Trump sets up Zelensky meeting as Putin renews land demands
Trump told the Ukrainian president and European leaders in a call that Putin wants Kyiv to cede control of the entire Donbas region in Ukraine's east, renewing his longstanding demand, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition on anonymity.
They spoke as Trump flew back from Friday's high-profile summit with Putin in Alaska, which failed to deliver a path to end the war, currently in its fourth year. Trump called his meeting productive, then signalled that he would tell Zelensky to make a deal, piling more pressure on the Ukrainian leader.
After the Alaska summit, several senior European diplomats expressed angst over the outcome, noting Putin appeared to have gained the most from the meeting. They pointed to Putin's symbolic win for securing an invitation to the US and the Russian leader apparently prevailing on Trump to shift focus to an overarching peace settlement without seeking an immediate ceasefire.
European allies from the so-called coalition of the willing countries that pledged support to Kyiv will hold a video call on Sunday, France said on Saturday. Some European leaders may also join Zelensky in person for his meeting with Trump on Monday, said one of the people.
Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out giving up all of Donetsk and Luhansk, which Moscow's forces only partially control and have so far failed to take militarily. Russia would halt advancing its claims over the parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson region it doesn't now control, effectively freezing the battle-lines there, the people said.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign Up
Sign Up
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday voiced his doubts about the Russian leader's intentions about ending the war in Ukraine. 'Putin has promised a lot so far, signed many agreements. I don't believe it so easily. But at least, it's the beginning of a conversation,' Merz said in an interview with RTL/ntv.
Trump told European leaders that he was prepared to contribute to guaranteeing Ukraine's security as long as it didn't involve Nato, they added. The president suggested Putin would be OK with that, the people said.
'Ukraine reaffirms its readiness to work with maximum effort to achieve peace,' Zelensky said in a social media post after a call with Trump on Saturday. Trump confirmed the Ukrainian president's visit to Washington in a Truth Social post, and said a meeting with Putin and Zelensky could be scheduled 'if all works out'.
The US president said in the post that his meeting with Putin and the call with Zelensky both went 'very well'. 'It was determined by all' that the best way to end the war was to achieve a peace agreement and 'not a mere Ceasefire Agreement', he wrote.
The statement comes after Trump said previously that a ceasefire would be his key demand of Putin at the summit. He also threatened to walk out of the meeting and to impose new tough punitive measures if it wasn't met. Trump signalled on Friday that he wasn't in a rush to implement fresh penalties on Russia's trading partners.
Uneasy relationship
Monday's visit to the White House will be a pivotal moment for Zelensky, who's had an uneasy relationship with Trump. His last visit to the Oval Office in February descended into a shouting match between the two leaders and briefly led to the US pausing military aid to Ukraine, which undercut the country's fighting capabilities.
Trump and Zelensky have since met repeatedly, including at the Nato leaders summit in Hague and at the Vatican, and patched up their ties.
European officials welcomed Trump's efforts during their call with the US president. They also reiterated the need for a trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky in a statement released on Saturday. That statement made no mention of earlier demands for an immediate ceasefire as a first step towards negotiations.
The topic of a trilateral summit wasn't raised in Alaska, Russia's state TV channel Vesti reported on Saturday, citing Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.
European leaders also said that it will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory. 'International borders must not be changed by force,' according to the statement, signed by the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Finland, Poland the UK and the president of the European Commission.
Some European officials are concerned that Trump will now pressure Zelensky to make territorial concessions to reach a deal, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.
'President Trump's resolve to get a peace deal is vital,' said European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. 'But the harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon.'
Putin continues to drag out negotiations and 'left Anchorage without making any commitments to end the killing', Kallas said.
Putin told his government on Saturday that the conversation with Trump in Alaska was 'very frank and meaningful', the Kremlin said on its website. 'We, of course, respect the position of the American administration, which sees the need for a speedy end to military action,' he said. 'We would also like this and would like to move to resolving all issues by peaceful means.'
In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity after the Alaskan summit, Trump said that there were a few sticking points remaining after his discussion with Putin, even as he cautioned that the two hadn't reached a deal, and shifted his focus to Zelensky, saying it was up to him to resolve the war.
'We are clear that Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity' and 'no limitations should be placed on Ukraine's armed forces or on its cooperation with third countries', the statement from European leaders said. 'Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine's pathway to EU and Nato.'
Meanwhile, Ukraine's Air Force said on Telegram on Saturday morning that Russia launched 85 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukrainian territory overnight, underscoring Moscow's intention to press on with the war.
'We anticipate that in the coming days, the Russian army may try to increase pressure and strikes against Ukrainian positions in order to create more favourable political circumstances for talks with global actors,' Zelensky said on X. BLOOMBERG
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
27 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Global markets face shaky week ahead as US pressure mounts on Ukraine
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox French President Emmanuel Macron attends a video conference with European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as part of the so-called 'coalition of the willing', Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025 at the Fort de Bregancon in Bormes-les-Mimosas, France. Philippe Magoni/Pool via REUTERS LONDON - Defence stocks and energy markets are likely to be in focus this week, as European leaders rushed to back Ukraine in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump that may pressure Kyiv to accept a peace deal favouring Russia. Investors are watching for signs that the U.S. may move closer to Russia in a bid to exploit vast, untapped Arctic energy resources, in a major geopolitical shift that piles pressure on Europe to rapidly boost defence spending. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended their weekend summit in Alaska without securing a Ukraine ceasefire agreement, with the U.S. President then saying he now wanted a rapid peace deal that Kyiv should accept. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is travelling to Washington on Monday for talks that leaders of nations including Germany, the UK and France will now join. "Trump seems inclined to reduce or even end US support for Ukraine. Putin got him interested in business deals," Berenberg Chief Economist Holger Schmieding said in a note to clients. "As a result, the US may lift its sanctions on Russia and invest in Russia instead," he added. "Europe will have to spend a lot more for its own defence." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDR 2025: New govt-funded traineeship scheme for ITE, poly, university graduates Singapore NDR 2025: CDCs to spearhead new effort to match job seekers to roles nearer to home, says PM Wong Singapore NDR 2025: US baseline tariff of 10% on Singapore offers 'little comfort', says PM Wong Singapore NDR 2025: More avenues for S'poreans to be heard, get involved will be opened up, says PM Wong World European leaders to join Zelensky for Ukraine talks with Trump Sport Third time's the charm as Aaron Liang dethrones Samuel Kang en route to national squash title Asia Mandarin with Taiwanese characteristics: Taipei leverages language as soft power tool Asia 'Rats from the sky': Urban India finds itself divided on pigeons DEFENCE STOCK RALLY Investors have bet on that outcome since February 2022, driving a supercharged rally in European aerospace and defence stocks with gains of over 600% for Leonardo and 1,500% for Germany's Rheinmetall. The euro has rallied 13% against the dollar this year and traded at about $1.17 on Friday. Bank of America strategist Michael Hartnett highlighted the potential for U.S.-Russia Arctic drilling projects to exploit 15% of the world's undiscovered oil and 30% of the world's undiscovered natural gas, resulting in a deep energy bear market. Brent crude, which dropped more than 1% to near $66 a barrel, on Friday, was still priced for a Ukraine peace deal, Hartnett cautioned, while Trump wanted lower energy prices for U.S. consumers. Ukraine's government bonds - key mood indicators - rallied when news of the summit emerged earlier this month but have stalled at a still-distressed 55 cents per dollar. "I would think they will be a bit weaker following the recent strength as the mood seems to favour Russia following Friday's summit," Aegon Asset Management head of emerging market debt Jeff Grills said. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Hungarian opposition leader demands Russia refrain from interference
BUDAPEST - Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar has sought assurances from Russia that it will refrain from interference in his country's politics, saying there would be no scope for meaningful cooperation without respecting its sovereignty. Earlier this week, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) published a statement describing Magyar as being loyal to "globalist elites" and alleging that the European Commission was considering "regime change in Budapest." Magyar, whose Tisza Party is ahead of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz in most polls ahead of parliamentary elections due next spring, published an open letter to Russia's ambassador in Hungary, asking what was the intended effect of the SVR statement. "I demand clear assurances that the Russian Federation will refrain from any actions that could be deemed as interference in Hungary's domestic politics, including disinformation campaigns, cyber operations or the intimidation of politicians and citizens," Magyar said in the letter published on Facebook on Sunday. The Russian Embassy in Budapest did not immediately respond to emailed questions for comment. In power since 2010, Orban has been criticised by some fellow EU leaders for his government's warm ties with Moscow and opposition to military aid for Ukraine. Orban has also accused EU leaders of plotting to topple him. Magyar, a former government insider, has previously said he would strive for "pragmatic relations" with Russia, which supplies Hungary with most of its energy and is also involved in an expansion of its Paks nuclear plant. He said the SVR's statement showed Russia was trying to intervene directly to sway voters in Hungary, which is a member of the NATO military alliance but which under Orban has refused to send weapons to neighbouring Ukraine. "Hungary's sovereignty and the inviolability of our democratic processes cannot be negotiable. Adherence to these principles is the minimum requirement for any meaningful bilateral cooperation between our countries," Magyar said. REUTERS
Business Times
an hour ago
- Business Times
National Day Rally: Lack of big announcements could reflect PM Wong's ‘first among equals' style
[SINGAPORE] As the most important political speech of the year, the National Day Rally (NDR) might have been expected to feature pomp and grandeur, especially since this is the year Singapore celebrates its 60th year of independence. Yet, that would perhaps not be in line with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's style, as he himself implied when concluding his speech on Sunday (Aug 17). In writing the chapter after SG60, the 'Singapore spirit' will be a driving force, he said. With citizens having shared faith in each other, the nation will break new ground and mark new milestones 'not with loud fanfare, but with quiet confidence'. In a sense, quiet confidence has characterised PM Wong's leadership since he took the reins last May. On Sunday, too, he struck an upbeat tone despite laying out formidable external challenges , reiterating that Singapore can shape its own future instead of being a resigned bystander. 'Singapore's progress will never be left to chance,' he said, as he outlined the government's efforts to overcome the adversities ahead. 'We are – and have always been – a nation that adapts, reinvents and dares to dream.' BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Such positivity permeated his speech as he touched on issues that have dominated recent discussions. He highlighted the promise of artificial intelligence (AI) even while acknowledging resultant worries about job security, and promising workers that they remain the top priority. Similarly, Singapore's ageing society was not framed as a threat. Rather, PM Wong focused on how seniors can lead healthy and active lives, announcing moves to build ' Age Well Neighbourhoods '. No marquee announcements? From AI and the economy to worries about graduate jobs , PM Wong's choice of topics may reflect a close reading of what resonates with the ground. Yet, this year's speech marks a departure from past NDRs in several ways. First, PM Wong arguably spent less time on regional matters than his predecessor. When Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong was prime minister, he often devoted several minutes of his speech to an overview of Singapore's relations with its close neighbours. While PM Wong did briefly discuss geopolitics in this year's rally, the lack of an update on foreign relations was particularly stark, given that he had just completed his round of introductory visits in the region. Second, NDRs have typically been expected to feature marquee announcements. In the past, the NDR has often been used as a platform for major announcements: Project Jewel and the Pioneer Generation Package in 2013; the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (Vers) in 2018; the government's S$100 billion commitment to climate adaptation measures in 2019; and the Kallang Alive master plan in 2024, just to name a few. In theory, this year's NDR could have been used as a platform for announcements such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Draft Master Plan 2025 – released in June – or an update to Vers. The fact that it was not could reflect PM Wong's 'first among equals' leadership style. Important announcements are not necessarily 'saved' for the leader; instead, team members are given the opportunity to be in the limelight. This is exemplified by the involvement of both experienced and new ministers in the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce, chaired by his 'right-hand man', Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong – who got a shout-out at the rally. PM Wong might well be saving some announcements for when the 15th Parliament opens in just over two weeks – and perhaps also allowing the respective ministers to deliver them. On Sep 5, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will deliver the President's Address that traditionally marks the opening of Parliament. This will be followed by a five-day debate, about two weeks later, where the various ministries will lay out their plans for the term ahead. Pundits will be watching these plans – known as Addenda to the President's Address – for the big announcements that NDR did not bring.
