Trump: Europe bears the cost of arming Ukraine, not America

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed in statements made on Wednesday, August 14, that he is seriously working to end the war in Ukraine and save thousands of lives by pushing both the Russian and Ukrainian sides towards a peace agreement, pointing to the importance of the upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump explained that the upcoming meeting will be more important than the previous Alaska summit, expressing his confidence in both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's ability to reach a peaceful settlement to end the bloody conflict that has lasted for years.

In a notable statement, Trump emphasized that Putin "will not control Ukraine in my presence," adding, "If we have a good meeting, we will achieve peace in Ukraine soon."

Trump revealed that Europe is the party that bears the cost of sending U.S. weapons to Ukraine, denying that this war is his concern, describing it as "Biden's war," and said, "I am working to stop six wars in six months, and I am proud of what we are achieving in this regard."

The U.S. President indicated that he intends to hold a trilateral meeting with both Putin and Zelensky "almost directly" following his anticipated meeting with Putin in Alaska, aiming to reach a ceasefire and put an end to the war.

This diplomatic escalation comes amid unprecedented field advances by Russian forces within Ukrainian territory, prompting European leaders to communicate with Trump in what he described as a "very good call" to support his mediation efforts.

In contrast, Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed during a conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz his hope that the topic of the Alaska summit would be to reach an "immediate ceasefire."

This came during a video meeting that included Trump and senior leaders of the European Union and NATO.

Trump had hinted in previous statements about the possibility of reaching an agreement that includes Ukraine conceding some areas in exchange for ending the war, a suggestion that sparked much controversy.

Meanwhile, Kyiv insists on its full sovereignty over its entire territory, considering a ceasefire a top priority.

In contrast, Moscow insists on retaining some areas in eastern Ukraine, claiming that their residents voted to join Russia in a referendum held last year, a referendum that neither Kyiv nor the international community recognizes.

The political scene is heading towards a pivotal moment with the upcoming new Alaska summit, which may determine the future of the war in Ukraine.

While Trump seeks to present himself as a global peacemaker, the success of his efforts remains contingent on difficult concessions and hardline positions from both conflicting parties.