Trump and Putin Fail to Secure Ukraine Ceasefire at Alaska Summit

Anchorage, Alaska – On August 15, 2025, U.S. resident Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. Despite high expectations and a warm reception, the nearly three-hour summit concluded without a ceasefire agreement, leaving the path to peace uncertain.

The meeting, held against a backdrop emblazoned with "Pursuing Peace," was marked by a carefully choreographed welcome, including a red carpet, a military flyover with F-22 jets and a B-2 bomber, and a ride together in the U.S. presidential limousine, known as "The Beast." Trump greeted Putin with applause and a lengthy handshake, signaling a thaw in relations with a leader who has faced Western isolation since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Both leaders described the talks as productive, with Trump claiming “great progress” and Putin calling the meeting “very useful.” However, no concrete agreement was announced. Trump acknowledged, “There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” while Putin emphasized the need to address the “root causes” of the conflict, a phrase he has used to demand Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and recognition of Russian control over territories like Crimea and parts of Donbas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, notably excluded from the summit, expressed hope for a strong U.S. stance. In a statement before the talks, he urged Russia to end the war it started, stressing the need for security guarantees and a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia. Zelenskyy is set to meet Trump in Washington on August 18, 2025, to discuss further steps. The summit’s lack of results drew mixed reactions. European leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, cautiously supported Trump’s efforts but emphasized that Ukraine must not cede territory and requires robust security guarantees. Critics, including U.S. Democratic lawmakers like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer, accused Trump of legitimizing Putin without securing tangible outcomes. Reports suggest Putin proposed Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region in exchange for freezing current front lines, a condition Kyiv has rejected. Trump, shifting focus from an immediate ceasefire to a broader peace deal, told European leaders he believes a rapid agreement is possible if Ukraine makes territorial concessions. This stance has raised concerns among Ukraine’s allies, who fear it could favor Russia. The choice of Alaska as the venue carried historical significance. Russia sold Alaska to the U.S. in 1867 for $7.2 million after the Crimean War strained its resources. Russian officials, including presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, noted the geographic proximity across the Bering Strait, hinting at symbolic parallels to territorial negotiations. As the war in Ukraine continues, with Russian strikes intensifying, Zelenskyy’s upcoming White House visit and potential trilateral talks offer a glimmer of hope for progress. However, with no immediate ceasefire and Putin’s demands unchanged, the Alaska summit has left more questions than answers about ending the conflict.