US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at a US air base in Alaska. The meeting was about the Ukraine war and the two leaders held closed-door talks for about six to seven hours. The eyes of the whole world were on Alaska regarding this high-level summit.
Trump said on Air Force One that he could consider US security guarantees for Ukraine, but it would not be under NATO. Putin also hinted at the possibility of a nuclear arms control agreement.
Let’s understand in detail what happened during the summit, why Zelensky was not included, and what could be its consequences.
Trump-Putin Meeting: Beginning and Objective
Trump and Putin shook hands and stood on the red carpet with a grand welcome. This was the first time the two leaders were meeting face-to-face in six years. Trump described this meeting as an important step towards ending the Ukraine war.
Putin said they had reached some agreements, but Trump made it clear that “there is no agreement until there is an agreement.” “We will try to get it over with quickly,” Trump said.
Trump also pointed out that he and Putin have always had a good relationship, even though there have been difficult meetings from time to time. But there is still more work to do to reach a solid agreement on the Ukraine war.
Key Points of Discussion
Several key points were discussed during the summit, including:
- Land exchange and prisoner exchange: Trump indicated that the two sides discussed the issues of land exchange and prisoner exchange. He said that this agreement would also have to be approved by Ukraine.
- Security guarantees outside NATO: Trump said that the US can provide security guarantees for Ukraine, but it will not be under NATO.
- Policy on Russian oil trade: Trump said that due to this meeting, he does not see the need to impose secondary tariffs on additional oil buyers from Russia, such as China.
However, Trump did not share additional details and said that he would attend a possible meeting between Putin and Zelensky in the future.
Why Was Zelensky Not There?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not included in this summit. The reason given was that it was a bilateral meeting, where issues were to be discussed between the US and Russian leaders first. Trump said that he would join both Zelensky and Putin in the next meeting.
Experts believe that such a decision was taken keeping in mind the complex diplomatic reasons and the sensitivity of the talks. This meeting was basically to “set the table,” i.e., to lay the foundation for further talks.
Ukrainian American Reaction
Ukrainian American Volodymyr Valchuk, a resident of California, expressed his disappointment with the results of the summit. He said that his expectations were already low, but after this meeting he is “truly surprised and disappointed.”
Valchuk said, “Trump said there was no agreement. I don’t know what will happen next. At least we were not told what Putin said.” He expressed his concern that it may affect the land of Ukraine or the lives of citizens.
Lawmakers Issue Warning on Social Security’s Future Stability
Millions of SSA Beneficiaries Won’t Get Cash Payments This Week
Putin’s View
Putin warned European leaders not to interfere in the peace talks and not to disrupt the process with any kind of “provocation.” He also said that Russia and Ukraine are “one historical and spiritual territory” and according to him, “all of Ukraine belongs to Russia.”
Putin’s stance was already clear. At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June 2025, he said that he considers Ukraine to be part of Russia. In 2021, he expressed the same view in a detailed essay.
Trump’s Hopes and Dilemmas
Trump told the media after the summit that consensus had been reached on many issues, but there was no final agreement on the most important issue. He said, “We agreed on many points, but we could not reach there on the main issue.”
Trump also said that his aim was to create an opportunity to end the war. He said, “Both Zelensky and Putin will be there in the next meeting, and possibly I will also join there. We will see what happens next.”
Future Prospects
- Direction of Agreement: This meeting was only a preliminary step. Now it remains to be seen whether any concrete agreement can be reached in the next meeting of Trump, Putin and Zelensky.
- Ukraine Security: Trump indicated that the US could give security guarantees to Ukraine outside NATO. This move could affect the war situation and regional stability.
- International Response: The response of European countries will be important. Putin has warned that the talks should not be harmed by any kind of provocation.
Conclusion
The Trump-Putin summit in Alaska showed the world how complex international diplomacy is regarding the Ukraine war. The hope of any major agreement is still incomplete.
Trump saw this meeting as an opportunity that could pave the way for further talks. Putin’s stance is clear that he considers Ukraine a part of Russia.
This meeting also made it clear that the war will not be resolved only through talks between America and Russia, but the consent of European countries and Ukraine will also be necessary.
The future of the Ukraine war and the impact of the results of this summit on regional stability will be felt for a long time.
