Putin–Zelensky meeting delayed – Midweek

“Meeting of the century” postponed

Donald Trump, eager to stop Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is doing everything possible to push forward peace talks. He even canceled his August vacation this year to focus on organizing the meeting. According to The Hill, U.S. presidents traditionally take time off in August, when Congress is in recess. White House press secretary Caroline Trump also considered continuing talks at Trump’s New Jersey golf resort, but ultimately decided to keep working from Washington.

Trump and his team say that Putin is ready to meet, and the White House has begun preparations. No date has been set, but several locations are under consideration, including Geneva, Budapest, Rome, and Helsinki. Zelensky is said to favor Rome, while Putin prefers Geneva. The Ukrainian president has indicated he is open to Austria, Switzerland, or Turkey, but has ruled out Hungary or Russia. Switzerland has already stated that it would not arrest the Russian leader if he comes to Geneva, despite the ICC arrest warrant. The Budapest option is unpopular, as Ukraine was previously misled there — a point also raised by Poland’s prime minister.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov avoided confirming that preparations for direct Putin–Zelensky talks were underway. In an interview with Rossiya-24, he said Moscow does not rule out any negotiation format but stressed that top-level talks must be prepared “as carefully as possible.” Lavrov’s comments appeared to question Zelensky’s legitimacy, saying outright that any peace agreement must be signed by the “authorized person” from Ukraine. Zelensky, for his part, has agreed to meet without preconditions, but Russia is again raising the issue of who has the legal right to sign on Ukraine’s behalf.

Disagreements also remain on the two most sensitive issues: territorial exchanges and security guarantees. U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested Ukraine would gain some land after a peace deal, though he implied Kyiv may have to concede territory as well. During his Washington visit, Zelensky thanked Trump repeatedly but spoke of territorial concessions only twice — once in an expanded meeting and once at a media briefing. He has consistently stressed that the constitution forbids trading away land. Instead, he has demanded compensation from Russia for war damage, including about $300 billion in frozen Russian assets in the West. He has also called for ongoing financial support to maintain state institutions, cover social spending, and rebuild Ukraine’s economy. Separately, he requested $90 billion in military aid for weapons, including fighter jets and air defense systems.

The non-military side of security guarantees — especially the possible deployment of foreign troops — is also under debate. At the White House summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said the EU and U.S. agreed that security guarantees must support Ukraine’s military and establish naval, air, and land defense structures. Bloomberg reported that allies do not intend to cap the size of Ukraine’s armed forces. Macron also stated that Europe should help through peacekeeping and ground operations. Several European countries, including Britain and France, have discussed sending troops, and roughly ten countries are reportedly prepared to contribute forces as part of a peace deal. The Kremlin has rejected any deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine and is insisting that Kyiv surrender control over large parts of the east. A package of security guarantees is expected to be finalized in the coming days.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has proposed NATO-style guarantees without granting full membership. European leaders have sought Trump’s support for this plan, and he has signaled willingness to coordinate. U.S. businessman Steve Witkoff earlier claimed that Putin himself agreed to “solid security guarantees,” under which the U.S. and Europe would jointly defend Ukraine against renewed aggression. Russia, however, has not confirmed such a deal. Instead, Lavrov has said Moscow is open to guarantees involving China, the U.S., Britain, and France, but insisted they must be settled directly with Russia. He emphasized that foreign troops on Ukrainian soil are unacceptable to the Kremlin. This issue remains one of the main obstacles delaying not only the Putin–Zelensky meeting but also the broader peace process.

The Taliban did not abandon the path of vandalism

Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, attacks on historical and cultural heritage have sharply increased. From the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan to the removal of the Alisher Navoi monument, their approach has often been labeled as nothing less than vandalism. In the 21st century, such acts are widely seen as an assault on humanity’s shared cultural identity. Although the Taliban has not been officially recognized by any country except Russia, the group has repeatedly blamed “outsiders” or local residents whenever monuments are destroyed. This pattern has also been evident in the case of the Alisher Navoi monument. On February 7, 2023, the statue of the great poet and thinker in Mazar-i-Sharif was demolished. At the time, Uzbek Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahror Burkhanov cited Taliban representatives, saying the monument had been damaged by unknown individuals, not by the authorities themselves.

“We received with sadness the news of the damage to the monuments of our great poet Alisher Navoi in Afghanistan. Our diplomats contacted Afghan representatives on this issue. They stated that this act of vandalism does not reflect the official policy of the interim government, which is committed to strengthening centuries-old friendly relations with fraternal Uzbekistan, but is the result of arbitrary and thoughtless actions of unknown individuals, which harms our common historical and cultural heritage. Afghan representatives announced that they would take measures to restore the monuments and treat our common heritage with respect,” Burkhanov said at the time.

However, the outlet *Independent Persian* reported that the demolition was in fact carried out by the Taliban itself as part of a broader campaign against statues. Despite this, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry accepted the Taliban’s explanation. Now, more than two years later, the Navoi monument has been completely removed. This action has sparked anger among intellectuals and politicians, who accuse the Taliban of ignoring the spiritual values of other nations and deliberately erasing Afghanistan’s cultural and historical identity.

On August 20, a group of 20 civil and social organizations issued a joint statement condemning the demolition. They described it as “an attack on the collective memory of the people and the identity of Afghanistan.” The statement called on the international community, UNESCO, cultural institutions, and human rights defenders to act immediately to protect Afghanistan’s historical and cultural heritage. News of the demolition also provoked strong reactions across social media.

It is important to note that the Navoi statue was not an ancient monument. It was built only 17 years ago by the Mazar-i-Sharif city government. Nonetheless, it was well preserved until the Taliban’s return to power, after which its fate was sealed. Following the complete demolition, Burkhanov again relayed an explanation from Afghan authorities, who claimed the location had been unworthy of Navoi’s memory and that a more “magnificent complex” would be built in his honor. They emphasized that the demolition had not been coordinated with the Ministry of Culture or the public and expressed regret over the incident.

“In addition, representatives of the Afghan government confirmed that the memory of Alisher Navoi, who is a great figure not only for Uzbekistan but also for the people of Afghanistan, will be immortalized in a worthy manner. They promised to build a new monument, beautify the surrounding area, restore inscriptions about his life and works, and name the square after him. The Afghan side expressed its commitment to preserving the legacy of this great thinker and pledged to take all necessary steps to honor his name,” Burkhanov said.

The explanation was almost identical to the one given two years earlier, with the only difference being that the local government’s role in removing the statue was now admitted. Still, the Taliban’s promises did little to dispel doubts. Many questioned how a government that failed to restore the monument for two and a half years could now be trusted. On August 21, Burkhanov shared images of a ceremony marking the launch of a new Navoi monument project in Mazar-i-Sharif. The event was attended by the city’s mayor, local officials, the head of Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry office in northern Afghanistan, and diplomats from the Uzbek Consulate General. The photos showed that pillars for the new monument were already in place and construction materials had been delivered.

Despite these reassurances, the issue quickly became political. Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, a powerful opposition leader of Uzbek origin and Afghanistan’s former vice president (2014–2020), strongly condemned the Taliban’s actions. He warned that the monument must be rebuilt immediately, or the Taliban would face consequences.

“I consider this act to be insulting, aimed at degrading not only the people of Afghanistan, but also Uzbeks and Turks around the world. This unforgivable act of the Taliban deeply hurt my heart and the hearts of all lovers of Hazrat Navoi. Our people will never forget this disgraceful action. We call on UNESCO, which is responsible for protecting the cultural heritage of nations, to act immediately so that such insults to the Turkic people’s national and international dignity do not go unanswered,” Dostum said.

His daughter, former senator Rahila Dostum, also condemned the demolition, calling it a symbol of the Taliban’s hostility toward Afghanistan’s cultural heritage and a denial of the country’s collective identity.

“The destruction of the Alisher Navoi statue by the Taliban is a shameful, anti-cultural step that reflects the group’s hostility to the historical and civilizational heritage of the region. Such actions only fuel public hatred of the Taliban. People of culture must condemn this act and take real steps to safeguard humanity’s heritage,” she said.

Earlier, Dostum had warned the Taliban to leave Afghanistan, recalling that in December 2001, nearly 2,000 Taliban fighters were killed by forces loyal to him. He suggested history could repeat itself if such provocations continue.

Gaza is being erased from the map

In June, American businessman Steve Witkoff proposed a 60-day ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Under the plan, Hamas would release 10 live hostages on the first and seventh days of the truce, as well as return the bodies of 18 deceased. In exchange, Israel would free 125 Palestinians serving life sentences, 1,111 detainees held in the Gaza Strip, and return 180 bodies. At the time, Israel accepted the proposal, but Hamas rejected it, arguing that such a temporary deal would not guarantee a permanent ceasefire. This month, a similar proposal was put forward by Egypt and Qatar. However, Israel rejected it and instead began a full-scale operation to seize control of Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman, David Manser, declared that the government was no longer interested in partial agreements, saying, “Everything has changed.”

On August 19, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz confirmed the plan to occupy Gaza City, naming the operation “Gideon’s Chariots 2.” He announced that 130,000 reservists would be mobilized. At the same time, mass protests erupted across Israel. Hundreds of thousands—by some estimates nearly one million people—took to the streets of Tel Aviv and other cities on August 17, demanding Netanyahu sign an agreement with Hamas and secure the release of hostages. Despite the protests, on August 20, Israel launched its invasion of Gaza City. Army spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin confirmed that Israeli forces had taken control of the city’s outskirts and that 60,000 conscription notices would be issued immediately, with another 20,000 to follow later in the month.

Local media reports indicate that Israel’s offensive to capture the entire Gaza Strip is expected to continue into 2026. According to these reports, the mobilization of IDF reservists will take place in three waves—in September and November 2025, and in March 2026. The invasion will reportedly involve five divisions, 12 brigade combat groups, as well as the northern and southern brigades of the Gaza Division, along with three reserve brigades. At its peak, the number of reserve soldiers deployed will reach 130,000. The final plans for the Gaza occupation are expected to be presented to the Israeli government on August 21. Critics argue that Netanyahu’s ultimate goal is the complete destruction of Gaza.

The world’s ‘kindest judge’ has passed away

Frank Caprio, the American judge known globally as “the kindest” or “the fairest judge in the world,” died on August 20 at the age of 88 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Caprio became a household name for his compassionate, humane approach in the courtroom. Clips from his hearings went viral worldwide, showing his gentle humor and empathy—whether forgiving a fine for an elderly man who rushed his sick son to the hospital or showing leniency toward a young visitor from Uzbekistan who had unknowingly parked in an unmarked area.

Born in 1936, Caprio served as a judge on the Providence Municipal Court from 1985 until his retirement in 2023. His courtroom was featured in the television program "Caught in Providence", which aired from 2000 and was nominated for four Emmy Awards. His rulings and warm exchanges with defendants won him an international following. In December 2023, Caprio publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Despite his illness, he continued to inspire admiration until the very end of his life. During nearly four decades on the bench, Frank Caprio left a lasting legacy as a jurist, lawyer, politician, and public figure. He is remembered not only for his rulings but also for setting an example of justice tempered with kindness—an approach many in the legal profession regarded as a model to follow.