U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Ukraine “has to make a deal” with Russia, describing Moscow as “a very big power” after a high-profile summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska ended without a ceasefire agreement.
The nearly three-hour meeting marked the first U.S.-Russia summit since the 2022 invasion. Trump said he and Putin agreed the war should end with a peace deal rather than a ceasefire, diverging from Kyiv’s and Europe’s long-held demand for a truce backed by Washington.
“It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement … and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump added he would meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Washington on Monday, potentially followed by a three-way meeting with Putin. Zelenskiy said Ukraine was ready for “constructive cooperation” but stressed the need for binding security guarantees.
Putin, while reiterating Russia’s entrenched positions, welcomed Trump’s focus on peace and said Ukraine’s security should be ensured. But the Kremlin made no mention of joining a trilateral summit.
Speaking later to Fox News, Trump suggested the leaders had touched on land swaps and security guarantees for Kyiv, saying: “We’re pretty close to a deal. Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they’ll say no.”
Critics in Europe described the summit as a win for Putin, who received a red-carpet welcome despite facing sanctions threats just days earlier. “No ceasefire, no peace — a clear 1-0 for Putin,” said Wolfgang Ischinger, Germany’s former ambassador to Washington.
Analysts noted Trump avoided openly siding with Moscow but appeared to shift responsibility onto Kyiv and its allies. Putin, meanwhile, portrayed the talks as proof that Russia was regaining diplomatic legitimacy.
The war, now in its fourth year, continues unabated. Overnight, Ukraine reported intercepting dozens of Russian drones, while Moscow claimed to have downed nearly 30 Ukrainian drones.
Despite the lack of breakthrough, Trump signaled further engagement, hinting at another meeting with Putin: “Next time in Moscow,” the Russian leader said with a smile — to which Trump replied he might “get a little heat on that one,” but would not rule it out.
