MWE Correspondent
Russian President Vladimir Putin remained silent on Friday when pressed by reporters about the ongoing war in Ukraine, moments before beginning a high-profile summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and senior officials at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage.
As journalists shouted questions across the room, Putin appeared momentarily unsettled, offering only a brief, puzzled look before the press was escorted out to allow the closed-door meeting to proceed. His reluctance to comment stood in contrast to Trump, who later told the media that the discussions were “very productive,” though he acknowledged that no ceasefire agreement had been reached.
The summit, lasting just over two hours, was the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the escalation of the war in 2022. It unfolded against a backdrop of fresh Russian missile strikes inside Ukraine, underscoring the urgency and difficulty of any diplomatic progress.
Trump struck a cautiously optimistic tone, saying “many points were agreed on,” while making clear that Washington is not negotiating directly on behalf of Kyiv. He emphasized that only Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his government can determine the terms of peace. “There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump said, promising to consult with Zelenskyy and NATO leaders in the coming days.
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Putin, speaking afterward through a Kremlin statement, suggested the two sides had reached an “understanding” but warned Ukraine and European allies not to sabotage progress. He described the Alaska meeting as “timely and necessary,” insisting that dialogue is the only path to prevent further deterioration in global stability.
From Kyiv, Zelenskyy responded firmly, rejecting any possibility of conceding territory to Russia. He reiterated Ukraine’s demand for binding international security guarantees, supported by the United States and its European allies.
Analysts observing the summit voiced skepticism. Policy experts argued that without visible concessions from Moscow, the United States should be prepared to impose additional sanctions or increase military support to Ukraine in order to maintain leverage at the negotiating table.
Despite the lack of an immediate breakthrough, both Trump and Putin indicated that further talks were possible, including a potential three-way meeting with Zelenskyy later this year. Such a summit, if realized, could mark the most direct attempt yet to negotiate an end to the conflict.
