Trump Says He Thinks Putin Will Make a Deal on Ukraine/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump said he believes Vladimir Putin is ready to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war ahead of their summit in Alaska. Putin has suggested a potential nuclear arms agreement as part of broader security talks. European and Ukrainian leaders are pressing Trump to ensure any deal includes strong security guarantees for Kyiv.
Trump-Putin Ukraine Summit Quick Looks
- Trump believes Putin is ready to “make a deal” on Ukraine
- Summit in Alaska set for Friday, Aug. 15
- Putin praises U.S. “sincere efforts” to end hostilities
- Russia proposes nuclear arms control talks alongside Ukraine peace discussions
- European leaders worry about a deal cementing Russian territorial gains
- Trump signals willingness to join Ukraine security guarantees, excluding NATO
- Russia controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory
- Ukraine, Europe fear loss of land could embolden Putin
- Economic and business issues also on summit agenda
- Trump warns of “severe consequences” if Putin rejects peace
Deep Look: Trump Sees Ukraine Peace Potential as Putin Offers Nuclear Talks
MOSCOW / LONDON / KYIV — U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, raising hopes but also deep concerns ahead of their high-stakes summit in Alaska on Friday.
Speaking to Fox News radio, Trump said, “I think he’s going to make a deal,” adding that he would call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders if the talks went well, but would avoid contact if they failed. Trump said the goal was to arrange a second meeting that would include Ukraine, noting, “I don’t know that we’re going to get an immediate ceasefire.”
Putin’s Signals Ahead of the Summit
In televised remarks to senior ministers and security officials, Putin said the U.S. was making “energetic and sincere efforts” to stop the conflict and “reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved.” He linked this to the possibility of a broader nuclear arms control agreement, suggesting that strategic weapons talks could be part of the post-war security framework.
A Kremlin aide said the leaders would also discuss the “huge untapped potential” of U.S.-Russia economic ties. European officials warned Putin may try to use such topics to distract Trump from Ukraine. “We hope Trump won’t be fooled by the Russians,” one senior Eastern European official told Reuters, stressing Moscow’s interest in lifting sanctions.
European and Ukrainian Concerns
Zelenskyy and European leaders have spent the week urging Trump not to strike a bilateral deal with Putin that leaves Ukraine exposed. Russia currently controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, and Kyiv fears any settlement locking in those gains could embolden Putin to target more of Europe.
An EU diplomat described the hours leading up to the summit as “scary,” noting that while Trump had positive calls with European leaders on Wednesday, “that was yesterday.”
Trump’s private comments in a virtual meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders on Wednesday indicated he might be willing to participate in security guarantees for Ukraine, according to European officials. Zelenskyy confirmed the matter was discussed “in considerable detail” during his Thursday meeting in London with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Security Guarantees Without NATO
French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump made clear NATO should not be part of the post-war security framework, but added that the U.S. and willing allies should still participate in guarantees for Ukraine’s defense. A European official told Reuters Trump said he could offer “some security guarantees for Europe,” though specifics were not provided.
“It felt like a big step forward,” the official said, but acknowledged it remains unclear what form such guarantees might take.
Risks and Expectations
The Alaska meeting will be the first U.S.-Russia summit since June 2021 and comes at a pivotal point in the war, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Trump has threatened “severe consequences” if Putin refuses to pursue peace and warned of further economic sanctions should talks fail.
Russia, however, has consistently maintained the peace terms first outlined by Putin in June 2024, showing little flexibility in past negotiations. European officials caution that despite the potential breakthrough, the Kremlin’s fundamental objectives may remain unchanged.
For Ukraine and its allies, the challenge will be ensuring that any settlement reached in Alaska does not undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty or long-term security — and that the U.S. remains engaged in supporting its defense.
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