ANCHORAGE, ALASKA: U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska on Friday for a high-stakes summit that could determine the possibility of a ceasefire in the deadliest European conflict since World War II.
Ahead of the talks, Trump welcomed Putin on a red carpet at a U.S. Air Force base. The two leaders exchanged warm handshakes and a brief arm touch before heading to the nearby summit site in Trump’s limousine. This was their first face-to-face meeting since 2019. Behind them, a blue backdrop read, “Pursuing Peace.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was not invited, along with his European allies, expressed concerns that Trump might effectively freeze the conflict in Russia’s favor, potentially recognizing even informally Russian control over a fifth of Ukraine’s territory. Trump sought to ease such worries, telling reporters before boarding Air Force One that Ukraine would have the final say on any territorial swaps. “I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine; I’m here to get them to the table,” he said.
Trump added that a successful meeting, in his view, would mean seeing a rapid ceasefire. “I’m not going to be happy if it doesn’t happen today… I want the killing to stop,” he told reporters.
The summit included key officials from both sides. From the U.S., Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov were present, alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Envoy Yuri Ushakov. A larger, bilateral session later included Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Trump hopes that a truce in the three-and-a-half-year-old war, initiated by Putin, will not only bring peace to the region but also enhance his standing as a global peacemaker, potentially strengthening his Nobel Peace Prize credentials. For Putin, the summit itself is already a diplomatic win, demonstrating that years of Western efforts to isolate Russia have faltered, and signaling Moscow’s return to the international stage.
Putin, wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes involving the deportation of Ukrainian children, denied all charges. Both the U.S. and Russia are non-members of the ICC. Both sides deny intentionally targeting civilians, though thousands have died, the majority being Ukrainians. Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, estimated that combined casualties and injuries exceed 1.2 million. Trump, who once claimed he could end Russia’s war in 24 hours, acknowledged on Thursday that the challenge proved far more difficult.
If Friday’s talks proceed successfully, Trump indicated that arranging a second, three-way summit with Zelenskyy would be more crucial than his initial meeting with Putin. Zelenskyy called for a “just peace” and three-way negotiations that include him but stressed that Russia continues military operations. A Russian ballistic missile recently struck Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, killing one and injuring another. Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram: “It’s time to end the war… necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America.” He has ruled out formally ceding territory to Moscow and is seeking U.S.-backed security guarantees.
Before the summit, Trump described his relationship with Putin as one of mutual respect. “He’s a smart guy, been doing it for a long time, but so have I… We get along,” he said. He also welcomed Putin’s decision to bring business leaders to Alaska, adding that “they’re not doing business until we get the war settled,” and repeated the threat of severe economic consequences for Russia if the talks fail.
Sources told Reuters that U.S. officials are exploring the use of Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker vessels to support gas and LNG projects in Alaska as part of potential deals. One Kremlin source suggested Russia might be open to compromise, given economic vulnerabilities and the high cost of continuing the war. Reports indicate Putin could freeze frontlines provided NATO pledges not to expand eastward and some Western sanctions are lifted.
NATO has affirmed Ukraine’s future lies within the alliance, while Russia, already feeling economic strain, remains vulnerable to additional U.S. sanctions. Putin also floated the possibility of a new nuclear arms control accord to replace the last remaining treaty, set to expire in February, aligning with Trump’s stated interests.
