(Image source from: x.com/WhiteHouse)
On Friday, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a summit in Alaska that they described as "very productive" and "mutually respectful." The two leaders aimed to find a way to end the conflict in Ukraine, which has become one of the deadliest situations in Europe in the past 80 years. President Trump emphasized that "there is no deal until there is a deal," suggesting that no formal agreement was reached during their discussions. Meanwhile, President Putin called the conversations "thorough and useful." He stated that Russia is "genuinely interested in ending" the conflict in Ukraine but mentioned "legitimate concerns" that need to be considered. They shared these comments during a joint press conference following three hours of discussion about Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a war that has resulted in numerous casualties and where Russia has not shown signs of backing down, having made significant progress right before the summit. However, neither leader took any questions from the press. "We had an extremely productive meeting, agreeing on many points. There are just a few left to resolve," Mr. Trump told reporters, adding: "We didn’t achieve everything, but there’s a strong possibility we will."
President Putin spoke first to the media and for a longer duration than Mr. Trump. He remarked that the "negotiations occurred in a constructive and respectful atmosphere." He added, "They were very detailed and beneficial. We hope the understanding we achieved will... lead to peace in Ukraine." He also mentioned that Moscow hopes "Kyiv and European capitals will view this positively and not create any obstacles." Furthermore, the Russian President cautioned against "any attempts to disrupt the progress being made with provocations or secret plots." "I have stated several times that for Russia, the situation in Ukraine involves serious threats to our national security," he explained. He also pointed out that "a fair balance of security in Europe and globally must be restored."
Russia has often urged Ukraine to give up its goal of joining NATO and to hand over the eastern territories that it claims to have taken. Ukraine has turned down this notion and insisted that any peace agreement must include safety assurances to stop Russia from attacking once more. The meeting happened at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, which is the biggest military base in Alaska and was used during the Cold War to monitor the Soviet Union. The two leaders arrived in their official planes and stepped onto the runway of a military base, with Mr. Trump applauding as Mr. Putin set foot on Western soil for the first time since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
During the press conference, Mr. Trump praised what he considered to be considerable agreement with Mr. Putin, but he did not share specifics on how their unusually friendly discussion might influence the conflict in Ukraine. Mr. Putin mentioned the importance of collaboration between the US and Russia and spoke broadly about making progress. As he exited the stage and Mr. Trump suggested having another meeting, Mr. Putin smiled and said in English, "Next time in Moscow." The US President has previously expressed admiration for Mr. Putin and faced significant backlash in his political career following a 2018 summit where he seemed submissive and accepted Mr. Putin's denials of Russian interference in the 2016 US elections.
Upon his return to the White House, Mr. Trump bragged about his bond with Mr. Putin, blamed former President Joe Biden for the war, and promised to achieve peace within a day. However, despite making multiple calls to Mr. Putin and a remarkable meeting at the White House on February 28 where Mr. Trump publicly scolded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Russian leader has not shown any willingness to compromise. Mr. Trump has expressed his irritation with Mr. Putin and cautioned that there could be "very severe consequences" if he does not agree to a ceasefire — yet he also consented to meet him in Alaska. Adding to the historical context, the US purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, a transaction that Moscow has referenced to support the legitimacy of land exchanges.
