Trump-Putin Talks End Without Ukraine Ceasefire Deal
The highly anticipated summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended without a ceasefire in Ukraine, leaving more questions than answers despite the leaders describing their meeting as constructive.
The almost three-hour talks in Alaska began with ceremony rather than substance.
Putin was welcomed with a red carpet, military honours, and a handshake from Trump – a symbolic return to the world stage for a leader largely isolated since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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Analysts suggested the mere optics of the summit amounted to a diplomatic victory for the Kremlin.
Putin, who rarely faces direct media scrutiny at home, was confronted by shouted questions about civilian deaths and a possible meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. He ignored them, offering only a brief smile before heading into talks.
When the summit ended earlier than expected, both leaders gave short statements instead of holding a full press conference. Putin praised the “constructive atmosphere” of the talks and said some form of understanding had been reached.
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Yet he repeated Moscow’s long-standing demand that the “root causes” of the conflict be addressed – a phrase widely seen as code for Ukraine making sweeping concessions, including recognition of Russian sovereignty over occupied regions and neutrality in its security policy.
Trump, by contrast, avoided direct mention of Ukraine in his remarks. He said the discussions had been “extremely productive” and that progress was made on “many points,” but he offered no details. He admitted there was no deal but insisted there was still a chance to reach one.
The absence of firm outcomes alarmed Kyiv, which has consistently rejected any settlement involving territorial concessions. Zelensky was not invited to the Alaska talks, though Trump suggested he might try to arrange a trilateral meeting in the future.
Despite the lack of substance, the summit underscored a warming relationship between Washington and Moscow. Putin closed the joint appearance with an unusual aside in English: “Next time in Moscow.” Trump responded that such a visit was “possible,” even if controversial.
