Trump-Putin Alaska summit: The much-anticipated summit between United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended without a breakthrough on Friday, as both leaders described their nearly three-hour-long talks as “productive” but acknowledged that no deal had been reached to halt or resolve Russia’s war in Ukraine. The meeting, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, was the first face-to-face encounter between the two presidents since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

After the talks, Trump and Putin struck an optimistic tone but offered no concrete outcomes. Trump said that "many, many points" had been agreed upon, but admitted that the most significant issues remained unresolved.

"There’s no deal until there’s a deal," Trump said, adding that he would soon brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO leaders on the discussions. Putin, in his comments, indicated Moscow and Washington had come to an "understanding" but did not go into detail.

He cautioned European allies not to "torpedo the nascent progress" and maintained that Russia's "legitimate concerns" need to be taken care of for enduring peace. Yet again, the Russian leader reaffirmed that what Moscow considers the "root causes" of the conflict, NATO enlargement and Kyiv's alignment with the West, need to be eradicated first before any ceasefire would be sustainable.

Pomp And Symbolism In Alaska Summit

The summit began with heavy symbolism when Putin first stepped onto American soil since ordering the invasion of Ukraine. He was greeted at the airbase by a red carpet welcome, where Trump warmly received him amidst US military planes in the background. The fact that they were meeting in Alaska, a piece of land bought from Russia in 1867, brought its own piece of history to the situation, highlighting the thin line between diplomacy and geopolitics.

Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he could end the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours,” had set high expectations ahead of the summit. While he failed to secure an immediate truce, the US President hailed the meeting as a “very productive” step toward peace. “We didn’t get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there,” Trump said.

Putin Sees Win In US Recognition

For Putin, the Alaska summit was already a symbolic triumph. Even though he was under an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes, the Russian leader was walking in tandem with the US President, representing Moscow's comeback to the diplomatic forefront after decades of exile.

"I expect that today’s agreements will become a reference point not only for solving the Ukrainian problem but also for restoring business-like and pragmatic relations between Russia and the United States," Putin said.

Putin also appreciated Trump's "friendly tone" and offered to host the next session of talks in Moscow. "Next time in Moscow," he quipped, and Trump responded that he might "get a little heat" but could "possibly see it happening."

US-Russia Negotiations And Sanctions Hang Over Horizons

The other unresolved issue was the future of arms control on nuclear weapons. Putin had indicated a willingness to sit down and negotiate a new agreement to replace the last standing treaty set to expire in February, but it was not known if this was broached in the Alaska negotiations.

Trump, however, has threatened drastic sanctions against Moscow and secondary sanctions on nations like India and China that will keep purchasing Russian crude if no progress is made soon. For now, however, those sanctions remain on hold, pending what Trump described as a “very good chance” of further progress in upcoming meetings.

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Kyiv And European Leaders' Reactions to Alaska Summit

Ukraine, which was not invited to the Alaska summit, reacted with caution. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has consistently ruled out ceding any territory to Moscow and is pushing for firm U.S.-backed security guarantees.

In a statement before the summit, Zelenskiy wrote, “It’s time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America.”

European allies continue to be split on Trump's diplomatic initiatives. Some welcomed the bid to initiate a dialogue, while others raised doubts about the genuineness of Russia's purpose. They opined that the summit could have given Putin additional room for manoeuvre on the battlefield and secured Trump's political capital domestically as he tries to project himself as an international peacemaker.

War Rages On Despite Alaska Peace Talks

Even as the summit took place, fighting in Ukraine showed no signs of slowing. Air raid alarms rang in eastern Ukraine as Russian authorities reported drone strikes in the Rostov and Bryansk regions. Opposition Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko declared in a statement that "Putin has bought himself more time" and slammed the lack of any announcement of a ceasefire.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský echoed scepticism, remarking, “If Putin were serious about peace, he would not have continued attacking Ukraine during the very day of negotiations.”

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Despite the absence of a ceasefire agreement, the Alaska summit underscored that dialogue between Washington and Moscow is once again possible. Both Trump and Putin expressed hope for a follow-up meeting, potentially with Zelenskiy included, though no firm plans were announced. As Trump succinctly said during his farewell address, "We'll speak to you very soon and probably see you again very soon." Smiling, Putin replied, "The sooner, the better."

 
(With agency inputs.)