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On Ukraine's Borders... Russia Mobilizes 100,000 Fighters
As September 1st approaches—the date set by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a deadline for Russia to express its readiness to sit at the negotiating table—the picture between Europe, Ukraine, and Russia has become significantly more complicated.
Field and diplomatic developments are intertwining in a dramatic manner. Russia continues its massive military build-up along Ukraine's eastern border, while Washington has decided to supply Kyiv with long-range cruise missiles, further complicating the scene. Amid these events, the "Witkoff" scandal has emerged, revealing disorganized interference in international diplomacy and sparking widespread debate about the communication pathways among the involved parties.
Meanwhile, Zelensky publicly admitted that his country cannot recover the territories forcibly occupied by Russia, turning the security guarantees file into a central debate. Kyiv demands assurances that can protect it from Russian threats, while Moscow seeks guarantees to safeguard its interests and strategic security.
In his recent speeches, Zelensky appeared more realistic, acknowledging that military power alone would not suffice to reclaim the occupied lands. He called for securing long-term security guarantees and announced that Europeans have given Russia until early September to demonstrate their intention to hold a bilateral summit, warning of reactions if Moscow ignores this deadline.
Strategically, Zelensky has expressed willingness to involve U.S. President Donald Trump in direct negotiations, aware that Washington remains the primary player shaping the future path—whether through pressuring Moscow or guiding European initiatives.
As tensions rise, leaks from Moscow have sparked broad debate after an informal meeting between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin. While this meeting was seen as a possible Russian signal of willingness to retreat from certain positions, the lack of protocol safeguards caused confusion in interpreting the stance, damaging the image of the U.S. administration. This has opened the door for Zelensky to push for a direct meeting with Putin. According to experts, this mistake was considered a "diplomatic scandal" during a sensitive time and has increased suspicion among European allies and their countries.
