After meeting Putin, Trump changes his position on the need for a ceasefire

(NPR) KYIV – When President Trump was flying to Alaska for his summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Trump said the main goal was a ceasefire. He said he'd be disappointed if it didn't happen, and warned of "severe consequences."

But shortly after meeting Putin, Trump reversed himself and said a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war wasn't critical. He wrote on social media that "it was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up."

Trump's new position aligns him with Putin, and puts him at odds with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy -- who's headed to the White House on Monday.

https://www.npr.org/2025/08/17/g-s1-83183/putin-trump-ceasefire