U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Ukraine should “make a deal” to end the war with Russia because “Russia is a very big power, and they’re not,” comments that followed a summit where Vladimir Putin was reported to have demanded further Ukrainian territory.
Putin’s Offer Reported in Alaska Meeting
After their meeting in Alaska on Friday, Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Putin had offered to freeze most front lines if Kyiv ceded all of Donetsk — the industrial region that has been one of Moscow’s primary objectives — a person familiar with the talks said. Zelenskiy rejected the demand, the source added. Russia already controls about one-fifth of Ukraine, including roughly three-quarters of Donetsk province, territory it first entered in 2014.
Shift from Ceasefire to a “Peace Agreement”
Trump also said he agreed with Putin that negotiators should seek a peace agreement rather than first insisting on a ceasefire, a change from his earlier position before the summit when he had said he would be unhappy unless a ceasefire were secured. “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 oftentimes do not hold up,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Zelenskiy Stresses the Need to Stop the Killing
Zelenskiy warned that Russia’s unwillingness to pause the fighting would complicate prospects for lasting peace. “Stopping the killing is a key element of stopping the war,” he wrote on X. He confirmed he would meet Trump in Washington on Monday.
Possible Three-Way Meeting and a Fraught Recent History
The planned Washington meeting recalls a February encounter in the Oval Office, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly rebuked Zelenskiy. Trump suggested a three-way meeting with Putin and Zelenskiy could follow.
International Reactions
Kyiv’s European allies welcomed Trump’s outreach but reiterated their commitment to support Ukraine and to tighten sanctions on Russia. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said European leaders might join Monday’s White House meeting. Some commentators were sharply critical of the Alaska summit; former German ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger wrote on X that “Putin got his red carpet treatment with Trump, while Trump got nothing.”
The Human Cost and the Stalemate
Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022 and has pressed gradual advances since. Analysts estimate the conflict — the deadliest in Europe in eight decades — has caused well over a million casualties (killed or wounded) on both sides, including thousands of mostly Ukrainian civilians. Moscow maintains that a full settlement will be difficult because the parties’ positions are “diametrically opposed.”
Positions and Prospects
Putin showed no sign of altering Russia’s long-standing demands, which include a veto over Kyiv’s aspirations to join NATO. He made no public reference to meeting Zelenskiy; Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said a three-way summit had not been discussed. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump said he and Putin had discussed land transfers and security guarantees for Ukraine and were “largely agreed.” “I think we’re pretty close to a deal,” Trump said, adding: “Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they’ll say ‘no’.” Asked what he would advise Zelenskiy, Trump replied: “Gotta make a deal.” He added: “Look, Russia is a very big power, and they’re not.”
Zelenskiy has repeatedly said he cannot cede territory without constitutional changes and regards Donetsk’s fortified cities — such as Sloviansk and Kramatorsk — as vital bulwarks against further Russian advances. He has also insisted on robust security guarantees to deter future aggression; he said he and Trump discussed “positive signals” about possible U.S. participation and stressed that Ukraine needs a durable peace, not “just another pause” between invasions.
Additional Diplomatic Notes
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed Trump’s openness to security guarantees for Ukraine under a peace deal, calling such guarantees “essential to any just and lasting peace.” Putin, who has opposed the deployment of foreign ground forces, said he agreed with Trump that Ukraine’s security must be “ensured.”
For Putin, simply meeting Trump represented a diplomatic gain after Western ostracism since the outbreak of the war. After returning to Washington, Trump spoke with European leaders, many of whom stressed the need to maintain pressure on Russia. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said an end to the war seemed closer than ever, crediting Trump, but warned he would impose further sanctions on Russia if hostilities continued.
Both Russia and Ukraine conducted overnight air strikes while fighting persisted along the front. Trump told Fox he would delay imposing tariffs on China over purchases of Russian oil but said he might reconsider in two or three weeks. After the summit, Trump told Putin, “We’ll speak to you very soon and probably see you again very soon.” “Next time in Moscow,” Putin replied with a smile in English.
