Following his historic summit with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, President Donald Trump took the next step in what is shaping up to be a three-phase journey to peace between Russia and Ukraine. On Monday (Aug. 18), the commander-in-chief hosted the embattled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, along with a pride of European leaders who have a vested interest in settling an almost four-year war on their continent.
The third phase is a trilateral meeting with Zelensky, Putin, and Trump to close on an agreement that will stop the fighting in Ukraine and lay the foundation for a lasting peace. This will not be easy. According to a Just the News report, “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday [Aug. 17] that Kyiv won’t give up land that has not been occupied by Moscow’s forces as part of a peace agreement, later adding that Ukraine’s constitution doesn’t permit it.” However, to make progress, that hard line may have to be modified.
During a press availability with Trump and Zelensky, the US president was asked about the failure to get a ceasefire in Alaska, after he said there would be severe consequences if that were not achieved. Trump responded, “I don’t think you need a ceasefire. If you look at the six deals I settled this year, they were all at war. I didn’t do any ceasefires.” He further explained that he understood why, strategically, a ceasefire might be good to have. However, he added, “I like the concept of a ceasefire for one reason, because you’d stop killing people.”
During a weekend interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that both Ukraine and Russia are going to have to demonstrate they are serious about compromise:
“I’m reading actions, and that’s what we’re looking at is actions. What will you agree to, what will you commit to, and what will you follow up on? And in order for this war to end, Russia will have to take actions; Ukraine will have to take actions; Ukraine’s partners and allies will have to take actions as well to enforce that peace in the long term.”
One significant point of contention is the Donbass in eastern Ukraine. Kremlin forces have been unable to capture that region in 12 years of conflict. But Ukraine considers the area a bulwark that keeps Russian forces contained in the east. Kyiv not having that naturally fortified ground would open all of the country to a future Russian invasion.
Europe has a big stake in the endgame since, when the war ends, it will be up to European and NATO nations to implement measures to keep the peace. However, the White House meeting with significant players speaking with one voice has put Putin on notice that he is dealing with a formidable, unified military and economic force. Ukraine has been insisting on security guarantees, and Fox News reported that “Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff [said that] Putin agreed to allow the U.S. to provide Ukraine ‘robust security guarantees.’” For those who hold the view that nothing was accomplished in Alaska, that was a significant concession by Putin.
Many believe that security guarantees mean that European and US forces will be deployed to Ukraine. However, during the White House’s negotiations with Ukraine over rare earth minerals in February, Trump expressed that, once the fighting stopped, having US companies and their employees working in Ukraine would deter Russia from endangering Americans.
For President Trump, this gathering was an exercise in diplomatic crowd control that highlighted the unity of purpose shared by Zelensky and consequential European nations. After the multilateral meeting, President Trump posted on Truth Social that he “had a very good meeting with distinguished guests … which ended in a further meeting in the Oval Office. During the meeting, we discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which Guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with coordination with the United States of America.”
Trump also revealed that during the meeting, he “called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelensky.” There will be a “Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself,” Trump texted.
Let the naysayers beware. During the White House group meeting, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb observed that more progress toward peace has been achieved in the last two weeks than in the previous four years. All things considered, Trump has orchestrated a very successful push to end the conflict. What remains are the details, but, as we know, that’s where the devil hangs out.
The views expressed are those of the author and not of any other affiliate.