U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska.
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U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin “went very well” after the pair met for hours one day prior.
The two leaders did not reach a ceasefire agreement following the talks, which Trump had repeatedly emphasized in the lead-up to their meeting.
Instead, Trump wrote on social media: “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.”
Trump’s comments put him at odds with officials in Ukraine and European leaders who are urgently seeking a lasting ceasefire in the ongoing war.
A joint statement from European leaders said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was not invited to the summit, should be present during any future talks, and that “it will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory.”
Ukraine’s allies in Europe also expressed concern that Trump was moving closer to Putin’s position following his meeting. The lack of an immediate ceasefire allows Russia to continue its fighting in Ukraine without the threat of punishment from the United States or its allies.
“As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia,” according to the statement from European leaders. “We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia’s war economy until there is a just and lasting peace.”
Zelenskyy said he plans to meet with Trump to “discuss all [of] the details regarding ending the killings and the war,” according to a post on Telegram.
Trump, who said he spoke with Zelenskyy and other European leaders overnight, is poised to meet with the Ukrainian leader in the Oval Office on Monday afternoon, he said in a Truth Social post.
“If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin,” Trump also said.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Saturday on Fox News that during the president’s meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump is going to find “that pathway for a comprehensive peace deal, working as well with our European partners in the hopes that we can forge peace.”
Putin said in a statement on Saturday that his meeting with Trump was “very frank, meaningful and, in my opinion, this brings us closer to the necessary decisions.”
Despite the lack of a resolution, Russian officials signaled victory following the talks.
“A new European and international security architecture is on the agenda and everyone must accept it,” Andrei Klishas, a Russian senator, said, according to the Washington Post.
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