Anchorage (TDI): US President Donald Trump said on Friday that his much-anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin ended without a breakthrough on halting Moscow’s war in Ukraine, though he described their nearly three-hour summit as “very productive.”
Speaking at a joint news conference, Trump noted that while many issues saw progress, no final accord was reached. “We agreed on quite a few things, but not all,” he said. “Some are relatively minor, one is very significant. We didn’t get there today, but I think we have a good chance of getting there.”
Putin struck a cautiously optimistic tone, saying he hoped the discussions would serve as a starting point for both resolving the conflict in Ukraine and improving US-Russia ties. “Today’s agreements could become a foundation not only for addressing the Ukrainian issue but also for rebuilding pragmatic relations between Russia and the United States,” the Russian leader remarked. He highlighted potential cooperation in fields like energy, technology, space, and the Arctic.
Putin also hinted that the next round of talks could be hosted in Moscow, telling Trump in English, “Next time in Moscow.” He reiterated Russia’s long-standing stance that what it calls the “root causes” of the conflict must be resolved for any lasting settlement, signaling little flexibility on a ceasefire.
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Despite the summit, the war raged on. Air raid sirens sounded across eastern Ukraine while Russian border regions reported drone attacks. In Kyiv, officials withheld immediate comment, though opposition lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko argued the talks merely bought Putin more time. “No ceasefire or de-escalation has been agreed upon,” he said.
European skepticism also surfaced. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský welcomed Trump’s initiative but doubted Moscow’s sincerity. “If Putin were serious about peace, Ukraine would not have been under attack today,” he stated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, excluded from the Alaska meeting, insisted that only a “just peace” involving Ukraine could succeed. He again ruled out surrendering any territory to Russia and renewed calls for US-backed security guarantees. “It is time for this war to end. The steps must come from Russia. We are counting on America,” he posted on Telegram after a Russian missile strike killed one civilian in Dnipropetrovsk.
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The US side included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Russia’s delegation featured longtime aide Yury Ushakov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Trump admitted after the talks that the war was proving tougher to resolve than he once imagined, though he signaled that arranging a future three-way summit with Zelensky and Putin would now be his priority.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight. He is a seasoned journalist and analyst with over a decade of experience in the media industry. He has deep expertise in national politics and international relations and regularly contributes as an analyst to national and international media outlets.
