This edition of the newsletter, covers the recent Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul which have made limited progress, focusing mainly on humanitarian issues like prisoner exchanges and body repatriation. However, no agreement was reached on a ceasefire or summit between Presidents Zelenskyy and Putin. The U.S., under President Trump, has announced an August 8 deadline for a peace deal, warning of severe sanctions and tariffs if Russia fails to comply. While Ukraine urges a leadership summit, Russia insists on further groundwork. Meanwhile, the EU’s latest sanctions tighten economic pressure on Moscow. Despite continued dialogue, fundamental disagreements and escalating external pressure leave the peace process stalled and uncertain. In parallel, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Moscow. They agreed to reassess all bilateral agreements and expand cooperation on security, reconstruction, and trade. Russia reiterated support for Syria’s sovereignty and condemned recent Israeli airstrikes. Moscow emphasized inclusive, Syrian-led dialogue as key to long-term regional stability.
The Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi, India is an independent think tank on strategic studies and land warfare. The mandate of CLAWS covers national security issues, conventional military operations and sub-conventional warfare.