United States President Donald Trump has dismissed the idea of an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, stressing instead that only a direct peace agreement can bring the war to an end.
Speaking after his much-anticipated summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, Trump described the meeting as “productive,” though no breakthrough was reached on halting the fighting that has killed tens of thousands and devastated large swathes of Ukraine.
“A great and very successful day in Alaska!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform shortly after returning to Washington.
He added that his discussions with Putin, along with late-night calls to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, NATO Secretary General, and several European leaders, were “very positive.”
According to Trump, the consensus was that “a direct Peace Agreement,” rather than a temporary ceasefire, would provide the most reliable path to ending the war. “Ceasefires often collapse,” he said, insisting that a lasting settlement must be the goal.
Zelenskyy, who is set to visit Washington on Monday for talks in the Oval Office, confirmed Ukraine’s openness to the approach.
“We support President Trump’s proposal for a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the USA, and Russia,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media, noting that such a format was appropriate for addressing “key issues.”
Trump hinted at a possible future meeting involving himself, Zelenskyy, and Putin if Monday’s talks prove successful. “Potentially, millions of lives will be saved,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the war raged on. Ukraine reported overnight attacks involving 85 drones and a ballistic missile, while Moscow claimed its forces had captured two more villages.
Despite the ongoing hostilities, Trump maintained that the Alaska summit had laid the groundwork for “the beginning of the end” of the war, if all sides commit to negotiations.
Trump rules out ceasefire, calls for direct peace deal to end Russia-Ukraine war
