Could Trump compel Putin towards negotiating a truce?
In the aftermath of the USA-Russia summit held in Alaska in August 2025, peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have stalled, with little progress made. The meeting between President Trump and Russian President Putin did not yield a breakthrough, and plans for a direct meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy remain blocked by Russia.
The negotiations have come to a standstill due to deep-seated disagreements over Russia’s demands, such as recognition of all occupied land as Russian, denial of Ukraine joining NATO, and lifting of sanctions, and Ukraine’s requirements, which include full Russian withdrawal, war crimes prosecution, and security guarantees.
Despite renewed negotiation efforts since Trump’s presidency began in 2025 and some alignment of the US administration with Russian proposals, European countries remain more aligned with Ukraine’s position. They advocate for a ceasefire enforced by an international coalition, a proposal that Russia has refused.
Putin’s Kremlin views a direct meeting with Zelenskyy as politically risky domestically and therefore unlikely in the near term, effectively rejecting immediate bilateral talks. Ukraine, on the other hand, remains willing to negotiate but accuses Russia of stalling and continuing its military offensives.
Meanwhile, US and European military planners are discussing long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, including weapons deliveries and intelligence sharing, but these do not yet constitute a peace agreement framework.
The situation on the ground is dire, with Ukraine under heavy pressure at several front sections in eastern and southern Ukraine. Shortages of soldiers due to recruitment problems and widespread desertion often lead to Russian territorial gains. If the Russian army manages to break through the front between Kostiantynivka and Pokrovsk and advance the approximately 40 kilometers to the Cherkasy region, the remaining northern part of the Donetsk region will be at risk.
President Trump is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin in the US state of Alaska for the first time since returning to office. Trump wants to end the Russian war against Ukraine as soon as possible and is calling for a ceasefire. He wants Putin and Zelensky to meet, and he would facilitate this if needed.
Putin has rejected an unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire demanded by Ukraine and Trump. He aims to normalize Russian-American relations and eliminate the root causes of the conflict, demanding that Ukraine renounce NATO membership and guarantee extensive rights for its Russian-speaking population.
Trump has announced that he will inform Zelensky and the Europeans after the summit about the next steps. Putin insists on an end to Western arms supplies to Ukraine and a halt to its mobilization. He may offer a ceasefire for air strikes in his talks with Trump, potentially expanding the pause previously agreed for drone and missile attacks on energy facilities in the spring.
Russia seeks to institutionalize direct negotiations with Ukraine, proposing the creation of three working groups on political, military, and humanitarian issues. Russia has proposed a memorandum that Ukrainian forces completely withdraw from the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions in exchange for a ceasefire. The situation in the city of Kostiantynivka to the north is also deteriorating.
Despite these challenges, both parties continue to express their willingness to negotiate and find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. The international community hopes that the next steps, to be announced by Trump after the summit, will bring a much-needed breakthrough in the peace process.
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