(links to video meeting of Pres. Trump with Zelensky in comments + contrasting view by Alexander Mercouris July 8 link)

President Trump’s Key Ukraine Points in the Zelensky Meeting Both Putin and Zelensky want a settlement.
13:20–13:41 — Trump said Zelensky “wants to see a settlement” and that he thinks Putin also “wants to see a settlement.”

**The war is producing massive monthly losses. **
20:58–21:14 — Trump said “25,000 people” were lost “last month,” but he did not clarify whether he meant deaths only or total casualties.

Ukraine has “brave people” using U.S. equipment effectively.
 20:13–20:29 — Trump praised Ukraine’s use of American equipment and said “you have a lot of brave people” using it. This helps explain why he later talks about Ukraine producing drones and Patriots.

The U.S. may license Patriot missile production instead of only sending limited U.S. stockpiles.
 24:52–27:08 — Trump said the U.S. would “give them the right to make Patriots,” “show them how to do it,” and “give a license” to make them.

Trump said the U.S. would buy Ukrainian-made drones. 
43:33–44:10 — He said, “We would buy their drones,” praising Ukraine’s ability to produce large numbers of drones even under wartime conditions. I would include this because it connects directly to the Patriot-production point.

Security guarantees would be part of a peace deal.
 38:43–39:23; 42:04–42:19 — Trump said the U.S. would work with Europe on “some kind of a security package” and later said a security guarantee is “very important.”

Trump said he would visit Ukraine at the right time.
 40:27–40:54 — Asked if he would go to Ukraine, Trump said, “I would,” but added he would rather have the war over first and would go “at the right time.”

Alexander Mercouris Analysis Russia now views the conflict as a full-scale war with the West, not merely a "special military operation." 5:26–6:16 Peskov: "It is not a special military operation anymore. It is a war, a full-scale war." Mercouris: "An upgrade of the special military operation is coming."

Mercouris believes the Kremlin now expects the war to be decided militarily rather than through negotiations. 10:45–11:10 "They have completely written off the possibility of a negotiated resolution... It is now going to be decided on the battlefield."

Russia's stated condition for lasting peace is a new European security architecture. 7:43–8:05 "A final settlement... is only possible... about a new security architecture in Europe."

Mercouris disagrees with Trump's assessment that peace is near. 18:52–20:01 Trump (quoted): "Both men do indeed want peace." Mercouris: "I don't believe that it is true now."

Russia appears to be shifting its drone campaign toward systematically attacking Ukrainian logistics and rail networks. 21:09–31:29 Mercouris argues this could gradually choke Ukrainian supply lines if sustained.

Overall assessment: Mercouris believes current Western policy will not change the military outcome and predicts a more severe Ukrainian defeat if the conflict continues. 40:18–40:43 "Ukraine's defeat... is going to be even more catastrophic..."