National Correspondent Robert Sherman has found himself on the frontlines of some of the world’s biggest stories: from Ukraine to Israel and across the United States. He shares what he’s seeing on the ground. Subscribe to his newsletter: Frontlines with Robert Sherman here.
() — It’s deadline day for Russia.
President Trump has made clear that Russia must move towards peace. If they don’t, economic sanctions and secondary tariffs will come down. We’ve already seen the White House upping the tariff rate on India by 25% earlier this week for their purchases of Russian oil.
How are things on the ground ahead of this deadline? Well, multiple times throughout the day here, air raid sirens have blared in Kyiv. That includes during my live report for ” Live with Marni Hughes.”
Does that mean we won’t see something happen later in the day? No. It’s common in the hours before a ceasefire goes into effect for there to be an increase in military operations. It’s military strategy. While there’s still time on the clock, try and knock out as many of the enemy’s positions as possible.
But it’s clear that we’re also not across the finish line.
President Trump said Thursday in the Oval Office, “It’s going to be up to [President Putin] and we’re going to see what he has to say,” and that he was “very disappointed.”
Still, as the president puts the ball squarely into Russia’s court, the door is open for diplomacy. A sit-down between President Trump and President Putin looks likely in the coming days, though details are sparse on the when and where.
As all of this goes on, the Ukrainians want to make sure they have a seat at the table. President Zelenskyy said in his Thursday evening address, “It is just that Ukraine be a participant in the negotiations. Russia’s war is against Ukraine, against our independence as the embodiment of the independence of every European nation. So the format of meetings, of leaders’ meetings, is, in particular, a trilateral format. And we discussed this in detail yesterday several bilateral formats, the trilateral format, all the options.”
Russia’s terms for peace are steep. Demilitarization in Ukraine, guarantees Ukraine won’t pursue NATO membership and territorial relinquishments that include cities and communities Russia doesn’t even occupy right now. A recent survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology here in Ukraine found 76% of Ukrainians reject such terms.
So there will have to be some serious negotiations to get Russia into dealmaking territory, as presently, the gaps to bridge are wide.
Could the pressures put on Russia by the White House make a difference? Absolutely. Or, they could backfire.
The prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, posted this on X today: “Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine. We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year.”
The president described Russia as “wily” when it comes to their ability to avoid tariffs and sanctions, and it’s clear Russia is looking for a safety valve in its trade partner India.
Adding to all of that, there is inherent distrust on the ground here for Russia. As a result, people in Ukraine do not have much optimism Russia is serious about making a deal, which is why folks are not getting their hopes up.
Pressures are colliding, and whether it pushes to the negotiating table over away remains to be seen.
This week, we’ve shared some exclusive reporting out of Ukraine, which we will take an even deeper dive into on our Saturday night special this week, “Ukraine: On the Frontlines,” that I will co-host with Natasha Zouaves live from Ukraine. I hope you will join us Saturday, August 9, at 8 p.m. ET on for that.
That will include some of our reporting inside a Ukrainian drone workshop near the frontlines where modern warfare is evolving rapidly. Is the United States ready for the new era? The Ukrainians say “no.”
We’ve also showcased the people in Ukraine who defend the skies from Russia’s drones, the “Witches of Bucha.” They’re a near all-female group of volunteers who by day have their “normal” jobs but at night shoot down drones. It’s a fascinating look inside the all-hands-on-deck mentality here in Ukraine.
And once more, thank you for all of your support surrounding my book “Lessons from the Front.” It’s been a blessing to see a renewed interest in my reporting from Ukraine this week. As I’ve said before, the day Russia invaded Ukraine and I was on a plane to Europe, my life changed forever. For those stories and more, you can preorder my book through Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Bloomsbury.
