Summit Between Trump and Putin: Discussions Yield No Concrete Agreement on Ukraine
WASHINGTON/MOSCOW: A long-awaited meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded without a formal agreement to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. Both leaders, however, described the discussions as constructive as they returned home.
After nearly three hours of talks in Alaska, Trump and Putin had a brief media appearance but shared no specific details about the discussions. Trump, generally known for his outspoken nature, chose to ignore questions from reporters.
“We’ve made some headway,” Trump stated in front of a banner that read “Pursuing Peace.” He also mentioned, “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.”
While no significant progress was made toward a ceasefire in Ukraine—currently the deadliest conflict in Europe in 80 years—Putin’s ability to meet with the U.S. President was seen as a positive development for him, especially after being excluded by Western leaders following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump indicated that he would delay imposing tariffs on China for purchasing Russian oil following his discussions with Putin, although he did not mention India, which has faced tariffs on Russian oil imports.
“Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now,” Trump said, although he acknowledged he might reconsider it in a few weeks.
Trump also mentioned that he had spoken with Putin about potential land swaps and security assurances for Ukraine. He expressed optimism, saying, “I think we’re pretty close to a deal,” but acknowledged that this agreement would still require Ukraine’s consent.
When asked what advice he would offer to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Trump remarked, “Gotta make a deal.”
Despite the positive tone, Trump has previously threatened sanctions against Moscow, which he has not yet enforced, especially after Putin disregarded a ceasefire deadline set by Trump earlier this month. During the Fox News interview, he hinted at arranging a meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy but provided no specifics on the logistics.
Putin, addressing reporters later, did not mention any meeting with Zelenskiy but expressed hope that Ukraine and its European allies would accept the results of U.S.-Russia negotiations without attempting to disrupt any progress.
There was no immediate response from Kyiv regarding the summit, which was the first meeting between Putin and a U.S. president since the war began.
While the discussions took place, fighting continued in Ukraine, with air raid warnings in many eastern regions. Some Ukrainian drone attacks were reported in Russian territories, leading to the destruction of several drones by Russian air defense systems.
The end of the summit was anticlimactic compared to its grand start, where a red carpet welcomed Putin, accompanied by a warm greeting from Trump under the watchful eyes of U.S. military aircraft.
Putin is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court for the alleged deportation of Ukrainian children, a claim Russia denies, dismissing the court’s warrant as invalid.
Ukrainian officials, including Zelenskiy, had concerns that Trump might inadvertently legitimize Russian claims over parts of Ukraine through informal recognition while he pushed for a resolution to the conflict. Trump assured that any territorial concessions would ultimately be decided by Ukraine.
As the summit concluded, he expressed his hopes for future talks, suggesting they might continue in Moscow, a statement met with a smile from Putin.
Both leaders’ remarks signal the complexities and challenges ahead, with Trump stressing the need for a swift resolution to the ongoing violence. Zelenskiy has made clear that the war won’t end without decisive moves from Russia.
