By Monitoring Desk
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – A highly anticipated summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended without a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine, though both leaders hinted at “progress” and left the door open for further talks — possibly even in Moscow.
The meeting, held at a U.S. airbase in Anchorage, marked Putin’s first step on Western soil since ordering the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. He was welcomed with a red carpet and a warm handshake from Trump, underscoring the unusual cordiality of the encounter compared with the frosty reception Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received in Washington earlier this year.
Speaking after nearly three hours of closed-door talks, Putin said the meeting was “long overdue” and expressed hope that their understandings could pave a path toward peace. Trump, meanwhile, declared there was “great progress,” though he admitted: “We didn’t get there. No deal until there is a deal.”
Putin framed the outcome as a diplomatic breakthrough, warning Europe and Kyiv not to “torpedo the nascent progress.” Analysts in Moscow described the very fact of the summit — held without Ukraine or Europe present — as a symbolic win for the Kremlin.
As the talks unfolded, Ukraine came under renewed Russian attacks, with eastern regions under air raid sirens and Russian governors reporting Ukrainian drone strikes.
Trump later told Fox News that Zelenskyy must “make a deal” with Russia, describing Moscow as a “very big power” with “great soldiers.” Zelenskyy, however, cautiously welcomed Trump’s proposal for a trilateral meeting involving Kyiv, Washington, and Moscow, while stressing Europe must remain deeply involved in any peace process.
European leaders, after speaking with Trump, reiterated that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity were non-negotiable and that “international borders must not be changed by force.”
Still, critics say the Alaska summit may have handed Putin valuable time as the war grinds on. “The only achievements were for Russia — continuing its war of attrition,” Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett reported from Anchorage.
The meeting ended with an unexpected exchange. After Trump thanked Putin and promised to stay in touch, the Russian leader replied: “Next time, in Moscow.” Trump, smiling, acknowledged he might “get a little heat on that one” but did not rule it out.
The suggestion immediately fueled speculation about where U.S.-Russia diplomacy is headed — and what concessions, if any, might come next.
