Trump revealed: Putin and Zelensky may shake hands and make peace, and the second summit is coming soon!
2025-08-15 08:57:43
Amidst a volatile global landscape, the Ukraine issue has once again become an international focal point. On Thursday (August 14th), US President Trump revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin appears ready and willing to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also expressed a desire for peace. To achieve this goal, Trump hinted at the need for a second multilateral summit, inviting more leaders to discuss a solution. This could not only change the fate of Ukraine but also reshape the geopolitical landscape of Europe and even the world.
Is Putin ready to compromise?
On the eve of the upcoming US-Russia summit in Anchorage, Alaska, Trump expressed optimism about the prospects for peace in an interview with reporters at the White House. "I think President Putin will seek peace, and so will President Zelensky," he said. "We'll see if they can come to an agreement." This statement has drawn global attention, as the battlefield stalemate between the two sides since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022 has made peace talks seem elusive. Trump's comments seemed to suggest that Putin might show flexibility on certain key issues, paving the way for an end to Europe's largest conflict since World War II.
Possibility of a second summit
Trump further indicated that the Alaska summit may only be the starting point of the peace process. He downplayed the possibility of a direct ceasefire agreement from the summit, emphasizing that a true breakthrough may require a larger meeting. "It will be a good meeting, but more importantly, we'll have a second meeting," Trump said. "At that time, I will meet with President Putin and President Zelensky, and perhaps invite some European leaders, but the details have not yet been determined." This statement shows that Trump hopes to promote broader international cooperation through multilateral dialogue and find a lasting solution to the Ukrainian issue.
US efforts praised
On the eve of the summit, Putin highly praised the US efforts in a televised address. He stated that the US is "making very active and sincere efforts to cease hostilities, end the crisis, and reach an agreement that is beneficial to all parties to the conflict." Putin's statement is quite rare, demonstrating the importance Russia attaches to US-Russia dialogue. He further noted that these efforts will not only help end the conflict in Ukraine but also lay the foundation for a new US-Russia agreement on strategic offensive arms control, thereby creating conditions for long-term peace in Europe and globally.
A "two-pronged strategy" on nuclear weapons and economic issues
Putin's remarks reveal Russia's potential agenda for the summit. A Kremlin aide stated that Putin will discuss nuclear arms control with Trump and explore the "huge untapped economic potential" between Russia and the United States. This suggests that Russia may attempt to divert Trump's attention from Ukraine through topics such as a nuclear arms agreement or economic cooperation. A senior Eastern European official expressed concern, noting that Putin's real goal may be to avoid new international sanctions and to secure the lifting of existing ones. "We hope Trump will not be blinded by Russia's tactics," the official warned. "He needs to clearly understand all the potential risks."
Zelensky's efforts and Europe's vigilance
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his European allies are highly wary of the upcoming US-Russia summit. They fear the US and Russia could reach an agreement that would sacrifice Ukraine's long-term security interests. To this end, Zelenskyy has intensified his communications with European leaders this week, seeking to ensure that any agreement will not expose Ukraine to new threats in the future. European leaders revealed that during a virtual meeting with Trump and Zelenskyy on Wednesday, Trump privately expressed his willingness to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, but the details remain unclear.
Controversy over NATO's role and security guarantees
French President Emmanuel Macron stated after the meeting that Trump explicitly opposed including NATO in the framework of post-war security guarantees for Ukraine, but at the same time pledged that the United States and other willing allies would jointly provide protection for Ukraine. A European official described this statement as "a major step forward," but also acknowledged that the specific form and implementation of these security guarantees remain unclear. Trump's ambiguous stance has left Ukraine and its allies both hopeful and concerned.
Trump's tough warning
Notably, Trump warned Putin during their meeting on Wednesday that Russia would face "severe consequences" if it refused to reach a peace agreement on Ukraine. This tough stance suggests that while Trump is pursuing peace, he is also exerting pressure on Russia to push for substantive progress in the negotiations. However, Russia has repeatedly stated that its core position on Ukraine has not changed since Putin first outlined it in June 2024, adding uncertainty to the negotiations.
Taken together, Trump's optimistic statements, Putin's positive response, and Zelensky's cautious approach paint a complex yet hopeful picture. The Alaska summit may open a window for resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but true peace requires more time and broader international cooperation. Putin's proposals for nuclear arms control and economic cooperation demonstrate Russia's attempt to seize the initiative through multi-faceted negotiations, while Ukraine and its allies seek to ensure their security interests are not compromised.
This summit not only concerns the future of Ukraine but also has the potential to have profound implications for US-Russia relations, the European security landscape, and even global strategic stability. Trump's proposed second multilateral summit may provide a platform for compromise and cooperation among all parties. However, the path to peace is never easy. Russia's tough stance, Ukraine's vigilance, and the complex dynamics of the international community all cast a shadow over the negotiations.
As a safe-haven asset, gold's price is generally positively correlated with geopolitical tensions. If the US-Russia summit and subsequent negotiations show signs of easing the conflict in Ukraine, market concerns about geopolitical risks may ease. This could lead to reduced investor demand for gold, putting downward pressure on gold prices. In particular, Putin's mention of possible progress on nuclear arms control agreements could further reduce the perception of global security risks and weaken gold's safe-haven appeal. Gold prices fell 0.62% to $3,335.25 per ounce on Thursday. In Asian trading on Friday, gold prices fluctuated narrowly, currently trading around $3,338.42 per ounce.
Analysts point out that investors will closely monitor the progress of the Alaska summit and the subsequent second summit. If the negotiations show a clear path to peace, gold prices may face downward pressure; conversely, if the negotiations break down or geopolitical risks intensify, gold prices may resume their upward trend. It is recommended to monitor the summit results, the US dollar index, and market risk sentiment to determine the future trend of gold prices.
At 08:56 Beijing time, spot gold was trading at $3338.14 per ounce.
Trump's optimistic outlook: A glimmer of hope for peace
Is Putin ready to compromise?
On the eve of the upcoming US-Russia summit in Anchorage, Alaska, Trump expressed optimism about the prospects for peace in an interview with reporters at the White House. "I think President Putin will seek peace, and so will President Zelensky," he said. "We'll see if they can come to an agreement." This statement has drawn global attention, as the battlefield stalemate between the two sides since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022 has made peace talks seem elusive. Trump's comments seemed to suggest that Putin might show flexibility on certain key issues, paving the way for an end to Europe's largest conflict since World War II.
Possibility of a second summit
Trump further indicated that the Alaska summit may only be the starting point of the peace process. He downplayed the possibility of a direct ceasefire agreement from the summit, emphasizing that a true breakthrough may require a larger meeting. "It will be a good meeting, but more importantly, we'll have a second meeting," Trump said. "At that time, I will meet with President Putin and President Zelensky, and perhaps invite some European leaders, but the details have not yet been determined." This statement shows that Trump hopes to promote broader international cooperation through multilateral dialogue and find a lasting solution to the Ukrainian issue.
Putin's statement: Nuclear arms agreement and economic potential
US efforts praised
On the eve of the summit, Putin highly praised the US efforts in a televised address. He stated that the US is "making very active and sincere efforts to cease hostilities, end the crisis, and reach an agreement that is beneficial to all parties to the conflict." Putin's statement is quite rare, demonstrating the importance Russia attaches to US-Russia dialogue. He further noted that these efforts will not only help end the conflict in Ukraine but also lay the foundation for a new US-Russia agreement on strategic offensive arms control, thereby creating conditions for long-term peace in Europe and globally.
A "two-pronged strategy" on nuclear weapons and economic issues
Putin's remarks reveal Russia's potential agenda for the summit. A Kremlin aide stated that Putin will discuss nuclear arms control with Trump and explore the "huge untapped economic potential" between Russia and the United States. This suggests that Russia may attempt to divert Trump's attention from Ukraine through topics such as a nuclear arms agreement or economic cooperation. A senior Eastern European official expressed concern, noting that Putin's real goal may be to avoid new international sanctions and to secure the lifting of existing ones. "We hope Trump will not be blinded by Russia's tactics," the official warned. "He needs to clearly understand all the potential risks."
Ukraine's caution and allies' concerns
Zelensky's efforts and Europe's vigilance
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his European allies are highly wary of the upcoming US-Russia summit. They fear the US and Russia could reach an agreement that would sacrifice Ukraine's long-term security interests. To this end, Zelenskyy has intensified his communications with European leaders this week, seeking to ensure that any agreement will not expose Ukraine to new threats in the future. European leaders revealed that during a virtual meeting with Trump and Zelenskyy on Wednesday, Trump privately expressed his willingness to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, but the details remain unclear.
Controversy over NATO's role and security guarantees
French President Emmanuel Macron stated after the meeting that Trump explicitly opposed including NATO in the framework of post-war security guarantees for Ukraine, but at the same time pledged that the United States and other willing allies would jointly provide protection for Ukraine. A European official described this statement as "a major step forward," but also acknowledged that the specific form and implementation of these security guarantees remain unclear. Trump's ambiguous stance has left Ukraine and its allies both hopeful and concerned.
Trump's tough warning
Notably, Trump warned Putin during their meeting on Wednesday that Russia would face "severe consequences" if it refused to reach a peace agreement on Ukraine. This tough stance suggests that while Trump is pursuing peace, he is also exerting pressure on Russia to push for substantive progress in the negotiations. However, Russia has repeatedly stated that its core position on Ukraine has not changed since Putin first outlined it in June 2024, adding uncertainty to the negotiations.
Challenges and Hopes on the Path to Peace
Taken together, Trump's optimistic statements, Putin's positive response, and Zelensky's cautious approach paint a complex yet hopeful picture. The Alaska summit may open a window for resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but true peace requires more time and broader international cooperation. Putin's proposals for nuclear arms control and economic cooperation demonstrate Russia's attempt to seize the initiative through multi-faceted negotiations, while Ukraine and its allies seek to ensure their security interests are not compromised.
This summit not only concerns the future of Ukraine but also has the potential to have profound implications for US-Russia relations, the European security landscape, and even global strategic stability. Trump's proposed second multilateral summit may provide a platform for compromise and cooperation among all parties. However, the path to peace is never easy. Russia's tough stance, Ukraine's vigilance, and the complex dynamics of the international community all cast a shadow over the negotiations.
As a safe-haven asset, gold's price is generally positively correlated with geopolitical tensions. If the US-Russia summit and subsequent negotiations show signs of easing the conflict in Ukraine, market concerns about geopolitical risks may ease. This could lead to reduced investor demand for gold, putting downward pressure on gold prices. In particular, Putin's mention of possible progress on nuclear arms control agreements could further reduce the perception of global security risks and weaken gold's safe-haven appeal. Gold prices fell 0.62% to $3,335.25 per ounce on Thursday. In Asian trading on Friday, gold prices fluctuated narrowly, currently trading around $3,338.42 per ounce.
Analysts point out that investors will closely monitor the progress of the Alaska summit and the subsequent second summit. If the negotiations show a clear path to peace, gold prices may face downward pressure; conversely, if the negotiations break down or geopolitical risks intensify, gold prices may resume their upward trend. It is recommended to monitor the summit results, the US dollar index, and market risk sentiment to determine the future trend of gold prices.
At 08:56 Beijing time, spot gold was trading at $3338.14 per ounce.
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