Article
Trump and Putin Meet in Alaska Amid Ukraine War, Ceasefire Hopes Dim
Summary
Trump and Putin met in Alaska to discuss Ukraine peace, but no deal was reached. Zelenskyy was excluded, prompting criticism. Talks may resume later with broader participation.
During a top-level summit in Anchorage, Alaska, then-U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. Their face-to-face meeting was the first since 2019 and noticeably excluded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alarming European allies.
The leaders took a private ride in Trump's presidential limousine, "The Beast," before sitting down alongside their respective delegations. Trump did emphasize his desire for a ceasefire, threatening "economically severe" consequences on Russia if peace doesn't bear fruit. But he tempered expectations, suggesting a second meeting—possibly including Zelenskyy—would be necessary to seal any agreement.
Outside the summit venue, pro-Ukrainian demonstrators protested, waving flags and demonstrating against the fact that Ukraine had been left out of the talks. Putin, for his part, tried to utilize the summit to restore Russia's global image and gain economic relief from sanctions.
Despite the dramatic images and blanket media coverage, ex-diplomats and analysts were skeptical about the summit's outcome. It was seen by many as a symbolic gesture rather than a substantive dialogue, especially given the absence of one of the war's major stakeholders.
At the summit, Zelenskyy released a video condemning ongoing Russian attacks and reiterating Ukraine's readiness for peace—if its territorial integrity is respected. The summit concluded without a formal agreement, and the path ahead for peace was uncertain.