Overview

• Zelenski said he had an “excellent” meeting with U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg and reiterated that a leaders’ format is the necessary path to resolve key issues.
• Ukrainian and U.S. delegations will meet this week to draft a basic plan for security guarantees and to determine whether Moscow will engage in a direct summit.
• Moscow signaled no immediate summit is planned, with Sergei Lavrov saying the agenda for a Putin–Zelenski meeting is not ready.
• U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said Russia has made significant concessions in talks with President Trump, while G7 ministers pledged to keep economic pressure on Moscow and welcomed U.S. diplomatic efforts.
• Hostilities persisted with Ukrainian drones striking targets including Ust-Luga and near the Kursk nuclear plant, Russia reporting advances near Donetsk, and both sides completing a prisoner swap of 146 detainees each on August 24.