Trump-Putin Alaska Summit Ends Without Ukraine Deal, But Leaders Tout ‘Progress’

 

In a high-profile meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded nearly three hours of talks on the war in Ukraine without announcing a ceasefire or peace agreement.

Trump described the summit as “very productive,” noting that the two sides had agreed on “many points” but that one major issue remained unresolved. “There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” he told reporters, offering no specifics on the sticking points. Putin called the discussions “thorough and constructive” and reiterated Russia’s stated interest in ending the conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was not invited to the talks, is set to meet Trump in Washington on Monday following what he described as a “long and substantive” phone conversation. Zelenskyy expressed support for a proposed trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia, with European participation to ensure security guarantees.

The summit, marked by a red-carpet welcome and a joint appearance without taking questions, was the first in-person meeting between Trump and Putin since 2019. While no breakthrough was reached, both leaders signaled openness to further talks — with Putin suggesting “next time in Moscow” and Trump indicating he “could see it possibly happening”.

Analysts noted that despite the cordial tone, the absence of concrete outcomes leaves the path to peace uncertain, as the war — now in its third year — continues to exact a heavy toll on Ukraine and its people.