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On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Ukraine should agree to a peace deal with Russia, emphasizing that “Russia is a very big power, and they’re not,” after a summit with President Vladimir Putin that did not produce a ceasefire.
He expressed on Truth Social that “the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to negotiate a comprehensive Peace Agreement, which would put an end to the conflict altogether, rather than a simple Ceasefire Agreement that often fails to hold.”
The meeting with Putin on Friday in Alaska lasted nearly three hours, marking the first U.S.-Russia summit since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This war, the deadliest in Europe in eight decades, has resulted in over a million casualties, including thousands of Ukrainian civilians, according to analysts.
Trump announced plans for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House on Monday, suggesting: “If everything goes well, we’ll also arrange a meeting with President Putin. Potentially, this could save millions of lives.”
Zelenskiy, after a lengthy discussion with Trump following the Alaska talks, stated Ukraine is prepared for constructive cooperation and supports a trilateral meeting. He tweeted, “Ukraine reaffirms its commitment to working diligently toward peace.”
However, earlier in the day, Putin made no mention of a meeting with Zelenskiy, and Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told TASS news agency that the idea of a three-way summit had not been discussed.
During a post-summit interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump suggested that the leaders had discussed potential land swaps and security guarantees for Ukraine, saying, “I believe those are points we’ve negotiated and largely agreed upon.”
He added, “We’re close to an agreement,” but highlighted that Ukraine would have to agree, acknowledging they might refuse. When asked what advice he would give Zelenskiy, Trump said, “You gotta make a deal.”
Trump pointed out that Russia remains a significant power with capable soldiers, and emphasized the importance of security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent future invasions. Zelenskiy has consistently stressed the need for such guarantees to deter Russia.
Following a call with Trump, Zelenskiy expressed optimism about Ukraine’s willingness to cooperate for peace and supported a trilateral summit idea. Conversely, Putin did not signal intention for a meeting with Zelenskiy and stressed that Russia is prepared to work toward security assurances, hoping that Kyiv and European capitals will perceive efforts constructively and avoid provoking setbacks.
Putin regarded the face-to-face meeting with the U.S. president as a diplomatic win, especially after being isolated by Western leaders since the war began. Just a week earlier, he faced the threat of new sanctions from Trump.
European analysts commented critically — Wolfgang Ischinger, a former German ambassador, stated, “Putin received a red carpet treatment with Trump, while Trump gained nothing. No ceasefire, no peace. It’s a clear win for Putin but a disappointment for Ukraine and Europe.”
Tatiana Stanovaya from the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center observed that Trump seems to be shifting responsibility onto Kyiv and Europe, while still reserving a role for himself. She believes Putin did not succeed in getting Trump to publicly side with him and pressure Kyiv as hoped.
Historian Sergey Radchenko commented that Putin, as a determined opponent, effectively “won this round by getting something for nothing,” but noted that Trump did not betray Ukraine.
After leaving the summit, the White House said Trump spoke with NATO leaders, including Norway’s foreign minister, who insisted that pressure on Russia must continue or even increase. Czech officials acknowledged that the summit did not significantly progress toward ending the conflict but confirmed that Putin’s goal appears to be weakening Western unity and spreading propaganda.
Both Russia and Ukraine conducted overnight aerial attacks—an ongoing aspect of the conflict. Ukraine’s Air Force reported Russia launched 85 attack drones and a ballistic missile, destroying 61; Ukrainian forces responded by intercepting many of these threats.
Trump informed Fox News he would delay tariffs on Chinese goods following recent progress with Putin, remarking, “Because of what happened today, I don’t need to think about that now.” He mentioned possibly revisiting tariffs in a few weeks.
Closing his remarks, Trump thanked Putin and suggested a future meeting in Moscow, which Putin responded to with a smile, saying, “Next time in Moscow.” Trump added that he might get some heat for the idea but considered it a possibility.
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