Negotiations between Trump and Putin Leave Ukrainians Pessimistic About Outcome
Trump-Putin Meeting in Alaska: Constructive Dialogue, No Immediate Resolution
In a historic meeting on August 15, 2025, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin convened in Alaska for a summit aimed at resolving the more than three-year-long invasion of Ukraine.
The discussions, which lasted about three and a half hours, ended without a ceasefire agreement or any immediate steps to end the war. However, both leaders described the summit as constructive and useful for advancing potential solutions.
Putin characterized the meeting as "timely and very useful," emphasizing frank discussions about the origins of the Ukraine crisis and the need to resolve its root causes for a settlement. Trump indicated that while many points were agreed upon, some issues remained unresolved and that he planned further discussions with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy[1][4].
The meeting produced no concrete business deals or immediate steps to end the war. The talks reflected two diplomatic tracks pursued by Trump: resetting US-Russia relations, including economic cooperation, and seeking to end the Ukraine conflict. Because no agreement on the war was reached, the economic discussions did not progress[3].
Following the summit, the US announced intentions to accelerate negotiations to end the war, with Trump positioning himself as a peacemaker. However, considerable complexity remained, and the path to peace was still uncertain[3].
While the meeting did not result in a breakthrough agreement on Ukraine, it served as a diplomatic foundation for future discussions. In Ukraine, residents like Olya Donik, a resident of Kharkiv, were not surprised by the outcome, while others like Iryna Derkach, a 50-year-old photographer in Kharkiv, continued to hold daily minutes of silence to honour the victims of the Russian invasion.
In Kharkiv, a modernist structure called Derzhprom was damaged by a strike last year, serving as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict. Despite this, Derkach and other residents continue to donate and help as much as they can. Pavlo Nebroev, a 38-year-old theatre manager in Kharkiv, viewed the meeting as a diplomatic victory for Putin but considered it a waste of time and believed issues concerning Ukraine should be resolved with Ukraine's participation.
Hours after the talks, Russia attacked Kharkiv with 85 drones and a ballistic missile, underscoring the complexity of the situation and the urgent need for a resolution.
[1] New York Times, "Trump and Putin Meet in Alaska, but No Breakthrough on Ukraine," August 16, 2025. [2] Washington Post, "Trump-Putin Meeting Ends without a Deal," August 16, 2025. [3] BBC News, "Trump-Putin Meeting: What Happened and What's Next?," August 16, 2025. [4] Associated Press, "Trump Says Discussions with Putin were 'Very Good,'" August 16, 2025.
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