A highly anticipated summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday concluded without any agreement to end or pause Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The nearly three-hour meeting, held in Alaska, was described as productive by both leaders, although no specific details were shared, and no questions were taken from the press.
Trump and Putin both stated they had made progress on various issues, but the main objective of reaching a ceasefire or resolving the war in Ukraine remained elusive. Trump remarked, “We’ve made some headway,” though he added, “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.”
The summit represented a victory for Putin, who has faced isolation from Western leaders since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A face-to-face meeting with the US president provided Putin with a significant diplomatic platform, despite the absence of any breakthrough on Ukraine.
After the summit, Trump spoke to Fox News, mentioning that he would delay imposing tariffs on China for purchasing Russian oil, following progress in his talks with Putin. However, Trump maintained his stance on imposing tariffs on India for buying Russian crude. He also noted that a potential meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy could take place in the future, though no specifics were provided on the arrangements.
Putin, however, did not mention any upcoming talks with Zelenskiy, instead repeating Russia’s position on the “root causes” of the conflict, emphasizing that these must be addressed for any long-term peace to be achieved. This stance showed that Russia remained resistant to agreeing on a ceasefire or de-escalation.
In the meantime, the war rages on, particularly in Ukraine’s eastern regions, with air raid alerts in effect and Ukrainian drone attacks reported in Russia’s Rostov and Bryansk regions. Ukraine’s opposition lawmaker, Oleksiy Honcharenko, stated that the summit had failed to bring any substantial results.
Though the summit did not bring the expected peace progress, it opened the door for continued dialogue between Trump and Putin. Trump emphasized the importance of a ceasefire, stating, “I want to see a ceasefire rapidly.” However, no timeline or actionable steps were set.
Zelenskiy and his European allies were concerned that Trump might seek to freeze the conflict, potentially allowing Russia to maintain control over large portions of Ukraine. Trump reassured them by clarifying that he was not negotiating on behalf of Ukraine but aimed to facilitate dialogue.
The summit ended with Putin suggesting that a follow-up meeting might take place in Moscow. Trump acknowledged the possibility, joking that it might lead to “a little heat” but was open to the idea.
As the situation remains dire, the hope for a “just peace” continues, with Zelenskiy counting on America to help facilitate a resolution to the ongoing war.
The Trump-Putin summit highlights the complexities of the ongoing conflict, with no clear resolution in sight despite high-level talks.
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