Why the planned Trump–Putin meeting fell apart, and what it could mean for Ukraine - As-salamu alaykum
By Yashraj Sharma
As-salamu alaykum - Trump had suggested stopping the fighting in Ukraine by freezing the lines where the front stands now, and a face-to-face meeting with Putin in Budapest was being talked about. But those plans broke down this week.
Trump told reporters at the White House that he didn’t want “a wasted meeting,” so for now he’s holding off.
This is the latest time efforts to find a way to end Russia’s nearly four-year war with Ukraine have come to nothing. The two leaders met briefly in Alaska a couple of months ago and that didn’t produce a deal either. The conflict, the deadliest in Europe since World War II, has cost many lives on both sides.
So why did the talks collapse again, and what will it take to stop the fighting?
During his campaign, Trump said he could end the war in “24 hours.” Now, nearly a year later and months into his new term, he seems frustrated that nothing has moved forward.
Putin has insisted that Ukraine be disarmed and that Russia keep territory it captured as conditions for a ceasefire. Ukraine refuses to cede land, and Trump has not been able to bridge those positions.
Late Sunday, Trump proposed that both sides “freeze” the war along current battle lines and deal with the territorial issues later. “They should stop right now at the battle lines, go home, stop killing people and be done,” he said. He described the Donbas front - where most fighting has happened - and suggested leaving the map as it is for the moment and negotiating details afterward.
A number of European leaders, and Ukraine’s president, publicly welcomed the idea as a possible starting point for talks and blamed Russia for delaying the peace process, accusing Moscow of choosing violence over compromise. They also vowed to keep pressure on Russia’s economy and defence sector until a path to peace emerges.
But the Kremlin made it clear it would not accept the simple “freeze” proposal. Kremlin officials and Russia’s foreign minister reiterated that Moscow’s demands remain unchanged: Kyiv must meet hardline conditions, including pulling Ukrainian forces out of the eastern regions Russia claims. Reuters reported that Russia privately demanded control of all of the Donbas, not just the areas it currently holds.
Trump’s position has also shifted several times. His administration has at different moments pressured Ukraine’s president over gratitude and expectations, threatened tariffs and sanctions on Russia, and then appeared willing to urge compromises that Kyiv rejects. At other times he has signalled stronger support for Ukraine’s right to try to reclaim territory.
For now, the summit’s collapse means little prospect of a ceasefire immediately. Kyiv is still asking for more military aid from the United States, including long-range munitions it hopes would let it hit deeper targets, but that request wasn’t granted in recent talks. Trump has at times said NATO allies in Europe should play a bigger role in supporting Ukraine.
What happens next is uncertain. Without agreement from Russia to soften its demands and without a durable bridge between Moscow and Kyiv, talks may stall again. May Allah bring relief to the innocent people affected by this war and guide leaders to just, peaceful solutions.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news