President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a three-hour summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday that ended without a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine, despite both leaders describing the talks as “productive.”
“We had a very productive meeting … we’ve made some headway, but there’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump said, noting he would soon call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO allies. Putin, who opened the joint press conference beneath a “Pursuing Peace” banner, suggested “an agreement” had been reached but offered no details.
The summit, the first between Trump and Putin during Trump’s second term, was marked by shifting schedules and secrecy. Initially planned as a one-on-one, it expanded to include U.S. and Russian top aides such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The leaders ultimately offered little insight into the path toward peace.
Putin underscored the need to eliminate the “primary roots” of the conflict, while Trump hinted Zelensky would need to make concessions. “Now it’s really up to President Zelensky to get it done,” Trump told Fox News afterward.
The meeting was choreographed to highlight Trump’s image as a peacemaker, complete with red-carpet arrivals, military flyovers, and warm greetings. Yet experts said the lack of specifics demonstrates the difficulty of achieving progress. “Until the U.S. exerts real leverage … diplomacy is largely theater,” said Kristina Hook of Kennesaw State University.
At the conclusion, Putin quipped in English, “Next time in Moscow.” Trump chuckled but admitted he’d “get a little heat for that one.” No further summit has been scheduled.
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