In a report by Epoch Times on August 20, 2025, it was stated that US President Trump (Donald Trump) mentioned that if Ukraine and Russia signed a peace agreement, the United States would assist in ensuring Ukraine’s security. The executive director of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Think Tank, Mr. Yatabe Akio, pointed out that after the “double Trump-Putin meeting,” European leaders have been visiting the White House one after another. This indicates that they all recognize that resolving the Ukraine issue still relies on Trump.
Mr. Yatabe Akio, a prominent media figure in Japan, took to Facebook to express his views, stating that President Trump and Russian President Putin held talks in Alaska where they did not reach an agreement on a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Subsequently, many left-wing media outlets began criticizing Trump for not walking out immediately upon learning that Putin did not have an immediate ceasefire in mind and instead continued the conversation with Putin for three hours.
According to Mr. Yatabe Akio, he finds these criticisms baseless. As US Secretary of State Pompeo mentioned, Putin’s most significant weapon lies in “not caring about the lives of young Russians.” He can continue sending Russian soldiers to the battlefield without restraint. With Ukraine already devastated, the United States and European countries supporting Ukraine are already exhausted.
Mr. Yatabe Akio emphasized that it took a tremendous effort for Trump to bring Putin to the negotiating table this time, so it is only natural to give Putin face. While it may seem easy to criticize Putin’s aggression face-to-face or to storm out if negotiations are not favorable, the peace doorway that was painstakingly opened a crack will inevitably close if such approaches are taken.
Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy had a press conference at the Oval Office in the White House on the 18th. Trump reiterated that if Ukraine and Russia reach a peace agreement, the US will assist in safeguarding Ukraine’s security. He also mentioned that the US will do its best to ensure the long-term effectiveness of peace agreements between Russia and Ukraine, although he did not provide further details.
Mr. Yatabe Akio stated that it was expected that this round of talks did not yield results. After all, a ceasefire poses significant political risks for Putin. It may require building trust and multiple contacts to gradually reach a consensus and move towards a ceasefire. Whether the “double Trump-Putin meeting” can be considered successful will depend on future engagements. Drawing conclusions at this stage would be premature.
On the 19th, Trump remarked that brokering a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine could increase his chances of going to heaven, even jokingly mentioning that his probability of passing through the gates of heaven is currently low.
Zelenskyy, after the meeting with Trump and European leaders on the 19th, stated that security assurances for Kyiv may be finalized within 10 days.
Mr. Yatabe Akio pointed out that many European countries have vocally expressed “firm support for Ukraine,” but up to now, their actions in support of Ukraine have been far fewer compared to the United States.
He emphasized that after the “double Trump-Putin meeting,” European leaders have been visiting the White House one after another. This further indicates that they all recognize that resolving the Ukraine issue still depends on Trump.