In a bid to re-open high-level channels over the protracted Ukraine war, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday for their first stand-alone summit in seven years.
The two leaders arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to a red-carpet welcome before leaving together in the presidential limousine. The 2018 Helsinki summit was their last exclusive encounter.
Plans for an intimate one-on-one were altered, bringing in US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff to join Trump.
“My objective is to bring Putin back to the negotiating table,” Trump told journalists beforehand. He made clear he was not seeking to negotiate directly for Ukraine and stopped short of offering any security commitments to Kyiv.
He added, “If this summit goes well, I would consider a trilateral meeting with President Zelensky.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, following the meeting from afar, reaffirmed, “We are counting on America” for ongoing support.
Putin kept silent in the face of pointed media questions about a potential ceasefire, civilian protection, and his trustworthiness. His visible surprise at the shouted inquiries culminated in an inaudible response directed at reporters.
The summit drew worldwide attention, with experts split on whether it represents a genuine step toward ending hostilities or a symbolic gesture unlikely to change battlefield realities.