US President Donald Trump announced after the Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the next steps toward ending the war in Ukraine are now up to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump said that Zelensky and Putin are expected to set up a meeting to try to reach a ceasefire, and he indicated he would be willing to attend if invited. The Alaska summit marked the first time Putin visited Western soil since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. While the summit ended without a breakthrough, Trump described the talks as “extremely productive” and said that many points were agreed upon, though he did not share specifics. He emphasized that only a few significant issues remain unresolved.
Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that it is now Zelensky’s responsibility to build on the progress made in Alaska and secure a deal to end the war. He also called on European nations to get more involved in the peace process. Trump’s advice to Zelensky was direct: “Gotta make a deal. Yeah. Look, Russia is a very big power, and they’re not. They are great soldiers.” Despite the positive tone, Trump and Putin did not take questions from reporters after their meeting, which is unusual for Trump. Both leaders expressed hope that their understanding would pave the way for peace, but they acknowledged that a final agreement has not yet been reached.
Putin, for his part, suggested that the next meeting could take place in Moscow and agreed with Trump’s claim that the war in Ukraine would not have happened if Trump had been president instead of Joe Biden. As the world watches, the focus now shifts to Zelensky and whether direct talks with Putin, possibly with Trump’s involvement, can finally bring an end to the conflict. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining if the momentum from the Alaska summit can be turned into a lasting peace.
