Latest news with #Trump-PutinAlaskaSummit
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
From Meloni, Macron to Starmer, world leaders react to Trump-Putin Alaska Summit
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a press conference following their meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025. Here are some reactions from world leaders on Trump-Putin Alaska Summit. Show more Show less
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Takeaways from Trump-Putin meeting: No agreement, no questions but lots of pomp
The much-anticipated summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin began with a warm welcome and a flyover by screaming jets at a U.S. military base in Alaska but ended with a thud on Friday (August 15, 2025) after they conceded that they had failed to reach any agreements on how to end the Russia-Ukraine war. After about 2-1/2 hours of talks at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, the two men appeared before reporters for what had been billed as a joint news conference — but they took no questions. Trump-Putin Alaska Summit LIVE 'We had an extremely productive meeting and many points were agreed to, there are just a very few that are left,' Trump said. 'We didn't get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there.' Mr. Putin, welcomed into the U.S. after being shunned by Western allies since early 2022 for ordering the invasion of Ukraine, thanked Trump for hosting the meeting and suggested with a chuckle that the next time the two sit down it could be in Moscow. Here are key takeaways from the summit: A warm welcome underscoring the friendly Trump-Putin relationship Mr. Putin got a red carpet welcome and even rode in Trump's presidential limousine from the tarmac to the summit venue. There, the pair were joined by two of their top aides: Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff for Mr. Trump and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and national security adviser Yuri Ushakov for Putin. Mr. Putin, who spoke first after the meeting concluded, lauded the historical relationship between the United States, Russia and the former Soviet Union, recalling joint missions conducted by the two countries during World War II. He said the U.S. and Russia share values, a standard talking point for Russian officials when trying to woo Trump and his aides. Putin also noted that Trump has frequently said the Ukraine war wouldn't have happened had he won the 2020 election. "I think that would have been the case," the Russian leader said, a comment sure to please Mr. Trump. However, there is no indication and no way to prove that Moscow would have acted differently toward Ukraine had Democrat Joe Biden not been elected. Trump touts progress but concedes there was no deal Mr. Trump had gone into the meeting hoping to get Mr. Putin to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine — or at least a commitment from Russia to enter into negotiations to reach one. Instead, Mr. Trump conceded that 'we haven't quite got there' and said he would be conferring with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO leaders about next steps. Mr. Trump said he and Mr. Putin had made some significant progress toward the goal of ending the conflict but gave no details on what that entailed and had to acknowledge that they had been unable to bridge substantial gaps. 'I believe we had a very productive meeting,' Mr. Trump said. 'We haven't quite got there, but we've made some headway. So, there's no deal until there's a deal.' In a subsequent conversation with Sean Hannity of Fox News Channel, Mr. Trump again offered no details on his discussions with Mr. Putin. With diplomatic progress creeping along, time is on Putin's side Amid drawn-out diplomatic moves to end the war, time is appears to be on Mr. Putin's side. That gives a leg up to Russian forces, who have used their larger numbers to slowly grind down defences in eastern Ukraine 3-1/2 years into the conflict. Mr. Putin got a pleasant reception from the leader of the free world on U.S. soil and walked away hours later without either providing details on what they discussed, whether a ceasefire was any closer to reality or what the next steps would be. Mr. Putin praised Mr. Trump for the 'friendly' tone of the talks — Mr. Trump said nothing publicly about the killing of Ukrainian civilians in Moscow's attacks — and for 'understanding that Russia has its own national interests.' Mr. Putin said Moscow and Washington should 'turn the page,' with relations having sunk to the lowest point since the Cold War. Mr. Putin appearing in the U.S. for the first time in 10 years was celebrated as a sign that Moscow was no longer an outcast on the global stage. In a social media post, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told followers that the Western press would be on the verge of 'losing their minds.' 'For three years, they talked about Russia's isolation, and today they saw the red carpet being rolled out to greet the Russian president in the United States,' she said. There were no details and no questions Both men said the talks were 'productive' but the lack of any announcement of solid achievements was revealing. The news conference ended up being less than 15 minutes of rather standard diplomatic comments — and gave no indication that any concrete results were achieved — and offered little departure from their previous comments on the war in Ukraine. Mr. Trump has made it a feature of his second term to parry questions from reporters in front of world leaders, but in the clearest sign of his disappointment, the president abruptly cut short his plans to take questions. Mr., Trump had gone into the summit saying here was a 25 per cent chance that the summit would fail and that it was meant to be a 'feel-out meeting,' but he had also floated the idea of bringing Mr. Zelenskyy to Alaska for a subsequent, three-way meeting if things went well. It's unclear what comes next.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Alaska summit: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin shake hands ahead of Ukraine talks
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin shook hands and smiled at an air base in Alaska on Friday as they opened a high-risk summit that will test the US president's promise to end the bloody war in Ukraine. In choreographed drama, Trump and Putin each arrived in their presidential jets and walked under gray skies to greet each other on the tarmac, before walking a red carpet together to an honor guard salute. As fighter jets circled overhead, a reporter shouted audibly to Putin, "Will you stop killing civilians?" Trump-Putin Alaska Summit LIVE Neither leader answered as they posed at a podium that said "Alaska 2025" before Putin -- in a highly unusual move -- followed Trump into the US presidential limousine. For the Russian president, the summit marks his first foray onto Western soil since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a relentless conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people. Talks underway Both leaders have voiced hopes of a productive meeting. But while Trump warned he could judge it a failure after just a few minutes if Putin does not budge, the Kremlin said the two would speak for at least six or seven hours. In recent days Russia has made battlefield gains that could strengthen Putin's hand in any ceasefire negotiations, although Ukraine announced as Putin was flying that it had retaken some villages. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Anchorage, Trump sounded a positive note. "There's a good respect level on both sides and I think something's going to come out of it," he said. Trump has insisted he will be firm with Putin, after coming under some of the most heated criticism of his presidency for appearing cowed during a 2018 summit in Helsinki. The White House on Friday abruptly announced that Trump was scrapping a plan to see Putin alone and instead would be joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his roving envoy Steve Witkoff before a working lunch. Every word and gesture will be closely watched by European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not included and has refused pressure from Trump to surrender territory seized by Russia. "It is time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America," Zelensky said in a social media post. Trump has called the summit a "feel-out meeting" to test Putin, whom he last saw in 2019, and said Friday he was not going to Alaska to negotiate. "I'm here to get them at the table," he said of the Russian and Ukrainian leaders. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would not forecast the outcome of the meeting. "We never make any predictions ahead of time," Lavrov told Russian state TV after he reached Alaska, wearing what appeared to be a shirt with "USSR" written across it in Cyrillic script. Trump has promised to consult with European leaders and Zelensky, saying that any final agreement would come in a three-way meeting with Putin and the Ukrainian president to "divvy up" territory. 'Severe' consequences' Trump has boasted of his relationship with Putin, blamed predecessor Joe Biden for the war, and had vowed before his return to the White House in January that he would be able to bring peace within 24 hours. But despite repeated calls to Putin, and a February 28 White House meeting in which Trump publicly berated Zelensky, the Russian leader has shown no signs of compromise. Saying he "would walk" from the table if the meeting didn't go well, Trump told reporters he "wouldn't be happy" if a ceasefire could not be secured immediately. The talks were taking place at Elmendorf Air Force Base, the largest US military installation in Alaska and a Cold War facility for surveillance of the former Soviet Union. Adding to the historical significance, the United States bought Alaska in 1867 from Russia -- a deal Moscow has cited to show the legitimacy of land swaps. Neither leader is expected to step off the base into Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, where protesters have put up signs of solidarity with Ukraine. The summit marks a sharp change in approach from Western European leaders and Biden, who vowed not to hold discussions with Russia on Ukraine unless Kyiv was also involved.
India.com
a day ago
- Politics
- India.com
Inside Story: How And Why Alaska Was Picked For The Trump-Putin 7th Face-To-Face Meeting
Trump-Putin Alaska Summit: Raptor fighter Jets Stand In Line Along L-Shaped Red Carpet In Alaska, Putin To Face Trump For 7th Times, Russia Indicates Constant And Gradual Movement, Trump Says War Must End Else Moscow Has To Face Dire Consequences Trump-Putin Alaska Summit: An L-shaped red carpet stretched across the tarmac at Elmendorf Air Base on August 15 afternoon as Anchorage (Alaska) prepared to host one of the most watched political encounters of the year. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to arrive for their seventh face-to-face meeting. The red carpet bore the bold label 'ALASKA 2025' and ran toward a viewing platform, framed by a cloud-covered mountain in the distance. The scene held more than ceremonial weight. Four F-22 Raptor fighter jets stood in line along the carpet. These aircraft belong to squadrons tasked with intercepting Russian planes that approach or enter American airspace. The presence of the jets heighted the summit's underlying tension. Talks Expected to Move Slowly Russian Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiev said Moscow does not anticipate a breakthrough at the talks. Speaking to state media outlet RIA Novosti, he described the expected outcome as 'constant and gradual movement'. He confirmed the leaders would address 'the entire agenda' but offered no further details. Trump appeared clearer on what would happen if the meeting failed than if it succeeded. He told reporters on his way to Anchorage that he would 'walk' if discussions went poorly. He promised 'severe' consequences for Russia if Putin refused to end the war. He also said he would downgrade a planned joint press conference to a solo appearance if the talks disappointed him. When asked what a successful outcome would look like, Trump replied aboard Air Force One, 'I cannot tell you that. I do not know. There is nothing set in stone.' He said he wanted 'certain things' such as a ceasefire in Ukraine but had not spelled out what land agreements, if any, he would find acceptable. He said he hoped to bring Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into the same room, though no plans were firm. This summit marks the first time the two leaders have met since Trump's return to the White House for a second term. Their last meeting took place six years ago during a period of relative warmth in their relationship. Since then, relations have soured. Putin invaded Ukraine a year after Trump left office, and the war has dragged on since the latter's re-election. Trump has accused Putin of spreading 'bullsh*t' during phone conversations; however, he told Fox Radio that he believed the Russian leader now intended to make a deal. 'I think he is going to. And we are going to find out. I am going to know very quickly,' he said. Trump warned that if Putin did not agree to end the war, there would be 'very severe consequences'. He said he wanted a rapid ceasefire. 'I want to see a ceasefire, rapidly. I don't know if it is going to be today, but I am not going to be happy if it is not today,' he said. 'Everyone said it can't be today, but I am just saying I want the killing to stop,' he said. Trump stressed he was not acting on European orders but would involve European leaders and Zelensky in any process. He described Putin as a 'smart guy' with whom he shared 'a good respect level'. Alaska Chosen After Global Venue Search The choice of Alaska followed lengthy negotiations between Washington and Moscow. Putin faces an International Criminal Court warrant for his arrest over alleged war crimes, which ruled out most European venues. Russia dismissed suggestions of Vienna or Geneva and proposed the United Arab Emirates. The White House preferred to avoid another Middle East trip. The shortlist came down to Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban maintains ties to both leaders, and the United States. American officials were surprised when Putin agreed to meet on U.S. soil in Alaska, a state that was once part of the Russian Empire. The U.S. Treasury issued a temporary license this week suspending certain sanctions on Russia until August 20 to allow Putin and sanctioned members of his delegation to enter the country. The International Criminal Court does not try cases in absentia, so any Russian officials facing charges would need to be handed over by Moscow or arrested abroad. Like the United States, Ukraine and China, Russia is not a member of the court. In Kyiv, there is deep concern over what might emerge from the Alaska meeting. Early ideas from Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, suggesting Ukraine cede parts of Donetsk and Luhansk for a ceasefire, have alarmed Ukrainian officials and European allies. The Kremlin has backed such proposals, which would secure territory without further fighting. Witkoff has faced criticism for what many in Kyiv see as a lack of understanding of Ukrainian sovereignty and the sacrifices made to defend it. As the leaders prepared to meet under the watch of fighter jets and the shadow of war, there are expectations that movement, if any, would be slow. The world would be watching for signs of whether this seventh Trump-Putin meeting could break a deadlock that has lasted years.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ukraine orders evacuations in Donetsk as Russian troops advance into region
Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of civilians who have children from more than a dozen towns and settlements in the Donetsk region amid rapid but limited advances made by Russia in the area. People in Bilozerske, in Ukraine's Donetsk region, are evacuating as Russian troops make gains in the area. The advances come just days before US President Donald Trump is due to meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska for talks on the war.(AFP) The order was issued on Wednesday by the head of the Donetsk region, governor Vadym Filashkin. It asks civilians with children to evacuate from towns and villages under threat. "We are beginning the mandatory evacuation of families with children from the town of Bilozerske," governor Vadym Filashkin said, adding that around a dozen of other settlements fell under the orders as well. According to the governor, some 1,150 children remaining in the area will be impacted by the order. The order comes just ahead of the meeting scheduled between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska, where they are expected to talk about ending the three-year-old war in Ukraine. Kyiv fears that it will be asked to give up territory and be dictated the terms of the ceasefire without being a part of the dialogue. Ukraine, Russia trade attacks ahead of Trump-Putin Alaska Summit Ukraine's General Staff said it made a successful drone strike early on Sunday on a major refinery in the Saratov region, the latest in a series of attacks this month on Russian oil facilities. Earlier, the regional governor announced that UAVS from Ukraine hit an unspecified 'industrial enterprise' in the region, about 530 miles (850 km) southeast of Moscow. The drone activity also caused temporary flight delays at a local airport, and at least one person was killed when drone debris fell in a residential area, the governor said. Videos posted on Russian social media showed flames and clouds of black smoke in the area of what was said to be the Rosneft PJSC-operated refinery. Russia also regularly targets energy infrastructure in Ukraine. On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, condemned Russia's targeted air strikes on the oil depot belonging to the Azerbaijani company SOCAR. They also blasted the Kremlin for an attack on a gas compressor station transporting Azerbaijani gas to Ukraine, according to a statement from Aliyev's office published on his website. Russia hit the city of Zaporizhzhia with bombs being dropped on residential buildings, its main bus terminal and one of the clinics, Zelenskiy said in a post on X Sunday. He said that there were casualties, but didn't provide an exact number.
