U.S. President Donald Trump voiced cautious optimism about ending the Ukraine war on Monday, confirming recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin following high-stakes meetings with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies in Washington. Trump noted that while his conversations with Putin are consistently "good," he becomes "very angry" when Russian strikes continue post-dialogue, referencing ongoing attacks on Kyiv despite diplomatic efforts. The president nonetheless affirmed, "I think we're going to get the war done," underscoring his commitment to brokering a resolution.
Trump revealed that Putin had initially agreed to a bilateral meeting with Zelensky during their August 18 call, a discussion that interrupted Trump’s White House gathering with European leaders. However, Moscow has since backtracked, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stating "no meeting is planned," attributing the hesitation to Putin’s personal dislike of Zelensky. Trump has extended his deadline for consequences by "a couple of weeks," emphasizing he will assess "whose fault it is" if talks stall, potentially imposing "massive sanctions or tariffs" depending on the outcome.
The U.S. has explicitly delegated primary responsibility for Ukraine’s security guarantees to Europe, with Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby stating America will play a "minimal role". This aligns with Trump’s repeated rejection of NATO membership for Ukraine and his refusal to deploy U.S. ground troops, instead favoring European "boots on the ground" from nations like France, Germany, and the UK. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held multilateral talks with European and Ukrainian counterparts to advance a "lasting negotiated settlement," while Italy emphasized strengthening Ukraine’s armed forces and demining operations.
Putin’s conditions for peace include Ukrainian neutrality, non-NATO alignment, and security guarantees involving Russia as a stakeholder, a stance reinforced by Lavrov’s insistence that excluding Moscow is "a road to nowhere". The Kremlin seeks a settlement based on the 2022 Istanbul draft, which proposed UN Security Council members (including Russia) as guarantors. Despite Trump’s frustration over continued strikes, Putin views their Alaska summit as "very useful" for articulating Russia’s security concerns, particularly NATO expansion.
Zelensky remains adamant about ceasefire-first talks and the return of occupied territories, rejecting ceding the Donbas as a "springboard for future Russian attacks". European leaders, while supporting Trump’s peace push, stress that borders "must not be changed by force". Complexities persist: Trump’s vague support for security guarantees contrasts with Putin’s demand for Russian involvement, and U.S. weapons deliveries have slowed under Trump’s Pentagon. With Russia controlling 20% of Ukraine and advancing in Donetsk, the window for diplomacy narrows as military actions intensify.