For the first time in ten years, Vladimir Putin stepped on U.S. soil. The Russian president met Donald Trump in Alaska for a historic and highly anticipated summit. The world expected a breakthrough on Ukraine. But when the press conference ended, there was no mention of a ceasefire.
The meeting took place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was not invited. Trump promised he would be present in the next round of talks. For now, Ukraine and Europe were left holding their breath.
For Donald Trump, the Alaska summit was a chance to prove himself as a peacemaker. He wanted to show the world he could push Putin toward ending the war. For Vladimir Putin, this was an opportunity to reset relations with Washington and reframe Russia’s role in global politics.
The two leaders were all smiles as they walked into the press room. Behind them was a banner that read “Pursuing Peace.” But their words painted a more complicated picture. Putin repeated his old claims about “root causes” and “threats to Russia’s security.” Trump called the meeting “extremely productive” but stayed vague on substance.
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One surprising moment came when Putin, speaking in English, invited Trump to Moscow. “Very soon in Moscow,” Putin said, catching even Trump off guard. That invitation may become the headline memory of this first round of talks.
Trump praised Putin’s “very profound” words but quickly turned the discussion to business. He mentioned “tremendous Russian business representatives,” suggesting economic deals were discussed. He also promised to call Zelenskyy and NATO leaders to update them.
Still, Trump admitted, “We didn’t get there. But we have a very good chance.” That “there” most likely meant a ceasefire. Yet no such agreement was announced.
Meanwhile, Putin described Ukraine as a “brotherly nation” while missiles were again launched toward Ukrainian cities. “Everything that is happening is a tragedy, and it hurts us,” he said. But his actions in Ukraine told a different story.
Putin warned Kyiv and European leaders not to “torpedo” talks. He blamed previous U.S. administrations for “passing the point of no return.” He also accused Europe of making “backroom deals” that only fueled the war.
Trump was careful with his words. Unlike past U.S. leaders, he avoided directly criticizing Putin. Instead, he hinted at “a big surprise” coming in future talks. For Ukraine and Europe, that vagueness created more unease than hope.
The meeting lasted more than three hours. The first part was a “three-on-three” format, including U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and businessman Steve Witkoff on Trump’s side. Russia’s delegation included Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and senior aide Yuri Ushakov.
The tone of the summit was also shaped by Trump’s dramatic welcome. As Putin landed in Alaska, B-2 stealth bombers flew overhead in a show of American power. These were the same bombers used in the recent “Midnight Hammer” strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Russia had strongly condemned that strike as “irresponsible.” But in Anchorage, Putin endured the display without visible protest. Still, the reminder of U.S. firepower hung over the meeting.
Back in Ukraine, people reacted with anger. Many compared the warm welcome for Putin to Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy earlier this year, when Trump mocked the Ukrainian leader for “not wearing a suit.” A viral photo showed U.S. soldiers rolling out a red carpet for Putin, despite his arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for deporting Ukrainian children.
The United States is not part of the ICC, and therefore did not have to arrest Putin. But the image of him being honored on American soil struck Ukrainians as painful and humiliating.
Hundreds of journalists flooded Anchorage to cover the summit. Hotels were packed with reporters and tourists alike. Yet no Ukrainian journalists were accredited to enter the base. That absence was noticed by many and raised questions about transparency.
For now, the summit left more questions than answers. Did Trump and Putin secretly agree on next steps inside the limousine? Was economic cooperation placed above Ukraine’s security? And why was there no mention of a ceasefire when the war rages on?
The White House said more details could come in the next few days. Trump promised to update Zelenskyy and NATO allies. Putin insisted that European leaders should not block “progress.” But neither side gave a timeline for ending the bloodshed.
The Alaska summit may be remembered as the start of a process rather than a breakthrough. Trump and Putin shook hands and smiled for cameras. But for Ukrainians under missile fire, the meeting felt like a distant show with little comfort.
Whether this is a turning point in history or just another round of political theater will become clearer in the weeks ahead. For now, the world waits, and Ukraine bleeds.
