The highly anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has concluded without a breakthrough on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. Despite the ceremonial welcome and display of American military power, the two leaders failed to reach a consensus on a ceasefire agreement.
The summit, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, began with a grand gesture as Trump clapped for Putin as he stepped off his plane. The unusual display of warmth between the two leaders was seen as a departure from the norm, given the tense relations between the US and Russia. Trump seemed to relish the spectacle, showcasing American might with a flyover of a B-2 stealth bomber capable of striking underground nuclear facilities.
During the meeting, Putin appeared unmoved by a question about stopping the killing of civilians in Ukraine, gesturing as if he couldn’t hear the reporter. Trump quickly intervened, moving Putin along the stage to the waiting presidential limousine. The two leaders then sat down for talks in a room with a blue banner reading “Pursuing Peace,” flanked by their foreign policy advisers.
In a joint press conference, Putin spoke first, emphasizing that the “roots” of Russian concerns in Ukraine needed to be addressed before a full peace deal could be reached. One of these concerns is the removal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government, a demand that raises the bar for negotiations. Trump later echoed Putin’s sentiments, stating that there were still significant points to be resolved, including one major issue.
Despite describing the meeting as “extremely productive” and making “great progress,” Trump confirmed that no deal had been reached. “There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” he said, adding that he would be speaking with Ukrainian and European leaders soon to brief them on the discussions. Putin, meanwhile, warned Ukraine and its European allies not to “torpedo the nascent progress” or make provocations that could undermine the talks.
The summit’s outcome has sparked mixed reactions, with some Ukrainians criticizing Trump for rolling out the red carpet for Putin, who faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Former US diplomat Donald Jensen noted that the focus remains on a possible ceasefire, with significant hurdles still to be overcome.
As the meeting concluded, Trump and Putin left the stage without taking questions, ending a day that began with much fanfare. The two leaders did agree to meet again, with Putin suggesting Moscow as a possible venue. Trump responded positively, saying, “I could see it possibly happening.”
The talks between Trump and Putin lasted less than three hours, falling short of Kremlin estimates that the negotiations would stretch to six or seven hours. While both leaders expressed optimism about future progress, the lack of concrete results has raised questions about the effectiveness of the summit in resolving the conflict.
In the aftermath of the summit, Trump’s allies have cast the US president as a heavyweight negotiator who can find a way to bring the conflict to a close. However, analysts caution that any potential ceasefire could leave Russia with flexibility to escalate the conflict in the future, given the country’s current control over nearly one-fifth of Ukraine .
