Ukraine Scrambles for Clarity After Trump-Putin Talks Yield Conflicting Signals

Following inconclusive peace talks between President Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in Alaska, Ukraine is once again navigating a precarious situation, struggling to understand the substance of the discussions and avoid being sidelined in pursuing a resolution to the ongoing conflict.

A phone call from Mr. Trump to President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, along with European leaders, offered some insight. Mr. Zelensky described the conversation as “long and substantive,” covering the “main points” of the Alaska summit. He also announced a visit to Washington on Monday “to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war.”

However, a public statement later on Saturday morning by Mr. Trump injected confusion and raised concerns that any potential peace agreement might be unfairly skewed towards Russia.

In a social media post, Mr. Trump called for a direct peace agreement with Russia, bypassing the crucial initial step of securing a cease-fire. He further claimed that Mr. Zelensky and European leaders had agreed to this approach, an assertion that directly contradicted the previously agreed-upon “principles” demanding a cease-fire before any negotiation of peace terms.

Russia has long advocated for a direct peace deal, one that would allow it to leverage its battlefield advantage and impose demands on Ukraine, including territorial concessions.

A source briefed on the call between Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky indicated that the Ukrainian leader’s Washington trip is aimed at seeking clarification on the sudden shift in the American stance. Kyiv is reportedly baffled by Mr. Trump’s abandonment of the cease-fire prerequisite.

Mr. Zelensky issued a cautious statement, seemingly attempting to avoid direct contradiction with Mr. Trump.

“We need to achieve a real peace that will be lasting, not just another pause between Russian invasions,” he said, while still emphasising the immediate need to halt hostilities: “The killings must stop as soon as possible, and the fire must cease both on the battlefield and in the air, as well as against our port infrastructure.”

European leaders echoed this cautious tone in their statements, making no mention of abandoning the cease-fire demand, while simultaneously avoiding language that could be interpreted as antagonising Mr. Trump.

Mr. Trump’s move has potentially undermined a week of intensive diplomatic efforts by Kyiv and its European allies, aimed at persuading the American administration to insist on a cease-fire and prevent Ukraine from being undercut in negotiations.

The whiplash effect was palpable in Ukraine. Oleksandr Merezhko, chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the Ukrainian Parliament, initially expressed relief that a deal hadn’t been struck behind Ukraine’s back.

He feared a scenario where “Trump and Putin started together to pressure Ukraine into surrender.” However, following Mr. Trump’s social media post, Mr. Merezhko reversed his assessment, stating, “In fact, Putin and Trump are starting to force us into surrender.”

Mr. Trump also alluded to security guarantees for Ukraine, modelled after NATO’s collective defence agreement.

According to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, these guarantees would entail Ukraine’s NATO allies being “ready to take action” in the event of a renewed Russian attack.

However, Ukrainian officials expressed concern that this formulation lacked sufficient clarity.

Mr. Trump also discussed potential territorial swaps in an interview with Fox News, stating they were among the points “that we largely have agreed on,” a notion that previously drew pushback from Mr. Zelensky.

While the Ukrainian President has not completely ruled out the possibility of land swaps, he maintains that they must be linked to strong security guarantees for Ukraine.

Experts are divided on the implications of the Alaska summit. Vadym Prystaiko, a former foreign affairs minister, noted the brevity of the talks, suggesting limited progress.

He recalled the extensive time invested in cease-fire negotiations during the first Ukraine-Russia war in 2014, which ultimately failed to produce a lasting peace.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported continued Russian assaults overnight, underscoring the ongoing violence on the ground.

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance recently stated that the United States is “done” funding Ukraine’s defense. Despite this, Ukraine recently secured $1.5 billion in European funding to purchase American weapons.

With Russia recently breaking through Ukrainian defenses in the Donbas region, the pressure on Kyiv is mounting.

Balazs Jarabik, a former European Union diplomat, believes that Russia’s advantage on the battlefield likely influenced Mr. Trump’s shift toward a peace deal.

“Kyiv and Europe must adapt to a new reality shaped by Washington and Moscow,” Jarabik concluded.

*New York Times