• US VP JD Vance states a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine will leave both sides "unhappy."
• Trump to meet with Putin before discussions with Zelenskyy are arranged.
• Vance acknowledges overcoming a key diplomatic hurdle with Putin's agreement to meet Zelenskyy.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance emphasized that any negotiated settlement between Russia and Ukraine is unlikely to satisfy either side, stating, "Both the Russians and the Ukrainians, probably, at the end of the day, are going to be unhappy with it." He elaborated that the U.S. is seeking a settlement that both countries can accept, while acknowledging the inherent challenges of the situation, according to Reuters and Dawn.

Vance confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska, aiming to negotiate an end to the ongoing war. Trump hinted that the two nations are close to a ceasefire, although it may necessitate Ukraine surrendering some territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, asserted that Ukraine cannot violate its constitution regarding territorial integrity, stressing that "Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupiers," according to Anadolu Agency and India Times.

During a Fox News interview, Vance stated that while the U.S. is facilitating discussions among the leaders, he does not think it would be productive for Putin to meet with Zelenskyy before their talks with Trump take place. He highlighted that a diplomatic breakthrough has already occurred, as Trump managed to convince Putin to agree to engage with Zelenskyy, a significant shift from previous stances, according to TRT Global and HuffPost.

Amid these discussions, the conflict continues, with reports of a recent Ukrainian drone attack in Russia's Tula region, emphasizing the ongoing violence that complicates peace efforts. The Russian Defense Ministry indicated that 27 drones were intercepted during the attack, highlighting the precarious security environment surrounding peace negotiations, according to TRT Global.