![President Donald Trump with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Trump Tower, on September 27, 2024 in New York [File: AP/Julia Demaree Nikhinson]](https://ras.mv/storage/vpI3njZtjoE1DbPkpCJbGQQvjYPhYl2bd8VZaVzi.webp)
US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Ukraine should strike a deal with Russia to end the war, arguing that “Russia is a very big power, and they’re not.”
His remarks followed a three-hour summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska that failed to deliver a ceasefire but produced a joint call for a peace settlement.
Trump said both leaders agreed it was better to pursue a direct peace agreement rather than a temporary ceasefire, which he described as fragile. He added that he would meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Monday, and that a three-way summit could follow if Kyiv agrees.
Zelensky, after speaking with Trump by phone, said Ukraine was ready for “constructive cooperation” and supported the idea of a trilateral meeting, while reiterating the need for strong security guarantees. Putin, however, stopped short of endorsing direct talks with Zelensky.
The Alaska summit marked Putin’s first face-to-face meeting with a US president since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. For the Kremlin, the meeting itself was seen as a diplomatic win after years of isolation.
Reactions in Europe were critical. Former German ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger called the outcome “a clear 1-0 for Putin,” noting that Moscow gained international legitimacy without offering concessions. NATO members, including Norway and the Czech Republic, urged continued pressure on Russia.
Meanwhile, fighting in Ukraine showed no sign of abating. Both sides carried out overnight drone attacks, with Ukraine reporting 139 frontline clashes in the past 24 hours.
Trump said further meetings with Putin were likely, hinting at a possible trip to Moscow, though he acknowledged it could stir controversy.
His remarks followed a three-hour summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska that failed to deliver a ceasefire but produced a joint call for a peace settlement.
Trump said both leaders agreed it was better to pursue a direct peace agreement rather than a temporary ceasefire, which he described as fragile. He added that he would meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Monday, and that a three-way summit could follow if Kyiv agrees.
Zelensky, after speaking with Trump by phone, said Ukraine was ready for “constructive cooperation” and supported the idea of a trilateral meeting, while reiterating the need for strong security guarantees. Putin, however, stopped short of endorsing direct talks with Zelensky.
The Alaska summit marked Putin’s first face-to-face meeting with a US president since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. For the Kremlin, the meeting itself was seen as a diplomatic win after years of isolation.
Reactions in Europe were critical. Former German ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger called the outcome “a clear 1-0 for Putin,” noting that Moscow gained international legitimacy without offering concessions. NATO members, including Norway and the Czech Republic, urged continued pressure on Russia.
Meanwhile, fighting in Ukraine showed no sign of abating. Both sides carried out overnight drone attacks, with Ukraine reporting 139 frontline clashes in the past 24 hours.
Trump said further meetings with Putin were likely, hinting at a possible trip to Moscow, though he acknowledged it could stir controversy.
