Trump Shifts Stance on Ukraine War, Proposes Peace Deal Over Ceasefire After Alaska Summit with Putin
A dramatic shift in approach to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine unfolded over the weekend, as U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a preference for negotiating a comprehensive peace agreement with Russia, rather than pursuing a ceasefire. This reversal, aligning him with the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, came after a summit in Alaska that yielded no immediate progress toward halting the fighting.
Following calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump announced via social media that “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.” This marks a departure from previous calls for a ceasefire as a first step toward de-escalation.
The change in strategy has raised concerns among analysts, who suggest it could allow Moscow to continue its military operations while engaging in negotiations. “Trump’s thinking is shifting towards Putin,” stated a senior fellow at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London, adding that this approach would “allow Moscow to keep fighting while negotiating.”
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Trump in Washington on Monday, marking his first visit to the U.S. since a contentious Oval Office meeting in February where Trump publicly criticized the Ukrainian leader as “disrespectful.” During that meeting, Trump reportedly berated Zelenskyy, a dynamic that casts a shadow over the upcoming discussions.
Trump has also indicated a willingness to meet with Putin following the meeting with Zelenskyy, stating that a meeting would occur “if all works out.” The Alaska summit, where Putin was hosted with a “red carpet” reception, produced little in the way of concrete agreements, though Trump described the discussions as having “went very well.” Prior to the summit, Trump warned of “very severe consequences” for Russia should Putin not agree to end the war.
Zelenskyy has emphasized the importance of European involvement in securing a lasting resolution. “It is important that Europeans are involved at every stage to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America,” he said, highlighting the need for a unified international front. He also noted previous discussions regarding a potential foreign troop presence in Ukraine, which was put on hold due to a lack of U.S. support.
During the Alaska summit, Trump reportedly adopted a position of “there’s no deal until there’s a deal,” after Putin claimed an “understanding” had been reached regarding Ukraine. Trump subsequently suggested the onus for progress now lies with Zelenskyy, though he acknowledged a role for European nations. Major European leaders, in a joint statement, expressed their readiness to work with both Trump and Zelenskyy toward a “trilateral summit with European support,” emphasizing that “Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees” and that “International borders must not be changed by force.”
However, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas offered a stark assessment of Russia’s intentions, stating, “the harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon.” She pointed to continued Russian attacks even during the summit as evidence of Moscow’s lack of commitment to de-escalation. Ukrainian and Russian forces are currently engaged along a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, with Russian troops making territorial gains since the spring.
A director of international security at the London-based Royal United Services Institute described Putin’s primary goal at the Alaska summit as “stalling any pressure on Russia to end the war,” adding that the outcome represents a “mission accomplished” for Moscow.
Zelenskyy voiced support for Trump’s proposal for a trilateral meeting involving the U.S. and Russia, believing that “key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders.” However, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser indicated that such a meeting has not yet been discussed in U.S.-Russia talks. Zelenskyy also stated via X that sanctions should be strengthened if a trilateral meeting does not materialize or if Russia attempts to avoid a genuine resolution to the conflict.
Russian officials and media have presented a positive view of the summit, portraying it as a symbolic end to Putin’s isolation on the world stage. A former Russian president praised the talks as a breakthrough in restoring dialogue between Moscow and Washington, describing them as “calm, without ultimatums and threats.”
One former British ambassador to Russia cautioned that unless Putin believes he cannot achieve military victory, the fighting will continue. “That’s the big takeaway from the Anchorage summit,” the ambassador stated.
Fighting continued overnight, with Ukraine’s air force reporting the interception of 61 out of 85 Shahed drones launched by Russia, along with one ballistic missile. Attacks targeted areas in Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Chernihiv. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 29 Ukrainian drones over Russia and the Sea of Azov.
