Trump and Putin leave Alaska Summit without ceasefire deal: key takeaways

The highly anticipated meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended without a breakthrough on the war in Ukraine, the central issue on the table.

Leading up to the Friday summit at Alaska’s Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Trump had voiced optimism about making tangible progress toward securing a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Putin received a warm welcome as Trump greeted him with a long handshake upon arrival, setting a cordial tone for what were expected to be difficult talks. However, the mood shifted by the end of the day, as both leaders left Anchorage without a concrete agreement.

Though initially scheduled to last around seven hours, the summit concluded in under three. Both presidents made brief, pre-written remarks to the press following the meeting, with neither taking questions.

Putin reiterated Russia’s stated commitment to ending the conflict, but insisted that a lasting peace would require addressing what he called the war’s “root causes.” He also warned Ukraine and the European Union against sabotaging fragile diplomatic momentum through covert interference or provocations.

Trump, noticeably more restrained than usual, described the talks as “extremely productive,” claiming “many points were agreed to.” He said there was a “very good chance” of achieving a ceasefire in the near future — but acknowledged that “a few key issues,” including at least one major obstacle, still remain unresolved.