A highly anticipated summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded Friday in Anchorage, Alaska, with both leaders signaling progress but no definitive agreement to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, marked the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since Trump’s return to the presidency.
The talks, which lasted nearly three hours and included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff from the U.S. side, were described as “very productive” by President Trump. He noted that “many points were agreed to,” but acknowledged that several significant issues remain unresolved. Speaking at a joint press conference, Putin stated that the negotiations were “useful” and held in a “constructive atmosphere of mutual respect.” He expressed hope that the agreements would be a “starting point” for a solution to the Ukrainian issue.
Despite the optimistic tone, the summit concluded without a planned luncheon between the broader delegations, and neither leader took questions from the press. The lack of a concrete ceasefire agreement has drawn attention, particularly given that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not included in the summit. While Trump stated he would brief Zelenskyy, the exclusion has raised concerns among Kyiv and its allies. The symbolic choice of Alaska, a territory once sold by Russia to the U.S., underscored the historical context of the high-stakes talks.
The summit followed a period of shifting rhetoric from President Trump, who had previously warned of “very severe consequences” if a ceasefire was not reached by an August 8 deadline. The meeting itself was characterized by a carefully choreographed welcome, including a red carpet and a military flyover featuring a B-2 bomber and F-35s. As both presidents departed Anchorage, the focus now shifts to whether the diplomatic engagement will translate into a lasting resolution for the conflict in Ukraine.