Czech leaders on Trump-Putin summit: 'A dangerous gift to the aggressor'

Czech leaders expressed cautious concern following Friday night’s summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. While the talks were described as “constructive” by both leaders, Czech officials warned that the meeting did not signal a genuine move toward ending the war in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the summit confirmed that the U.S. and its allies are seeking peace, but that Putin remains focused on territorial gains. Several opposition figures echoed similar skepticism, highlighting that the meeting primarily signaled a willingness to communicate rather than produce concrete results.

Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský and Defence Minister Jana Černochová emphasized that Russian imperial ambitions, not Ukraine’s desire for freedom, continue to drive the conflict, stressing the importance of maintaining Western unity.

“The results of the Alaska summit confirm that while the USA and its allies are looking for ways to peace, Putin is still only interested in maximizing territorial gains and restoring the Soviet empire.” PM Fiala stated, noting that no ceasefire or concrete agreements had emerged from the two-and-a-half-hour talks.

“The Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska did not bring a fundamental shift towards ending the war in Ukraine, but it did confirm that Putin is not looking for peace, but for an opportunity to weaken the unity of the West and spread his propaganda,” Černochová wrote on X. She added that the meeting revealed Putin’s motives and highlighted the need for Europe to remain cohesive in its support for Ukraine.

Other Czech politicians shared similar concerns. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan said Trump achieved nothing substantive in the meeting, while Chamber of Deputies Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová called it “a dangerous gift to the aggressor and a blow to Ukraine.”

Pirate Party chairman Zdeněk Hřib called the summit a “lost opportunity” and stressed that Russia must face economic and military consequences if it refuses sincere peace talks.

“The problem is Russian imperialism, not the Ukrainian desire to live in freedom," added Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský. "And let's not forget that these words are also hidden in Putin's desire to return the security architecture to 1997. To the moment when the Czech Republic was not yet part of NATO.”

Opposition figures offered more measured perspectives. ANO vice chair Karel Havlíček said the summit “may be the beginning of the war's end,” noting that expecting an immediate resolution was unrealistic. SPD leader Tomio Okamura described the talks as a “political signal of willingness to communicate” rather than a breakthrough.

European leaders issued a joint statement reaffirming continued support for Ukraine and their commitment to applying pressure on Russia.

The statement, signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, called for subsequent talks including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“Strong security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe are essential for any peace and the end of the war in Ukraine," Von der Leyen wrote on X. "EU closely collaborates with Zelenskyy and the U.S. to achieve lasting peace.”

Despite the constructive framing by Trump and Putin, no ceasefire agreement was announced. Zelenskyy is expected to meet with Trump in Washington on Monday, and Trump indicated he might attend a future meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin, signaling continued U.S. involvement.

Retired army general Jiří Sedivý noted that while Trump consulted Ukraine and Europe before the summit, his positions may differ afterward. He emphasized that Europe’s response to any negative consequences for Ukraine will be decisive.