Trump and Putin Claim 'Progress' in Alaska Summit But No Ukraine Ceasefire Yet

In a historic and tightly controlled summit held Friday night in Alaska, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued rare joint statements claiming "significant progress" in their discussions to end the war in Ukraine—but stopped short of announcing a ceasefire or any formal agreement.

Although billed as a press conference, the two leaders did not take questions and left the podium immediately after delivering prepared remarks. The event marked the first in-person meeting between Trump and Putin since the Ukraine war began, and was held without the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a decision that has drawn international scrutiny.

Putin: 'Constructive Talks

Putin, speaking first in a symbolic departure from protocol, described the talks as "constructive" and thanked Trump for the invitation to Alaska. “I'm glad to see you are alive and well,” he told Trump with a smile. The Russian president reiterated Moscow’s long-standing demand that Ukraine must not join NATO, calling for recognition of Russia’s "legitimate concerns" and a “new security balance” in Europe.

“Today’s agreements could become a reference point not only for resolving the Ukrainian problem but also for restoring pragmatic relations between Russia and the United States,” Putin said, warning Ukraine and its allies not to “sabotage” the process.

In a striking statement, Putin claimed he shared Trump’s concern for Ukraine’s security—despite being the aggressor in the conflict—remarks many observers viewed as disingenuous.

Trump: 'We’re Close to a Deal' But It's Up to Zelensky

Trump, addressing the media after Putin, said, “We made a lot of progress, but there’s no deal until there’s a deal.” He emphasized that any ceasefire agreement would ultimately require Ukrainian approval, despite not inviting Zelensky to the summit.

In a follow-up interview with Fox News, Trump said he expects a meeting to be scheduled soon between himself, Putin, and Zelensky. “Now it really depends on Zelensky,” he said. “They both want me there—and I will be there.”

Trump confirmed that discussions included issues such as NATO, territorial concessions, and U.S. security guarantees, stating: “I think we are pretty close to a deal. I want to see people stop dying in Ukraine.”

He hinted that only one or two points were still unresolved: “Some of them are not very significant. One is probably the most significant,” he added, without elaborating.

Putin Suggests Meeting in Moscow Next

At the end of the summit, Putin turned to Trump and said in English: “Next time, in Moscow.” Trump, appearing slightly caught off guard, responded: “Oh, that’s interesting. I’ll get some criticism for that, but I can see it happening, maybe.”

Shortly after the summit, Putin visited a World War II Soviet memorial site in Alaska, then returned to Russia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov defended the lack of press interaction, stating the leaders' remarks were "exhaustive."

No Delegation Meeting

Although an expanded meeting with finance ministers and business delegations was originally planned, it did not take place. Trump noted that any potential economic partnership between the U.S. and Russia would be conditional on achieving a ceasefire.

Still, he praised Putin for including Russian business leaders in the delegation: “Russia wants to do business with the Trump economy,” he said.

In his Fox News interview, Trump confirmed that a territorial swap and U.S.-backed security guarantees for Ukraine are key parts of the current negotiation framework. He declined to provide details but said: “Those are points we largely agreed on.”

He characterized Putin as a “tough guy” but added: “He’s tough as hell. We got along great—and it’s good when two nuclear powers get along.”

Background: War Enters Critical Stage

The summit comes amid intensifying international pressure to find a diplomatic resolution to the war, which has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions. Despite Ukraine’s battlefield resilience and ongoing Western support, stalemate conditions have led to increased calls for negotiation.

Putin’s ongoing demands for Ukrainian neutrality and territorial concessions remain a major sticking point for Kyiv, which has repeatedly insisted on full sovereignty and territorial integrity.

What's Next?

Trump said he would be calling Zelensky and NATO leaders “very shortly” to update them on the summit. Meanwhile, both leaders have left the door open for further talks—including a possible three-way summit with Ukraine.

For now, though, no ceasefire has been declared, and no final agreement has been signed.

As Trump summarized: “We haven’t gotten there yet, but we have a very good chance of getting there.”