Trump, Putin Conclude High-Stakes Alaska Summit on Ukraine War
Trump, Putin Conclude High-Stakes Alaska Summit on Ukraine War
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin concluded their highly anticipated summit in Alaska on Friday, August 15, 2025, with both leaders indicating a focus on de-escalating the war in Ukraine. The marathon talks, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, stretched for several hours, surpassing initial expectations.
The meeting commenced with a carefully choreographed arrival, featuring a red-carpet welcome and a military flyover, which some analysts, including former U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan, described as an “extraordinary scene” more fitting for an ally. Mr. Trump and Putin were seen shaking hands and even riding together in the presidential limousine, “The Beast.”
While no immediate breakthrough was announced, President Trump had stated his primary goal was to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine, emphasizing, “I won’t be happy if I walk away without some form of a ceasefire.” He clarified that he would not be negotiating on Ukraine’s behalf but aimed to bring all parties to the table for future discussions. Russian President Putin, who rarely takes questions from foreign reporters, remained silent during brief media opportunities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was not part of the bilateral talks, made a statement ahead of the summit, asserting that “Russia must end the war that it itself started.” He stressed the need for a display of strength from the United States and called for security guarantees for Ukraine.
Among the key figures present for the U.S. side were Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Russia’s delegation included Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The leaders are expected to hold a joint press conference following the expanded lunch meeting, where more officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, were slated to join.
The summit attracted global attention, with figures like Hillary Clinton suggesting she would nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize if he successfully ended the Ukraine war without ceding Ukrainian territory. Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Russian activist Alexei Navalny, urged the leaders to use the opportunity for a prisoner exchange. Russian forces had reportedly made limited gains in Ukraine’s Donetsk region in the days leading up to the summit, a move Mr. Trump suggested was Putin’s attempt to “set a stage” for negotiations.
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