London – The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, praised President Donald Trump on Thursday for his efforts to negotiate the invasion of Ukraine by Moscow, as the preparations continued for Friday’s summit among American and Russian leaders in Alaska.
The Trump Administration “is making a fairly energetic and sincere effort, in my opinion, to stop hostilities, stop the crisis and reach an agreement that is of interest to all those involved in this conflict,” Putin said during a meeting of his senior officials to prepare for the Alaska summit, according to a reading published by the Kremlin.
The process could “create long -term peace conditions both among our countries and in Europe and in the world as a whole, if we reach an agreement on the control area on strategic offensive weapons in the next stage,” Putin added.
Putin’s comments occurred after Trump warned Wednesday of “very serious consequences” for Russia if Moscow could not high the fire. Trump did not explain what those consequences would be. When asked if they would include sanctions or rates, Trump only said he didn’t have to say it.
The Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with the head of the Federal Tax Service Daniil Yegorov at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on August 13, 2025.
Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool through Reuters
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Thursday while he continued diplomatic maneuvers before Friday’s meeting.
Zelensky’s visit to London followed his trip to Berlin, Germany, where Wednesday met with European leaders, and spoke virtually with Trump, to expel Ukraine’s key demands in any peace negotiation to end the large -scale invasion of Moscow, which began in February 2022.
Kyiv established five key demands. Ukraine will not participate in peace conversations without a high previous fire, Ukraine must participate in the negotiations and Ukraine will make the decision on any territorial concession with discussions that begin from the current frontline lines.
Kyiv has also said that he needs solid security guarantees, with the participation of the United States, to accept any agreement, and that more sanctions and pressure on Russia should be exercised if the Alaska Summit is not successful.
Zelenskyy and his European sponsors said Trump agreed the negotiation scheme.
The president said that the call with Zelenskyy was “very friendly” and suggested that a second summit could be possible to gather Ukrainian and Russian leaders.
Zelenskyy said he advised Trump and other leaders that Putin is “slaughtering” when looking for peace.
“Putin definitely does not want peace,” Zelenskyy said. “He wants the occupation of our country. And we all really understand that. Putin will not be able to deceive anyone. We need more pressure for peace. Not only US sanctions, but also European.”
“We talked about the meeting in Alaska,” Zelenskyy added. “We hope that the central theme of the meeting is a high fire. A high immediate fire.”
British prime minister Keir Starmer speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the 10 Downing Street garden in London on August 14, 2025.
Ben Stansall/AP
“The president of the United States has repeatedly said this,” Zelenskyy continued. “He suggested that after the meeting in Alaska we will have contact. And we will discuss all the results, if there are. And we will determine the next mutual steps.”
Meanwhile, unmanned aircraft attacks and long -range missiles continued during the night until Thursday.
The Ukraine Air Force said that Russia launched 45 drones and two missiles to the country during the night, of which 24 drones were demolished or suppressed. Twenty -one drones affected in 12 locations, said the Air Force.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said its forces knocked down 52 Ukrainian drones during the night until Thursday.
Local officials in Rostov-on-Don, the southern city near the Ukrainian border, which has become a center of the military headquarters and the logistics center during the invasion, said that a Ukrainian drone hit a residential building wounding at least 13 people.
Ukraine general personnel said in a publication to Facebook that the drones hit the Volgograd oil refinery plant in southwest Russia during the night. The refinery produces fuel and other materials “that are critically important for the logistics of the Armed Forces of Russia,” said the statement.
Patrick Revell De ABC News, Hannah Demissie, Michelle Stoddart, Joe Simon, Anna Sergeeva and Othon Leyva contribution to this report.
