After a three-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, US President Donald Trump conveyed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia proposed freezing much of the front line if Kiev ceded the entire Donetsk region. Zelensky has rejected the request.
Donald Trump believes Ukraine should accept a peace deal with Russia because Russia is a great power, but they are not.
Russia now controls about a fifth of Ukraine, including 3/4 of the Donetsk region, which it first advanced to since 2014. Mr. Putin also maintained a stance demanding a denial of Ukraine's wish to join NATO.
Before the summit, Mr. Trump had affirmed that he would only accept a ceasefire agreement. However, after the meeting, he said that a direct peace agreement was a better solution because ceasefire was usually unsustainable. He posted on Truth Social that, the end of the conflict must be by peace, not just a temporary ceasefire.
Mr Zelensky warned that Russia's refusal to stop the fighting would hinder efforts to build peace. He emphasized that stop slaughter is a key factor to end the conflict. However, he affirmed that he will continue to meet Mr. Trump in Washington D.C, which is expected to have the participation of some European leaders.
The European Union welcomed Mr Trump's efforts but remained committed to supporting Ukraine and tightening sanctions on Russia. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the chance to end the conflict was closer than ever, but affirmed that he would impose further sanctions if Russia did not stop military action.
Mr. Mark Carney - Prime Minister of Canada - highly appreciated the positive signal that the US can participate in ensuring security for Ukraine. Mr Zelensky has also repeatedly stressed that Kiev needs strong security commitments to avoid a recurrence of the conflict.
On the Russian side, Mr. Putin considers sitting at the same table with Mr. Trump as a diplomatic victory after a long period of isolation. He also publicly agreed that Ukraine's security must be guaranteed, but still determined to maintain territorial conditions.
Meanwhile, fighting and airstrikes continue daily on the front line, reflecting the long distance between the ground and the negotiation table.
