Art of No Deal : Donald Trump fails to secure peace deal during Putin summit

A meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken place in a bid to negotiate a ceasefire to end the war with Ukraine, yet despite lauding ‘progress’ , no deal was secured

After a tense three-hour negotiation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, significant strides have been made towards resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The much-anticipated meeting, which included Americans Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Marco Rubio, as well as Russians Vladimir Putin, Sergei Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov, was centred around negotiating a ceasefire to end the war with Ukraine that has been ongoing since February 2022.

Until now, Russia had shown reluctance in making any concessions amidst its continued occupation and assault on Ukraine. However, following the meeting with Trump, this stance seems to have shifted, with Russia agreeing to several key points, although not enough to secure a ceasefire.

While it may not be the result many were hoping for, it is undeniably a sign of progress and brings us one step closer to ending a conflict that has already claimed over a million lives. Yet the lack of a ceasefire will no doubt have come as a blow to Trump, who has always lauded himself as a savvy businessman who can secure any deal.

Speaking at a press conference, despite the setback Trump remained optimistic about the progress made and seemed to share a positive rapport with Putin, who suggested that their next meeting should take place in Moscow, reports the Express.

Although no specifics were shared regarding the agreed points, Trump hinted at his future course of action. He plans to engage with NATO and Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky to discuss the way forward – something President Putin also appears to have in mind.

During his opening address to reporters, Putin claimed he is “sincerely interested” in putting an end to the conflict, which he described as a “tragedy”, yet in the same speech he also urged Kyiv and European Leaders not to interfere.

We expect that Kyiv and European capitals will perceive all this in a constructive manner and will not create any obstacles, will not make attempts to disrupt the emerging progress through provocations and behind-the-scenes intrigues,” he said.