It's easy to forget Russian and Ukrainian soldiers continue to fight for every inch of frontline territory in Ukraine, and the world feels like it has moved on.

In the middle of July, US President Donald Trump gave the Kremlin an ultimatum: agree to a peaceful cessation to the war in Ukraine in 50 days or face the prospect of Washington imposing 100 percent tariffs on Russia,

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met in Istanbul on Wednesday for their first peace talks in more than seven weeks, with Moscow under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to strike a deal or face tough new sanctions.