Trump, Putin fail to reach accord over Ukraine war

The US and Russian presidents Donald Trump and Viadimir Putin failed at a high-stakes summit to reach an accord on halting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, leaving European leaders scrambling Saturday to figure out the next steps to pressure Moscow.

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The White House and Kremlin leaders pointed to areas of agreement during their three hours of talks, but offered no breakthrough on a ceasefire in the conflict that has left tens of thousands dead and caused widespread destruction in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will now go to Washington on Monday while key European presidents and prime ministers held protracted talks on Saturday after Trump briefed them on the summit.

Trump had a “lengthy call” with Zelensky on the flight back to Washington, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen later joined the call, a European Commission spokesperson said.

The European leaders, who had been wary of being left out of the Alaska meeting, held their own talks afterwards. Ukraine announced meanwhile that Russia had launched 85 attack drones and a ballistic missile during the night after the summit.

Zelensky said Trump informed him about the “main points” of the summit at a former Cold War air base in Alaska. “On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, DC, to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war,” he added. “I am grateful for the invitation.”