On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine should agree to a deal to end the war with Russia, stating, “Russia is a very big power, and they’re not.” This came after a summit with President Vladimir Putin that failed to produce a ceasefire. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up.”
Trump’s remarks followed his nearly three-hour meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday, the first US-Russia summit since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Analysts say the war, the deadliest in Europe in 80 years, has killed or wounded well over a million people from both sides, including thousands of mostly Ukrainian civilians.
Trump said he would hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House on Monday, adding, “If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin. Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved.” After a long conversation with Trump, Zelenskiy said Ukraine was ready for constructive cooperation and supported the idea of a trilateral meeting. He wrote on social media, “Ukraine reaffirms its readiness to work with maximum effort to achieve peace.” However, Putin did not mention a meeting with Zelenskiy, and Russian state news agency TASS quoted Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov as saying that a three-way summit had not been discussed.
Security Guarantees
In a post-summit interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump suggested he and Putin had discussed potential land swaps and security guarantees for Ukraine. “I think those are points that we largely have agreed on,” Trump said. “I think we’re pretty close to a deal,” he added, but noted, “Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they’ll say no.” When asked what he would advise Zelenskiy, Trump said, “Gotta make a deal,” adding, “Look, Russia is a very big power, and they’re not.”
Zelenskiy has repeatedly stressed the importance of security guarantees for Kyiv as part of any deal to deter future invasions. After his call with Trump, he said, “We also discussed positive signals from the American side regarding participation in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security.”
Before the summit, Trump had set a ceasefire as a goal and said he would not be happy without one. Putin did not shift Russia’s long-held positions but agreed with Trump that Ukraine’s security must be “ensured.” He stated, “We are ready to work on this. I would like to hope that the understanding we have reached will allow us to get closer to that goal and open the way to peace in Ukraine.” Neither leader took questions during their brief media appearance. Putin added, “We expect that Kyiv and the European capitals will perceive all of this in a constructive manner and not create any obstacles.” For Putin, the face-to-face meeting with the US president was a diplomatic victory, as he had been ostracized by Western leaders since the war began.
‘1-0 for Putin’
Some commentators, especially in Europe, reacted harshly. Wolfgang Ischinger, a former German ambassador to the US, posted on X: “Putin got his red carpet treatment with Trump, while Trump got nothing. As feared: no ceasefire, no peace.” He added, “No real progress — a clear 1-0 for Putin — no new sanctions. For the Ukrainians: nothing. For Europe: deeply disappointing.” Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said Trump seemed to be shifting most of the responsibility to Kyiv and Europe while reserving a role for himself. However, she noted that Putin did not succeed in getting Trump to publicly side with him and pressure Kyiv as much as he had hoped.
Cold War historian Sergey Radchenko wrote, “Putin is a determined opponent, and, yes, he basically won this round because he got something for nothing. Still, Trump did not sell out Ukraine.” After Trump returned to Washington, the White House said he spoke to NATO leaders following his conversation with Zelenskiy. Espen Barth Eide, Norway’s foreign minister, said, “We must continue to put pressure on Russia, and even increase it.” Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said the summit confirmed that “Putin is not seeking peace, but rather an opportunity to weaken Western unity and spread his propaganda.”
‘Next time in Moscow’
Both Russia and Ukraine conducted overnight air attacks, a daily occurrence in the 3.5-year war. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 85 drones and a ballistic missile, with air defense units destroying 61 of them. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported 139 clashes on the front line. Russia said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed 29 Ukrainian drones.
Trump told Fox he would hold off on imposing tariffs on China for buying Russian oil after making progress with Putin, but did not mention India, another major buyer. He said, “Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now.” Trump ended his remarks on Friday by telling Putin, “I’d like to thank you very much, and we’ll speak to you very soon and probably see you again very soon.” A smiling Putin responded in English, “Next time in Moscow.” Trump said he might “get a little heat on that one” but could “possibly see it happening.”
