In Anchorage, Alaska, President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin convened for a three-hour meeting, joined by high-ranking officials from both countries. The primary focus was a ceasefire in the ongoing war in Ukraine, which unfortunately, was not achieved.
Trump acknowledged ‘significant progress’ but admitted that the summit did not produce a resolution regarding the Ukraine conflict. He mentioned his intention to engage with NATO and the Ukrainian government. Trump had previously portrayed himself as a skilled negotiator, even suggesting he could facilitate a meeting between Zelensky and Putin.
However, the summit did not yield the expected results. Conversely, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev described the meeting as highly successful. The fact that Trump allowed Putin to address the press first suggests Putin held the upper hand during the discussions.
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton commented on CNN that Putin emerged as the clear victor. He stated that Trump did not achieve a win, while Putin did. Bolton also indicated that the meeting did not result in any tangible gains for Trump besides the possibility of future meetings.
During the press conference, Putin urged Ukrainian and European leaders to avoid any actions that could hinder progress, expressing hope that they would constructively approach the situation.
Prior to the meeting, Dmitriev stated that they were considering ways to restore relations between Russia and the U.S. This implies that the agenda included not only Ukraine and economic matters, but also strategies for improving Russia-U.S. relations. TASS sources indicated that the leaders might also discuss global strategic security. Both leaders expressed positive views on the meeting despite the lack of a ceasefire, which indicates Putin’s success in discussing matters beyond the Ukraine war.
Bolton mentioned that Putin had made progress towards re-establishing relations, which he had always believed was Putin’s main objective.
Trump had warned Putin of repercussions if a ceasefire was not reached, with the Trump administration considering sanctions on Russian oil companies. Despite the absence of a ceasefire, Trump’s positive remarks and the lack of sanctions led to perceptions that Putin had achieved his goals while Trump gained very little.
At the conclusion of the press conference, Trump announced an upcoming meeting. Putin suggested Moscow as the next venue. This suggests that Zelensky might not be part of the next round of talks. Russia is likely to strongly present its case during the next meeting to advance its agenda.
Although the meeting failed to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine, it hinted at potential progress in future discussions. Trump indicated that he will now speak with NATO leaders and Zelensky.