ANCHORAGE, Alaska — President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for nearly three hours on Friday, August 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, but failed to secure a ceasefire in Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. The high-stakes summit, the first time Putin visited U.S. soil in a decade, saw a warm welcome from Trump, including a red-carpet greeting and a ride in the presidential limousine, “The Beast.” Yet, the talks concluded with no concrete agreement, leaving the path to peace uncertain, according to NBC News.
Trump, speaking briefly at a joint press conference, described the meeting as “extremely productive,” noting that “many points were agreed to,” but emphasized, “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.” Putin, meanwhile, claimed an “understanding” was reached to “pave the path toward peace in Ukraine,” while warning against European or Ukrainian efforts to “torpedo the nascent progress.” Neither leader took questions from reporters, a departure from expectations of a detailed briefing. Trump later told Fox News’ Sean Hannity, “We didn’t get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there,” hinting at unresolved sticking points without disclosing specifics.
The summit, attended by U.S. officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, followed Trump’s pledge to prioritize a ceasefire. Putin’s delegation included Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who drew attention by wearing a T-shirt with “CCCP,” the Russian abbreviation for the Soviet Union. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, excluded from the talks, announced he would meet Trump in Washington, D.C., on Monday to discuss next steps after a “lengthy” Friday call. “I am grateful for the invitation,” Zelenskyy posted on Telegram, advocating for a trilateral format involving Ukraine.
Critics, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, accused Trump of giving Putin a global stage without securing concessions, calling it “theater” rather than diplomacy. As Trump plans to brief NATO leaders and Zelenskyy, the lack of progress raises questions about his next moves, with some analysts warning that prolonged talks could benefit Russia’s battlefield gains.
