World leaders are reacting to the much-publicised summit between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, organised at the behest of the US president to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.
As envisaged by Trump, the summit ended without reaching a deal on a ceasefire, a goal the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, wished for, but saw no possibility of happening.
Trump had also doubted the possibility of reaching an agreement with Putin on a ceasefire, describing the meeting as a feel-out summit, meant to bring Putin to the negotiation table.
Announcing the outcome of the meeting, which stretched for hours in a joint press conference, Trump admitted that though they made progress, no deal was reached.
“There were many, many points that we agreed on – most of them, I would say. A couple of big ones that we haven’t quite gotten there, but we’ve made some headway,” Trump said.
“There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump declared.
He hinted that both leaders agreed on territorial concession and a possible US security guarantee for Ukraine.
“Well, I think those are points that we negotiated, and those are points that we largely have agreed on,” Trump said in response to media question without elaborating.
He stressed that Ukraine “has to agree to it,” and Zelensky “Gotta make a dea.”
Zelensky reacts, commends planned trilateral meeting
But, taking to X to react to the summit, Zelensky, who is set to meet with Trump in Washington DC on Monday, said: “We support President Trump’s proposal for a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the USA, and Russia. Ukraine emphasises that key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this.
“On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war.
“It is important that Europeans are involved at every stage to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America. We also discussed positive signals from the American side regarding participation in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security.”
Russia can’t veto Ukraine’s path to EU, NATO – EU leaders
Also reacting, the EU leaders said it was up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory, saying that Russia would not be allowed to veto against Kyiv’s pathway to EU and NATO membership.
They said in a statement that the EU was prepared to provide security guarantee to Ukraine.
They said: “We are clear that Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We welcome President Trump’s statement that the U.S. is prepared to give security guarantees. The Coalition of the Willing is ready to play an active role. No limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or on its cooperation with third countries. Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine‘s pathway to EU and NATO.
“It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory. International borders must not be changed by force.
“We are determined to do more to keep Ukraine strong in order to achieve an end to the fighting and a just and lasting peace. We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia’s war economy.
“Ukraine can count on our unwavering solidarity as we work towards a peace that safeguards Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests.”
We’ll keep tightening the screws on Russia – Starmer
UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said: “President Trump’s efforts have brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. His leadership in pursuit of an end to the killing should be commended.
“I welcome the openness of the United States, alongside Europe, to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal. This is important progress and will be crucial in deterring Putin from coming back for more.
“In the meantime, until he stops his barbaric assault, we will keep tightening the screws on his war machine with even more sanctions.
“Our unwavering support for Ukraine will continue as long as it takes.”
EU Chief Diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said: “The U.S. holds the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously. The EU will work with Ukraine and the U.S. so that Russia’s aggression does not succeed and that any peace is sustainable.
“Moscow won’t end the war until it realises it can’t continue. So, Europe will continue to back Ukraine, including by working on a 19th Russia sanctions package.”
Writing on X, French President Emmanuel Macron said: “It will also be essential to learn all the lessons of the past 30 years, and in particular Russia’s well-established propensity to fail to keep its own commitments.
“We will continue to work closely with President Trump and President Zelenskiy to ensure that our interests are preserved in a spirit of unity and responsibility. France continues to stand resolutely by Ukraine’s side.”
Also reacting, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni described the meeting as a glimmer of hope for peace in Ukraine.
“A glimmer of hope has finally opened to discuss peace in Ukraine. Italy is doing its part, along with its Western allies,” she said.
“Ukraine can count on our unwavering solidarity as we work towards a peace that safeguards Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on X.
The European Commission President, Ursula Von Der Leyen, said on X: “The EU is working closely with President Zelenskiy and the United States to reach a just and lasting peace. Strong security guarantees that protect Ukrainian and European vital security interests are essential.”
India Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said: “India welcomes the Summit meeting in Alaska between U.S. President, Donald Trump, and President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Their leadership in the pursuit of peace is highly commendable.
“India appreciates the progress made in the Summit. The way forward can only be through dialogue and diplomacy. The world wants to see an early end to the conflict in Ukraine.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, speaking to reporters in Oslo, said: “Our view is clear: it is important we must continue to put pressure on Russia, and even increase it, to give the clear signal to Russia that it must pay the price.
“We must listen to Ukraine’s wishes and needs. We know that President Putin wants to split Europe and the United States. With all our allies, we must do everything we can to avoid that.”
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said: “The results of the Alaska summit confirm that while the U.S. and its allies are seeking paths to peace, Putin is still only interested in the greatest possible territorial gains and the restoration of the Soviet empire.”
