Two of the world’s most powerful leaders met in America to map out a way out of an incredibly brutal war.
After a secretive marathon, US President Donald Trump did not emerge with an agreement for peace, but rather with the unwavering and stark message that it is time to reach a settlement with Ukraine.
Trump said that his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin were productive in a Fox News interview conducted after the summit. However, he revealed that an agreement on the final outcome of the war was still elusive.
He shifted his position and instead of putting pressure on Moscow he placed the responsibility of a solution squarely on Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president.
Trump stated that he and Putin had discussed “one or two very significant issues” but he believed they could be resolved.
The President Zelenskiy is the one who has to do it. It’s also up to the European nations to do their part, although it is still up to Zelenskiy.
Trump’s response to being asked for his advice on how he would advise the Ukrainian president was straightforward: “Make a deal. Make a deal.”
Secret summit
The two presidents held their first ever longest face-to-face encounter on a dramatic and eventful day.
Both leaders were remarkably vague despite the long time they spent discussing. This is likely to increase anxiety, not only in Kyiv but also in European capitals, who are already worried about a deal being made over their heads.
Trump, standing alongside Putin in a post summit event and calling their discussion “extremely fruitful”, immediately qualified his statement.
There’s never a deal until one is made.
While they were in agreement on the majority of points, he admitted “we haven’t quite reached a consensus but made progress” with “a few big issues.”
He refused to reveal what those points were at either the press conference or with Hannity later.
I’d prefer not. Someone is probably going to make it public. “They’ll figure out,” Trump added, adding to the mystery.
Putin’s part characterized the discussions as being “useful”, and that they were held in a “constructive atmosphere”. He hinted at agreements which had not been specified, and shifted to potential cooperation areas ranging from space exploration to trade.
Concerned voices are heard
A harsh condemnation was issued for the lack of transparency, and sudden pressure put on Zelenskiy. European allies feared that Trump would give too much ground to Putin, or accept territorial swaps with Kyiv without their consent.
Trump’s performance seemed to confirm these fears.
Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat senator and democrat who supports Trump’s presidency, said: “Once more it appears that Putin has played Trump.”
He claimed that Trump left without declaring a ceasefire, a priority, and with “no prospect in the near future of Trump actually implementing his threatened sanctions.”
Van Hollen wrote on X: “Putin received a meeting with Trump on US soil. Putin was flattered.” “Advantage Putin. Shameful.”
Experts in policy echoed this sentiment. Samuel Charap is a senior researcher at RAND Corporation. He described the event in terms of “a lot upbeat vibes, but very few specifics.”
Theatre of Power
Although the content of the discussions was secret, the show that followed it all was spectacular.
Trump greeted Putin for the first time on American soil in almost a decade, an unprecedented moment for the Russian president who was branded a pariah by the international community after the 2022 invasion.
A warm handshake and pat on the back were part of a choreographed welcoming, as was a flyover by a B-2 Bomber from US Military.
The two leaders left together, in Trump’s limousine. This gave Putin an audience with Trump without the intrusive ears of his aides before any formal session had even begun.
Another shocking exchange concluded the summit. Putin suggested that their next meeting be held in Moscow, concluding his English remarks. Trump didn’t dismiss it.
It’s a good one. “I’ll probably get some heat for that, but it is possible,” Trump responded, leaving everyone wondering what will happen next in this high stakes drama.
The post This Post Trump-Putin Meeting Ends with Secret ‘Sticking Points’ and A Warning to Ukraine first appeared on The ICD
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