In a high-stakes summit held in Alaska, US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin convened to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The meeting, which took place on Friday, was described by Trump as 'very productive' and 'mutually respectful,' while Putin characterised the talks as 'thorough and useful'.
Speaking at a joint press conference after three hours of talks, Trump stated that "there is no deal until there is a deal," indicating that a final resolution had not been reached. He added, "We had an extremely productive meeting, and many points were agreed to. There are just a very few that are left... We didn't get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there." Trump did not provide any specifics on how the meeting would impact the war.
Putin, who spoke first and for a longer duration, said that Russia was 'sincerely interested in putting an end' to the conflict but emphasised that Moscow's 'legitimate concerns' must be taken into account. He described the negotiations as having taken place in a 'constructive and mutually respectful atmosphere.'
Putin added, "We hope that the understanding we have reached will... pave the way for peace in Ukraine." He also warned against 'attempts to disrupt the emerging progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes intrigues' and reiterated that "for Russia, the events in Ukraine are associated with fundamental threats to our national security." Putin concluded that a "fair balance in the security sphere in Europe and in the world as a whole must be restored".
Neither leader took questions from journalists during the press conference.
The summit was held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, a former Cold War base for surveillance of the Soviet Union. The two leaders arrived on their respective presidential jets and met on the tarmac. Trump was seen clapping as Putin stepped onto Western soil for the first time since ordering the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Historically, the US purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, a transaction Moscow has referenced to legitimise land exchanges.
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In the past, Russia has called on Ukraine to abandon its ambition to join NATO and to cede its eastern regions, which Moscow claims to have annexed. Ukraine has rejected these demands and insisted that any peace deal must include security guarantees to prevent future attacks.
Trump has previously expressed admiration for Putin and has been criticised for a 2018 summit in which he appeared to accept Putin's denial of Russian interference in the 2016 US election. Prior to the summit, Trump had boasted of his relationship with Putin, blamed the war on his predecessor Joe Biden, and vowed to achieve peace within 24 hours.
Despite repeated attempts to engage Putin and a public meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Russian leader has shown no signs of compromise. However, Trump has acknowledged his frustration and warned of "very severe consequences" if a ceasefire is not accepted, while still agreeing to the meeting in Alaska.
As he was leaving the stage, Trump mentioned a second meeting, to which Putin smiled and replied in English, "Next time in Moscow."
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