Time to Force Putin to the Negotiating Table

He is clearly trying to play President Trump by talking peace while waging war. He will find that a very dangerous game.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump walk on the tarmac after they arrived to attend a meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, August 15, 2025.

Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via Reuters

On the night of the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska two weeks ago, Russia unleashed one of its biggest and deadliest bombings against Ukrainian civilians. Almost every night since, Russia has escalated the death and destruction. Just five nights ago, over 600 Russian drones and missiles targeted Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. Twenty-five civilians were killed, with hundreds more seriously injured. Among the dead were four innocent children.

President Trump declared he was “very angry” with his friend Vladimir, as he has done almost every time Russia strikes with a new level of aggression. Unfortunately, these repeated presidential proclamations now have Russian leadership laughing up their sleeves. According to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Agency, Russia plans to use 80,000 more drones to attack Ukraine in the final four months of this year. That is almost 700 death-dealing drones every single night.

Gregory W. Slayton

About the Author

Gregory W. Slayton

Gregory W. Slayton is a former senior U.S. diplomat, chairman of Slayton Capital, and author of Portraits of Ukraine: A Nation at War.

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