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ConflictsUkraine

Air truce floated as possible outcome of Trump-Putin summit

Ralph Martin
August 15, 2025

One suggestion that has come up in the run-up to the summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is the idea of an air truce, in which both sides would halt airstrikes. But it is not clear how any such agreement could work.

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In recent months, Russia has launched its most intense airstrikes of the war, while Ukraine counters with drone attacks on Russian airfields, ammo depots, and airports deep behind enemy lines. A proposed air truce could halt these strikes, potentially sparing civilians, but it’s unclear if it would apply to frontline combat, where Russia relies on artillery, drones, and glide bombs to advance. The truce could limit Ukraine’s ability to hit strategic Russian targets, affecting its leverage in the conflict.