President Donald Trump failed to secure an agreement from Vladimir Putin on Friday to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, marking a setback in what was his most ambitious attempt yet to halt the conflict, despite hosting the Russian leader with full ceremonial honors.
“There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump said after Putin claimed the two had reached an “understanding” on Ukraine and warned Europe not to “torpedo the nascent progress.” Trump added that he would speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders to update them on the discussions.
Trump, who has long questioned American support for Ukraine while expressing admiration for Putin, had promised to end the war on his first day back in the White House. Seven months later, after publicly criticizing Zelenskyy in the Oval Office and halting some U.S. military aid to Kyiv, Trump was unable to persuade Putin even to pause hostilities, as Russian forces continue to advance.
At Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Trump offered a mix of incentives and threats, including potential economic sanctions against Russia, alongside a warm reception. Yet, he appeared to leave without any tangible progress toward ending the conflict, now in its fourth year.
Instead, Putin received long-sought recognition on the global stage, after years of Western efforts to isolate him over the war and his crackdown on dissent, while avoiding the risk of additional U.S. sanctions.
The planned joint news conference ended without questions from reporters, signaling that the talks fell short of Trump’s goals. In a later interview with Fox News Channel before leaving Alaska, Trump suggested that Zelenskyy might bear the responsibility “to get it done,” though European nations would also play a role—a notable point given Zelenskyy’s absence from the meeting.
Trump sought to demonstrate his deal-making skills, while Putin aimed to negotiate terms that would solidify Russia’s gains, block Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, and eventually bring Kyiv back into Moscow’s sphere of influence.
“We had an extremely productive meeting, and many points were agreed to,” Trump said alongside Putin. “And there are just a very few that are left. Some are not that significant. One is probably the most significant, but we have a very good chance of getting there.” He added plainly, “We didn’t get there.”
Putin praises Trump, signals cooperation
For Putin, being on U.S. soil for the first time in over a decade represented a symbolic win after his international ostracization. The meeting could delay promised U.S. sanctions unless Moscow acted to curb the fighting, or it could simply lead to more talks, giving Russian forces additional time on the battlefield.
Putin said Russia and the U.S. should “turn the page and go back to cooperation.” He complimented Trump for having “a clear idea of what he wants to achieve and sincerely cares about the prosperity of his country, and at the same time shows understanding that Russia has its own national interests.”
“I expect that today’s agreements will become a reference point not only for solving the Ukrainian problem, but will also mark the beginning of the restoration of businesslike, pragmatic relations between Russia and the U.S.,” Putin said.
Despite the lack of major breakthroughs, Trump concluded his remarks by thanking Putin and adding, “we’ll speak to you very soon and probably see you again very soon.” When Putin suggested “next time in Moscow,” Trump called it “an interesting one” and said he might face criticism, but noted, “I could see it possibly happening.”
In the Fox News interview, Trump boasted that Putin had echoed several of his longstanding grievances, including concerns about the 2020 election, leaving Trump with the impression of a diplomatic win despite walking away empty-handed.
Red carpet reception in Alaska
Upon arrival in Alaska, Trump and Putin shared a warm handshake, chatting like old friends, while standing on a red carpet at the military base. Putin smiled and pointed toward the sky, where B-2 and F-22 aircraft—designed to counter Russia during the Cold War—flew overhead. The leaders even shared the U.S. presidential limo for a short ride to their meeting, with Putin beaming as cameras recorded the moment.
The ceremonial warmth, usually reserved for close allies, contrasted sharply with the ongoing bloodshed in Ukraine and likely raised concerns for Zelenskyy and European leaders, who worry that Trump prioritizes U.S. interests over pressuring Russia to halt its invasion.
Not a private meeting
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said before Air Force One landed that the planned one-on-one meeting would instead be a three-on-three discussion, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Putin was joined by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and adviser Yuri Ushakov.
The change suggested a more cautious approach than Trump’s 2018 Helsinki summit, where he met privately with Putin and shocked the world by siding with Russia over U.S. intelligence on election interference. Excluding Zelenskyy also undermined the long-standing principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”
War continues
Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on peace terms. Putin has resisted a temporary ceasefire unless Western arms shipments stop and Ukraine freezes mobilization—a condition Kyiv and its allies reject.
The conflict has caused heavy casualties and drained resources. Ukraine has held out longer than expected since the February 2022 invasion, but faces relentless bombardments and must defend over 600 miles of front line.
Alaska lies just 3 miles (5 kilometers) from Russia at its closest point and near the international date line. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, crucial during the Cold War, remains strategically important today, with aircraft from the base intercepting Russian flights that enter U.S. airspace.
