The problem is that they have no strategy of their own for ending the Ukraine war, other than hoping to contain Russia over the longer term.

Putin's meeting represented a diplomatic victory after being ostracized by Western leaders since the start of the war. Just a week earlier, Trump was threatening him with new sanctions.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin did not reach a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine after talks in Alaska on Friday, as the two leaders offered scant details on what was discussed but heaped praise on one another.

European leaders, after getting a debrief on the Alaska summit in a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, held a follow-on call among themselves. Alongside leaders of countries including Germany,