President Donald Trump has revealed that “just one obstacle” prevented a peace agreement being reached with Vladimir Putin during their high-stakes Alaska summit on Friday, placing responsibility squarely on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to finalise any deal.
Speaking to Fox News after the three-hour meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Trump rated the summit “10 out of 10” but refused to detail what the single remaining obstacle involved. The US President confirmed that talks between Russia and Ukraine would be arranged with both nations’ leaders attending.
They’re fighting a big war machine, and we, I think, are close to a deal, but I don’t like saying it,” Trump told the broadcaster. “I always say, if I’m really close, I say 50-50 because so many things can happen, but I think President Putin would like to solve the problem.”
No Concrete Agreement Reached
Despite Trump’s optimistic assessment, no ceasefire or peace agreement emerged from the meeting, which took place without Ukrainian representation. The summit, held under banners reading “Pursuing Peace,” ended earlier than scheduled with both leaders declining to take questions from assembled media.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov hailed the meeting as “very positive,” claiming both leaders had made “exhaustive statements” that rendered a press conference unnecessary. The 57-year-old said the Alaska meeting would enable the leaders to “confidently move forward together” in finding an agreement.
Trump confirmed he would attend a future meeting between Putin and Zelensky, stating: “They both want me there, and I’ll be there.” The President expressed confidence that peace could happen in a “fairly short” period, whilst acknowledging he had underestimated the conflict’s complexity.
“I thought this would be the easiest of them all, and it was the most difficult,” Trump admitted, referencing his campaign pledge to end the war within 24 hours of taking office.
Land Swaps and Prisoner Exchanges
On the contentious issue of territorial changes, Trump revealed that “those are points that we largely agreed on,” suggesting potential land swaps formed part of discussions. The President also indicated possible prisoner of war transfers between Russia and Ukraine.
“I have a book of thousands of people that they presented me with today, thousands of prisoners, who will get released,” Trump said, though he provided no timeline or specific details about implementation.
The summit came just one day after Russia and Ukraine exchanged 84 prisoners each, the latest in a series of swaps that have seen hundreds released this year. Ukrainian officials said the freed prisoners included some held since 2014, with one enduring more than 11 years in Russian captivity.
Zelensky’s Defiant Response
The Ukrainian President, excluded from the Alaska talks at Putin’s insistence, has maintained a firm stance against any territorial concessions. In statements before the summit, Zelensky declared: “Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier.”
Hours before Trump and Putin met, Zelensky accused Russia of continuing attacks even on the day of negotiations. “There is no order, nor any signals from Moscow that it is preparing to end this war… they are also killing on the day of the negotiations,” he said in a video address.
Earlier this week, Zelensky joined European leaders and Trump in a virtual meeting where they agreed on “five common principles” for negotiations, including that “everything concerning Ukraine must be discussed exclusively with Ukraine.”
Cold War Echoes at Historic Base
The choice of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson as the summit venue carried significant symbolism. The military installation, created in 2010 from the merger of Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson, played a crucial role in monitoring Soviet activities during the Cold War.
Known as “Top Cover for North America,” the base housed over 200 fighter aircraft in the 1950s and served as a key defensive position against potential Soviet incursions. Today, it hosts the headquarters for US Alaskan Command, 11th Air Force, and the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region.
The irony of Putin visiting an American military base historically designed to counter Russian threats was not lost on observers, as Trump sought to project American strength whilst pursuing diplomatic engagement.
European Concerns Mount
European leaders expressed relief that the summit expanded beyond a one-on-one format to include advisers, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff joining Trump, whilst Putin brought Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and adviser Yuri Ushakov.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump was “very clear” about seeking a ceasefire, whilst NATO chief Mark Rutte declared “the ball is now in Putin’s court” following coordinated calls with allies. However, Eastern European officials reacted with scepticism to Putin’s statements about eliminating “fundamental threats” to Russian security.
Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene accused Putin of “more gaslighting and veiled threats,” whilst Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky doubted Putin’s sincerity, noting: “If Putin were serious about negotiating peace, he would not have been attacking Ukraine all day today.”
What Happens Next
Trump confirmed he would call Zelensky and NATO leaders to brief them on the Alaska discussions. The President urged the Ukrainian leader to “make a deal,” warning that without agreement, he might tell both sides “lots of luck, keep fighting.”
With the war approaching its fourth year and thousands of lives lost, pressure mounts for a resolution. Trump’s acknowledgement that the conflict proved more complex than anticipated suggests the path to peace remains fraught with challenges.
As both sides prepare for potential trilateral talks, the nature of Trump’s mysterious “one big thing” blocking agreement remains unknown, leaving the fate of Ukraine hanging in the balance between diplomatic breakthrough and continued warfare.
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Image Credit (Shortened):
Donald Trump with Vladimir Putin (G20 Osaka Summit, 28 June 2019) – by The White House / Shealah Craighead, public domain (U.S. government work), via Wikimedia Commons.
