Trump meets Putin without securing a ceasefire

Trump pressed for a ceasefire at a summit with Putin but left Alaska pursuing a broader peace deal and facing questions about diplomatic strength.

Trump meets Putin without securing a ceasefire

NEW YORK AP — President Donald Trump met Vladimir Putin at a high profile summit in Alaska, pressing for a ceasefire and warning of severe sanctions if Russia did not halt its assault in Ukraine. By the end of the talks, Trump appeared to abandon the ceasefire demand in favor of pursuing a direct peace agreement, a stance that aligned with Putin’s position. After talks with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump said a peace agreement is the best path forward, not a temporary ceasefire.

Details of what was discussed were not disclosed, and the White House did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday. European leaders expressed relief that the United States did not concede territory or prioritize a deal that favored Moscow. The meeting nonetheless gave Putin a platform to reemerge on the global stage and may buy time for Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.

Commentators noted the strategic risk for Washington. Fiona Hill, a former adviser on Russia, said Trump left the meeting in a weaker international position, doubting his perceived influence and warning that allies will reassess U.S. leverage. She argued that Trump was seeking to persuade but did not secure the one thing he had been pressing for, even with a symbolic reception and the red-carpet treatment.

The Alaska summit reveals the fragility of diplomacy when a leader’s leverage rests on a singular demand. Trump’s pivot from a ceasefire to a broader peace framework mirrors a broader U.S. approach that favors dialogue but risks details slipping through the cracks. Putin gains a public win by reasserting himself in talks with Washington, while Trump’s domestic critics argue the episode exposes a gap between rhetoric and decisive action. If the administration cannot convert talk into verifiable steps, public confidence in U.S. diplomacy could erode even as allies urge patience. The episode underscores how diplomacy today must balance press coverage, domestic politics, and long term strategy in a volatile conflict.

Looking ahead, the next phase will test whether a trilateral approach with Zelenskyy and European partners can translate into concrete terms and enforceable commitments, or if the summit merely paused fighting without changing its trajectory.

Highlights

The outcome will shape how Washington negotiates leverage with Moscow in the months ahead.