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Washington, Aug 17: U.S. President Donald Trump shifted his approach after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying a comprehensive peace agreement, not the ceasefire he had long supported, should be the next step to end the 3 1/2-year war in Ukraine.

In discussions with European allies following Friday’s Alaska summit, Trump said Putin reaffirmed his claim over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Donbas. However, Putin appeared open to freezing front lines in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, according to European officials familiar with the calls who spoke on condition of anonymity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected ceding any territory in Donbas.

The summit’s aftermath offered little clarity on next steps beyond Trump’s plan for further meetings, including one with Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday. It remained unclear whether Trump considers Putin’s claim to Donbas acceptable, with his elliptical style adding to confusion. The White House provided no public summary of the calls as Trump spent Saturday golfing with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Fox News anchor Bret Baier at his Virginia club.

Trump’s reversal on a ceasefire raised questions about how talks can proceed amid ongoing attacks. His stance aligns with Putin, who has consistently rejected temporary truces in favor of a long-term settlement that safeguards Russia’s interests.

After the calls, Trump said on social media that “the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told ZDF television that Trump said “Russia seems prepared to conduct negotiations based on the so-called line of contact and not the administrative boundaries.” How issues in Donbas are resolved remains unclear.

Zelenskyy has refused to withdraw from the remaining 30% of Donetsk under Ukrainian control, citing constitutional constraints and the risk of the territory being used for future Russian attacks. European leaders, while praising Trump’s efforts to stop the killing and achieve lasting peace, did not clarify whether a peace deal is preferable to a ceasefire.

People’s News Monitoring Service