Trump asserts Ukraine arrangement is Zelenskyy's responsibility, praises 'very successful' Alaska meeting with Putin
The cease-fire negotiations between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, and former U.S. President Donald Trump have not led to a concrete agreement, with the situation remaining stalemated as of late August 2025.
Initial negotiations were halted due to significant disagreements over core issues, such as Russia's demands for recognition of occupied territories and Ukraine’s sovereignty, and Ukraine’s demands for full Russian troop withdrawal and security guarantees.
The renewal of talks began after Trump became the U.S. President in 2025. Trump has shown a positive stance towards Russian proposals and has pushed for a ceasefire, with a personal timeline to assess peace prospects set at about two weeks starting mid-August 2025.
Following a summit with Putin in Alaska on August 15, 2025, and subsequent meetings with Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump expressed optimism about reaching an agreement, saying, "I think we're pretty close to a deal." However, no direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin has occurred or is guaranteed, as Putin has repeatedly refused to meet Zelenskyy and questions his legitimacy.
Zelenskyy has stated he will only meet Putin if his Western allies agree on strong security guarantees for Ukraine to deter further aggression, rejecting proposals without such protections. Russia firmly opposes European troops being placed in Ukraine after any settlement, viewing it as unacceptable foreign intervention, which complicates international security guarantees.
Both sides have continued military preparations and combat operations amid these stalled negotiations. Zelenskyy remains focused on ending casualties and securing a lasting ceasefire but faces Russia’s unwillingness to cease hostilities or accept terms favorable to Ukraine.
Putin appears to have proposed a moratorium on long-range strikes, a temporary ceasefire that might allow Russia to regroup, though this has been met with caution by Ukraine and the U.S., which regard a ceasefire as a step towards eventual lasting peace but not a solution in itself.
When asked what advice he would give to Ukraine's leader, Trump said, "Gotta make a deal." Trump revealed plans for a future meeting that would include Zelenskyy alongside Putin, with himself potentially attending. Trump also plans to hold off on imposing tariffs on China for buying Russian oil following the progress made with Putin.
Both leaders described the talks as warm and constructive, but offered few specifics about any potential breakthrough. Trump rated the summit "10 out of 10." The meeting included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's special envoy to Russia Steve Witkoff, Russian foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Despite the optimistic tone, the core parties—Zelenskyy and Putin—remain far apart, with low expectations for immediate progress on a ceasefire or peace deal. Putin expects Ukraine and its European allies to accept the results of the U.S.-Russia negotiation constructively.
References: [1] BBC News. (2025, August 16). Trump meets Putin in Alaska as Ukraine conflict talks begin. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-58221783
[2] The Guardian. (2025, August 16). Donald Trump meets Vladimir Putin in Alaska as Ukraine conflict talks begin. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/16/donald-trump-meets-vladimir-putin-in-alaska-as-ukraine-conflict-talks-begin
[3] The New York Times. (2025, August 17). Trump Says He's Close to a Deal on Ukraine, but Zelenskyy and Putin Remain Apart. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/world/europe/ukraine-trump-putin-zelenskyy.html
[4] Reuters. (2025, August 18). Trump, Putin discuss Ukraine, China in Alaska summit. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-putin-discuss-ukraine-china-alaska-summit-2025-08-18/
[5] CNN. (2025, August 19). Trump, Putin meet again on Ukraine, with few signs of breakthrough. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/19/politics/trump-putin-ukraine-meeting/index.html
- In the stalemated cease-fire negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his concerns about the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the region, emphasizing the need for political stability and general news.
- Despite renewed talks and optimistic tones, it seems unlikely that a concrete agreement will be reached anytime soon, given the significant differences between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin of Russia over core issues like territorial recognition and troop withdrawal.
- As the cease-fire negotiations continue, various international leaders are keeping a close eye on the political landscape, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye, who has shown interest in contributing to building a lasting peace in the region.
