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The Irish Sun
40 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Ukraine will be forced to surrender eastern territory & forget about joining Nato under Trump and Putin's peace terms
STRICKEN Ukraine will be forced to surrender large swathes of its eastern territory and forget about ever joining Nato under peace terms haggled by Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. The war-torn country's desire to join the European Union is also in doubt after the two superpower presidents held controversial talks in Alaska on Friday. 8 Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met in Alaska to end the conflict in Ukraine 8 Ukraine will be forced to surrender large swathes of its eastern territory under peace terms haggled by the leaders Credit: AFP 8 Zelensky has called for an end to the conflict on social media Credit: Getty Ukraine would be outlawed from joining the Western defence alliance, but have its redrawn borders underwritten by its US and European allies in the terms suggested by the White House. Allies have offered 'ironclad' security assurances to protect Ukraine from future Russian aggression if a peace deal can be forged. But it would stop short of Nato Article 5 status, which sees members of the alliance leap to the aid of any member that is attacked. Ukraine's desire to join Nato has been blamed as a root cause of President Putin's invasion. READ MORE ON UKRAINE PUT IT THERE Trump and Putin locked in face to face talks after US leader's show of force He has insisted 'Nyet' — Russian for 'No' — over the proposal. But the future security of Ukraine is the number one condition of its president, Volodymyr Zelensky. British and other European troops could be committed to police the peace, with President Trump finally conceding the Americans would play a vital role in the future defence of Ukraine. Last night, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly stated: 'The good news is that America is ready to participate in such security guarantees and is not leaving it to the Europeans alone.' And PM Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Trump's 'leadership in pursuit of an end to the killing' should be commended. Calls for an immediate ceasefire were dropped by world leaders yesterday, after Mr Trump announced he was instead pursuing a more stable and lasting 'peace deal'. Trump-Putin latest- Don says 'no deal' on Ukraine war & holds call with Zelensky after saying it's now 'up to him' Plans haggled at Friday's face-to-face summit are being circulated by the Americans after the US President and the Kremlin tyrant met each other in Anchorage, Alaska, for more than three hours. The Sun has been told a surrender deal would see Ukraine forced to reject Nato membership and other 'multinational deals'. Negotiations would also begin about ceding control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Eastern Ukraine which are, in part, heavily occupied by Russian troops. There was confusion last night over whether the talks would focus on territory currently held by the Kremlin invaders, or whether the wider regions were on the table. Yesterday, EU leaders insisted: 'Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine's pathway to EU and Nato.' However, that does not rule out Mr Zelensky deciding to withdraw Ukraine's stated aim to join both alliances as part of the wider deal. He will fly to Washington DC on Monday to meet with President Trump at the White House — six months after their disastrous Oval Office bust up, which saw the leader of the free world savage Mr Zelensky live on TV. 8 Battered Ukraine will be outlawed from joining NATO Credit: Reuters Russia has long claimed Donetsk and Luhansk are more loyal to Moscow than Kyiv, while Mr Zelensky has publicly ruled out giving up the land. However, he is under massive pressure to concede and end the bloody three-and-a-half year conflict, which has seen more than a million deaths. European leaders were locked in talks with the White House this weekend, as the world scrambled to catch up with what Mr Trump had offered Mr Putin to end the war. Last night, UK government sources said the PM was playing a key role in selling the terms of the deal to wider Western allies in a series of calls following the talks between the Americans and Russians. I welcome the openness of the United States, alongside Europe, to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal. This is important progress and will be crucial in deterring Putin from coming back for more Sir Keir Starmer's statement President Trump yesterday insisted it is time for Mr Zelensky to choose whether to agree with the terms of the deal — as the pair prepared to meet tomorrow. The White House has also offered to play host to a trilateral summit between the Russians and Ukrainians if the deal is within reach. Speaking following Friday's talks, where he met with his Russian counterpart for the first time in six years, President Trump insisted it was 'a great and very successful day in Alaska!' He wrote on his Truth Social website: 'The meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia went very well, as did a late night phone call with President Zelensky of Ukraine, and various European Leaders, including the highly respected Secretary General of Nato. 8 PM Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Trump's 'leadership in pursuit of an end to the killing' should be commended Credit: Getty 8 France's Emmanuel Macron and Italy's Giorgia Meloni, said: 'We are clear Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity' Credit: Getty 'It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up. President Zelensky will be coming to D.C., the Oval Office, on Monday afternoon. If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin. 'Potentially, millions of people's lives will be saved. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' Last night, President Putin also welcomed progress made at the talks, after leaving the summit without taking questions from hundreds of assembled journalists. In a televised address released by the Kremlin, he said: 'The conversation was very frank, substantive, and, in my opinion, brings us closer to the necessary decisions.' He added: 'We have not had direct negotiations of this kind at this level for a long time. We had the opportunity to calmly and in detail reiterate our position.' We are clear that Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. No limitations should be placed on Ukraine's armed forces or on its cooperation with third countries. Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine's pathway to EU and NATO European statement In a long statement, President Zelensky welcomed the offer of security guarantees outlined by Mr Trump, in a tentative sign he may be willing to sign up to the terms. He wrote: 'A real peace must be achieved, one that will be lasting, not just another pause between Russian invasions. Killings must stop as soon as possible, the fire must cease both on the battlefield and in the sky, as well as against our port infrastructure. 'All Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians must be released, and the children abducted by Russia must be returned. 'Thousands of our people remain in captivity — they all must be brought home. Pressure on Russia must be maintained while the aggression and occupation continue.' He went on: 'In my conversation with President Trump, I said that sanctions should be strengthened if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia tries to evade an honest end to the war. Sanctions are an effective tool. 'Security must be guaranteed reliably and in the long term, with involvement of Europe and the US. 'All issues important to Ukraine must be discussed with Ukraine's participation, and no issue, particularly territorial ones, can be decided without Ukraine. I thank our partners who are helping.' Yesterday the PM was taking part in a round of behind the scenes diplomacy, speaking to the White House and European capitals. He heaped praise on Mr Trump, saying his 'efforts have brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia's illegal war in Ukraine'. He went on: 'His leadership in pursuit of an end to the killing should be commended.' But the PM warned: 'While progress has been made, the next step must be further talks involving President Zelensky. 8 Negotiations would begin about ceding control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Eastern Ukraine, pictured a soldier loading artillery Credit: Getty The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without him. I spoke to President Zelensky, President Trump and other European partners, and we all stand ready to support this next phase. 'I welcome the openness of the United States, alongside Europe, to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal. 'This is important progress and will be crucial in deterring Putin from coming back for more. 'In the meantime, until he stops his barbaric assault, we will keep tightening the screws on his war machine with even more sanctions, which have already had a punishing impact on the Russian economy and its people. Our unwavering support for Ukraine will continue as long as it takes.' In a joint statement, Sir Keir and European leaders including France's Emmanuel Macron and Italy's Giorgia Meloni, said: 'We are clear Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. 'No limitations should be placed on Ukraine's armed forces or on its cooperation with third countries. Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine's pathway to EU and Nato. 8 Italian leader Giorgia Meloni made a joint statement with Macron Credit: The Mega Agency
Sunday World
an hour ago
- Sunday World
Donald Trump changes stance on road to Ukraine peace after meeting Putin in Alaska
Trump and Putin cite progress but offer no details In a major shift, Trump also said he had agreed with Putin that negotiators should go straight to a peace settlement - not via a ceasefire, as Ukraine and its European allies, until now with U.S. support, have been demanding. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he would travel to Washington on Monday to discuss next steps, while Kyiv's European allies welcomed Trump's efforts but vowed to back Ukraine and tighten sanctions on Russia, and again urged the U.S. to offer security guarantees for Ukraine. Tánaiste Simon Harris welcomed the meeting and said Ukraine must be involved in the negotiations. The Tánaiste said: 'We must remember that Russia remains the aggressor in this conflict, and can end its aggression at any time. President Zelenskyy and his government must be involved in all decisions on how the conflict ends. Ireland will continue to work with EU partners to achieve a just and lasting peace that fully respects international law, including Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, and the inviolability of its borders. The Tánaiste added: 'As a first step, we call on Russia to agree to a full and unconditional ceasefire. Ukraine also needs strong and credible security guarantees that will ensure its long-term security. This matters not just for Ukraine but also for Europe's future security. Ireland, with our EU partners, stands ready to impose additional sanctions and maintain firm and coordinated pressure on Russia.' Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meet in Alaska. Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters. Trump met Putin for nearly three hours in Alaska on Friday at the first U.S.-Russia summit since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up," Trump posted on Truth Social. Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Magadan region's Governor Sergei Nosov as he visits the far eastern port city of Magadan on the Sea of Okhotsk, Russia, August 16, 2025. Sputnik/Alexey Nikolsky/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. That statement will be welcomed in Moscow, which says it wants a full settlement - not a pause - but that this will be complex because positions are "diametrically opposed". Russia's forces have been gradually advancing for months. The war - the deadliest in Europe for 80 years - has killed or wounded well over a million people from both sides, including thousands of mostly Ukrainian civilians, according to analysts. Before the summit, Trump had said he would not be happy unless a ceasefire was agreed on. But afterwards he said that, after his talks with Zelenskiy, "if all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin". President Donald Trump greets Russia's President Vladimir Putin Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Monday's talks will be held in the White House Oval Office, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance gave the Ukrainian leader a brutal public dressing-down in February, accusing him of ingratitude. Zelenskiy said after a lengthy conversation with Trump following the Alaska summit that he supported the idea of a three-way meeting. "Ukraine reaffirms its readiness to work with maximum effort to achieve peace," he wrote on social media. But Putin made no mention of meeting Zelenskiy when speaking to reporters. His aide Yuri Ushakov told the Russian state news agency TASS a three-way summit had not been discussed. Trump and Putin after their joint news conference on Friday. Photo: Kremlin pool photo In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Trump signalled that he and Putin had discussed land transfers and security guarantees for Ukraine, and had "largely agreed". "I think we're pretty close to a deal," he said, adding: "Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they'll say 'no'." Asked what he would advise Zelenskiy to do, Trump said: "Gotta make a deal." "Look, Russia is a very big power, and they're not," he added. "They're great soldiers." Zelenskiy has underlined the need for security guarantees for Kyiv, to deter Russia from invading again in the future. He said he and Trump had discussed "positive signals from the American side" on taking part. Putin did not signal any movement in Russia's long-held positions on the war, but said he agreed with Trump that Ukraine's security must be "ensured". "I would like to hope that the understanding we have reached will allow us to get closer to that goal and open the way to peace in Ukraine," Putin told a briefing where neither leader took questions. "We expect that Kyiv and the European capitals will perceive all of this in a constructive manner and will not create any obstacles. That they will not attempt to disrupt the emerging progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes intrigue." For Putin, the very fact of sitting down with the U.S. president represented a victory. The Kremlin leader had been ostracised by Western leaders since the start of the war, and just a week earlier had faced a threat of new sanctions from Trump. Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump at a joint press conference (Jae C Hong/AP) Trump also spoke to European leaders after returning to Washington. Several stressed the need to keep pressure on Russia. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said an end to the war was closer than ever, thanks to Trump, but added: "In the meantime, until (Putin) stops his barbaric assault, we will keep tightening the screws on his war machine with even more sanctions." A statement from the European leaders said that "Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity" and that no limits should be placed on its armed forces or right to seek NATO membership - key Russian demands. Some European politicians and commentators were scathing. "Putin got his red carpet treatment with Trump, while Trump got nothing. As feared: no ceasefire, no peace," Wolfgang Ischinger, German ex-ambassador to the United States, posted on X. "No real progress – a clear 1-0 for Putin – no new sanctions. For the Ukrainians: nothing. For Europe: deeply disappointing." Cold War historian Sergey Radchenko wrote: "Putin is a determined opponent, and, yes, he basically won this round because he got something for nothing. Still, Trump did not sell out Ukraine." Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the Ukrainian parliament's foreign affairs committee, said that, by dropping any focus on a truce, "Trump is taking Russian President Vladimir Putin's position". Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump's press conference. Photo: Getty Both Russia and Ukraine carried out overnight air attacks, a daily occurrence in the 3-1/2-year war, while Kyiv said there had been 139 clashes on the front line over the past day. Trump told Fox he would now hold off on imposing tariffs on China for buying Russian oil, but that he might have to "think about it" in two or three weeks. He ended his remarks after the summit by telling Putin: "I'd like to thank you very much, and we'll speak to you very soon and probably see you again very soon." "Next time in Moscow," a smiling Putin responded in English. Trump said he might "get a little heat on that one" but that he could "possibly see it happening."
The Journal
3 hours ago
- The Journal
Zelenskyy to head to Washington to meet with Trump on Monday
UKRAINIAN LEADER VOLODYMYR Zelenskyy will head to Washington on Monday to discuss 'ending the killing and the war' with US President Donald Trump, he announced today. Zelenskyy said so after holding a call with Trump, during which the US leader informed him about the 'main points' of his talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin in Alaska. 'On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war,' Zelenskyy said. 'I am grateful for the invitation.' Zelenskyy said he had a 'long and substantive conversation with Trump', which began as a one-on-one talk. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and other European leaders later joined the call, officials said. The European leaders said they were ready to intensify sanctions against Russia after Trump briefed them on the summit. Tánaiste Simon Harris said that he was 'encouraged' by Trump's commitment to meet with Zelenskyy. 'We must remember that Russia remains the aggressor in this conflict, and can end its aggression at any time. President Zelenskyy and his government must be involved in all decisions on how the conflict ends,' Harris said, adding that Ireland will continue to work with EU partners to achieve peace. 'Ireland, with our EU partners, stands ready to impose additional sanctions and maintain firm and coordinated pressure on Russia,' he said. 'We must never forget the impact of this war on the people of Ukraine, their enormous suffering, and the generational scars that this war will leave, particularly on so many young people.' Trump remained upbeat, calling the summit 'a great and very successful day in Alaska!' in a Truth Social post. The US president added that European leaders had backed his plan for a new summit. 'It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a peace agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere ceasefire agreement, which often times do not hold up,' he added. The Washington meeting is set to take place three days after Trump's talks with Putin in Alaska ended with no ceasefire announcement or apparent breakthrough to end Moscow's more than three-year-long invasion. Advertisement Today, the day after the US-Russia summit, Zelenskyy called for Kyiv's European allies to be involved at 'every stage' of talks. He also reiterated that he would be ready for a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin — something that Kyiv has been pushing for but which the Kremlin has been resisting. 'Ukraine emphasises that key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this,' Zelenskyy said. Trump confirmed Monday's meeting with Zelenskyy and said he hoped a Trump-Putin-Zelenskyy summit would follow. 'Potentially, millions of people's lives will be saved,' Trump commented. Before the summit, Trump had warned of 'severe consequences' if Russia did not accept a ceasefire. When asked about this by Fox News after the talks, Trump said that 'because of what happened today, I think I don't have to think about that now'. Putin has repeatedly said only a full peace deal could halt the war he ordered in February 2022, which has left tens of thousands dead and widespread destruction in Ukraine. Putin again spoke of addressing the 'root causes' of the conflict at the summit and some analysts said Trump may have conceded ground. The Europeans, who had been wary of the Alaska meeting, held their own talks today and afterwards expressed support for a new summit. Their statement did not mention a ceasefire, just the need for more action to force Russia into 'a just and lasting peace'. 'As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia. We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia's war economy until there is a just and lasting peace,' they said. The war went on despite the summit. Ukraine announced Saturday that Russia launched 85 attack drones and a ballistic missile during the night. Russia said it had taken two more villages in Ukraine. Trump and Putin emerged from their talks to offer warm words at a 12-minute press briefing but took no questions. 'We're not there yet, but we've made progress. There's no deal until there's a deal,' Trump said. He called the meeting 'extremely productive' with 'many points' agreed, but did not offer specifics. © Agence France-Presse
