US President Donald Trump believes that a summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska could lead to a deal on the war in Ukraine. The two leaders are set to meet on Friday, and Trump thinks there is a 75% chance of success. However, his suggestion that Ukraine may “divvy things up” has raised concerns among Ukrainian officials.
Trump told reporters that he would not let Putin get the better of him and expects a good meeting if they can reach an agreement. He also mentioned the possibility of a second meeting between all three leaders, which could be more decisive. Trump is willing to consider a ceasefire and has expressed interest in brokering a peace agreement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will face a difficult decision if Putin rejects Ukraine’s call for a full 30-day ceasefire. European leaders are hopeful that the summit will bring about a breakthrough, but they also know Trump is unpredictable and prone to acting on instinct.
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said changes on the battlefield could make peace harder, and there may need to be discussions about security guarantees. Trump has rejected offering such guarantees before, but it’s possible that European security guarantees could be agreed upon.
The Alaska summit will include a one-to-one meeting between Trump and Putin, followed by a wider meeting with interpreters present. Moscow hopes the summit will focus on economic cooperation, not just Ukraine. However, some European leaders are skeptical about Trump’s ability to achieve peace and have expressed concerns about further sanctions if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire.
The White House is optimistic that the summit will bring about a breakthrough, but it remains to be seen how successful the meeting will be.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/14/keir-starmer-to-meet-volodymyr-zelenskyy-in-downing-street