Ceasefire should be the goal of Alaska talks

The announcement that President Donald Trump of the United States and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will meet on Aug 15 in Alaska has grabbed much attention. It is a critical moment, as many hope it will help open the door to meaningful peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

It is thought that the meeting of the two leaders could have far-reaching impacts on how the Russia-Ukraine conflict will evolve, and the future of relations between Ukraine, Russia and Europe, as well as the immediate future of US — Russia relations and the broader geopolitical landscape.

The meeting, announced by Trump on social media and confirmed by the Kremlin, is an encouraging development as long as it can contribute to a ceasefire.

While expectations for a comprehensive resolution must be tempered — a conflict as complex as the one between Ukraine and Russia cannot be solved through a single dialogue — any effort to end the bloodshed should be encouraged.

The international community should see this as a step toward a diplomatic solution, recognizing that progress will require the engagement of all stakeholders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that no decisions about Ukraine can be made without its involvement, a position echoed by European leaders, who jointly stated that any deal must protect Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and vital security interests. Their joint declaration on Saturday makes clear that any credible settlement must also provide robust and enforceable security guarantees for Ukraine.

Zelensky has also noted that European proposals and perspectives were conveyed to and considered by the US side during preparatory exchanges for the Alaska meeting, signaling a degree of alignment between Washington and European capitals. This acknowledgment suggests that, despite differences over tactics, there is a shared understanding among Kyiv, Brussels and Washington.

However, the US and some major European countries are believed to still have differences on some critical issues, such as the conditions for a ceasefire, not to mention an end to the crisis.

Even if the Alaska meeting fails to yield a tangible breakthrough, it might be possible for relevant parties to figure out exactly what the obstacles are that need to be overcome in order to reach a peace deal and to identify ways in which the barriers can be surmounted so as to realize lasting peace between the two conflicting sides.

In his telephone talk with Russian President Putin on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China welcomes the meeting between the Russian and US leaders. Noting that complex problems have no simple solutions, President Xi said that China hopes they will maintain contact to improve their relations and promote a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and that China will continue to work for peace talks between the two sides.

During the call, Putin outlined Russia's views on the current situation of the Ukraine crisis and on recent US-Russia contacts, and said that Moscow highly appreciates China's constructive role in seeking a political resolution to the crisis.

Since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis, Beijing has promoted dialogue and negotiations, advancing initiatives such as the "Friends of Peace" group and upholding President Xi's four-point proposal: respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, adherence to the UN Charter, addressing legitimate security concerns of all parties, and supporting all efforts conducive to peace.

A realistic and achievable goal for the meeting in Alaska on Friday would be for it to pave the way for a ceasefire to immediately end the killing on the battlefield. While resolving deep-seated differences will take time, an initial truce could halt the humanitarian suffering and help create the conditions for a sustainable peace agreement.

The meeting is an important moment that underscores the role of dialogue in resolving global conflicts. The international community should work together to address the root causes of the crisis and work toward a balanced, effective and sustainable security framework for lasting peace in Europe.