Volodymyr Zelensky is Expected in Washington on Monday

WASHINGTON.— The highly anticipated summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump concluded Friday in Anchorage, Alaska, without a decisive breakthrough towards a ceasefire in Ukraine. The two leaders, meeting for the first time since the Republican billionaire's return to the White House, conversed for nearly three hours in the presence of their advisors.

Following this meeting, Mr. Trump spoke of what he called productive and constructive discussions, stating that much progress had been made and that very few points remained to be settled. Vladimir Putin echoed this sentiment, but neither head of state agreed to answer questions from the press, leaving Alaska without providing further details.

In response to this summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he would travel to Washington on Monday to meet his American counterpart. This visit aims to directly address the conflict resolution, as Kyiv awaits firm guarantees from its strategic ally. At the same time, European leaders reaffirmed their determination to support Ukraine, promising to « maintain pressure » on Moscow through new sanctions.

More than three and a half years after the start of the Russian invasion, the prospect of lasting peace remains distant. Moscow's demands, which notably include the recognition of its territorial annexations, remain incompatible with those of Kyiv, which is determined to recover the entirety of its territory. This new diplomatic episode underscores the complexity of the Ukrainian issue, where announcements of progress still struggle to translate into concrete actions.

Jean Mapou