‘No deal’ in Trump-Putin Alaska summit
President Donald Trump said Thursday that his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin produced “some headway” on the war in Ukraine but no agreement, underscoring how far the sides remain from a settlement.
“There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump said after the three-hour meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage.
He called the talks “very productive” and said he would brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Nato allies on the discussions. Putin described the talks as “constructive,” though neither leader announced new commitments.
The meeting was the first face-to-face encounter between a US and Russian president since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Despite red-carpet arrivals and a ceremonial military flyover, the summit ended without a ceasefire or roadmap for negotiations. A planned working lunch was canceled, and both leaders declined to take questions.
Trump said his role was to facilitate dialogue rather than negotiate on Ukraine’s behalf. “I’m not negotiating for Ukraine,” he said. “I’m here to get them to the table.”
Cautious Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy responded cautiously, saying Ukraine was ready to “work as productively as possible” to bring the war to an end but stressing that any agreement must preserve the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He said he would meet with Trump in the White House on Monday.
Zelenskyy urged the United States and Europe to maintain pressure on Moscow. “Sanctions must be strengthened if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire,” Zelenskyy said in a statement.
European leaders welcomed US engagement but restated their conditions. The European Union said peace “cannot be decided without Ukraine” and emphasized that any ceasefire must be just and lasting.
European Council President António Costa underscored that Ukraine’s sovereignty could not be compromised.
Putin, for his part, said Ukraine was “one of the central issues” at the summit. He repeated that Russia’s security concerns must be addressed in any long-term settlement and called Ukraine a “brotherly nation.” He urged Kyiv and European capitals not to “torpedo” progress through what he described as provocations.
Both leaders portrayed their personal rapport as a reason for cautious optimism. Putin said his “businesslike and trustworthy” contact with Trump could help create space for diplomacy. Trump said the two had agreed on “many points,” but stopped short of specifics.
Skepticism
Reactions in Ukraine reflected skepticism. In Kyiv, residents expressed doubts that the talks would yield results, with some fearing any compromise might come at Ukraine’s expense.
“Any deal likely won’t favor us,” a wounded soldier told local reporters.
The summit, held on US military soil in Alaska, carried symbolic weight. The location underscored the geographical closeness of the two countries across the Bering Strait and evoked historical ties dating back to Russia’s sale of Alaska to the United States in the 19th century.
Still, the outcome was limited to words of cautious intent.
Observers noted that while the atmosphere was unusually cordial, substance was lacking. No ceasefire was announced, no new diplomatic framework agreed upon, and questions remain about whether further meetings will occur.
Trump said he intends to keep pressing for progress and suggested a trilateral format could emerge if Kyiv is willing. Putin signaled readiness to continue engagement but stressed that Russia’s interests must be respected.
The war in Ukraine has left tens of thousands dead, displaced millions, and destabilized European security. With no deal reached in Anchorage, attention now shifts to whether Washington, Moscow and Kyiv can translate words into a verifiable ceasefire and steps toward a broader settlement.
