ANCHORAGE, August 15, 2025 – U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin wrapped up a high-stakes summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, emerging from over three hours of discussions without a concrete agreement to end the war in Ukraine, but describing the talks as “very productive” and signaling potential for further negotiations. The meeting, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson under the banner “Pursuing Peace,” marked the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since Trump took office earlier this year.
In a joint news conference broadcast live on Fox News, Putin spoke first, expressing optimism about the discussions. “I would like to hope that the agreement we’ve reached together will help us bring closer our goal and pave a path towards peace in Ukraine,” he said, according to a translation provided during the event. He added that Russia expects Kyiv and European capitals to “perceive this constructively” and avoid “backroom deals or provocations” that could derail progress. Putin emphasized eliminating the “primary roots” of the conflict to ensure a lasting settlement and thanked Trump for the “trusting tone” of their conversation.
Trump, speaking afterward, echoed the positive sentiment but stopped short of calling it a breakthrough. “We managed to agree on many points regarding the Ukrainian issue, but some matters still remain unresolved,” he stated. He clarified that no formal deal was reached, noting that any resolution would require agreement from all sides, including Ukraine and NATO allies. Trump announced plans to brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO colleagues on the talks, and hinted at possible future meetings, potentially in Moscow as suggested by Putin. The presidents did not take questions from reporters, a decision explained by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as intentional given the comprehensive statements already made.
The summit, which expanded from a planned one-on-one to include top aides like U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, focused primarily on halting the three-year-old conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions. Trump had publicly aimed to secure a ceasefire and a commitment from Putin for swift talks with Zelenskyy, but analysts noted the absence of specific commitments.
Reactions were mixed. Supporters hailed it as a step toward peace, with Putin reportedly confirming during the conference that the war would not have started if Trump had been president in 2022—a point echoed in conservative circles. Kellyanne Conway, a former Trump advisor, called it “a huge win for peace and a huge win for our president,” arguing that Putin respects Trump’s ability to impact Russia’s economy. Critics, however, decried the event as a capitulation, with some observers noting Trump appeared subdued and that Putin dominated the narrative. CNN’s Jim Sciutto summarized it as a “red carpet welcome to US, three-hour meeting, long Putin speech citing ‘root causes’ of the war, no deal.” Democratic figures like California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked the outcome, while others expressed concern over Ukraine’s exclusion from the talks.
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) offered cautious optimism in a statement, emphasizing that Ukraine must be involved in any settlement. “It was encouraging to hear both presidents reference future meetings, which I hope will include Ukraine,” she said. The White House has not released further details, but sources indicate the discussions touched on broader U.S.-Russia relations, strained since the invasion began.
As the world watches, the summit’s lack of immediate results underscores the challenges in resolving the grinding war, with no timeline announced for follow-up talks.