Presidents of France and Ukraine, along with the leaders of Germany and Britain, will travel to Washington tomorrow, August 18th, to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting, confirmed by multiple European officials including Ursula von der Leyen and Friedrich Merz, will cover the status of peace efforts, security guarantees, territorial questions, and further support for Ukraine. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated this afternoon that she would welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels before joining the meeting in Washington. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron are also confirmed to attend, as is British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will also be present. NATO Secretary General is also expected to be in Washington for the discussions with President Zelensky. This high-level meeting follows recent Ukrainian military gains, with Ukrainian forces reporting advancements in several directions between August 4th and 16th, clearing six settlements in the Donetsk region. Russian losses during this period were reported as 910 killed and 335 wounded, with significant equipment destroyed, including over 90 UAVs. Ukrainian troops also advanced up to 1 km near Yablunivka in the Sumy region. Meanwhile, Russia's proposed terms for ending the conflict, as outlined by Reuters, include a full Ukrainian withdrawal from Donetsk and Luhansk, Russia freezing lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and Ukraine regaining territory in Sumy and Kharkiv. The proposal also calls for formal recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, partial sanctions relief, Ukraine being barred from NATO, and possible security guarantees. It also suggests official status for the Russian language and protections for the Russian Orthodox Church. In related incidents, an explosion at the "Elastik" gunpowder plant in Russia's Ryazan region has resulted in 11 confirmed deaths, with at least 10 people missing and 130 injured. The workshop reportedly produced 152mm ammunition. Additionally, Ukrainian FPV drones reportedly struck a Russian column on the Rylsk–Khomutovka highway in the Kursk region and targeted a railway convoy in Liski, Voronezh region.
