Trump and Putin Meet in Alaska, Pledge to Pursue Peace but Announce No Ceasefire

Former President Donald J. Trump and Russian President Vladimir V. Putin met on Saturday in Anchorage for their first face-to-face summit since Trump returned to the campaign trail. The meeting ended without an agreement on a ceasefire in Ukraine, but with both leaders pledging to pursue what they called a “comprehensive peace deal” at a future date.

Ceremony Without Substance

Trump rolled out ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson. Red carpet. Flyovers. A joint appearance that took no questions and offered no specifics. No detailed readout of the talks was provided by the White House. Russian state media described the summit as a success, emphasizing Putin’s status as an equal partner on the world stage. No questions were taken.

Trump, who had previously said he would press for an immediate ceasefire, shifted his language at the joint appearance with Putin. “There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” he said, echoing the Russian president’s preference to negotiate a broader settlement rather than an interim halt to fighting.

Ukraine Absent From the Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not included in the Alaska discussions. U.S. officials confirmed he would travel to Washington in the coming days for separate meetings. Kyiv has repeatedly stressed that no agreement should be made without Ukraine’s direct involvement.

According to U.S. and allied officials, discussions touched on possible territorial arrangements in Ukraine’s east. Reuters reported that Trump told Zelenskyy Ukraine would “have to make a deal,” while Russian sources said Moscow pushed for control of Donetsk.

ICC Warrant Overshadowed

Putin continues to face an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over the deportation of Ukrainian children. The matter was not raised publicly at the Alaska summit, despite criticism from international observers.

Global Reaction

European leaders expressed concern about the absence of details on sanctions and NATO security guarantees. NATO officials reiterated their commitment to supporting Ukraine.

The Associated Press reported that Putin appeared to leave the summit politically strengthened, while fighting in Ukraine continued without pause. Russian state outlets emphasized the absence of preconditions, while U.S. media noted the contrast between the pageantry and the lack of concrete agreements.