Trump-Putin Alaska Summit Ends Without Ukraine Ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. — Reuters

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW: The long-awaited summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended Friday without a breakthrough on ending the war in Ukraine.

The meeting, held at a U.S. military base in Alaska, lasted nearly three hours. Both leaders called the talks “productive,” but no concrete progress was announced on a ceasefire, a goal Trump had promised before the summit.

Standing before a backdrop labeled “Pursuing Peace”, Trump told reporters, “We’ve made some headway… There’s no deal until there’s a deal.” He and Putin declined to answer media questions, leaving many details unclear.

Symbolic Win for Putin

For Putin, simply appearing alongside the U.S. president was viewed as a diplomatic victory. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he has faced isolation from most Western leaders. The red-carpet welcome in Alaska, combined with Trump’s warm greeting, marked a shift in optics.

Putin told reporters afterward that he hoped Ukraine and its European allies would “constructively” accept the results of U.S.-Russia talks and not attempt to “disrupt the emerging progress.” However, he repeated Moscow’s stance that the “root causes” of the war must be addressed before any lasting peace can be achieved.

Trump Hints at Future Talks

In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump suggested that he might help arrange a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. He said, “I think we’re pretty close to a deal… Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they’ll say no.”

Trump also mentioned possible discussions over land swaps and security guarantees for Ukraine, though Zelenskiy has consistently rejected giving up territory and is demanding firm U.S.-backed security assurances.

When asked what advice he would give Zelenskiy, Trump replied: “Gotta make a deal. Russia is a very big power, and they’re not.”

Ukraine Left Waiting

Kyiv has yet to issue an official response to the summit. Ahead of the talks, Zelenskiy warned that any peace must be “just” and based on Russia taking concrete steps to end hostilities. Ukrainian officials had feared Trump might pressure Kyiv into concessions that freeze Russia’s territorial control.

Meanwhile, the war continued. Ukrainian drone strikes hit Russia’s Rostov and Bryansk regions during the summit, while Moscow claimed to have intercepted 29 drones overnight.

Global Implications

The summit also touched on wider geopolitical issues. Trump signaled that he would delay imposing tariffs on China for purchasing Russian oil, saying progress with Putin had eased the urgency. India, another major buyer of Russian crude, still faces steep U.S. tariffs.

Although the meeting ended without a ceasefire, Trump and Putin indicated more talks could follow. Putin even suggested, “Next time in Moscow,” to which Trump responded, “I might get a little heat on that one, but it could possibly happen.”

The Alaska summit marked the first face-to-face meeting between a U.S. president and Putin since the Ukraine war began. While expectations for a major breakthrough fell short, the discussions set the stage for possible future negotiations involving Ukraine directly.