President Donald Trump announced plans for a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant shift in diplomatic relations. This development comes after Trump held a phone call with Putin before speaking with Ukrainian leadership.
During his Oval Office remarks, Trump expressed openness to several positions aligned with Russian interests regarding Ukraine. He indicated he was “OK” with Ukraine not receiving NATO membership and suggested it was “unlikely” that Ukraine would regain invaded territories. “I think President Putin wants peace and President Zelenskyy wants peace, and I want peace,” Trump stated, adding, “I just want to see people stop getting killed.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded diplomatically, noting he had “very substantive negotiations” with Trump. Zelenskyy believed that American “strength is sufficient to pressure Russia and Putin into peace, together with us, together with our partners.”
The announcement prompted responses from European allies. France, Germany, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement emphasizing that “Ukraine and Europe must be part of any negotiations.” The statement, while not directly naming Trump, clearly indicated their desire to be included in discussions about Ukraine’s future.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified that American troops would not participate in any peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, indicating that European resources would be expected for such efforts.
The current military situation shows Russia controlling approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, a figure that has remained relatively stable over the past year despite slow Russian advances. Ukrainian forces continue to maintain control of a small portion of what Russia considers its territory.
Brian Hughes, a National Security Council spokesman, defended Trump’s approach, stating that the president “inherited a world on fire thanks to a generation of so-called experts from the foreign policy establishment” and that his “America First diplomacy is paying real dividends for Americans and peace-loving people across the globe.”
Former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, questioned the strategy of “giving Putin giftsโUkraine land and no NATO membership for Ukraineโbefore negotiations even begin.” He argued that such concessions should be negotiated in exchange for Russian compromises that benefit both Ukraine and American interests.
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