1. No ceasefire. No progress. But Putin and Trump both walked away happy. But this meant something very different for Ukraine and the West.
2. The summit lasted just 3 hours. No deal. No Meal. No ceasefire. No press questions.
3. Putin made zero concessions. But he got what he wanted:
- Red carpet treatment
- No Zelensky
- No Kellogg
- Normalization of US-Russia relations
3. Trump didn’t get anything that Ukraine, Europe, or the US wanted. Instead, he got what he wanted:
- • A show
- • A spotlight
- • Photos with his idol, Putin
- • Pressure taken off Russia
- • To keep his role as “mediator” in a war he won’t end
4. As long as talks continue, Trump hasn’t “officially failed.” He can still chase his Nobel Prize fantasy. But every round proves the same thing: Trump won’t pressure Putin—and won’t reach peace as a result. Instead, ee protects him.
5. After Putin rejected the ceasefire, Trump changed his tune:
- No more ceasefire talk.
- Now it’s “peace” on Kremlin terms.
- No sanctions. No pressure.
- Just delay and deflection.
6. Trump keeps promising peace:
Before returning to the White House
- In 100 days
- In 2 weeks
- In 50 days
At this summit
- Every time, he fails.
- Every time, he shields Russia.
7. Trump even said Putin told him:
“The war wouldn’t have happened if you were president.”
- And that Trump won in 2020.
- It’s that easy to gaslight him.
- Trump is humiliating the US—and enjoying it.
8. Europe must stop waiting.
- Trump won’t pressure Russia.
- He’s had every chance—and done nothing.
- The war won’t end unless Russia is pressured hard.
- And only Europe can do it now.
9. Europe must act:
- Prepare the 19th sanctions package
- Toughen enforcement
- Seize frozen Russian assets
- Boost aid to Ukraine
- Trump won’t stop Putin.
- It’s time for Europe to finally step up properly.
The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.