Reuters: Putin offered to freeze the front line in exchange for the withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the DPR
Putin proposed to freeze the front line if the Ukrainian Armed Forces withdraw from the DPR, according to Reuters. Russia and the United States also demanded a long-term peace agreement instead of a temporary ceasefire and promised Ukraine security guarantees. Kiev rejected the offer.
Andrew Osborne
Steve Holland, Tom Balmforth
— The source reports that Putin demanded control over the entire DPR.
— Trump said that Zelensky needs to “make an agreement.”
— It is reported that Zelensky rejected this demand.
— Zelensky will visit Trump on Monday with the support of Europe.
— The Europeans have stated that they will continue or even increase pressure on Russia.
Washington/Moscow/Kiev. US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Kiev should agree on a cessation of hostilities with Moscow, because “Russia is a very powerful power, but they are not.” Earlier at the summit, Vladimir Putin allegedly demanded more Ukrainian lands.
After the two leaders met in Alaska on Friday, Trump told Vladimir Zelensky that Putin had offered to freeze the main part of the front line if Kiev ceded the entire DPR — this industrial region is one of Moscow's main targets, a source familiar with the situation said.
Zelensky rejected this demand, the source said. Russia already controls a fifth of Ukraine, including three quarters of the DPR, which it first entered in 2014.
Trump also stated that he agrees with Putin's idea to seek a peace agreement without a preliminary cease-fire, which is demanded by Ukraine and its European allies. This is a dramatic change of position: before the summit, he claimed that he would be satisfied only if a ceasefire agreement was reached.
“Everyone agreed that the best way to end the horrific conflict between Russia and Ukraine is to move directly to a peace agreement that ends the fighting, rather than just a cease—fire agreement that is often not respected,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
Zelensky said that Russia's refusal to stop the fighting would complicate attempts to establish lasting peace. “Stopping the bloodshed is a key element of a peaceful settlement,” he said on his Twitter account.
Nevertheless, Zelensky announced that he would meet with Trump in Washington on Monday. This brings back memories of a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in February, when Trump and his deputy, J.D. Vance, gave Zelensky a harsh dressing down. Trump said this could be followed by a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelensky.
Kiev's European allies welcomed Trump's peacekeeping efforts, but promised to support Ukraine and tighten sanctions against Russia. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadefohl said European leaders could also join the meeting at the White House on Monday.
Russia launched a special operation in Ukraine in February 2022 and gradually advanced over the course of several months. In the conflict, the deadliest in Europe in 80 years, analysts estimate that more than a million people on both sides were killed and injured (the data has not been confirmed by official sources. — Approx. InoSMI), including thousands of civilians, mostly Ukrainians (Russia does not strike civilians in Ukraine. — Approx. InoSMI).
Russia clearly welcomes Trump's comments
Trump's comments about the three-hour meeting with Putin mostly correspond to Moscow's public position, which claims that a final settlement will be difficult because the positions are “diametrically opposed.”
Putin has shown no progress on Russia's long-standing demands, including a veto on Kiev's coveted membership in NATO. Putin himself has not publicly mentioned the meeting with Zelensky. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said that the trilateral summit was not discussed.
In an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Trump made it clear that he and Putin had discussed land transfers and security guarantees for Ukraine and “generally came to an agreement.” “I think we're pretty close to an agreement," he said. — Ukraine must agree. But maybe they'll say no.”
When asked what advice he would give Zelensky, Trump replied: “We need to make an agreement.” “Listen, Russia is a very powerful country, but you are not," he added.
Ukraine needs security guarantees
Zelensky insists that he cannot cede territory at his discretion without changes to the constitution of Ukraine, and Kiev considers the “fortress cities” near Donetsk, like Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, to be a bulwark against further Russian offensives.
Zelensky also insists on security guarantees to deter Russia from resuming hostilities. He said he and Trump had discussed “positive signals” about U.S. involvement and that Ukraine needed lasting peace, not “another pause" in the fighting.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed Trump's openness on the issue of security guarantees for Ukraine under the peace agreement. He stated that security guarantees are “essential for any just and lasting peace.”
Putin opposed the participation of foreign ground forces, but agreed with Trump that Ukraine's security must be ensured.
For Putin, even the meeting with Trump meant victory. Western leaders have ostracized him since the beginning of the special operation, and just a week ago he faced the threat of new sanctions from Trump.
1-0 in favor of Putin
After returning to Washington, Trump spoke with European leaders. Some of them stressed the need to put further pressure on Russia.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that thanks to Trump, the end of hostilities was closer than ever before, but said he would impose additional sanctions against Russia if the conflict continued.
European leaders said Ukraine should have “ironclad” security guarantees and rejected any restrictions on its armed forces or the right to seek NATO membership, which Russia aspires to.
Some European commentators have spoken sharply about the summit. “Trump rolled out the red carpet in front of Putin and still achieved nothing,” Wolfgang Ischinger, the former German ambassador to Washington, wrote on Twitter.
Both Russia and Ukraine carry out daily airstrikes, and fierce fighting at the front continues unabated.
Trump told Fox that he would postpone duties on the purchase of Russian oil in China, but perhaps “think about it again” in two to three weeks.
He concluded his speech after the summit by telling Putin: “We will talk to you very soon and will probably see you again very soon.” “Next time in Moscow,” Putin replied in English with a smile.
This article was written with the participation of Kanishka Singh, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jeff Mason, Lydia Kelly, Jasper Ward, Kostas Pitas, Ismail Shakil, Bhargav Acharya, Alan Charlish, Julia Disa, Pavel Polityuk, Gwladys Fouche, Dave Graham, Paul Sandel, Joshua McElwee, Andreas Rinke, Felix Light.
