President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin made no breakthrough on Ukraine at their high-stakes summit on Friday, pointing to areas of agreement and rekindling a friendship but offering no news on a ceasefire.
After an abrupt ending to three hours of talks with aides, Trump and Putin offered warm words but answered no questions from reporters regarding an end to the war.
“We’re not there yet, but we’ve made progress. There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump stated.
He called the meeting “extremely productive” with “many points” agreed, although he did not speak on specifics.
“There are just a very few that are left; some are not that significant, one is probably the most significant,” Trump said without elaborating.
Putin also spoke in general terms of cooperation in a joint press appearance that barely 12 minutes.
“We hope that the understanding we have reached will… pave the way for peace in Ukraine,” Putin said.
As Trump reflected about a second encounter, Putin smiled and added in English, “Next time in Moscow.”
The former KGB agent promptly tried to impress Trump, who has previously shown love for the Russian leader.
Putin told Trump that he agreed with him that the Ukraine war, which he ordered, would not have occurred if Trump had been president instead of Joe Biden.
Trump, for his part, complained of a “hoax” that Russia intervened to assist him in winning the 2016 election, a conclusion supported by US intelligence.
Prior to the summit, Trump warned of “severe consequences” if Russia did not agree to a ceasefire.
However, when asked about the ramifications during a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity following the negotiations, Trump stated that “because of what happened today, I don’t think I have to think about that now.”
The warm reception contrasted with Trump’s criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when they visited at the White House in February.
Trump had previously stated that he wanted a three-way meeting with Zelensky, but he did not make an announcement at the summit.
Trump stated that he will now consult Zelenskyy as well as NATO leaders, who have expressed concerns over the US leader’s outreach to Putin.
“Now it’s really up to President Zelensky to get it done,” Trump said in the Fox News interview after the summit.
Putin advised Ukraine and European countries to “not create any obstacles” and to “make attempts to disrupt this emerging progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes intrigues.”
Trump invited Putin just a week ago and made sure there was some carefully staged drama for their first in-person meeting in 2019.
The two leaders arrived in their own presidential jets and descended onto the runway of an airbase, with Trump clapping when Putin appeared.
An B-2 stealth bomber flew overhead, displaying US military strength, and a reporter shouted audibly to Putin, “Will you stop killing civilians?”
Undaunted, Putin grinned widely as Trump escorted him into “The Beast”, the guarded US presidential limousine, for a meeting in a chamber before a screen that read, in English only, “Pursuing Peace”.
Putin grinned and joked with Russian media during the visit, a historic moment for a leader facing an arrest order from the International Criminal Court over the Ukraine war, which has killed tens of thousands of people.
Russia has gained military victories in recent days, which may boost Putin’s power in any ceasefire negotiations; however, Ukraine declared that it had retaken numerous settlements as Putin flew in.
Trump had insisted on being forceful with Putin after receiving harsh criticism for being intimidated during a 2018 summit in Helsinki.
While on his way to Alaska, the White House revealed that Trump had cancelled his plan to meet with Putin alone and would instead hold meetings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his roving envoy Steve Witkoff.
Zelensky was not mentioned, and he has rebuffed Trump’s pressure to relinquish territory captured by Russia.
“It is time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America,” Zelensky said in a social media post.
