Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump scheduled to confer in Alaska regarding a truce for Ukraine conflict.
In a much-anticipated meeting in Alaska, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, but the talks did not result in a ceasefire deal or any progress on territorial disputes, such as the situation in the Donbas region and Crimea.
Trump stated that the ceasefire deal, as discussed with Putin, could potentially involve Ukraine withdrawing its forces from the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. However, the deal would not require Russia to do more than stop the fighting. If implemented, Russia would take control of the Donetsk and Luhansk cities, as well as the Crimean Peninsula, which it currently occupies and illegally annexed in 2014.
Despite nearly three hours of talks, Putin made no concessions, and Russian forces continued their attacks during the meeting. The meeting ended without agreement on a pause or ceasefire, indicating that the conflict and territorial disputes remain unresolved.
The Trump administration has begun preparing for a summit with Putin, following the talks between Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff. The Kremlin has confirmed the Putin-Trump summit in Alaska and invited Trump to visit Russia after the meeting.
The suggestion of a viable ceasefire deal is met with skepticism by officials in Europe, due to Ukraine potentially having to give up territory without Russia being required to do more. The Kremlin's invitation to Trump to visit Russia after the meeting in Alaska further fuels these concerns.
Artis Pabriks, the current chair of the Northern Europe Policy Centre and a former Latvian defense and foreign minister, expressed that the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin is a diplomatic achievement for Russia, as it allows them to be on equal footing with the United States. Pabriks also mentioned that Russian diplomacy often prefers decisions to be made about other countries above their heads.
It's unclear whether a Trump-Putin meeting can bring about a ceasefire, as Putin has resisted multiple calls for a ceasefire from the United States, Europe, and Kyiv. Tens of thousands of people have been killed since Moscow launched the invasion, with millions forced to flee their homes in eastern and southern Ukraine. Ukraine has repeatedly refused to give up any of its territory in exchange for a ceasefire since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
[1] Source: Reuters, BBC News, and The New York Times.
- The international community, notably European officials, have expressed skepticism towards the proposed ceasefire deal involving Ukraine potentially giving up territory without Russia being required to do more.
- The suggestion for a possible Trump-Putin summit in Russia after the Alaska meeting has further fueled concerns in Europe about Russia's intentions.
- The ongoing conflict and territorial disputes, such as those in the Donbas region and Crimea, remain unresolved in the realm of general news and war-and-conflicts, despite high-level talks between US and Russian leaders.
