After Nearly Three Hours of Closed-Door Summit in Alaska, Trump and Putin Fail to Reach Agreement on Ukraine War
Following a nearly three-hour closed-door summit in Alaska, U.S. President Trump and Russian President Putin did not reach any agreement regarding the Ukraine war, although both sides described the talks as “productive.” Trump emphasized that he was not negotiating on behalf of Ukraine but hoped to pave the way for a ceasefire and facilitate a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky.
Summit Unsuccessful: Trump States No Agreement Reached
During the talks held at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Trump and Putin met for nearly three hours, after which they announced in a brief joint press conference that no agreement had been reached to end the Ukraine war. Trump stated, “We have reached a consensus on many aspects, but several important issues remain unresolved. Therefore, there is no agreement until there is a real agreement.”
Putin also made a brief statement without taking questions from the media. He indicated that Ukraine and its European allies should respect the outcomes of the U.S.-Russia talks and warned them “not to undermine the current progress.”
Ukraine Not Invited: Trump Says He Will Not Make Decisions for Ukraine
Notably, the summit did not include an invitation for Ukrainian President Zelensky to attend. Previously, Ukraine and its European allies had expressed concerns that Trump might use the opportunity to “freeze” the current state of the war, or even implicitly recognize Russia’s control over one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory. However, Trump responded that his intention was not to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine but to create opportunities for both sides to come to the negotiating table. “I am not here to decide for Ukraine; I am here to facilitate their negotiations,” he told the media while aboard Air Force One.
Trump has publicly stated that he hopes to see a “rapid ceasefire” and admitted that he would feel disappointed if the killings could not be stopped on the day of the summit.
Zelensky Responds: Russia is Still Attacking, Peace Must Be Initiated by Them
Although not invited to participate, Ukrainian President Zelensky still expressed his stance after the summit. He emphasized his hope that the summit could pave the way for “just peace” and called for a trilateral meeting. However, he also pointed out that Russian forces continue to attack Ukraine. On the same day as the summit, a Russian-made ballistic missile struck the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine, resulting in one death and one injury.
“It is time to end the war, and it should be Russia that takes the necessary steps. We rely on the United States,” Zelensky stated on Telegram.
Significance of the Summit: Putin Attempts to Break Isolation
Despite not signing any agreements, the summit holds significant symbolic meaning for Putin. Since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, Western countries have continually sought to isolate Moscow, but Putin’s visit demonstrates that Russia still has the status to engage in dialogue with global powers. The two leaders shook hands and exchanged pleasantries on the red carpet at the Air Force base and later shared a vehicle to the meeting location. The backdrop of the venue featured the phrase “Pursuing Peace,” highlighting the summit’s focus on peace.
Putin is still wanted by the International Criminal Court, which has accused him of illegally forcibly deporting hundreds of Ukrainian children to Russian territory, but the Russian side denies all charges and claims that the court has no jurisdiction over Russia.
Delegation Revealed: Senior Officials from Both Sides Participated
In addition to Trump and Putin, several senior diplomatic representatives from both sides attended the summit, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, U.S. Special Envoy to Russia Steve Witkoff, and Russian Presidential Foreign Affairs Advisor Yuri Ushakov.
This was the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin since 2019. Trump had previously boasted that he could end the Ukraine war within 24 hours, but this time he admitted that the complexity of resolving the war exceeded his expectations.
Ceasefire Still Distant: Casualties from the War Have Reached a Million-Level
According to an estimate from Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, made three months ago, the total number of casualties from the Ukraine war has reached approximately 1.2 million. Although both Russia and Ukraine deny intentionally targeting civilians, thousands of civilian deaths have been reported, the majority of whom are Ukrainians.
Trump stated that if the talks go well, he will quickly push for a trilateral meeting with Zelensky, which he believes is “more important” than his dialogue with Putin.
Peace Yet to Materialize, But Diplomatic Channels Have Opened
Even without signing any agreements, the summit between Trump and Putin is still regarded as a new starting point for post-war diplomacy. Trump plans to update Zelensky and NATO allies on the discussions, but whether a true ceasefire and negotiations can be achieved remains to be seen. For Trump, achieving a ceasefire would not only bolster his image as a “peace maker” but could also enhance his chances of competing for the Nobel Peace Prize.
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