United States President Donald Trump has shifted his stance on the war in Ukraine after his Alaska summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, saying he now believes a permanent peace deal is better than a temporary ceasefire.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Trump said, “Negotiating a permanent peace agreement is the best way to end the war in Ukraine. Ceasefires often times do not hold up.”
This marks a change from his earlier comments on his way to the summit, where he declared he would not be happy leaving without securing a ceasefire.
The change is seen as a setback for Ukraine and its European allies, who had made a ceasefire their main request. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected in Washington on Monday to meet Trump over the new development.
In Kyiv, many Ukrainians expressed disappointment over the red carpet welcome given to Putin. “People feel crushed by the way Putin was received in the US,” a resident told local media.
Putin, who has been seeking concessions, reportedly offered to freeze fighting on the front line if Ukraine hands over full control of the eastern Donbas region, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk. Multiple news outlets also reported that Putin wants Ukraine to pull back further from the wider Donbas.
Trump is said to have relayed the proposal directly to Zelensky in a phone call after the Alaska talks. Accepting such terms would require Ukraine to give up major cities like Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, which Kyiv has defended for years, and would also need parliamentary approval.
While no agreement was reached in Alaska, both leaders claimed progress was made. Putin told reporters he was “sincerely interested” in ending the conflict, while Trump said, “There were many, many points that we agreed on,” without giving details.
The summit itself was historic for Putin, who just months ago was shunned by the West but was welcomed on US soil as a guest. In a rare moment, he even broke into English, joking with Trump: “Next time in Moscow.” Trump replied, “Oh, that’s an interesting one. I’ll get a little heat on that one, but I could see it possibly happening.”
Back in Washington, Democrats heavily criticised Trump’s handling of the talks. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote, “We prayed for peace but instead got praise for Putin.” Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said Trump had stood “shoulder to shoulder with an autocrat that has terrorised the Ukrainian people for years.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen added, “Putin got a meeting on US soil, Trump got flattered. Advantage Putin. Shameful.”
