In August 2025, a meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage nearly resulted in a significant agreement regarding the territorial division of Ukraine. According to French President Emmanuel Macron, the proposed deal would have granted Russia control over Ukrainian territories, including areas not currently under its control.
Macron described Trump’s perspective during the meeting, stating that the former president believed Ukraine was on the verge of defeat and sought a swift peace agreement. He recalled the context of early 2025, when relations between Ukraine and the U.S. appeared strained, particularly following discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“What did Trump see when he arrived at the Anchorage summit? He thought Ukraine was losing, so he wanted to make a quick peace. It seems like an eternity since January-February 2025. He believed Ukraine would lose; everything was going poorly in the Oval Office with President Zelensky. Then, less than a year ago, the meeting between President Trump and President Putin in Anchorage occurred, when the agreement was almost on the table, stating that we would give up Ukrainian territory that had not yet been captured,” Macron said.
Macron further noted that the situation was averted by decisive intervention from European leaders. In mid-August 2025, a special delegation urgently traveled to the United States, where European leaders issued an ultimatum, declaring such an agreement unacceptable.
Diplomats explained to the White House the actual state of affairs, emphasizing that Ukraine continued to resist despite skepticism regarding its capabilities.
“We tried, and since then so much has been achieved. This path is primarily and largely a victory for the Ukrainians in their capabilities and reliability. President Trump saw that everything he was told about the Ukrainians losing, that they would not survive the winter, was false,” Macron emphasized.
Macron asserted that Trump’s stance on Ukraine has fundamentally changed. The resilience of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and society has led Trump to reassess his views, shifting from thoughts of capitulation to respect for Ukraine’s efforts.
Trump has acknowledged the inaccuracies of previous assessments, recognizing the reliability demonstrated by Ukrainians, which has altered the geopolitical landscape. According to Macron, Trump now regards Ukraine with deep respect: “Now he sees brave, innovative people whom he respects.”
Macron also stressed the necessity of European involvement in future negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, citing the direct connection between European interests and the situation in Ukraine.
“This is true thanks to the support we provided, through the enlargement issues that concern Europeans, and through the financial assistance and loans we extended,” Macron stated.
Previously, Macron had indicated that Trump agreed there was no serious desire from Russia to engage in negotiations. He noted that discussions among G7 leaders revealed that earlier attempts at diplomatic resolution had yielded no substantial results.
A recent revelation indicates that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin discussed a potential territorial agreement regarding Ukraine during a meeting in Anchorage in 2025. French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the significant shift in Trump's views on Ukraine, attributing it to the resilience shown by the Ukrainian forces and society.