To Alaska: After Putin conversation: Trump receives Selenskyj

After his meeting with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in Alaska, US President Donald Trump welcomes the Ukrainian head of state Wolodymyr Selenskyj. The Ukrainian is accompanied by the European Prime Minister and top politician in the talks in Washington. Among them are Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte.

According to the White House, a bilateral conversation between Trump and Selenskyj in the Oval Office is also planned. Depending on the course, the day could be an intermediate step towards a possible third party – then between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump: Head of the war lies in Selenskyj’s hands

Hours before the meeting were the perspectives on who could bring about the end of the war. Trump wrote Truth Social on his platform: “Ukrainian President Selenskyj can end the war with Russia almost immediately if he wants, or he can continue to fight”. In the past, Trump had already debted the Ukrainian – and sometimes even the sole responsibility – on Russia’s war of attack in 2022. Only shortly afterwards Selenskyj, who claims to have already arrived in Washington, wrote on X: “Russia has to end this war that it has started.”

What is talked about?

According to the German federal government, on Monday (local time), among other things, “security guarantees, territorial questions and the continued support of Ukraine will be spoken in the defense against Russian aggression”. Security guarantees mean measures to protect a country from attacks. And about the territorial questions: Russia insists that Ukraine recognizes the loss of territories and allegedly also demands the entire Donbass. Selenskyj categorically rejected this.

What will become of Donbass?

Since the Alaska summit between Trump and Putin on Friday, unconfirmed media reports have been increasing that the US President sees the opportunity for a quick peace agreement if Ukraine leaves Russia to the entire Donbass. Includes are also strategically important areas that Russian armed forces have so far not been able to control.

In any case, area abrides, which Ukraine would then have to accept, have been repeatedly discussed again and again. For example, Russia demands that Ukraine do without a variety of areas, which Selenskyj categorically rejects.

The Black Sea Peninsula Crimean came into focus shortly before the meeting: Trump considers a return of the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 to be unrealistic, as he made clear in his post on Truth Social. Selenskyj, on the other hand, wrote that the Crimea should never have been given up.

Security guarantees at the center of the talks

The talks will also be about the scenario of a NATO-like promise of protection in the United States and European countries to Ukraine. According to the US specialist Steve Witkoff, Russia approved security guarantees based on the example of Article 5 in the NATO contract-what Putin should receive from the USA, Ukraine or Europe was initially unclear.

Article 5 of the NATO contract states that “an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America will be regarded as an attack against them all”. The NATO Council states the alliance case, it has so far been explained: after the terrorist attacks in the USA of September 11, 2001. In contrast to the original Article 5, however, the Atlantic Alliance would not step in in the scenario discussed – the United States and European countries would instead have a duty.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron skeptically commented on the possible peace plans in Russia. He doesn’t think Putin strives for peace. “I think that President Putin wants peace? The answer is no,” said Macron. “I think he wants the surrender of Ukraine.”

Selenskyj urges security guarantees

Selenskyj voted in front of the summit in Washington with the European allies in Brussels. From the Leyen it turned out that the United States was also ready for protection promises. “We welcome President (Donald) Trump’s willingness to contribute 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine,” said the German politician. The “coalition of the willing”, including the EU, is ready to contribute its part.

The attack on Russia on Ukraine was not such an alliance, since the country is not a member of NATO. Selenskyj said on Sunday that an EU membership of Ukraine was also a guarantee of the country’s security.

USA report on the alleged concession of Russia

A NATO joining Ukraine is a thorn in the side of Russia-according to the US specialist Steve Witkoff, this cannot be discussed. “We were able to deal with this, so to speak and achieve an agreement that the United States could offer protection similar to that in Article 5,” he said. The Russians would have approved such a scenario for the first time. Trump considers NATO accession to Ukraine unrealistic.

Waffe arrest or not?

After meeting Putin, Trump had moved away from his central demand for an armistice as a condition for peace negotiations. Instead, he wants to talk directly about a peace agreement – in the sense of Putin. As a result, Chancellor Merz had shown that he also considers peace negotiations to be justifiable for previous ceasefire – provided that an agreement quickly occurs.