US President Donald Trump left Alaska on Friday following an hours-long meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that did not result in a clear outcome for the war in Ukraine, although both presidents spoke of the meeting in optimistic terms.
Air Force One took off from Elmendorf Air Force Base around 4:20 p.m. local time, headed for Washington, DC. Trump spent about six hours in Alaska.
The high-stakes negotiations, which lasted nearly three hours, wrapped up in a joint press conference in which neither leader took questions from the press. The talks were dominated by the conflict in Ukraine, precipitated by Russia's invasion in 2022.
After the briefing, Putin departed in a plane in Anchorage, giving a wave and slight bow before takeoff. In leaving the city, he paid his respects at Fort Richardson Memorial Cemetery, where he placed flowers on Soviet soldiers' graves. Kremlin video captured him kneeling, laying a bouquet, and signing the cross in front of the memorial to Soviet airmen and sailors who perished while transporting equipment from the US during World War II. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had earlier confirmed the visit.
At the news conference, Putin called on Ukraine and European countries not to block efforts at peace. "We expect Kyiv and European capitals to react positively and not attempt to scuttle the progress through provocations or backroom politics," Putin said.
Trump thanked the Russian president for his meeting, saying he hoped there would be future negotiations. Putin, laughing and switching to English, responded: "Next time in Moscow." Trump paused, joking, That's a good one. I don't know, I'll take some heat on that one."
Earlier, Putin had accepted alignment with Trump that Ukraine's security "needs to be guaranteed," but tied that guarantee to Russia's broader security needs.
"I agree with President Trump that the security of Ukraine should be secured, and naturally, we are prepared to work on that," he said in Anchorage.
He said that an as-yet unannounced deal with Trump might "pave the way for peace in Ukraine," while emphasizing that the war would only cease by treating its "root causes.
"The Ukrainian case is about the basic threats to our security," Putin stated. "In order to consider all the legitimate interests of Russia and to restore a fair balance of security in Europe and around the world… of course, security in Ukraine must also be provided."
Trump, meanwhile, indicated that he would inform NATO allies, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and other officials about the terms of the negotiations.
“I’m going to start making a few phone calls and tell them what happened,” he told reporters.
The summit was considerably shorter than the six to seven hours Russian officials had initially expected. Both sides cited “progress,” though neither leader provided specifics, announced a ceasefire, or opened the floor to press questions.
Putin thanked Trump for the “atmosphere of trust” during their exchanges. “I would like to thank Trump for working together and maintaining a friendly and trustful atmosphere in the talks. The key thing is that both parties were determined to achieve results,” he said, according to Russian agency TASS.
Calling the talks “positive and constructive,” Putin noted: “Our talks were held in a respectful and constructive atmosphere. They were quite detailed and useful.”
He said he hoped the deals reached in Alaska would become a basis for settling the confrontation and enhancing US-Russia relations. Noting strained relations in recent times, Putin stressed his attempt to treat Trump "as a neighbour" and build "very good direct contacts."
With regard to Ukraine, he again stressed Russia's perception of Ukrainians as a "brotherly people," but insisted that, All the reasons for the crisis should be cut off. Ukraine's security obviously needs to be provided and we are ready to engage on this."
Russian Ambassador to the US Alexander Darchiev also said the talks were largely positive in state media.
The previous time that Putin stood next to a US president answering media questions was in Helsinki in 2018, at a tumultuous press conference with Trump. When Joe Biden last saw Putin in Geneva in 2021, he refused to appear together, choosing instead to speak to reporters alone to constrain Putin's power to define the subject.
Before Friday's meeting, Trump informed Fox News aboard Air Force One that he would like to negotiate a ceasefire with Putin.
"I wouldn't be happy if I didn't get it," he stated, implying that there may need to be another round of negotiations. "We'll see what happens. I won't be happy if I walk away without some kind of a ceasefire."
Putin, however, provided no indication of his readiness to compromise. When journalists subsequently asked him at the airport if he would "stop killing civilians," he chuckled and shook his head as if not hearing.
The summit opened with Trump welcoming Putin to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. As the two leaders shook hands on a red carpet, F-22 fighter jets and B-2 bombers soared overhead—planes designed during the Cold War to defend against possible Soviet attacks. Their flybys provided a stark reminder of American military might as the two men moved into talks over the ongoing war still ravaging Ukraine.
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