Putin and Trump Make Progress on Ukraine but Fail to Seal Landmark Peace Deal in Alaska

During a high-stakes summit in Alaska, President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump claimed they made headway in efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine, although they did not finalize the significant peace agreement Trump had anticipated.

This pivotal gathering at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson was the first meeting between Putin and a U.S. president since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago, which led to his isolation in the West.

Despite a warm welcome for Putin and friendly exchanges between the leaders, there seemed to be an inability to bridge their substantial differences on resolving the war.

With a backdrop featuring the words “PURSUING PEACE,” Trump noted that both sides had navigated numerous disagreements regarding the conflict and were down to “a couple of big ones” that needed resolution.

“There are just a very few sticking points left,” Trump stated. “Some aren’t too critical. One is likely the most significant — but we have a strong chance of reaching an agreement,” he remarked, without elaborating on the specific issues.

“We’re going to prevent thousands from dying each week,” he added.

Trump emphasized, “There’s no agreement until an agreement is made,” mentioning his intention to reach out to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders next.

In a personal gesture, Trump greeted Putin with a handshake on the Anchorage tarmac.

Putin, in turn, acknowledged the long-standing historical ties between Russia and the U.S., praising the Trump administration’s attempt to «facilitate a resolution» to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“I hope that the understanding we’ve reached will bring us closer to that goal and pave the way for peace in Ukraine,” Putin commented.

He expressed hope that Kyiv and European capitals would view the discussions constructively and refrain from obstructing progress through provocation or clandestine maneuvers.

Putin then invited Trump to meet in Russia, stating in English: «Next time in Moscow.»

The two leaders concluded their remarks without taking questions from the press, leading to a palpable sense of confusion among journalists present.

A joint press conference was expected to be followed by a “working lunch” with their delegations; however, this was canceled, and both presidents returned to their flights.

From the outset, it was unclear whether the meeting would be fruitful. On the flight to Alaska, Trump indicated he would advocate for a ceasefire and mentioned he would “head back home quickly” if discussions did not go well.

“I want to see a ceasefire right away,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “I’m uncertain if it will happen today, but I’ll be disappointed if it doesn’t.”

In a staged sequence, Trump and Putin arrived in their respective presidential aircraft and walked together under overcast skies towards each other on the tarmac, proceeding along a red carpet to a salute from an honor guard.

As fighter jets flew overhead, a reporter loudly asked Putin, «Will you stop killing civilians?»

Putin was accompanied by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov for their discussions, while Trump was joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Having pledged to swiftly conclude the war upon taking office in January, Trump’s multiple attempts at diplomacy yielded no success, and Russian bombardments of Ukrainian cities continued unabated.

Growing increasingly exasperated with Putin, he warned of secondary sanctions should Moscow refuse to end the conflict by August 8 — a demand that the Kremlin ignored.

Leading up to the talks, Russia’s stance on ending the war remained unyielding. Putin has reiterated his maximalist demands, including Ukraine’s relinquishment of claims over four partially occupied regions and Crimea.

However, he exhibited a willingness to establish a peace agreement absent Ukraine, describing Trump’s initiatives to resolve the conflict as «quite energetic and sincere.»

The Ukrainians, on the other hand, staunchly oppose any proposals involving territorial concessions, asserting that withdrawing from frontline areas would provide Russia the opportunity for future incursions.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not included in the Alaska summit, has consistently articulated that Ukraine’s involvement is crucial for any peace arrangement.

«Russia must terminate the war it initiated and has prolonged for years,» Zelensky stated during a Friday address. «The killings need to cease. A summit of leaders is necessary. At the very least — Ukraine, America, and Russia need to convene, as that format is conducive to effective solutions.»

European leaders have also urged Trump to consider Ukraine’s interests while engaging with the Russian delegation.

By excluding Zelensky, the participating leaders implied a broader agenda for their discussions, which were anticipated to cover not only the war but also bilateral relations and economic collaboration.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump indicated a willingness to discuss business opportunities but stressed that no agreements would be finalized “until we resolve the conflict.”

Trump and Putin last met at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan in 2019, which Trump referred to as a “tremendous” encounter.

During his first term, Trump expressed admiration for Putin, diverging from U.S. intelligence assessments alleging that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to benefit him.

Reporting by AFP contributed to this coverage.