The Alaska summit between Trump and Putin didn’t end the war in Ukraine. It ended with something even more interesting.

Instead of agreeing to a temporary ceasefire, President Trump made clear that only a broader deal could actually bring peace. That message echoed Putin’s position and rattled Ukraine’s European backers, who had been begging for a pause in the bloodshed.

Hours later, Zelenskyy announced that Trump personally invited him to Washington for high-stakes talks on Monday. For Ukraine’s president, left out of the Alaska gathering, this was a chance to get back into the center of the action.

The meeting comes at a dangerous moment. Russian forces continue hammering Ukrainian cities and pushing the front line forward. Europe is growing frustrated. And Trump has now positioned himself as the only man who can bring all sides to the same table.

It wasn’t long ago that Trump blasted Zelenskyy as “disrespectful” in the Oval Office. Now the two men are about to sit down again, this time with the war’s future hanging in the balance.

Zelenskyy said his phone call with Trump lasted more than 90 minutes, including time with European leaders. He stressed that America and Europe must work together on ironclad security guarantees. Without U.S. backing, even the boldest European plans carry little weight.

The Europeans themselves issued a joint statement after Trump’s calls. Leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Britain, Finland, and Poland lined up to declare that “Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees.” They welcomed Washington’s willingness to provide them. Noticeably absent was any talk of a ceasefire, which they had been pushing just days before.

Trump has been blunt: “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.” Putin, meanwhile, walked away from Alaska claiming “understandings” had been reached. But to most observers, the Russian leader left having bought himself more time to keep pressing the war.

Analysts say Putin arrived in Alaska with one main goal — stall for time while Russian troops gained ground. And by leaving without a truce, he may see the summit as a win. Ukraine, however, has no time to waste.

That’s why Zelenskyy is now embracing Trump’s idea of a trilateral summit that would bring America, Russia, and Ukraine together. “Key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders,” he said. But Moscow has already signaled it isn’t ready to commit.

European leaders are growing nervous. They’ve watched Russia ramp up attacks, launch waves of drones, and seize new territory. The longer negotiations drag, the more Ukraine bleeds. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas put it bluntly: “Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon.”

Still, Zelenskyy insists his trip to Washington could move the needle. He told Trump that sanctions must be tightened if Moscow refuses to take the next step. And he voiced cautious support for Trump’s leadership, saying only the U.S. can provide the backstop Europe needs.

For Trump, the stakes are enormous. His critics will accuse him of cozying up to Putin. His supporters will hail him as the only president tough enough — and bold enough — to force all sides into a real peace.

Either way, the images from Monday’s meeting in Washington will dominate headlines worldwide. Trump, Zelenskyy, and the shadow of Putin. The world will be watching to see if the next chapter in this brutal war is about to be written.