Islamabad 16 August: U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are meeting today to negotiate a ceasefire for the three-year-long conflict in Ukraine. The summit will be held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson—is their first in-person encounter since 2019.
Trump greeted Putin on the tarmac with a warm handshake and a display of camaraderie, before escorting him in the presidential limousine toward the summit venue. A backdrop reading “Pursuing Peace” marked the stage for this fraught diplomatic engagement.
Breaking from earlier plans for a one-on-one meeting, the summit adopted a three-on-three format, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff joining Trump, while Putin was accompanied by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and policy aide Yury Ushakov.
Trump expressed urgency for an immediate ceasefire, hinting at security guarantees for Ukraine, though stopping short of committing on territory. He warned that failure could lead to renewed economic sanctions or even walking away from the talks.
Putin, meanwhile, called the U.S.’s efforts “sincere” and indicated openness to discussing broader security and arms-control measures.
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European allies and Ukrainian leaders remain cautious, as Russian airstrikes continued even as the summit began, raising doubts about Moscow’s commitment to peace. Zelensky, not included in talks, urged American and European partners to maintain a firm stance.
Beyond Ukraine, discussions may touch on security guarantees, arms control, and possible territorial compromises—though Trump emphasized Ukraine must ultimately decide its own fate.
