Following his unsuccessful summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, U.S. President Donald Trump held extended phone conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several key European and NATO leaders, the White House confirmed.
According to officials, Trump first spoke directly with Zelensky before being joined on the call by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The discussions lasted more than an hour and focused on the failure of the Alaska summit to deliver a ceasefire in Ukraine.
European Reactions
European officials voiced disappointment with the outcome. Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová said the Alaska talks demonstrated that “Putin is not seeking peace, but rather aims to weaken Western unity and spread propaganda.” She emphasized the need for Europe to maintain strong support for Ukraine.
Russian Reactions
In Moscow, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated that the idea of a trilateral summit involving Trump, Putin, and Zelensky was not discussed. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev argued that the Alaska meeting proved dialogue was possible without preconditions, even as fighting continued in Ukraine.
A Meeting Without Results
Despite the ceremonial welcome given to Putin, Trump left Alaska without securing an agreement to end the war. Speaking briefly after the three-hour meeting, he insisted that his team made “significant progress” but admitted, “We didn’t quite get there.” He stressed, “There is no deal until a deal is reached.”
Putin, meanwhile, said the two leaders achieved a “certain understanding” on Ukraine and warned Europe against dismissing what he called “the beginnings of progress.”
In a later interview with Fox News, Trump suggested that the responsibility to end the war may increasingly fall on Zelensky, though he also underlined the role of European allies.
Continued Escalation
Just hours after the summit concluded, Russia launched overnight drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, underscoring the continued intensity of the conflict.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, has already claimed tens of thousands of lives with no end in sight.
