President Donald Trump declared Friday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin made “great progress” during a nearly three-hour meeting in Alaska aimed at ending Moscow’s war on Ukraine — but stressed that “there’s no deal until there’s a deal.”
The summit, heavy on symbolism and tense diplomacy, marked the most consequential encounter yet in Trump’s push to broker peace in Europe after nearly three years of war. Both leaders described their conversations as productive and hinted at an “understanding,” but neither revealed specifics. Trump, instead, said he would first consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and key European allies before confirming next steps.
Trump Holds His Cards Close
Speaking to reporters afterward, Trump framed the meeting as a breakthrough but withheld details until after he briefed NATO members and Zelensky.
“There were many, many points that we agreed on, most of them,” Trump said. “I would say a couple of big ones that we haven’t quite got there, but we’ve made some headway. So there’s no deal until there’s a deal. I will call up NATO in a little while, I will call up the various people that I think are appropriate, and, of course, call up President Zelensky and tell them about today’s meeting. It’s ultimately up to them.”
Putin, echoing Trump, claimed the men had reached an “understanding” and said he hoped the outcome would pave the way toward restoring “business-like and pragmatic” relations between Russia and the United States.
“I would like to hope that the understanding that we’ve reached together will help us bring closer that goal and will pave the path towards peace in Ukraine,” Putin told reporters. “We expect that Kyiv and European capitals will perceive that constructively and that they won’t throw a wrench in the works.”
When Putin invited Trump to Moscow for another round of talks, Trump responded cautiously: “I could see it possibly happening.” The White House has also floated the possibility of a trilateral meeting with both Putin and Zelensky in coming weeks.
Trump’s Demand: “I Want The Killing To Stop”
The president entered the summit insisting that a ceasefire must come swiftly.
“I want to see a cease-fire rapidly. I don’t know if it’s going to be today, but I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today,” Trump said aboard Air Force One en route to Alaska. “Everyone said it can’t be today, but I’m just saying, I want the killing to stop. I’m in this to stop the killing.”
Ahead of the meeting, Trump emphasized that he would not personally negotiate land concessions for Ukraine. “I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision,” he said. “I think they’ll make a proper decision. But I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine. I’m here to get them at the table.”
The issue of land swaps loomed large. Russia currently controls or partially controls five regions of southeastern Ukraine — Crimea, annexed in 2014, and Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, all annexed in 2022. While Moscow has pressed to keep its grip on the territories, Kyiv has rejected outright the idea of surrendering land.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that any “decisions made without Ukraine” amount to “dead decisions” that will never work. Trump, however, criticized Zelensky for dismissing the option too quickly, saying he disagreed “very, very severely” and was “a little bothered” by his pushback.
A Symbolic Summit
The Alaska meeting was as much about stagecraft as it was about substance.
Trump greeted Putin with a handshake on the tarmac of Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, saying, “Game on … it’s lovely to see you,” according to forensic lip reader Jeremy Freeman. As they walked together down a red carpet, a B-2 stealth bomber roared overhead, escorted by four F-22 fighter jets. The display of American air power came less than two months after Trump ordered a B-2 strike on a key Iranian nuclear site in Operation Midnight Hammer, underscoring U.S. military dominance.
At one point, Trump invited Putin to ride with him in his armored limousine, the Beast, signaling personal courtesy even amid hard bargaining. Putin, in turn, sought to project his own symbolism. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived at his Anchorage hotel wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with “CCCP,” a nostalgic nod to Soviet power. Putin himself flew to Alaska after laying flowers at a memorial to American-Soviet cooperation during World War II in Magadan, Russia.
The timing of the meeting also carried historical weight: it took place exactly 80 years after Japan’s surrender in World War II, and four years to the day after the Taliban seized Kabul — an event Trump has said encouraged Putin’s invasion of Ukraine by showcasing U.S. weakness under Joe Biden.
Negotiating Teams And Strategy
While initial plans called for a one-on-one meeting followed by a working lunch, the White House announced a last-minute change to a “three-on-three” format. Trump was joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a noted Russia hawk, and special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has cultivated personal ties with Putin through private meetings.
The Kremlin’s side included Lavrov and top aide Yuri Ushakov. Putin also traveled with a delegation heavy on business leaders, aiming to signal that economic ties could follow a peace settlement. Trump dismissed the overture as premature. “They’re not doing business until we get the war settled,” he said.
Trump has long used his team composition as part of negotiation tactics, often highlighting hawkish advisers to pressure adversaries. He once described John Bolton as useful for intimidating foreign leaders with his reputation as a “warmonger.” This time, Rubio played that role, giving Trump leverage while Witkoff offered a channel of trust.
Trump’s Calculations And Cautions
For months, Trump has described his Ukraine peace push as his top foreign policy priority. He campaigned in 2024 on ending the war “within 24 hours,” a promise he admitted this week was overly optimistic. Still, he has pressed forward relentlessly, warning there is only a narrow window to reach a deal.
“This is really setting the table today,” Trump said. “We’re going to have another meeting if things work out, which would be very soon. Or we’re not going to have any more meetings at all — maybe ever.”
The president also emphasized the risks of overconfidence. Speaking with Fox News host Bret Baier before the summit, Trump cautioned, “You don’t want to have too many expectations because you have to weave and bob.”
He told aides privately he believed there was a 25% chance of total failure. Yet he also insisted he would “walk away real fast” if the talks didn’t move toward peace.
Putin’s Message — And Biden’s Shadow
Putin, for his part, signaled that he views Trump as his last chance for a favorable settlement. He repeatedly praised Trump for preventing Russia’s full conquest of Ukraine, while blaming Joe Biden for the war itself.
“I tried to convince my previous American colleague that the situation should not be brought to the point of no return when it would come to hostilities,” Putin said. “Today when President Trump said that if he was the president back then, there would be no war, and I’m quite sure that it would indeed be. So I can confirm that.”
The Kremlin leader also suggested that the Anchorage meeting could reset U.S.-Russia relations more broadly. “Today’s understanding will be the starting point not only for the solution of the Ukrainian issue, but also will help us bring back business-like and pragmatic relations between Russia and the US,” he said.
What Comes Next
Trump’s immediate next steps will involve calls to NATO leaders and a direct conversation with Zelensky. The White House is considering a follow-up summit that would include both Zelensky and Putin — though such a gathering could collapse if Kyiv refuses to entertain territorial concessions.
The broader geopolitical stakes are immense. The U.S. has already poured nearly $200 billion into Ukraine’s defense, beginning under Biden. Trump has repeatedly questioned whether such massive commitments are sustainable, hinting that a settlement is necessary for America’s long-term security.
The world now awaits the results of Trump’s private consultations. Allies in Europe, wary of being sidelined, are pressing for guarantees that their voices will shape the outcome. Ukraine remains deeply resistant to any deal perceived as rewarding Russian aggression. And Russia, though weakened by years of sanctions and battlefield losses, still demands recognition of its territorial claims.
For Trump, the challenge is to balance his desire for a quick ceasefire with the political realities of Ukraine’s resistance and Europe’s fears. His leverage rests on American aid and his willingness to use both pressure and incentives to force concessions.
But as the president himself reminded the press in Anchorage: “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.”
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