Trump-Putin Alaska talks on Ukraine war: Top developments
HERE ARE THE TOP DEVELOPMENTS
President Donald Trump said there are still key points of disagreement and 'there is no deal until there is a deal,' acknowledging that 'we didn't get there' despite some progress. He said 'many points were agreed to' but 'a few' remain, adding that 'one is the most significant' without specifying what it was. Trump said he plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders soon, noting that it is 'ultimately up to them.' He closed by saying he will 'probably' meet Putin again soon, to which the Russian leader replied, 'Next time in Moscow.'
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is 'sincerely interested' in ending the war in Ukraine, which he called a 'tragedy,' but insisted that Russia must first address the 'primary causes' of the conflict. He warned Ukraine and Europe not to 'sabotage' any talks and described his meeting with US President Donald Trump as a 'starting point for resolution.' Putin characterized his relationship with Trump as 'business-like' and agreed with Trump's repeated claim that the war would not have begun if he had remained in office after the 2020 election.
Originally planned as a one-on-one meeting, the talks became a three-on-three session, with US officials Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff joining Trump, and Sergey Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov joining Putin. The change suggested a more cautious approach than Trump's 2018 Helsinki meeting, when he was criticized for siding with Putin over US intelligence on election meddling.
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Hosting Putin on US soil in Alaska, bought from Russia in 1867 gives the Russian leader symbolic legitimacy after years of isolation. Any peace agreement could risk alienating Ukraine if concessions are made without its consent. Trump has previously warned of 'severe consequences' for Russia but also hinted Zelenskyy might have to accept territorial losses for peace.
The discussions are expected to cover a potential ceasefire, Russian demands for Ukraine to cede territory, and possible US-European security guarantees for Ukraine outside NATO membership. Putin wants a comprehensive deal that secures his gains and blocks Kyiv's NATO ambitions. Trump says Ukraine should decide on concessions, while expressing doubt about securing an immediate ceasefire.
advertisementThe meeting took place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, a Cold War-era strategic site still intercepting Russian aircraft. Alaska's proximity to Russia, just 3 miles at its closest point underscored the symbolism. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to face heavy bombardments, a stretched military, and a grinding war along a 600-mile front, with neither side close to meeting the other's conditions for peace.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders were excluded from the Trump-Putin meeting. Zelenskyy responded with a video calling for a 'strong position from the US' and stressing Ukraine's readiness for peace. The decision breaks the Western policy of 'nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,' raising fears that Trump might agree to a deal unfavorable to Kyiv without its direct participation.
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