Published TUESDAY August 19, 2025: 'Ukraine's ELUSIVE PEACE' by ZUMA Partner agency Le Pictorium photo-journalist Nicolas Cleuet: This week President Trump hosted Ukraine's Zelenskyy and key European leaders at the White House, but questions still remain around serious peace negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Washington is pushing for a security corridor protected by international and EU forces, with a certain degree of U.S. military, logistical and technological backing to deter Russia. It recalls the practical if imperfect decades-long status quo on the Korean Peninsula. The negotiations on Ukraine are no longer focused solely on how to stop the war but on how to keep it from breaking out again. That is why the United States is pushing for solid, not symbolic, security guarantees that could deter Moscow from new incursions. The idea of a Korean-style ''buffer zone,'' with borders secured by an international military presence, has returned to the heart of talks among President Trump, Ukrainian President Zelensky and European leaders in Washington. However as World Leaders try to broker peace, Russia's attacks on Ukraine continue. Welcome to 'Ukraine's ELUSIVE PEACE'
© zReportage.com Issue #1001 Story of the Week: Published TUESDAY August 19, 2025: 'Ukraine's ELUSIVE PEACE' by ZUMA Partner agency Le Pictorium photo-journalist Nicolas Cleuet: This week President Trump hosted Ukraine's Zelenskyy and key European leaders at the White House, but questions still remain around serious peace negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Washington is pushing for a security corridor protected by international and EU forces, with a certain degree of U.S. military, logistical and technological backing to deter Russia. It recalls the practical if imperfect decades-long status quo on the Korean Peninsula. The negotiations on Ukraine are no longer focused solely on how to stop the war but on how to keep it from breaking out again. That is why the United States is pushing for solid, not symbolic, security guarantees that could deter Moscow from new incursions. The idea of a Korean-style ''buffer zone,'' with borders secured by an international military presence, has returned to the heart of talks among President Trump, Ukrainian President Zelensky and European leaders in Washington. However as World Leaders try to broker peace, Russia's attacks on Ukraine continue. Welcome to 'Ukraine's ELUSIVE PEACE'
Rescuers carry a victim from a still burning residential building that was hit by a Russian missile attack. At 5am, five Shahed drones struck a residential building. Five people died, including an entire family and a one-year-old child.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Rescuers help an injured resident stilll covered in ash from a residential building that was hit by a Russian missile attack. At 5am, five Shahed drones struck a residential building. Five people died, including an entire family and a one-year-old child.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Residents peer from a basement bomb shelter after five Russian deployed Shahed drones struck a residential building. Five people died, including an entire family and a one-year-old child.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Two ladies walk away from the carnage after five Russian deployed Shahed drones struck a residential building, killing 5 people, including an entire family and a one-year-old child. Twenty people were also injured.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Firefighters battle a blaze after five Russian Shahed drones struck a residential building. Five people died, including an entire family and a one-year-old child.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Local residents evacuated from their homes, gather in the local park across from where a deadly Russian Hover bomb hit a residential district of Oleksyvka
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
View from inside a damaged apartment after a Russian hover bomb attack on the residential district of Oleksyvka
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
A family comfort each other outside their home after an early morning Russian attack. At 5am, five Shahed drones struck a residential building, 5 people died, including an entire family and a one-year-old child. Twenty people were also injured.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
The remains of a 40-year-old post office driver lays under a blanket after he was killed and 8 people were injured during a Russian rocket attack on a postal sorting center.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Forensic officers take DNA samples after a 500kg Russian planar bomb hit a postal sorting centre, Nova Poshta. A 40-year-old driver was killed instantly and 8 people were injured, 6 of them in a serious condition.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Two women walk past damaged building's two days after strikes on a building in the Novobavarsky district, residents are trying to get back to life amid Russia war on Ukraine.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Residents stand in the street after being evacuated from their homes after five Russian deployed Shahed drones struck a residential building. Five people died, including an entire family and a one-year-old child.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
People evacuated from their homes stand in street after a deadly Hover bomb attack on the residential district of Oleksyvka.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Residents take refuge in a basement bunker. Two days after the strikes on a building in the Novobavarsky district, residents are trying to get back to life while the emergency services are busy. The fire brigade is still looking for evidence, and volunteers are clearing the area.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Rubble and satellite TV dishes on a rooftop two days after Russian strikes on a building in the Novobavarsky district, where residents are trying to get back to daily life during war.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Two days after the strikes on a building in the Novobavarsky district, residents are trying to get back to life while the emergency services are busy. The fire brigade is still looking for evidence, and volunteers are clearing the area. The fire brigade discovered the remains of an eighth victim.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Rubble from a damaged building covers a parked car after a Russian attack. Shortly before midnight, five S300 anti-aircraft missiles hit the residential area of Novobavarsky. The first two were fired less than five minutes apart, resulting in a double strike that affected the emergency services. Five people were killed and 25 injured, including two children aged 12 and 11.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
A resident still wearing a dressing gown checks her cellphone while people search in rubble. Just before midnight, five S300 anti-aircraft missiles hit a residential area of Novobavarsky. Two rockets were fired less than five minutes apart, resulting in a double strike that slowed emergency services. One missile hit a five-storey building and destroyed three levels. Five people were killed and 25 injured, including two children aged 12 and 11.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
A victims blood covers the ground near a bus after a deadly Russian hover bomb attack on the residential district of Oleksyvka..
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
A Ukrainian service member reacts after two Russian 250kg gliding bombs hit the industrial district of Kholodnohirsky. The death toll was one, a woman who breathed her last in the hands of rescuers, and 12 people were injured.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Black smoke fills the air after the Saltyvka shopping centre was targeted by the Russian army. Two Kab gliding bombs hit a large construction and DIY shop. Nearly 200 people were shopping there when the alarm systems sounded.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Emergency crews search inside the smoke filled building after two S300 anti-aircraft missiles struck the site of a printing works in the south of Kharkiv. Five people were killed and a dozen injured.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Emergency worker inside the damaged building after two Russian 250kg gliding bombs hit the industrial district of Kholodnohirsky. One was 20m from a confectionery factory, the second on an irrigation equipment factory. The death toll was one, a woman who breathed her last in the hands of rescuers.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
A victim lays on the ground under a sheet next a shopping cart in the parking lot. At around 4pm on a Saturday, the Saltyvka shopping centre was targeted by the Russian army. Two Kab gliding bombs hit a large construction and DIY shop. Nearly 200 people were shopping there when the alarm systems sounded. At the end of the evening the provisional death toll was 6 and 16 missing.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
A victim is covered by a sheet by emergency services members after the Saltyvka shopping centre was targeted by the Russian army before dawn. Two Kab gliding bombs hit a large construction and DIY shop. Nearly 200 people were shopping there when the alarm systems sounded. At the end of the evening the provisional death toll was 6 and 16 missing.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
A women, visibly distraught is comforted by emergency crews after the Saltyvka shopping centre was targeted before dawn by the Russian army. Two Kab gliding bombs hit a large construction and DIY shop. Nearly 200 people were shopping there when the alarm systems sounded. At the end of the evening the provisional death toll was 6 and 16 missing.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
A victim is loaded into an ambulance after two Russian S300 anti-aircraft missiles struck the site of a printing works in the south of Kharkiv. Five people were killed and a dozen injured.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
Emergency crews work the scene at the Saltyvka shopping centre which was targeted by the Russian army. Two Kab gliding bombs hit a large construction and DIY shop. Nearly 200 people were shopping there when the alarm systems sounded. At the end of the evening the provisional death toll was 6 and 16 missing.
© Nicolas Cleuet/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press
