The talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska, billed as a potential breakthrough, ended without an agreement to halt or freeze the war in Ukraine. Both sides described the meeting as “productive,” but offered no details and took no questions from the press.
Meeting Outcomes
Trump said the two sides had “made progress,” but added: “There is no deal until there is a deal.” Contrary to expectations, the negotiations produced no concrete steps toward a truce in the bloodiest war Europe has seen in 80 years. For Putin, however, the mere fact of a personal meeting with the US president was already a diplomatic success: since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he has been largely shunned by most Western leaders.
Following the talks, Trump told Fox News he was suspending tariffs on China for purchasing Russian oil, citing “progress” in his discussions with Putin. India, another major buyer of Russian crude, remains subject to 50% duties.
Ukraine and Possible Concessions
Trump hinted that he had discussed with Putin a possible “territorial exchange” and “security guarantees” for Ukraine, remarking: “We’re close to a deal… Ukraine has to agree. Maybe they’ll say no.” Asked what advice he would give to Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump replied: “Make a deal. Russia is a very big power, and Ukraine is not.”
Zelensky has repeatedly stated that he will not agree to a formal transfer of territory to Russia and insists on security guarantees backed by the United States and NATO. Ahead of the summit, he wrote that the meeting should open a path to a “just peace,” but reminded the world that the war continues.
Ongoing Fighting
As the talks took place, much of eastern Ukraine was under air raid alerts. Russian authorities reported Ukrainian drone attacks on the Rostov and Bryansk regions, while Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed 29 drones had been destroyed. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russian strikes overnight targeted the Donetsk, Sumy, Chernihiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions; of 85 drones launched, 61 were shot down.
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Putin and U.S. Presidents
Photographs by Kevin Lamarque
Symbolism and Contrast
Putin’s visit to the United States was marked by symbolic ceremony: at the Alaska air base he was greeted by Trump on a red carpet as US military aircraft flew overhead. Yet the outcome of the meeting fell far short of expectations.
Trump, who during his campaign had promised to “end the war in 24 hours,” acknowledged that the task has proved more difficult than he had assumed. Nevertheless, he announced plans to arrange another meeting that would include Zelensky.
At the close of the talks, Putin even suggested that the next meeting could take place in Moscow. Trump replied that he “might get some criticism” for that, but did not rule it out.