President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday (August 15) for a summit aimed at resolving the ongoing war in Ukraine. Despite describing the meeting as "very productive," the two leaders did not reach a formal agreement. Trump stated, "There's no deal until there's a deal," emphasizing the need for further discussions.

The meeting, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, marked the first direct talks between Trump and Putin since 2019. Both leaders were accompanied by top foreign-policy aides and conducted the talks in a "respectful, constructive and mutually respectful atmosphere," according to Putin. The summit concluded with a joint press conference where neither leader took questions from reporters.

Putin reiterated Russia's stance, stating that the conflict in Ukraine stems from "fundamental threats to our security" and emphasized the need to address the primary causes of the conflict. He expressed hope that the agreements reached with Trump would pave the way toward peace in Ukraine. However, he warned Ukraine and its European allies against undermining the progress made during the talks.

President Trump, who aims to secure a ceasefire and facilitate negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, plans to update NATO and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the discussions. Trump assured that he is not negotiating on behalf of Ukraine but is focused on bringing the parties to the table.

The meeting took place amid concerns from Ukraine and its allies about potential territorial concessions. Zelensky has ruled out ceding territory to Russia and seeks a security guarantee backed by the United States. As the summit concluded without a ceasefire agreement, the war in Ukraine continues, with both sides denying targeting civilians.

The summit's outcome remains uncertain, with Trump and Putin expressing a willingness to continue discussions. Putin suggested Moscow as the location for a future meeting, an idea Trump did not dismiss outright. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has resulted in significant casualties, with a conservative estimate of 1.2 million dead and injured, according to Trump's envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.

Bill Handel