A three-hour meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin took place in Anchorage, Alaska, involving delegations from both countries, including high-ranking ministers and officials. The central focus of the meeting was a ceasefire in the Ukrainian war, which did not yield any agreement.
Trump stated that he and Putin had made ‘significant progress,’ but the summit did not result in a resolution regarding the Ukraine conflict. He added that he would now engage in discussions with NATO and Kyiv. Previously, Trump had touted his dealmaking abilities and claimed he would bring Zelensky and Putin to the negotiating table.
However, the meeting did not reflect these expectations. Meanwhile, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev told the Interfax news agency that the Trump-Putin meeting was incredibly positive. It’s notable that Trump allowed Putin to speak first at the press conference following the meeting, signaling Putin’s strong position during the talks.
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton, according to CNN, stated that the meeting between Trump and Putin clearly indicated a victory for Putin. He said, ‘Putin clearly won.’ He further added that Trump achieved nothing beyond more meetings.
During the press conference, Putin urged Ukrainian and European leaders not to interfere. He stated, ‘We hope that Kyiv and the European capitals will take all of this constructively and will not hinder, nor attempt to obstruct progress through provocations and behind-the-scenes plots.’
Prior to the meeting, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Dmitriev, mentioned that they were considering restoring relations between Russia and the U.S. Therefore, the agenda encompassed not only economic issues and Ukraine, but also ways to restore Russia-U.S. relations. TASS reported that the two leaders might also discuss global strategic security. Both leaders described the meeting positively, even though a ceasefire was not achieved, which indicates that Putin succeeded in discussing other matters with Trump beyond the Ukraine war.
Bolton also mentioned that Putin had made considerable progress in re-establishing relations, which he always believed was Putin’s primary goal.
Prior to the meeting, Trump warned Putin of serious consequences if he did not agree to a ceasefire. The Trump administration also considered imposing sanctions on Russian oil companies. However, despite the lack of a ceasefire, Trump characterized the meeting positively and did not announce any sanctions against Russia. This led to the conclusion that Putin achieved his objectives, while Trump gained very little.
At the end of the press conference, Trump said that another meeting would be held soon. Putin then said, ‘We will meet in Moscow next time,’ indicating that the next meeting might take place in Russia. It is almost certain that Zelensky will not participate in the next meeting. Russia is likely to firmly present its position in the next meeting to achieve its goals.
Although the meeting failed to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine, it provided some hope for further progress in the next meeting. Trump mentioned that he will now speak with NATO leaders and Zelensky.
