Trump, Putin End Alaska Summit Without Ukraine Peace Deal

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – August 15, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to reach an agreement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine after a nearly three-hour summit in Alaska, though he described the talks as “very productive.”

“There were many, many points that we agreed on,” Trump said at a joint press conference. “I would say a couple of big ones that we haven’t quite got there, but we’ve made some headway. So there’s no deal until there’s a deal.”

Trump said the two sides remained apart on “probably the most significant” issue, but expressed optimism about a breakthrough, adding there was “a very good chance of getting there.”

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Putin, speaking first, called the agreements reached a possible “reference point” for ending the conflict and rebuilding U.S.–Russia ties. He outlined potential cooperation in energy, technology, space exploration, and the Arctic, and warned Ukraine and its allies not to “torpedo” progress.

The Russian leader did not disclose specifics but ended the press event with a surprise invitation to Trump: “Next time in Moscow.” Trump, appearing caught off guard, said, “That’s an interesting one… I could see it possibly happening.”

Despite the cordial tone, no ceasefire was announced. Fighting continued as the summit took place, with air raid alerts in eastern Ukraine and reported drone attacks in Russia’s Rostov and Bryansk regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, not invited to the summit, reiterated that Kyiv would not cede territory and is seeking U.S.-backed security guarantees. He urged “just peace” talks including Ukraine, but noted Russia’s ongoing strikes.

Western reactions were mixed. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky welcomed Trump’s diplomacy but doubted Putin’s sincerity, saying, “If Putin were serious… he would not have been attacking Ukraine all day today.”

The Alaska meeting — the first between Trump and Putin since 2019 — was marked by ceremony, including a red carpet welcome for Putin. For the Kremlin, the summit itself was a diplomatic win, showing Moscow was no longer isolated.

Putin remains wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, charges Moscow rejects. Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians, though thousands have died since the war began in February 2022.

Trump said he will update Zelensky and NATO leaders on the outcome and still hopes for a quick ceasefire. But after promising in the past to end the war “within 24 hours,” he conceded the task has been “tougher than expected.”