Russia has thrown cold water on the idea of a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict, dealing a significant setback to U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambition to broker a peace deal within weeks. Amid a surge in Russian aggression, including a deadly overnight assault, the Kremlin emphasized that a ceasefire remains far from reality.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine echoed the grim outlook, cautioning that Russia’s next military move could target a NATO member under the guise of training exercises, escalating tensions further.
On the 100th day of Trump’s presidency, Russian forces unleashed a major barrage against Ukraine, striking civilian targets with 16 drone attacks. In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, 77 residential buildings were hit, resulting in at least one death and 45 injuries. The city of Dnipro also faced destruction, with one fatality, two injuries, and several homes obliterated.
These fresh assaults have dimmed Trump’s efforts to deliver rapid peace in the region. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made it clear that while Moscow is not opposed to dialogue, achieving meaningful progress will take much longer than the U.S. expects. He stressed that multiple complex issues remain unresolved, and that oversimplifying the peace process would be unrealistic. 
“President Putin is in favor of the ceasefire initiative,” Peskov said, as quoted by state media outlet TASS. “However, many specific conditions must be clarified and addressed before we can move forward.”
Trump recently stated his intent to end the war within two weeks. But Peskov downplayed such optimism, underscoring the depth and intricacy of the conflict. “We see Washington is eager to show quick results. But they must understand that this conflict cannot be solved overnight,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Zelensky has raised alarm over the upcoming Russian-Belarusian military exercises dubbed “Zapad-2025,” scheduled for September. He suspects the drills may conceal preparations for a broader attack. “Russia is staging something under the cover of exercises,” he warned, listing possible targets such as Ukraine, Lithuania, or even Poland. “Let’s hope not, but we must all be prepared — practically, not just politically.”
Zelensky also pointed to the sustained drone attacks as proof of Russia’s ongoing aggression, revealing that 375 Russian drones had targeted Ukraine within just a few days. “These strikes continue daily,” he said. “That’s why further sanctions are not just necessary — they must be effective.”
Russia’s military has taken immense losses since the invasion began, with over 900,000 troops either killed or injured. In response, Moscow has turned to unconventional recruitment methods, reportedly drawing on North Korean forces and prison inmates, many with violent criminal backgrounds, by offering pardons in exchange for frontline service.
As Russian casualties climb, families of the fallen are beginning to voice their anguish and skepticism about the war — a development that even the Kremlin can no longer conceal.
