Europe reacts to Trump–Putin meeting in Alaska ending without Ukraine deal
Photo: Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jan Lipavský (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin met on the night of August 15–16. In Europe, they have already spoken out regarding the events in Alaska.
What Europe thinks about the meeting between Trump and Putin – in the material of RBC-Ukraine below.
Czechia
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czechia Jan Lipavský welcomed Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine. However, he doubts Putin’s interest in this.
"If Putin seriously treated peace negotiations, he would not be attacking Ukraine all day long," Lipavský wrote on X.
The minister also noted that Putin said the same propagandist nonsense about the "roots of the conflict" that his state television preaches.
"The problem is Russian imperialism, not Ukraine’s desire to live freely. And let’s not forget that these words also conceal Putin’s efforts to return the security architecture to 1997. To the moment when Czechia was not yet a member of NATO," added the head of the Czech MFA.
According to Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová, the summit in Alaska showed that the dictator does not strive for peace and wants to weaken the unity of the West.
"The Trump-Putin talks in Alaska did not bring significant progress toward ending the war in Ukraine, but they confirmed that Putin is not seeking peace, but rather an opportunity to weaken Western unity and spread his propaganda," she noted.
Lithuania
Minister of Defense of Lithuania Dovilė Šakalienė accused Putin of manipulations and veiled threats after the dictator’s words about “warning” Ukraine and Europe not to “sabotage negotiations.”
"War criminal with an addiction of radioactive poisoning of his critics addresses the US President with 'Very good to see you in good health and to see you alive,'" the minister noted on X.
She also emphasized that Russia continues to shell the civilian population in Ukraine.
Germany
German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger, who until 2022 headed the Munich Security Conference, stated that Trump received nothing after the summit in Alaska. Instead, Putin received a red carpet with the US president.
"As was to be expected: neither ceasefire, nor peace. No real progress – a clear score of 1:0 in favor of Putin – no new sanctions. For Ukrainians: nothing. For Europe: complete disappointment," he noted.
Norway
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Espen Barth Eide stated that it is still too early to say whether the meeting brought any progress.
"Our view is clear: it is important we must continue to put pressure on Russia, and even increase it, to give the clear signal to Russia that it must pay the price," the minister said.
Meeting of Trump and Putin in Alaska
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held negotiations at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, August 15 (from August 15 to 16 Kyiv time).
The negotiations took place in the format "three on three." The meeting lasted almost three hours.
On the American side, with Trump were Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special representative Steve Witkoff, and on the Russian side, with Putin were MFA head Sergey Lavrov and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
After the negotiations, Putin and Trump held a press conference. However, journalists were not allowed to ask questions.
Later, Trump stated that agreements on Ukraine had not been reached, but progress had been made.
According to Reuters, the US president handed Putin a letter from Melania Trump about Ukrainian children.
