U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met today at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage for nearly three hours. The summit ended with no formal agreement to halt the war in Ukraine. Trump called the talks “very productive” but added “there’s no deal until there’s a deal”.
Putin voiced optimism, saying he expects Ukraine and its allies to accept progress and avoid undermining it. He further envisioned the talks laying groundwork for restored, pragmatic U.S.-Russia relations.
Both leaders spoke briefly before cameras and refused questions from reporters.
The summit began with a ceremonial red-carpet welcome. Trump greeted Putin on the tarmac. They shook hands and boarded Trump’s limousine (“The Beast”) together. The setting struck many observers as oddly cordial given the backdrop of war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was notably excluded. His absence led him to dismiss any outcome as hollow. Trump said he would brief him afterward.
No ceasefire, no peace plan, no guarantee. Observers from Europe and Kyiv worry the cordial optics may hide dangerous concessions. Critics note the summit conferred a diplomatic victory on Putin, even without concrete progress.
Trump said he will consult NATO, European leaders, and Zelenskyy. Putin suggested another meeting, perhaps in Moscow, which Trump tentatively welcomed.
Ukraine faces mounting risks on the battlefield. The war continues. The conflict’s end remains distant. Today’s summit offered potential, not a path forward.
