Trump Shifts to Putin’s Peace Plan After Alaska Summit/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump embraced Vladimir Putin’s approach to Ukraine peace, favoring a direct settlement over a temporary ceasefire. The Alaska summit ended without a breakthrough, though both leaders cited “progress.” Ukraine and Europe remain wary, pledging tougher sanctions while insisting on firm security guarantees for Kyiv.
Trump Putin Peace Shift Quick Looks
- Trump now backs Putin’s preferred route: peace settlement over ceasefire.
- Trump: “Ukraine has to agree… Russia is very big.”
- Zelenskyy supports three-way talks but insists on long-term security guarantees.
- Putin welcomes Trump’s shift, repeats Russia’s security demands.
- Europeans vow more sanctions, call results “1-0 for Putin.”
- Trump signals land transfer talks and NATO-style guarantees discussed.
- Moscow summit floated as next potential meeting location.
- Critics say Putin gained legitimacy without concessions.
Deep Look: Trump Adopts Putin’s Path Toward Ukraine Peace After Alaska Talks
WASHINGTON/MOSCOW/KYIV — President Donald Trump emerged from his Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin signaling a dramatic shift in U.S. strategy on Ukraine: pursuing a full peace settlement instead of a temporary ceasefire. The move aligns closely with Moscow’s long-standing position and has unsettled Ukraine and its European allies.
After nearly three hours of talks in Anchorage, Trump told reporters and later posted on Truth Social that “the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often do not hold up.”
Trump Echoes Putin’s Line
Trump explained his reasoning bluntly in a Fox News interview: “Russia is a very big power, and they’re not. Gotta make a deal.” He said discussions with Putin touched on land transfers and security guarantees for Ukraine and suggested that both sides had “largely agreed.”
Trump emphasized that it was now up to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept or reject the framework.
“I think we’re pretty close to a deal,” Trump said. “Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they’ll say no.”
Putin, smiling alongside Trump at their press conference, repeated his belief that Ukraine’s security must be “ensured” — but only within the context of Russia’s demands.
“We must eliminate the primary causes of the conflict,” he said, citing what Moscow sees as existential security threats.
Ukraine and Allies Push Back
Zelenskyy announced he would travel to Washington for talks on Monday, saying he welcomed Trump’s idea of a three-way meeting with Putin. But Russia quickly dismissed the possibility, with senior aide Yuri Ushakov telling TASS the subject “was not discussed.”
Zelenskyy has repeatedly demanded ironclad security guarantees to prevent future invasions.
“We need a lasting peace, not just another pause,” he said, noting “positive signals” from Washington about possible NATO-style commitments.
European leaders struck a cautious tone. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised the focus on collective guarantees modeled on NATO’s Article 5.
While Britain’s Keir Starmer said peace was “closer than ever thanks to Trump,” but warned sanctions must intensify until Russia stops its “barbaric assault.”
A joint statement from European capitals insisted Ukraine retain its right to join NATO and warned against limits on its armed forces — key points of contention with Moscow.
Critics See Putin Victory
Not everyone was convinced by Trump’s strategy. Wolfgang Ischinger, former German ambassador to Washington, declared on social media: “Putin got his red carpet treatment with Trump, while Trump got nothing. No ceasefire, no peace. 1-0 for Putin.”
Cold War historian Sergey Radchenko added: “Putin basically won this round because he got something for nothing.”
Indeed, the Anchorage summit allowed Putin to stand on equal footing with a U.S. president after years of international isolation. The Kremlin leader left with legitimacy-boosting images and without facing the new sanctions Trump had threatened days earlier.
Looking Ahead
The war grinds on. Both Russia and Ukraine carried out overnight airstrikes as fighting continued across the 600-mile front. Analysts say Moscow holds the battlefield advantage after months of gradual gains, making Trump’s pivot toward settlement rather than ceasefire particularly significant.
Trump, meanwhile, promised to brief NATO allies and Zelenskyy. He also hinted at delaying new tariffs on China for buying Russian oil, though he said he might “think about it” in a few weeks.
As the summit ended, Putin smiled and told Trump in English, “Next time in Moscow.” Trump chuckled, admitting he would “get a little heat” for such a visit, but added, “I could possibly see it happening.”
The Anchorage meeting underscored both the urgency and the fragility of diplomacy in the world’s deadliest European conflict since World War II. For now, Trump’s adoption of Putin’s preferred path signals a fundamental change in U.S. posture — one that could reshape the balance of negotiations, for better or worse.
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