WASHINGTON/ANCHORAGE – US President Donald Trump has urged Ukraine to “make a deal” with Russia, saying that peace can only come through a direct settlement rather than a fragile ceasefire. His remarks came after a three-hour summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday – the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war is to go directly to a peace agreement, not a mere ceasefire that often collapses,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that such a deal could “potentially save millions of lives.”
The war, Europe’s deadliest in eight decades, has left more than a million people dead or wounded, including thousands of Ukrainian civilians.
Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the White House on Monday, with a possible trilateral meeting with Putin if progress is made. Zelensky, after speaking with Trump, signaled openness to cooperation and said Ukraine was prepared to work “with maximum effort” toward peace.
Putin, however, stopped short of agreeing to a meeting with Zelensky. Russian state media quoted aides as saying the idea of a trilateral summit had not been discussed. Still, Putin called the talks with Trump “constructive,” emphasizing that Ukraine’s security would need to be “ensured” as part of any agreement.
In a Fox News interview after the summit, Trump hinted at discussions on possible land swaps and security guarantees for Ukraine. “I think we’re pretty close to a deal,” he said. “Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they’ll say no. But Russia is a very big power, and they’re not.”
European leaders reacted sharply, with former German ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger calling the meeting “1-0 for Putin” since it yielded no ceasefire, no sanctions, and no binding commitments. NATO officials stressed that pressure on Russia must not ease, warning that Putin remains intent on exploiting divisions in the West.
Trump ended the summit by telling Putin they would meet again “very soon,” with Putin replying in English: “Next time in Moscow.”
