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Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin did not achieve any significant progress on Ukraine during their intense summit on Friday.
While they highlighted areas of agreement and revived their friendship, they provided no updates regarding a ceasefire.
Following three hours of discussions with their aides that ended abruptly, both leaders exchanged cordial remarks but avoided answering questions from the press, which is unusual for the media-savvy US president.
Trump described the meeting as “extremely productive” with “many points” of agreement, yet he did not provide specific details.
He mentioned that only a few issues remain, with one being notably significant, but he refrained from elaborating.
Putin also spoke vaguely about collaboration during a brief 12-minute joint press appearance, expressing hope that their understanding would help pave the way for peace in Ukraine. As Trump hinted at a second meeting, Putin smiled and suggested, in English, “Next time in Moscow.”
The former KGB agent attempted to praise Trump, who previously expressed admiration for him, by stating that the Ukraine war, which Putin initiated, would not have occurred if Trump were in office instead of Joe Biden.
Trump reiterated his belief that the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election are a “hoax,” a conclusion supported by US intelligence agencies.
Prior to the summit, Trump had cautioned of “severe consequences” if Russia did not agree to a ceasefire. However, when asked about potential repercussions during a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity after their talks, he indicated that “given what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now.”
The favorable reception differed from Trump’s earlier criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their meeting at the White House in February.
Trump had previously expressed a desire for a three-way meeting with Zelensky but did not announce one during the summit. He stated that he would consult with Zelensky and NATO leaders, who have expressed concerns about his outreach to Putin. “Now it’s really up to President Zelensky to get it done,”
Trump stated in the Fox News interview post-summit. Putin urged Ukraine and European nations to avoid creating “obstacles” and to refrain from “attempts to disrupt this emerging progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes intrigues.”
Just a week prior, Trump had invited Putin and orchestrated a carefully staged event for their first in-person meeting since 2019. The two leaders arrived in their presidential aircraft and met at an airbase, where Trump applauded as Putin emerged.
US military strength was showcased with a B-2 stealth bomber flying overhead, while a reporter shouted to Putin, “Will you stop killing civilians?” Unfazed, Putin grinned as Trump escorted him into “The Beast,” the secure US presidential limousine, for discussions in a room featuring a screen that declared, in English only, “Pursuing Peace.”
Putin smiled and chatted with Russian reporters during the visit, despite facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court related to the Ukraine war, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.
Recently, Russia has made battlefield progress that could bolster Putin's negotiating power in potential ceasefire discussions. However, Ukraine declared that as Putin was arriving, it had reclaimed several villages.
Trump had promised to take a strong stance with Putin following criticism for appearing submissive during a 2018 summit in Helsinki. While traveling to Alaska, the White House announced that Trump had canceled plans to meet Putin privately, instead holding discussions alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his roving envoy Steve Witkoff.
Zelensky was not part of these talks and has resisted Trump's pressure to concede territory taken by Russia. “It is time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America,” Zelensky stated in a social media message.
