ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 9, 2025

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• The Trump Administration has described Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reported demands for a ceasefire in Ukraine in four different ways since August 6. The exact details of Putin’s position remain unclear.
• The only element of Putin’s reported position common to all reports is Putin’s continued demand for Ukraine to withdraw from unoccupied areas of Donetsk Oblast — a major Ukrainian concession.
• Ukrainian and European officials reportedly presented a counterproposal to US officials on August 9 as European officials continue to issue statements of support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• Russian officials welcomed the announcement that US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska on August 15 and referenced Russian narratives about Russia’s historical claims to Alaska.
• Ukraine continues its long-range drone strike campaign against Russian military and defense industrial base (DIB) facilities.
• Russian milbloggers claimed that the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) replaced Northern Grouping of Forces and Leningrad Military District (LMD) Commander Colonel General Alexander Lapin with Chief of Staff of the Russian Ground Forces Colonel General Yevgeny Nikiforov.
• Ukrainian forces advanced near Kupyansk.

Authors: Angelica Evans, Anna Harvey, Daria Novikov, Jennie Olmsted, and Frederick W. Kagan.

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