The highly anticipated summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended Friday without any agreement on the Russia-Ukraine war, despite extended talks and symbolic gestures of goodwill.
The meeting, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, lasted about two and a half hours. Both leaders appeared before reporters afterward but declined to take questions. While Trump described the discussions as “productive,” he acknowledged that no deal had been reached.
“We had an extremely productive meeting and many points were agreed to, there are just a very few that are left,” Trump said. “We didn’t get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there.”
Putin, making his first visit to the U.S. in a decade, was welcomed with a red carpet reception and even joined Trump in the presidential limousine upon arrival. He thanked Trump for hosting and suggested that a future meeting could take place in Moscow.
The summit highlighted the personal rapport between the two leaders. Putin praised the historical ties between Washington and Moscow, citing cooperation during World War II. He repeated Trump’s claim that the war in Ukraine would not have occurred had Trump won the 2020 election, though there is no evidence to support that assertion.
Trump had aimed to secure at least a commitment from Putin toward a ceasefire with Ukraine. Instead, he conceded that talks fell short of that objective, noting he would consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO leaders on next steps. He gave no details about the “progress” he said had been made.
Diplomatic momentum appeared slow, favoring Moscow’s position. Russian forces continue to press advantages in eastern Ukraine more than three years into the conflict. Analysts note that the absence of concrete commitments benefits Putin, who secured a prestigious platform in the U.S. without altering his strategy.
Putin emphasized the “friendly” tone of discussions and underscored Russia’s national interests. Trump did not publicly address Moscow’s attacks on Ukrainian civilians. Putin further declared that Washington and Moscow should “turn the page,” framing his U.S. visit as a sign that Russia was no longer isolated on the global stage. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova echoed this view, celebrating the red carpet welcome as evidence that Western claims of Russia’s pariah status were overstated.
The joint press event, lasting less than 15 minutes, offered no substantive announcements. Both leaders repeated standard diplomatic language, but Trump abruptly cut short any opportunity for media questions, signaling limited progress. Before the summit, Trump had estimated a 25 percent chance of failure, describing the encounter as a “feel-out meeting.” He had floated the possibility of a three-way meeting with Zelenskyy if progress was achieved, but the path forward remains uncertain.
The outcome underscores the deep challenges facing efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, with the Anchorage summit producing ceremony but little measurable substance.
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