Diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine remain stalled after talks in Abu Dhabi ended without an agreement. Moscow has since ruled out dialogue with the EU’s top diplomat.
Meanwhile, Kyiv says a key U.S. security deal is ready for signature, signalling limited progress behind the scenes.
The Kremlin said it would not engage in any discussions with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, insisting it would simply wait for her to leave office.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the idea of talks outright, saying: “How can you discuss anything with Kaja Kallas? We will never discuss anything with her… We just have to wait until she leaves.”
Peskov also said Moscow was closely monitoring U.S. plans for the “Golden Dome” missile defence system, stressing Greenland’s strategic importance for global security.
“It’s a strategic location in terms of security. I don’t want to speak on who can threaten Greenland, but it has a lot of importance regarding strategic stability and security,” he added.
On the Ukrainian side, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a U.S. document outlining security guarantees for Ukraine is “100% ready” and now awaits a date and location for signing.
Speaking in Vilnius, Lithuania he said the agreement would require ratification by both the U.S. Congress and Ukraine’s parliament, while underlining that European security guarantees remain essential.
Zelenskyy also reiterated his demand for a clear end date to the war and insisted Russia must sign a U.S.-backed 20-point plan. “I hope America will not reduce pressure on Russia for the sake of diplomacy,” he said, calling on Europe to maintain sanctions and tougher measures against Russian oil shipments.
Ukraine and Russia held their first trilateral talks with U.S. mediators on 23–24 January in Abu Dhabi. Although no deal was reached, Kyiv said the discussions narrowed the number of unresolved issues and further talks are expected soon.
He said Moscow was seeking to pressure Ukraine into abandoning eastern regions it has failed to fully seize since launching its full-scale invasion, but stressed that Kyiv remained firm in its position that Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be preserved.
“These are two fundamentally different positions – those of Ukraine and Russia,” Zelenskyy said, adding that the United States was attempting to bridge the gap and that all parties, including Washington, would need to be prepared to compromise.
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The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
Georgia’s foreign trade data for January-July 2026 shows Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia as its top three export markets, highlighting its Middle Corridor ambitions and complex economic ties with Moscow.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
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