Ukraine seeks clarity as Trump shifts toward direct
peace talks with Putin, raising fears of concessions.
Kyiv, Ukraine — August 16, 2025. President
Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders were left scrambling on Saturday after
Donald Trump abruptly abandoned his earlier insistence on a cease-fire before
peace talks with Russia, raising uncertainty over Ukraine’s negotiating
position.
The surprise shift came hours after inconclusive
talks between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir V. Putin in
Anchorage, Alaska. The summit, billed as a potential breakthrough, ended
without a cease-fire agreement, leaving Ukraine in familiar territory — trying
to piece together what had actually been discussed behind closed doors.
In a follow-up call with Mr. Trump, Zelensky
described the conversation as “long and substantive” and said European leaders
had also joined. He confirmed plans to travel to Washington this week to
“discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war.”
Yet any optimism was quickly undercut when Mr. Trump
posted on social media that peace talks should move forward without a
cease-fire. He suggested that both Zelensky and European partners had agreed to
this approach, a claim not reflected in their public statements.
The move contradicted principles outlined just days
earlier by Trump, Zelensky, and European allies — namely, that a cease-fire had
to precede any broader settlement. For Kyiv, the change was both puzzling and
alarming.
Russia has long pressed for direct peace
negotiations without halting hostilities, a tactic that allows it to preserve
military momentum while pursuing political concessions. Ukrainian officials
worry this dynamic could pressure them into territorial compromises.
An official briefed on the Trump-Zelensky call said
the Ukrainian leader’s visit to Washington would aim to clarify why the
American president had shifted course so suddenly.
Zelensky himself treaded carefully, avoiding direct
criticism. “We need to achieve a real peace that will be lasting, not just
another pause between Russian invasions,” he said. At the same time, he
reiterated that “the killings must stop as soon as possible, and the fire must
cease both on the battlefield and in the air.”
European leaders also avoided direct confrontation
with Trump. Their weekend statements made no mention of a cease-fire, a notable
departure from previous positions. Diplomats suggested this silence reflected a
delicate balance: seeking to maintain unity while avoiding open friction with
Washington.
The reversal sparked frustration in Kyiv. Oleksandr
Merezhko, chairman of Ukraine’s foreign affairs committee, initially welcomed
the absence of a secret Trump-Putin deal as “a relief.” But after Trump’s post,
he revised his stance. “In fact, Putin and Trump are starting to force us into
surrender,” he said.
Trump has also floated the idea of “security
guarantees” for Ukraine inspired by NATO’s collective defense pact. Italian
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed the proposal, but officials in Kyiv and
Brussels described it as vague and lacking binding commitments.
“Which countries will agree to consider an attack
against Ukraine as an attack against themselves?” Merezhko asked. “I’d like to
believe such countries exist, but I’m not sure.”
Trump further complicated matters by acknowledging
that territorial swaps had been discussed with Putin, a possibility that
Zelensky has repeatedly opposed. While not ruling it out entirely, Zelensky has
said such concessions cannot be separated from ironclad security guarantees.
Analysts noted that the Alaska talks were
strikingly brief, lasting just a few hours. Veteran Ukrainian diplomat Vadym
Prystaiko compared it to earlier cease-fire negotiations in 2014, which dragged
on for more than 16 hours before producing a deal — one that ultimately
collapsed.
The brevity of the meeting reinforced doubts that
substantive progress had been made. Putin’s remarks about addressing the “root
causes” of the war, a Kremlin euphemism for undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty,
fueled further skepticism.
Meanwhile, Russian strikes on Ukrainian
infrastructure continued overnight, with Kyiv reporting more than 80 drone
attacks. The ongoing bombardment underscored the risks of advancing peace talks
without a cease-fire.
Ordinary Ukrainians expressed weariness at the
mixed signals. “The only way this will stop is with more support for our army,”
said Tetiana Chamlai, a 66-year-old retiree in Kyiv. “I don’t see another way
out.”
For Ukraine and its allies, the path forward now
hinges on Zelensky’s upcoming trip to Washington. Whether Trump clarifies or
doubles down on his new approach could determine not just the future of
negotiations, but Ukraine’s ability to hold the line in its existential war.