Trump ditches ‘ceasefire,’ pushes ‘peace deal’ after Putin talks; Zelensky up next

A possible Trump-Putin follow-up meeting, hinted at by both leaders, now looms as the next stage in a high-stakes diplomatic gamble.

Fresh from his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, US President Donald Trump declared that a full peace agreement, not a temporary ceasefire, is the best way to end the war in Ukraine.

In a post on Truth Social after late-night calls with Ukrainian and European leaders, Trump wrote:

“It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up.”

Zelensky to visit Washington Monday

Trump confirmed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet him at the Oval Office on Monday afternoon. He also hinted that, if the talks go well, he would schedule a follow-up meeting with Putin.

“President Zelensky will be coming to DC, the Oval Office, on Monday afternoon. If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin,” Trump said.

Catch Up! | Trump–Putin Alaska talks: Everything they said, and didn’t say, on Ukraine | Full breakdown

Alaska summit ends without a deal

The Trump-Putin summit in Anchorage on Friday lasted only a few hours and ended without a breakthrough. Neither side announced a ceasefire or roadmap for Ukraine.

Trump told reporters, “There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” while Putin described the talks as a “reference point” that could lead to improved diplomatic and economic ties.

Despite the lack of substance, Trump called the day “great and very successful” and rated the summit a “10” in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Putin’s signal, Trump’s praise

Putin maintained that Russia’s concerns must be addressed before any settlement, but Trump repeatedly praised his counterpart, stressing that “it’s good when two big powers get along.”

The Russian leader, for his part, avoided firm commitments but characterised the discussions as a potential starting point.

What comes next

Trump’s next steps will be closely watched as he prepares to brief NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and other European leaders. Zelensky’s Washington visit will serve as the first test of whether Trump’s proposed “peace agreement” idea has any traction among Kyiv and its allies.

A possible Trump-Putin follow-up meeting, hinted at by both leaders, now looms as the next stage in a high-stakes diplomatic gamble.