Potential ceasefire in Ukraine if Trump adheres to Putin summit script

The much-anticipated summit between President Trump and President Putin is set to take place on Friday in Alaska, with a ceasefire in Ukraine potentially hanging in the balance. According to sources, if Trump adheres to the script, a ceasefire could be realized.

The security for both leaders has been tight. The European round of discussions was held in a secure, soundproof room at the German Chancellery. The meeting with Donald Trump, however, was audio only.

In the lead-up to the summit, virtual meetings were held amongst Ukraine’s European allies, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen, NATO's top official, and U.S. President Donald Trump. These discussions focused on advancing peace talks and security guarantees for Ukraine amid a long stalemate in the war triggered by Russia’s invasion.

The key outcomes of these meetings were as follows:

A virtual meeting (co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer) was held to update each other on recent developments and coordinate next steps after a earlier Washington meeting with Trump and Zelenskyy.
European leaders voiced support for a ceasefire and the idea of a trilateral meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin, although Putin was reluctant to agree to such talks.
Trump indicated a willingness to provide U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, an important element of ensuring its long-term sovereignty, but he did not specify details about these guarantees.
The meeting underscored challenges ahead, as Russia showed little interest in meaningful peace commitments and continued aggressive military actions, including missile strikes on Ukraine.
While there was cautious hope for a breakthrough, with Geneva proposed as a possible peace talks venue and discussions about territorial concessions up to Ukraine, Western leaders remained wary of Putin’s track record of not honoring agreements.
NATO defense chiefs also held a parallel virtual meeting focused on devising security guarantees to support any peace deal, signaling continued military and diplomatic coordination among Ukraine’s allies.

The US president's tendency to deviate from the script could make Friday's meeting even more high stakes. The leaders pushed for Ukraine to be at the table for any discussions on its future, a ceasefire as the starting point, upholding Europe's security in the talks, and securing future guarantees for Ukraine.

The UK's prime minister expressed optimism about the possibility of a ceasefire due to Trump’s involvement. The German chancellor, EU Commission chief, and NATO's top official were among the leaders who had a productive call with Donald Trump.

Trump indicated to reporters that there would be consequences if Vladimir Putin did not agree to stop the war. President Zelenskyy warned that Moscow's desire is the total occupation of Ukraine and urged Trump to apply maximum pressure if Putin doesn't show commitment to ending the fighting.

Ukraine held discussions with its biggest European backers and NATO, agreeing on their main points before meeting with the US. Concerns about Friday's meeting potentially spiraling in an unplanned way have significantly reduced following the discussions.

Friedrich Merz, Germany's leader, stated that the positions of Ukraine, its European allies, and the US were "very much in agreement" on most points. The careful planning of Wednesday's calls indicates that the next few days could be crucial in deciding what happens in the war in Ukraine.

JD Vance attended a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing with the UK's prime minister, further demonstrating the international cooperation aimed at resolving the conflict. As the summit approaches, all eyes will be on Alaska to see if a breakthrough can be made.