Trump and Putin Conclude High-Stakes Summit in Alaska Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict
Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin wrapped up their critical summit at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, characterizing the discussions as productive and positive despite the absence of a formal agreement, reports 24brussels.
The summit was dominated by discussions on the Russia–Ukraine war, with both leaders expressing cautious optimism for future peace initiatives. In a joint press conference following the closed-door talks, Putin thanked Trump for selecting Alaska as the meeting’s location, labeling it a symbolic gesture toward dialogue. “Sooner or later, we had to move from confrontation to dialogue,” he stated, emphasizing Russia’s desire to end the conflict while stressing that any resolution must be sustainable and address the root causes of the crisis, which he attributed to Russian national security concerns.
Putin urged Ukraine to cease actions that could undermine the peace process, asserting that Russia is genuinely interested in concluding the conflict. He acknowledged, however, that relations between Moscow and Washington remain at their lowest since the Cold War.
Trump reciprocated by commending Russia’s willingness to engage. “I think we have a pretty good chance at peace. We haven’t reached it yet, but I thank President Putin and his delegation for doing everything they can,” he remarked, confirming that a second summit is planned in Moscow for further negotiations.
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, present during the discussions, described the atmosphere of the Russian delegation as “excellent,” while Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Alexander Darchiev echoed this sentiment, noting a “generally positive” mood according to state media.
Lasting over two hours, the summit did not include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a decision that has drawn criticism from Kyiv and its European allies. Trump has indicated that Zelenskyy may be invited to the next meetings, potentially alongside European leaders.
No ceasefire was declared, but analysts suggest the summit established groundwork for future diplomatic efforts. Discussions reportedly included territorial disputes, sanctions, and nuclear arms control, with Putin indicating an openness to revisit strategic weapons agreements as the New START treaty approaches its expiration.
The selection of Alaska as the summit venue holds historical significance due to its ties to Russia and strategic proximity to the Bering Strait. This meeting marks the first Russian presidential visit to the U.S. since 2015 and the first to be conducted on military property.
