U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded a high-profile summit in Alaska on Friday without reaching a breakthrough on ending the war in Ukraine.
The talks, which lasted three hours, ended abruptly with both leaders offering conciliatory remarks but no concrete steps toward a ceasefire.
“We’re not there yet, but we’ve made progress. There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump told reporters, describing the meeting as “extremely productive” without giving specifics.
Putin, in a brief joint appearance, said the discussions had created “understanding” that could “pave the way for peace in Ukraine.” He added with a smile, “Next time in Moscow,” when Trump suggested a follow-up meeting.
The Alaska summit was the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since 2019, staged with high-level symbolism, including a U.S. B-2 stealth bomber flyover. Putin, who faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over the invasion of Ukraine, was welcomed by Trump personally and escorted into the U.S. presidential limousine, “The Beast.”
Despite Trump’s earlier warnings of “severe consequences” for Russia if a ceasefire was not reached, his post-summit tone softened. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, “Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now.”
Putin, meanwhile, urged Ukraine and its European allies not to “create obstacles” or attempt to disrupt what he described as “emerging progress.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not included in the Alaska talks despite Trump’s push for a three-way meeting, reiterated his stance online: “It is time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America.”
The war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has claimed tens of thousands of lives. While Russia has made recent battlefield gains, Ukraine announced shortly before the summit that it had retaken several villages.
Trump’s outreach to Putin has raised concerns among NATO allies, many of whom remain wary of any agreement that could pressure Ukraine to cede territory.
For now, the Alaska summit rekindled a personal rapport between Trump and Putin but left the central question of peace in Ukraine unresolved.
