A day after he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, US President Donald Trump posted a cryptic message on his Truth Social account, hinting at a major development connected to Russia. The short post read, “Big progress on Russia, stay tuned,” but provided no additional explanation. The message immediately triggered speculation that Trump might be alluding to possible security guarantees for Ukraine, especially as it coincided with remarks from Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, who revealed that during the talks, Putin expressed openness to allowing the US and its European allies to extend NATO-style security assurances to Ukraine.
Witkoff noted that this was the first time Putin had indicated a willingness to consider such a framework, explaining that discussions touched on a system where the United States and European nations could provide Ukraine with Article 5-like protections. Despite this apparent opening, the meeting between Trump and Putin concluded without a concrete agreement to halt Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The leaders engaged in nearly three hours of talks, identifying areas of limited convergence, but they failed to reach any substantial breakthrough. Importantly, this marked Putin’s first appearance on Western soil since he initiated the invasion in February 2022.
Trump’s post also came within minutes of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggesting that the Alaska meeting held significant potential for progress. Rubio stated that while a peace deal was not imminent, some elements of the dialogue indicated the possibility of eventual breakthroughs. He emphasized that Washington would continue efforts to bring the war to an end but cautioned that diplomacy carried no guarantees. He also underscored that if negotiations collapsed, harsher consequences for Russia might be unavoidable. At the same time, he acknowledged the grim reality that the conflict could continue indefinitely, resulting in thousands of additional deaths.
As diplomatic attention shifted to Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared for high-level meetings with Trump, accompanied by leaders from Britain, Germany, and France. European heads of state, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, had already met to coordinate a strategy aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s position. Reports indicated that discussions were underway over a proposal in which Russia might surrender some occupied regions while Ukraine ceded fortified territory in the east, effectively freezing the rest of the front lines.
Zelenskyy, however, stressed in remarks from Brussels that any genuine negotiations should begin with the current front line as the basis. He insisted that a ceasefire must precede any comprehensive deal, a position echoed by European leaders. Declaring the need for unity, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of Washington’s active role in ensuring Ukraine’s security, while European partners reaffirmed their commitment to securing robust guarantees as part of any future agreement.
