome of recent diplomacy, Moscow continues to reject a ceasefire unless Kyiv withdraws from four annexed territories, abandons its NATO ambitions, and reduces its military size. Ukraine firmly rejects these conditions, blaming Russia for prolonging the war.
Trump’s return to the White House earlier this year revived negotiations, but no major progress has been made. Putin expressed openness to meeting Zelensky, but only at the final stage of talks. He also cast doubt on Zelensky’s legitimacy, citing the expiration of his term and the inability to hold elections under martial law.
Meanwhile, NATO is preparing to raise defense spending to 5% of member GDPs, under pressure from Trump. Ukraine seeks security guarantees from NATO as part of any peace deal.
