Trump and Putin Meet in Alaska But Fail to Reach Ukraine Peace Deal
Anchorage, Alaska – In a highly anticipated summit held on August 15, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met face-to-face for the first time since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite nearly three hours of discussions, both leaders failed to secure a ceasefire agreement or any concrete deal to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Trump, who traveled to Alaska with the hope of jump-starting a peace process, later described the meeting as “very productive” but acknowledged, “We didn’t get there” regarding a final deal on Ukraine. The ex-president stressed that the next steps depend on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stating it was “up to Zelenskyy” to push the process forward.[1]
The summit was marked by a stark contrast in approaches, with Putin showing no willingness to agree to a ceasefire. Russian forces reportedly continued attacks on Ukraine during the summit itself, underscoring Putin’s uncompromising stance. Analysts point out that Putin mainly used the meeting to stall and avoid making any real concessions.[2]
Experts at the Atlantic Council reacted critically to the summit outcomes. John Herbst called for a swift and comprehensive U.S. response if Putin remained inflexible. Leslie Shedd observed that Trump has put his political capital on the line to try to stop the fighting, whereas Daniel Fried remarked there was “no deal, no cease-fire, and not much sign of progress.” Meanwhile, Oleh Shamshur noted Putin’s intransigence on key issues, while Philippe Dickinson labeled the Russian leader’s tactic as one of continuous stalling.[2]
Although both Trump and Putin left open the possibility of future meetings—potentially in Moscow—no firm commitments or concrete plans were announced. Trump indicated readiness to walk away if an agreement was not forthcoming, underscoring the fragile and uncertain nature of the negotiations.[3]
The failure to reach an agreement leaves the prospects of peace in Ukraine still distant, with violence continuing on the ground. International observers and governments will be closely monitoring subsequent diplomatic efforts as the conflict persists into its fourth year.
As the world watches, the Alaska summit highlighted both the complexities and challenges of mediating peace between Russia and Ukraine amid deeply entrenched positions and ongoing warfare.