Trump and Putin meeting concludes without agreement on a Ukrainian truce
U.S. and Russia Summit in Alaska Ends Without Ceasefire Agreement
United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit meeting in Alaska on Friday, marking the first direct talks between the leaders of the two nations since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
The meeting, which took place in Trump's presidential limousine, lasted over three hours and was attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. However, despite the lengthy discussions, the leaders left the joint press conference without taking questions from reporters, and neither offered details on what they had agreed on.
Trump expressed hope for a quick follow-up meeting that could also involve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, the talks stalled due to several unresolved issues.
One of the core disputes was Russia's demand for control over eastern Ukraine territories, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, as a condition for halting hostilities. Putin expressed willingness to pause the war but only with these territorial arrangements recognized.
Another major issue was the lack of an agreed ceasefire. The meeting ended without any declaration to stop the fighting, despite discussions lasting over three hours.
The absence of a direct meeting or agreement between Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy was also a significant stumbling block for negotiations. Russia refused to meet Zelenskyy directly and cast doubt on his legitimacy, which remains a major obstacle for peace talks.
The broader geopolitical and economic implications, such as potential territorial swaps and concerns about concessions that could reshape the regional balance, also sparked controversy and uncertainty.
Trump urged Zelenskyy to reach a deal for a ceasefire with Russia and suggested a future summit meeting involving all three leaders. Zelenskyy stated that any negotiations with Russia over territory would need to take place with Kyiv's involvement after a ceasefire is fully in place.
Trump warned of "very severe consequences" for Russia if Putin does not agree to stop the war. Putin has been adamant about Ukraine abandoning its bid to join NATO as a condition for peace.
The summit took place amidst concern that the U.S. and Russia might decide on a cease-fire without considering Ukraine's interests. Zelenskyy hopes a cease-fire agreement will be the major topic during the summit, with his European allies emphasizing the importance of respecting territorial integrity and providing credible security guarantees for Ukraine.
Russia currently occupies a fifth of Ukraine's territory, according to US and other media. The unresolved issues centered on territorial control demands by Russia, the absence of a ceasefire, lack of direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine's leaders, and disagreement over the political legitimacy and conditions for peace talks.
Trump announced he would call NATO allies and Zelenskyy to brief them on the talks. Despite Trump's efforts to broker peace and encourage direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy, no breakthrough on Ukraine's sovereignty or ceasefire terms was achieved.
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