Anchorage, Alaska | August 15, 2025 – US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to reach a breakthrough on ending the war in Ukraine during their nearly three-hour summit in Alaska.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Trump described the meeting as “very productive” but admitted that “the most significant point” of disagreement remained unresolved.
“There were many points we agreed on… but there’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump said, while stressing there was still a “very good chance” of progress.
Putin, on his part, expressed hope that the discussions could serve as a reference point for settling the conflict and restoring pragmatic ties between Moscow and Washington. “I believe today’s agreements can help move toward ending the Ukraine war,” he noted, while also urging Ukraine and its allies not to “torpedo” the process.
However, no concrete steps toward a ceasefire were announced. Ukrainian officials reacted cautiously, with opposition lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko claiming, “It seems Putin has bought himself more time. No ceasefire or de-escalation has been agreed upon.”
European leaders also voiced skepticism. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky remarked: “If Putin were serious about peace, he would not have continued striking Ukraine today.”
The summit, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, carried symbolic weight as it marked the first direct meeting between Trump and Putin since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While the red-carpet welcome boosted Putin’s diplomatic standing, the war raged on in Ukraine with missile and drone strikes reported throughout the day.
Trump has vowed to continue talks and said he would brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO allies. Both leaders indicated the possibility of a follow-up summit, with Putin hinting, “Next time in Moscow.”
