Washington, United States – NBC News said that US President Donald Trump informed his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, and allies. He would not discuss the issue of dividing territory with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This was stated at a meeting this week in Alaska.
Politico said that Trump also informed European leaders that America could provide security guarantees to Ukraine.
The website quoted a European diplomat, a British official, and a person familiar with the call between Trump and European and Ukrainian leaders. They said, “The United States is ready to play some role in providing Kiev with the means to deter any future Russian aggression. This would be if a ceasefire is reached”.
The person familiar with the call said Trump “said he would only make such a commitment if the effort was not part of NATO.”
Trump on Wednesday threatened Putin with “serious consequences” if the Russian president obstructed peace in Ukraine. However, he also said that a meeting between them might be followed by a second meeting that includes President Zelensky.
Trump’s remarks and the general atmosphere following an online meeting with European leaders and Zelenskyy offered some hope for Kyiv. This came after fears that the Alaska summit would cede Ukraine to Russia.
But Russia will likely strongly resist giving in to European and Ukrainian demands. It said its position has not changed since Putin set it in June 2024.
Red lines
European leaders and Zelensky met with Trump in a joint phone call. Their goal was to define red lines ahead of the Alaska meeting on Friday evening.
Trump said, “We had a very good call. President Zelensky participated in the call. I would rate it as a 10 out of 10).. She was very friendly.”
For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Trump agreed on the need to involve Ukraine in any discussions related to any cession of territory. Meanwhile, Zelensky said that Trump supported the idea of security guarantees in the post-war settlement.
“President Trump was very clear that the United States wanted to reach a ceasefire during the Alaska meeting,” Macron said.
He added, “The second point on which things were very clear, in the words of President Trump, is that the territories belonging to Ukraine cannot be negotiated. They will only be negotiated by the Ukrainian president”.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who hosted the online meeting, called for the continued application of the principle that borders cannot be changed by force. He added: “If the Alaska meeting does not result in any action from the Russian side, it will be on the United States. We Europeans must increase pressure”.
The largest conflict in Europe since World War II
Trump and Putin are scheduled to discuss how to end the three-and-a-half-year war. This is the largest conflict in Europe since World War II.
Trump had previously said that the two sides must exchange territory to end the fighting. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions.
A Gallup poll conducted last week showed that 69 percent of Ukrainians support a negotiated end to the war as soon as possible.
But other opinion polls also indicate that Ukrainians do not want peace at any cost if it means major concessions.
According to a previous statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexei Fadeev, Moscow’s position has not changed since Putin set it in June 2024.
At that time, the Russian president stipulated that for the ceasefire and the start of talks, Ukraine would withdraw its forces from four regions. Russia claims these regions have become part of it but does not fully control. Additionally, he stated that Kiev would officially abandon its plans to join NATO.
Kiev quickly rejected these terms, considering them a declaration of surrender.
