Trump says he will know ‘in first two minutes’ if peace deal is possible with Putin

President Donald Trump is positioning himself as the potential dealmaker to end the war in Ukraine, suggesting he could bring Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy together for face-to-face talks in Alaska. But with no prior agreement in place, the proposal is already drawing skepticism – especially from Kyiv.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told Fox News’ Media Buzz that Trump is uniquely suited to “confront and deal with and manage Putin,” emphasizing that “the killing has to end.” However, questions remain over whether Putin might be the one managing Trump, and whether Zelenskyy would even participate in such talks.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected the idea of territorial concessions, calling them unconstitutional and politically untenable. While a recent poll found that 38% of Ukrainians might accept ceding some land to stop the war, Kyiv’s official position is firm: rewarding Russian aggression is unacceptable.

Putin, diplomatically isolated since his 2022 invasion, continues to target civilian areas while seeking to hold onto captured territory. Trump’s suggestion of “swapping” land faces a logistical problem, Ukraine has little territory to offer in return. Gains made during a surprise offensive in Russia’s Kursk region have already dwindled from 500 to just four square miles, at a high cost in casualties.

Critics fear the Alaska meeting could legitimize Putin’s standing on the global stage, much like what occurred after Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, when initial outrage gave way to an uneasy status quo. Trump, however, maintains he could quickly gauge whether a deal is possible“ probably in the first two minutes” and walk away if not.

“I’d have a great call with him and then missiles would be lobbed into Kyiv,” Trump told reporters, acknowledging Putin’s continued aggression. “I’m going to be telling him to end this war,” he added, while saying he disagreed with some of Zelenskyy’s decisions.

Even if a meeting were arranged, Zelenskyy would likely demand strong security guarantees to prevent Russia from using any cease-fire as a chance to regroup and attack again, a tactic Putin employed after Crimea. Without such assurances, analysts warn any settlement could merely pause the fighting rather than end it.

The war, now in its third year, has inflicted devastating casualties on both sides. For many in Ukraine and the West, the core issue remains unchanged: a sovereign nation is under assault by a leader who denies its right to exist.

Trump’s Alaska proposal may aim to fast-track peace, but the path forward is steep, with deep mistrust, clashing objectives, and the shadow of past failed negotiations looming large.