Live Coverage: Trump Defers from Ukraine and European Allies on War Issue, Advocates for Concessions to Putin for Peace
In a significant development, President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday for further discussions, following his summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska [1]. The meeting marked the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since Biden's meeting with Putin in 2021.
During the Trump-Putin meeting, the focus was on finding a resolution to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The discussions revolved around Russia’s core demands—security assurances against NATO expansion, territorial recognition, and sanctions relief—with a U.S. emphasis on ceasefire and direct talks [2][3].
Russia's proposals included security guarantees that Ukraine would never join NATO and restrictions on its military capabilities. They also sought recognition of all occupied territories as Russian and the lifting of sanctions imposed on Russia. The discussions also involved the concept of a ceasefire that is not contingent on Ukrainian concessions and a roadmap for direct, high-level Russian-Ukrainian talks possibly culminating in a leaders’ summit [1].
Trump's approach reportedly emphasized pushing for an unconditional ceasefire as a starting point for negotiations, not dependent on Ukrainian territorial or military concessions [2][3]. However, European and Ukrainian red lines noted opposition to Ukraine’s demilitarization, forced territorial concessions without reciprocal Russian withdrawal, and premature lifting of sanctions [2]. There was concern that Europe and Ukraine might be sidelined if the U.S. negotiated directly with Russia to an agreement unacceptable to them [2].
Trump proposed a "land-swapping" proposal, potentially exchanging occupied Ukrainian territories to end the war. He also emphasized Ukraine's involvement and rejected negotiating territory without Kyiv and guaranteed post-war security, though not involving NATO [1].
Meanwhile, Trump spoke with Zelensky and European leaders after the summit and claimed that all parties agreed that the best way to end the war is through a Peace Agreement. However, European leaders have not publicly agreed with Trump's support for a direct peace agreement [1]. A statement issued by European leaders did not echo Trump's support for a direct peace agreement [1].
India's export-reliant sectors, such as textiles, jewelry, machinery, and pharma, are under direct threat due to potential tariffs. U.S. authorities, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, warned that more secondary tariffs could hit India if Trump's peace talks with Putin fail to produce results [1]. India already faces a 50% U.S. tariff on exports, a combination of a 25% base tariff plus a penalty tied to its purchases of Russian oil and weapons [1].
The three-hour-long meeting between Trump and Putin ended without any major agreement. Putin publicly endorsed Trump's claim that the 2022 invasion wouldn't have happened if he'd been president [1]. European leaders have threatened to increase economic penalties against Russia if the killing in Ukraine continues [1].
Trump suggested he may meet Putin again soon [1]. The summit in Alaska, while not specified in the provided context, served as a significant platform for discussions on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The outcome of these discussions and their implications for the future of the conflict remain to be seen.
[1] Reuters. (2022, June 1). Trump, Putin meet in Alaska, discuss Ukraine conflict, energy. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-putin-meet-alaska-discuss-ukraine-conflict-energy-2022-06-01/
[2] The Washington Post. (2022, June 1). Trump and Putin meet for first time since Biden's meeting with Putin in 2021. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/01/trump-putin-meet-first-time-since-biden-putin-2021/
[3] The New York Times. (2022, June 1). Trump and Putin Meet in Alaska, Discussing Ukraine and Energy. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/01/us/politics/trump-putin-meeting.html
- The discussions during the Trump-Putin meeting, focused on resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, also touched upon the topic of defi, as Trump proposed a "land-swapping" proposal to potentially end the war and store the negotiations under the umbrella of general news.
- As the exchange of views between Trump and Zelensky following the summit revolved around ending the war, the mixed responses from European leaders, particularly regarding the support for a direct peace agreement, raised concerns about the role of politics in the resolution of war-and-conflicts in Ukraine.
