US President Donald Trump has pivoted his Ukraine war strategy towards securing a comprehensive peace agreement, after his much-anticipated summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska failed to deliver a ceasefire.
The two leaders met for three hours at a US air base on Friday in the first Russia-US presidential summit in over four years. Despite the warm words afterward, no breakthrough was achieved, with the war raging on and Russia pressing forward with fresh battlefield gains.
Trump’s Next Move: Zelensky in Washington
Flying back to Washington, Trump announced he would meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday and hinted at a potential Trump-Putin-Zelensky trilateral summit in the near future.
“Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, calling the Alaska talks “a great and very successful day.”
He stressed that “the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a peace agreement, not a mere ceasefire which often times does not hold up.”
While Trump had warned of “severe consequences” if Russia refused a ceasefire, he softened his stance afterward, telling Fox News: “Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now.”
Europe Steps Up Pressure
European leaders, initially wary of the summit, quickly rallied behind Trump’s plan for further talks that include Ukraine.
In a joint statement, leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, NATO, and the EU Commission pledged to tighten sanctions on Moscow until “a just and lasting peace” is reached.
“As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia’s war economy,” they said.
Putin Holds Firm
For Putin, the Alaska summit was his first trip to the West in a decade. He reiterated that only a full peace deal addressing the ‘root causes’ of the war would end hostilities.
Moscow’s demands remain unchanged: Ukraine must withdraw from four Russian-annexed regions, halt its NATO ambitions, and stop mobilising troops. Western sanctions must also be lifted. Kyiv has consistently rejected these terms.
At the joint press briefing, Putin struck a guardedly optimistic tone. “We hope that the understanding we have reached will pave the way for peace in Ukraine,” he said, before warning European allies not to “disrupt progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes intrigues.”
With a smile, he added in English: “Next time in Moscow.”
War Rages On
Even as the summit unfolded, Russia launched 85 attack drones and a ballistic missile overnight, according to Ukrainian officials. Meanwhile, Moscow claimed to have seized two more villages — Kolodyazi in Donetsk and Vorone in Dnipropetrovsk.
Zelensky, who was excluded from Friday’s talks, cautiously welcomed Trump’s efforts, saying: “It is important that America’s strength has an impact on the development of the situation.”
But analysts noted Trump’s shift may have given Putin breathing room. “Faced with stonewalling and historical lectures from Putin, Trump backed away again,” observed Daniel Fried, a former US ambassador now at the Atlantic Council.
For now, the Alaska summit delivered no ceasefire, only the prospect of another meeting — and perhaps the faint hope that the next round will bring Ukraine into the room.
