Following last Friday’s high-profile but inconclusive summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, a critical round of diplomacy unfolded Monday at the White House. This time, the message was different: Ukraine was not alone. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were joined by top European leaders in an effort to forge a coordinated Western strategy to end the war in Ukraine.
The meeting brought together German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte—underscoring a stark pivot from the Alaska summit, which drew widespread criticism for sidelining Ukraine and producing no formal ceasefire agreement.
A Symbolic Yet Substance-Free Summit in Alaska
The Anchorage meeting between Trump and Putin, held on August 15 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, featured red-carpet fanfare, a military flyover, and even a symbolic joint limousine ride. Yet the theatrics belied the outcome: no ceasefire, no agreement, no press Q&A.
Trump declared the meeting “productive” and claimed “great progress,” but avoided specifics during a joint statement with Putin. The Russian leader reiterated long-standing demands: Ukraine must not join NATO, and it must be demilitarized. Despite calls for broader peace talks, no concrete steps or timelines were announced.
Criticism was swift and widespread. Analysts, diplomats, and lawmakers across Europe and the U.S. warned that the summit lent legitimacy to Russia’s invasion while excluding the country most affected: Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called it a “decisive phase” for European security and warned, “Putin has again proven to be a cunning and ruthless player.”
In the US, reactions were predictably polarized. Republicans largely praised Trump for restarting diplomatic engagement, while Democrats accused him of pandering to a dictator and fracturing the West’s unity. Former intelligence officials went further, saying Trump’s performance verged on capitulation. Russian state media celebrated the event as a Kremlin victory, noting Trump’s rejection of NATO expansion and absence of new sanctions.
A Sobering Human Rights Reminder
Beyond the geopolitical chessboard, Ukrainian human rights voices reminded the world of the war’s devastating toll. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk warned that peace efforts lacking Ukrainian representation risk ignoring tens of thousands of victims. “What will happen to the tens of thousands of illegally detained citizens, men and women, and prisoners of war?” she asked in a BBC interview. “This question is very urgent.”
Ukrainian officials estimate that over 16,000 civilians are still being held in Russian prisons, with nearly 20,000 children forcibly relocated to Russia. Families of detainees fear their loved ones are being forgotten in the pursuit of high-level deals.
Washington Summit Marks a Shift in Tone
Monday’s Washington summit was widely seen as a corrective to the Alaska meeting. Before talks began, Trump and his European counterparts posed for a joint photograph outside the White House—a staged but pointed display of transatlantic unity.
Earlier in the day, Trump and Zelensky met privately in a bilateral session that revealed both shared priorities and deep divergences. Both leaders agreed on the urgency of ending the war, but differed sharply on NATO membership, ceasefire strategy, and the future of occupied Ukrainian territories.
Trump Promises “Very Good Protection,” Rejects NATO Membership
In remarks after the meeting, Trump reiterated US support for Ukraine’s defense—but stopped short of announcing additional military aid or troop deployments. “We’re going to give Ukraine very good protection,” he said, hinting at a move toward structured security guarantees rather than open-ended support. “Ukraine will be safe. That I can promise.”
Zelensky welcomed the pledge but emphasized the need for binding, written commitments: “Protection must be written in agreements. Ukrainians deserve certainty, not just words.”
Trump also made clear that Ukraine’s NATO aspirations were off the table—for now. “Ukraine will not be joining NATO. That’s not going to happen,” he said bluntly, a statement widely viewed as a concession to Moscow’s long-held red line.
Zelensky didn’t directly respond but reiterated Ukraine’s refusal to cede land. “We will not trade away Donbas or Crimea. These are our lands, our people, and our future.”
Analysts believe Trump’s approach signals a shift toward a “NATO alternative”—a bespoke bilateral or multilateral framework that provides military support and security guarantees without full alliance membership, similar to US relationships with Israel or South Korea.
Ceasefire Not a Prerequisite, Says Trump
Trump also challenged the conventional diplomatic sequence by downplaying the need for a ceasefire before launching peace talks. “You don’t need a ceasefire to make a deal,” he said.
We are fighting for a future where peace is real, freedom is protected, and justice is delivered – President Zelensky
Zelensky, while open to creative formats, remains wary. His government insists that negotiations must not legitimize Russian occupation or allow Russian forces to regroup. Nonetheless, the tone between the two leaders remained cordial. Trump praised Zelensky as “a tough guy, a fighter, a winner,” and Zelensky responded with cautious optimism: “This is not the end of the war, but it can be the beginning of the end if we stay united.”
Possibility of a Trilateral Summit
Trump confirmed he plans to speak with Vladimir Putin “very soon,” and floated the idea of a trilateral summit with both Putin and Zelensky at the table. “A meeting with all three of us is possible,” Trump said.
Zelensky cautiously welcomed the suggestion: “I am ready for any format that brings us closer to peace.”
If realized, such a meeting would mark the first time all three principals sit down for direct negotiations—potentially redefining the diplomatic trajectory of the war. It would also be a critical opportunity for Ukraine to assert its role after being largely excluded from the Alaska discussions.
European Leaders Demand Unity and Substance
European participants in the Washington summit made clear that their presence was not merely symbolic.
A follow-up session between Zelensky and European leaders focused on coordinating a unified position on Ukraine’s security architecture, reconstruction funding, and a shared negotiating posture with Moscow.
Zelensky emphasized the importance of staying united: “Our strength is in unity. If the United States and Europe stand together, Russia cannot divide us.”
French President Macron and UK Prime Minister Starmer reportedly support creating binding multilateral guarantees, while NATO’s Mark Rutte reiterated that any deal must prevent future Russian aggression.
Georgia, Proxy Wars, and Warnings from the Region
Beyond Washington, the ripple effects of the Alaska summit were felt in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili interpreted the Trump-Putin meeting as confirmation that the Ukraine war is part of a broader Russia-West confrontation. He credited Georgia’s government with avoiding entrapment in a similar conflict.
Opposition leader Paata Manjgaladze was more scathing. He warned that the summit’s symbolism revealed Putin’s imperial ambition: “They dream not of peace but of new conquests,” he said. He accused pro-Russian sympathizers in Georgia of turning a blind eye to the Kremlin’s occupation of 20% of Georgian territory.
What Comes Next?
As the Washington summit concludes, all eyes are now on whether this show of Western unity will translate into meaningful action. While no formal agreements were signed, the symbolism of a united front was unmistakable—and perhaps a signal to both Moscow and Kyiv that the next phase of diplomacy will not exclude Ukraine.
Zelensky was clear about what’s at stake: “We are not just fighting for territory. We are fighting for a future where peace is real, freedom is protected, and justice is delivered.”
By Team GT
