Donald Trump has said negotiating a permanent peace agreement is the only way to end the war in Ukraine, insisting that temporary ceasefires “often times do not hold up.”
On his way to meet Vladimir Putin in Alaska, the former US president told reporters he would not be happy if he left without securing a ceasefire. But afterwards, he wrote on social media: “Ceasefires often times do not hold up. We need to negotiate a permanent peace agreement.”
The shift in approach marks a blow to Kyiv and its European allies, who had made an initial ceasefire one of their key demands, according to BBC Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse.
In Kyiv, many Ukrainians expressed anger at the warm reception for the Russian leader. “We feel crushed by Trump’s red carpet welcome for Putin,” one resident said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced he would travel to Washington DC on Monday for talks with Trump.
No agreement was reached at the Alaska summit. Trump insisted “progress was made,” while Putin said he was “sincerely interested” in ending the conflict.
Boluwatife Enome
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