The highly anticipated meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin opened with a warm reception, complete with a military jet flyover at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. However, the summit ended without any concrete progress on resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
After two and a half hours of private talks, the two leaders appeared before the press for what had been promoted as a joint briefing, though they declined to take questions. Trump described the discussions as “very productive” but admitted that no agreement had been reached. “We didn’t get there, but we have a good chance of getting there,” he remarked.
Putin, who has been largely excluded from Western diplomatic circles since launching the war in Ukraine in early 2022, expressed gratitude to Trump for the invitation. He even joked that their next encounter could take place in Moscow.
Key highlights from the summit
A ceremonial welcome reflecting Trump and Putin’s cordial ties
Putin received a red-carpet reception and even joined Trump in his presidential limousine upon arrival. Both leaders were accompanied by top aides: Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff for Trump, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov along with adviser Yuri Ushakov for Putin.
In his opening remarks, Putin emphasized the long history of U.S.-Russian cooperation, citing their joint efforts during World War II. He repeated a familiar Russian talking point about “shared values” and echoed Trump’s frequent claim that the Ukraine war might not have occurred had he remained in office. “I think that would have been the case,” Putin said, though there is no evidence to support that assertion.
Trump acknowledges progress but no breakthrough
Trump’s main objective was to push Putin toward agreeing to a ceasefire or at least engaging in negotiations. Instead, he conceded that the discussions fell short. He promised to coordinate with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO allies about possible next steps.
While Trump insisted that “significant progress” was made, he declined to share details. Later, in a Fox News interview, he again avoided specifics.
Putin benefits from stalled diplomacy
The lack of a deal ultimately works in Putin’s favor, as Russian forces continue to wear down Ukraine’s defenses after more than three years of fighting. The summit gave Putin an opportunity to stand alongside an American president on U.S. soil, projecting an image of restored legitimacy.
Putin praised Trump for the “friendly” tone of the meeting and said the U.S. and Russia should “turn the page” on strained relations. He avoided addressing Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian civilians, while Trump remained silent on the subject.
The visit marked Putin’s first appearance in the United States in a decade, a symbolic moment celebrated by Moscow as proof that Russia is no longer isolated. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova declared on social media that the West would “lose their minds” seeing Putin welcomed with such ceremony.
Few details, little clarity
Both leaders insisted the talks were worthwhile, but the absence of announcements highlighted how little was achieved. The press event, lasting under 15 minutes, consisted of routine diplomatic statements with no substantial new commitments.
Trump, who had suggested beforehand that the summit had a 25% chance of failure, ended the briefing abruptly without answering questions — a rare move for such a high-profile meeting. While he had floated the idea of including Zelenskyy in a future three-way meeting in Alaska, the outcome of this summit leaves the path forward uncertain.
