Trump hopeful for Ukraine peace as talks gain momentum

Trump and Zelenskyy meet at the White House amid Ukraine peace talks, 18 August, 2025.
Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope that Vladimir Putin would advance toward ending the war in Ukraine, while acknowledging that the Russian leader may refuse to strike a deal, creating a “rough situation” for Moscow.

Speaking to Fox News, President Trump  says that Putin’s intentions should become clear in the coming weeks.

He ruled out the presence of  U.S. ground troops in Ukraine and offered no details on potential security guarantees for Kyiv.

Despite uncertainty, Trump emphasized that he believes Putin and Russia may be exhausted by the conflict.

Zelenskyy, joined by European allies including Germany, France, and Britain, praised the summit and discussed a possible trilateral meeting with Putin and Trump.

Analysts warn that Ukraine may face tough compromises to secure peace, as the war has caused over a million casualties.

Experts note that while the summit avoided conflict over demands, uncertainty surrounds the scope of U.S. security guarantees.

Ukraine’s allies held talks on further sanctions and coordinating security plans, with NATO leaders also scheduled to discuss the situation.

Russia has not formally committed to a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, with Foreign Minister Lavrov emphasizing that any talks must be thoroughly prepared.

Observers say both Ukraine and Russia are navigating carefully around Trump, while vagueness over U.S. guarantees leaves questions unresolved.

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