Former President Donald Trump appears keen on moving beyond a simple ceasefire and diving directly into establishing peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Following a tense summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which took place just before his anticipated meeting with Ukrainian President Voldy Mie Zelensky, Trump expressed a clear desire to resolve the conflict decisively.
“We determined that the most effective way to put an end to the terrible war between Russia and Ukraine is to pursue a peace agreement directly, instead of settling for a ceasefire that might not truly stop anything,” Trump stated in a post shared on a social platform.
He mentioned that if his upcoming discussions with Zelenskyy in Washington go well, he might arrange a trilateral meeting with Putin to potentially finalize the peace deal. Zelensky confirmed they had a conversation after the US-Russia summit.
Trump’s dismissal of a ceasefire isn’t just about pausing the ongoing Russian invasion; it reflects broader thoughts that Zelensky has often echoed.
“After our chat with President Trump today, we’ve shifted our discussions with European leaders. The message is clear: we must seek real peace, not just a temporary halt amid the ongoing invasion,” Zelensky remarked on social media.
European leaders, part of what they describe as a “coalition of will,” including UK Prime Minister Kiel Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, have also voiced a commitment to securing a “just and lasting peace.” They shared a supportive statement following the Trump-Putin dialogue, appreciating the efforts made and urging continuation of the process.
“We are prepared to work alongside President Trump and President Zelensky for the European-backed trilateral summit,” they added in their statement.
Zelenskyy indicated on social media that he urged Trump to enforce sanctions if Russia does not engage in the trilateral discussions. This aligns with Trump’s warnings of “very harsh” economic repercussions for Russia should Putin disrupt the peace negotiations.
Despite the lack of a deal during the Alaska summit, many viewed the meeting as a positive stride towards peace. In a conversation with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump rated the summit highly, while Putin expressed a desire for the conflict’s conclusion.
“We are convinced that the US administration, along with President Trump, genuinely wants to address Ukraine’s crisis and understand its root causes,” Putin commented following the meeting.
He reiterated that the conflict’s origins are tied to Russia’s security issues and described the Ukrainian people as “brothers,” noting that for any resolution to be enduring, the root causes of the crisis must be addressed.
As of now, it’s uncertain whether Putin will agree to a trilateral meeting aimed at ending this prolonged conflict.
