US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting at Anchorage, Alaska, in August 2025.
Former US President Donald Trump, who had consistently called for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, shifted his position after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump, known for threatening Russia with “very severe” consequences if it didn’t halt the conflict, now advocates for an overall peace deal rather than just a ceasefire. This change came shortly after their meeting on August 15, 2025, which was seen as a key step to address the ongoing war that began in early 2022.
Initially, Trump had hoped his personal rapport with Putin would help resolve the conflict swiftly when he began his second term. However, relations between the two leaders became strained over time, with Trump publicly criticizing Putin and even threatening harsh tariffs on Russia if it failed to agree to peace terms. The Alaska summit, lasting nearly three hours, was highly anticipated but ended without a concrete agreement to end the war.
Following the meeting, Trump emphasized that a mere ceasefire would not be enough to settle the conflict, calling instead for a comprehensive peace agreement. This marked a notable shift in his approach, reflecting the complexity of the situation and the challenges in negotiating an end to the war that has now lasted more than three and a half years.
