Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of prolonging the war by refusing repeated calls for a ceasefire. He said the lack of commitment from Moscow makes it far harder to bring the fighting to an end.
Zelensky is set to travel to Washington, where President Donald Trump has promised to press him toward accepting a peace deal. Trump, fresh from his summit with Vladimir Putin, has said he wants to move directly to a permanent peace agreement rather than a temporary ceasefire, arguing that ceasefires often collapse.
After speaking with Trump, Zelensky stressed that peace must be lasting and genuine, outlining conditions such as strong security guarantees and the return of Ukrainian children taken from occupied areas.
Reports suggest that during the summit, Putin proposed Ukraine withdraw from the Donetsk region in exchange for Russia freezing its advance in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Trump relayed the idea to Zelensky, though Kyiv has made clear it will not give up territory, warning that doing so would invite future aggression.
The talks have unsettled some European leaders, who fear Trump may pressure Ukraine into concessions. Ahead of the summit, Trump had threatened severe sanctions if Moscow did not agree to a ceasefire, but the meeting ended without a formal agreement.
Still, both Trump and Putin described the discussions as productive. Putin called the summit “useful” and said it was important to address the root causes of the conflict, while Trump told reporters that the best advice for Zelensky was to “make a deal.”
European leaders, meanwhile, have urged further negotiations involving Ukraine, insisting that any peace settlement must respect international borders. In Kyiv, many Ukrainians reacted with frustration to the warm reception Putin received in Alaska, with some saying it felt like their suffering was being overlooked.
As Zelensky prepares for talks in Washington, the focus remains on whether the push for peace can deliver more than words — and whether it can bring an end to the war without forcing Ukraine to surrender its land.