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The Alaska summit, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, marked the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin in six years. Despite Trump’s campaign promise to resolve the conflict “within 24 hours,” no immediate breakthrough was achieved. Trump announced he was dropping his push for an immediate ceasefire, aligning with Putin’s preference for direct negotiations toward a final peace deal. According to sources, Trump also proposed supporting a plan that would involve Ukraine ceding parts of its eastern territory to Russia, a suggestion that has drawn sharp criticism from Ukraine and its European allies.
Zelenskyy, speaking in Brussels on Sunday after discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other leaders, emphasized that peace talks must start with the current front lines. “We need real negotiations, which means we can start where the front line is now,” he said, reiterating his stance that a ceasefire is a prerequisite for broader discussions. He firmly rejected any territorial concessions, noting that Ukraine’s constitution prohibits ceding land and that Ukrainians “will not gift their land to the occupier.”
European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and von der Leyen, will join Zelenskyy in Washington to present a united front. Their goal is to ensure Ukraine’s voice is central to any negotiations and to counter Putin’s demands, which include control over Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, formal recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, and a veto on Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations.
Macron underscored the importance of solidarity, warning, “If we show weakness today in front of Russia, we are laying the ground for future conflicts.” The German government stated that the talks will focus on security guarantees, territorial integrity, and sustained support for Ukraine, including maintaining pressure through sanctions on Russia.
The Alaska summit revealed significant concessions from Putin, according to U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. Speaking on CNN’s *State of the Union*, Witkoff said Putin agreed to allow the U.S. and European allies to offer Ukraine a NATO-style “Article 5-like” security guarantee as part of a potential deal. “This is the first time I’ve heard Putin agree to that,” Witkoff noted, highlighting a potential step toward ensuring Ukraine’s long-term security.
However, Putin’s demands remain a major obstacle. Sources briefed on Moscow’s proposals indicated that Russia would only relinquish small pockets of occupied land in Ukraine’s northern Sumy and Kharkiv regions while expecting Kyiv to cede large swathes of Donetsk and Luhansk. Putin also insists on lifting Western sanctions and granting official status to the Russian language and the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine, demands Kyiv has rejected outright.
The Washington talks come amid heightened tensions, with memories of a February incident where Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly criticized Zelenskyy at the White House for being “ungrateful” and “disrespectful.” European leaders aim to prevent a repeat of such confrontations and ensure that any agreement respects Ukraine’s sovereignty.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “We’re not at the precipice of a peace agreement. We made progress in identifying potential areas of agreement, but there remain big areas of disagreement.” He emphasized Trump’s warning that Russia would face “consequences” if no peace deal is reached, though he stressed the preference for a resolution that ends hostilities.
As the diplomatic focus shifts to Washington, Ukraine and its European allies are wary of Trump’s openness to territorial swaps and his decision to exclude them from the Alaska summit. They view Putin’s stance as a tactic to buy time while Russian forces continue their slow advance, controlling roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory. The outcome of Monday’s talks could shape the future of the conflict and test the cohesion of the Western alliance.
*Sources: Al Jazeera, NBC News, Reuters, The Independent*[](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/putin-summit-alaska-ukraine-war-russia-august-15-2025-live-updates/6368268/)[](https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-08-16/outline-emerges-of-putins-offer-to-end-his-war-in-ukraine)[](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/trump-putin-summit-alaska-ukraine-russia-zelensky-live-b2807467.html)
