A highly anticipated summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded in Alaska without a breakthrough on ending the war in Ukraine, though both leaders claimed “progress” had been made.
Held at a U.S. military base in Anchorage, Friday's three-hour closed-door meeting marked Putin’s first visit to Western territory since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The meeting ended without a ceasefire or formal peace deal, with President Trump acknowledging that while discussions were “very productive,” no final agreement had been reached.
“There are just a very few [issues] left,” Trump said, suggesting that one unresolved matter remains particularly significant. Putin, meanwhile, described the talks as “long overdue” and said he hoped a mutual agreement could lay the groundwork for peace—though he provided no specifics.
In a pointed statement, Putin also warned Kyiv and its Western allies against undermining what he termed “nascent progress” through provocative actions.
The summit drew sharp contrast to recent diplomatic treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose February visit to Washington received a comparatively muted reception. Trump further fueled criticism by later urging Zelenskyy to “cut a deal” with Moscow during an appearance on Fox News, calling Russia “a very big power.”
While no tangible concessions were made, analysts noted that Putin appeared to gain significant symbolic and strategic advantages. The optics of the meeting—and the absence of clear demands or penalties for Russia—were interpreted by international observers as a diplomatic win for the Kremlin.
“This was being labelled as a victory even before Putin left the tarmac,” reported Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid from Moscow. In contrast, correspondent Kimberly Halkett in Anchorage described the summit as “much ado about nothing,” suggesting it may ultimately extend the conflict by buying Russia more time.
Ukraine’s opposition lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko echoed this sentiment, stating via Telegram, “It seems Putin has bought himself more time.”
Despite disappointment, some analysts saw a silver lining: Trump refrained from publicly endorsing any territorial concessions or land swaps, which many feared could undermine Ukrainian sovereignty.
However, the meeting raised broader concerns about Trump’s approach to diplomacy—particularly his willingness to sideline NATO partners and pursue personal rapport with Putin. The U.S. president ended the press event by thanking Putin and hinting at a future meeting, possibly in Moscow.
“I might get a little heat on that one,” Trump said, smiling, when Putin extended the invitation.
Post a Comment