Trump Weighs Putin’s Peace Prospects
During a Fox News radio interview on Thursday, August 14, President Donald Trump expressed optimism that Russian President Vladimir Putin might finalize a pact to restore stability in Ukraine, following a brief hint of a nuclear‑arms accord ahead of their Alaska summit.
Key Takeaways
- Confidence in a deal: Trump said, “I think he’s going to make a deal.”
- Conditional follow‑up: He would reach out to Zelenskiy and European leaders only if the summit succeeded; otherwise, he would pause.
- Strategic framing: The first meeting, he noted, “sets up a chess game,” and could trigger a second session, though there is a 25% chance it will fail.
These remarks underscore a cautious but hopeful stance on diplomatic avenues that may shape the evolving crisis in Ukraine.
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‘I’m not going to negotiate their deal’
The President’s Position on the Russia‑Ukraine Negotiations
Trump reiterated that the United States will not take part in the forthcoming talks between Russia and Ukraine. He pronounced: “I’m not going to negotiate their deal.”
Assessing the Talks
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, tempered expectations for any substantive outcome. Peskov clarified that Russia has no intention of registering an agreement at this stage. As reported by the Russian outlet Interfax:
- “There are no plans to sign any agreements.”
- “Predicting the results of the talks would be a big mistake.”
Political Will and Dialogue
Peskov stressed that the political resolve shown by the leaders of both countries is a scarce asset in the current global landscape. He added:
- “We are proceeding from the good political will shown by the presidents of the two countries to resolve issues through dialogue.”
- “Such mutual political will is currently in short supply.”
- “We see that we will probably never get an adequate response, for example, from the Europeans.”
Future Discussions
According to Peskov, President Putin and President Trump intend to engage in direct dialogue and will address the most challenging topics during their talks.
Russian and US issues on the agenda
Leadership Talks and Their Potential Impact on Ukraine
Pekov made it clear that while the two leaders would touch on Ukraine, the focus that day was on Russia–United States discussions. He added that any Ukraine‑related conversation would likely come in a later stage.
Beyond Ukraine: The Nuclear Arms Control Angle
- Earlier CNN coverage reported that Putin praised Trump’s “energetic” attempts to halt the war.
- Instead of announcing a direct Ukraine agreement, Moscow and Washington hinted at a possible nuclear arms‑control deal during the meeting.
Russia’s Stance and Europeans’ Unnecessary Worries
At present, Russia shows no indication that the Trump–Putin meeting will produce a Ukraine deal. European leaders, however, appear to be overly concerned about what might result from the summit.
Breakfast Unity at Downing Street
On August 14, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Volodymyr Zelenskye shared a breakfast at No. 10 Downing Street. The BBC reported that the meeting fostered a strong sense of unity and a determined resolve to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. Following the breakfast, Zelensky posted a concise statement on X.
No sign Russians want ‘to end the war’
Alaska Summit Outlook
Zelensky highlighted expectations for the upcoming meeting in Alaska, stressing the need for credible security commitments that could stabilize peace if the United States presses Russia to halt ongoing violence and pursue meaningful diplomacy.
Military Continuity
Leader Starmer and his Ukrainian counterpart affirmed the continuity of support programs for Ukraine’s army and defense industry. Regardless of any scenario, the country will sustain its resilience.
Trump‑Putin Summit Realities
- On August 13, Zelensky expressed diminished optimism for the Trump‑Putin summit.
- He noted the absence of signs that Russians are preparing to end the war.
