Media: Trump rejects territorial talks with Putin in Alaska presses for Ukraine-Russia ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump told European leaders he would not discuss territorial concessions with Putin and pushed for direct Ukraine-Russia talks, warning he could walk away if Moscow refused to compromise.

The U.S. president said there might be no follow-up meeting with Putin if he judged the Russian leader to be acting in bad faith, Caliber.Az reports, citing Bloomberg.

“If I feel it’s not appropriate to have it, because I didn’t get the answers that we have to have, then we’re not going to have a second meeting,” Trump said.

The call, which included leaders from Germany, France, Poland and Italy, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, was described by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as a “very good call” that “strengthened the common ground for Ukraine.”

Trump echoed the sentiment, rating it “a 10” and pledging to brief Zelenskyy and European leaders after the Alaska meeting.

French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that any decision on territorial concessions would be made solely by Kyiv, noting there were no “serious territorial exchange plans on the table today.” He added that Trump had been “very clear” about Washington’s aim to secure a ceasefire in Alaska.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz underscored the need to keep Ukraine directly involved in any follow-up process, saying, “Ukraine will be at the table as soon as there is a follow-up meeting.” He noted that Trump “wants to make a ceasefire a priority.”

Russia has continued to demand that Ukraine cede Crimea and the Donbas region as preconditions for ending hostilities — terms Zelenskyy has rejected, warning that territorial concessions would only invite further aggression.

European leaders reiterated that they will not recognise land illegally occupied by Moscow. Zelenskyy said any deal must be backed by strong security guarantees, particularly if Russia refuses to agree to a ceasefire in Alaska.

While Trump has threatened “very severe” economic measures, including doubling tariffs on Indian imports linked to Russian oil, he has so far stopped short of direct sanctions against Moscow.

Officials in Washington and Europe are weighing the possibility of a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy to formalise a ceasefire and establish a framework for broader peace negotiations.

By Aghakazim Guliyev