In recent days, President Trump hosted a significant summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, following a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska that yielded no clear resolutions. As discussions continue, a few key developments and future plans are emerging.
During the latest summit, Trump took initiative by proposing a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, aiming to pave the way for a trilateral discussion involving all three leaders. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed that Putin has tentatively agreed to this initial meeting, although no specifics regarding timing or location have been established, and Kremlin officials remain noncommittal.
Reflecting on the ongoing conflict, Trump described the meeting as a positive first step toward peace after nearly four years of violence. He suggested that the fighting could de-escalate within a couple of weeks but acknowledged the myriad challenges remaining. Zelensky has softened his initial stance of demanding a ceasefire prior to talks, yet significant disputes persist that complicate the prospect of reconciliation.
Territorial security issues represent the most pressing obstacles. Currently, Russia occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which was unlawfully annexed in 2014, as well as portions of the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Ukraine firmly rejects any ceding of land and insists that all occupied territories must be returned, recognising this as an infringement of both international law and Ukrainian sovereignty.
Moreover, Ukraine’s military capacity to reclaim lost territories is restricted, and while European partners have discussed using current frontlines as negotiation starting points, land swaps proposed by Trump may not resonate with Kyiv, which emphasises securing guarantees against future Russian aggression. There’s speculation that a NATO-like security assurance could be offered, though official membership remains impractical.
Moscow has categorically opposed NATO’s involvement, maintaining that Ukraine pursuing any military alliances is unacceptable. Recent remarks from Russian officials reflect a hardening stance against proposed military support from NATO or any frontier limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces.
Concerns for an immediate ceasefire have also emerged. Ukraine and its Western allies argue for a truce before resuming peace talks, a position echoed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. However, following his meeting with Putin, Trump appears to have shifted his approach from advocating for a ceasefire to favouring negotiations that focus on achieving long-term peace instead.
As talks progress, the path to resolution will depend heavily on managing these delicate and intertwined issues of territory, security, and diplomatic effort.