President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met today at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, for a high-stakes summit aimed at addressing the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The meeting, which marks their first face-to-face encounter since 2019, began at 3:30 p.m. ET and included a one-on-one session, followed by delegation talks and a joint press conference.
The White House described the summit as a “listening exercise” to explore paths toward ending the conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Trump, who has been pushing for a ceasefire, emphasized that the meeting was to “set the table” for potential future talks involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was notably excluded from today’s discussions. This absence has raised concerns among European leaders and Zelenskyy, who warned that decisions made without Ukraine’s input would be “meaningless.”
Trump has suggested a possible “land swap” between Russia and Ukraine to resolve the conflict, an idea Zelenskyy has firmly rejected, stating, “Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier.” Meanwhile, Putin, who arrived in Anchorage to a red-carpet welcome, is reportedly seeking territorial concessions and limits on Ukraine’s NATO ambitions.
The summit follows recent Russian drone strikes in Ukraine, which killed seven civilians, and Ukrainian counterattacks on Russian targets. Trump criticized these actions, suggesting they weaken Putin’s negotiating position, while also hinting at “very severe consequences” if Russia does not agree to end the war.
Accompanied by key advisors, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Trump expressed cautious optimism, stating he would know within “two minutes” if a deal was possible. Kremlin officials indicated that broader issues, such as economic cooperation and arms control, might also be discussed.
As global media descended on Anchorage, protests by Ukraine supporters underscored the summit’s contentious nature. With no immediate ceasefire agreement expected, the meeting’s outcome could shape the trajectory of European security and the war’s future.
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