Meetings in Alaska and Washington were high on pomp and low on breakthroughs, but there were two potentially significant developments.

German Chancellor Merz broke with the generally optimistic tone at the European leaders meeting at the White House on Monday, stating a ceasefire is necessary for peace.

European leaders are pleased that Trump gave them a more sympathetic hearing than they were braced for, but they did not fully wind back the clock to before Alaska. Trump has sided with Moscow over the need for a comprehensive settlement rather than a ceasefire and has dropped any hint of sanctions.