Alaska, August 17 — High-level talks between US President and Russian President in Alaska stretched for three hours on Saturday but ended without any major breakthrough toward halting the Russia-Ukraine war. Attention now shifts to Washington, D.C., where the Ukrainian President is scheduled to meet the US President on Monday in what is being seen as a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict.
According to reports, the Russian President demanded that Ukrainian forces fully withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region, offering in return to freeze the current frontlines. The Ukrainian President has rejected the demand, instead reiterating his call for direct talks with his Russian counterpart.
European leaders have also been invited to the Washington meeting. Until now, Kyiv’s European allies have consistently pushed for a ceasefire agreement. However, the US President indicated alignment with the Russian stance that a direct peace deal—without an interim ceasefire—would be the most effective path forward.
The Russian President, describing his meeting with the US President as “very useful,” echoed this sentiment. “In my opinion, there is no point in having a ceasefire if the root causes are not addressed,” he said, adding that he respected calls for ending combat activities but emphasized that lasting peace required addressing core issues driving the conflict.
The Washington meeting on Monday is expected to be closely watched globally, with hopes that it may set the stage for fresh diplomatic efforts to end the war.
