Talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have ended after more than two and a half hours, with no confirmation of any ceasefire.
The leaders met in a three-on-three meeting along with top advisers for a high-stakes summit in Alaska that could determine the trajectory of the war in Ukraine and the fate of European security.
Trump’s allies have cast the US president as a heavyweight negotiator who can find a way to bring the slaughter to a close, something he used to boast he could do quickly.
For Putin, a summit with Trump offers a long-sought opportunity to try to negotiate a deal that would cement Russia’s gains, block Kyiv’s bid to join the NATO military alliance and eventually pull Ukraine back into Moscow’s orbit.
There are significant risks for Trump: By bringing Putin onto US soil, the president is giving Russia’s leader the validation he desires after his ostracisation following his invasion of Ukraine 3 1/2 years ago. Any success is far from assured, especially as Russia and Ukraine remain far apart in their demands for peace.
Putin speaks first
Speaking in Russian, the President said he had greeted Trump as “dear neighbour,” thankful to see him in good health.
Putin also said he and Trump “have very good, direct contact”.
As Putin spoke, Trump stood about 1.8 or 2.1m away from him, at his own podium.
Putin said the US and Russia are close neighbours, separated by mere miles, so it made sense for the summit to be held in Alaska.
He said the talks were held “in a constructive and mutually respectful atmosphere,” and were “very thorough and useful”.
Putin says there would be no war in Ukraine if Trump had been president in 2022
Trump has long claimed that Putin would never have invaded Ukraine if he had still been in the White House — and the Russian leader confirmed that argument at a news conference after their meeting.
Putin criticised former President Joe Biden without naming him and referenced Trump’s argument about his presence being sufficient to stop the war.
“I can confirm that,” Putin said through a translator.
Trump says he will fill Zelensky in on Putin meeting
The US president also said he would call European and NATO leaders to give them updates from his meeting with Putin.
Trump said “some great progress” was made in his bilateral meeting with the Russian president, saying “many points were agreed to,” with just a “very few” remaining.
Zelensky was not invited to the Alaska summit.
Trump and Putin did not take questions
After their nearly three-hour-long meeting, neither Trump nor Putin took questions from reporters after giving brief remarks. Putin said the two leaders had reached an “understanding”, but neither offered further details.
Putin suggests next meeting could be held in Moscow
Trump has spoken repeatedly in recent days about wanting to have a second meeting after the Alaska summit.
As they wrapped their statements after the summit, Putin said to Trump in English, “Next time in Moscow”.
Trump responded, “I could see it possibly happening”.
Neither leader announced that a second meeting would be held before they left the room without answering questions from reporters.