One-hour phone call: Trump talks with Merz and Selenskyj about Putin meeting

There's no deal, let alone a breakthrough, after the Ukraine summit in Alaska. Neither Putin nor Trump has yet revealed what was discussed regarding a possible ceasefire. Back in Washington, however, the US president picks up the phone and informs his European allies.

US President Donald Trump has informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and other European heads of state and government about his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The phone call, which lasted just over an hour, was also attended by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, among others, a spokeswoman for the EU Commission said.

The president has already returned to Washington after the summit in Alaska. His plane, Air Force One, landed early Saturday (local time) at Joint Base Andrews near the US capital, according to journalists traveling with him. What exactly Trump and the European representatives discussed and how Zelensky and the European representatives responded are not yet known.

After the meeting in Alaska, there were no public statements regarding a possible ceasefire in the Ukraine war. No tangible results were announced. While Trump spoke of agreements on key points, he failed to provide details. Putin also mentioned agreements that could serve as a starting point for a solution to the Ukraine conflict.

Trump: Decision lies with the Europeans

"I'll be calling NATO, and shortly I'll be calling the various people I deem appropriate, and of course President Zelensky, to tell them about today's meeting," Trump said after his talks with Putin in Alaska. "Ultimately, the decision is theirs."

Shortly after the two met at a military base in the city of Anchorage, much of the content remained vague. "There's no deal until there's a deal," Trump said simply in the subsequent press statement. He said they had an "extremely productive meeting," "many points" had been agreed upon, and only a few remained open—one of which was particularly significant. However, he first wanted to speak by phone with NATO allies and Ukrainian President Zelensky.

Before the Alaska summit, the Europeans tried to agree on five points for possible peace talks with Trump in joint consultations on Wednesday – including a ceasefire and security guarantees. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) made it clear at a press conference with Zelensky: "Fundamental European and Ukrainian security interests must be safeguarded in Alaska."

Europeans feared territorial cessions

In addition to Merz, Selenskyj and Trump, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Council President António Costa and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte took part in the digital consultations, as did French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, among others.

The Europeans and Zelenskyy had feared that Trump and Putin might agree in Alaska on Ukraine's territorial ceding to Russia, which Kyiv strongly rejects. Merz said on Wednesday that it had been made clear that Ukraine must be at the table as soon as follow-up meetings take place.