-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
At the Alaska summit, Russian leader Vladimir Putin reportedly pressed for a peace deal that would require Ukraine to hand over unoccupied areas of the Donetsk region. The plan contrasts with Trump’s earlier calls for an urgent cease-fire ahead of the meeting, according to The New York Times findings published on August 16.
According to European officials briefed on the talks, Trump told allied leaders that a rapid settlement could be reached if President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accepted Moscow’s demand for control of the entire Donetsk region, including areas not under Russian occupation.
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In exchange, Putin offered a cease-fire along existing battle lines and a written pledge not to launch future attacks against Ukraine or European states—promises he has broken in the past.
The shift has unsettled European capitals, as the strategy had previously centered on securing a cease-fire as the first step in negotiations. Discussions are expected to continue when Zelenskyy visits the White House on Monday.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, in his evening address, said Ukrainian forces are successfully resisting Russian attempts to advance. He noted recent engagements in Donetsk region, as well as active fighting in Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia.
“We anticipate that in the coming days the Russian army may attempt to intensify pressure and strikes against Ukrainian positions in order to create more favorable political circumstances for talks with global actors. Of course, we will counter this—and if necessary, asymmetrically,” he stated.
The Ukrainian leader stressed the importance of holding strong defensive lines, adding: “Ukraine needs solid positions and truly tangible resistance to the enemy.”
Earlier, it was reported that European leaders welcomed US President Donald Trump’s recent Alaska meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, describing it as a step toward halting Russia’s war against Ukraine and moving closer to a just and lasting peace.
