US President Donald Trump expressed hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to reach a peace deal on Ukraine during their upcoming summit in Alaska. Speaking in an interview one day before the meeting, Trump indicated a second, more important meeting would follow, involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, aiming to finalize agreements for peace.
Trump described the Alaska summit as a setup for subsequent talks, signaling that any serious deal would come at this trilateral meeting. He cautiously noted a 25% chance the Alaska meeting might not succeed but remained hopeful that it would lead to a reduction in hostilities, enabling constructive dialogue over security guarantees and territorial disputes.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored that while the summit could halt fighting temporarily, a comprehensive resolution to the war would require more time and extended negotiations. Meanwhile, the Kremlin warned not to expect any formal agreements or joint statements immediately following the Alaska talks, highlighting the complexity of the issues at hand.
Russian President Putin praised the Trump administration for making “energetic and sincere efforts” to end the conflict, suggesting that peace efforts might also include talks on nuclear arms control, following Russia's 2023 suspension of the New START treaty.
Despite optimism from Trump and Putin, Ukrainian officials remain wary, rejecting proposals such as territorial swaps that Putin demands as prerequisites for peace a point hotly contested by Zelenskyy and Western leaders. European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, emphasize the principle that borders must not be altered by force and warn that sanctions will increase if Russia resists a ceasefire.
The summit is closely watched globally, as it could reshape the trajectory of the war in Ukraine amidst decades of conflict and diplomatic strain. The planned trilateral talks mark a key diplomatic effort to bridge divides, though the outcome remains uncertain amid entrenched positions.