Upon arrival at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson military facility in Anchorage, Alaska, Putin received a warm welcome from Trump, marked by a lengthy handshake as he disembarked. This set the tone for what were expected to be difficult negotiations. However, by the time both leaders departed on their respective planes, there were no clear breakthroughs on the war in Ukraine.
The Emphasis on Formal Agreement
Initially slated to last around seven hours, the meeting concluded in under three. Both leaders addressed the gathered journalists with brief, pre-pared statements post-talks, refusing to take any questions. Putin declared Russia’s commitment to ending the conflict but stressed that the “primary causes” needed to be addressed for any lasting agreement.
Trump, while acknowledging the utility of the meeting, stated that the chances of achieving a ceasefire remained contingent upon resolving significant issues with Moscow. He emphasized the importance of Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in reaching a final agreement, underscoring the principle that “there’s no deal until there’s a deal.”
Putin’s Diplomatic Victory
This reception marked a shift for Putin, who has faced growing isolation and criticism in Western countries since launching military operations in Ukraine. The warm welcome, including a red carpet and US fighter jet flypast, along with Trump’s applauding gestures, appeared to please Putin. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova triumphantly pointed out the contrast to the Western media’s claims of Russia’s isolation.
Discussing Business and Collaboration
Initially, it was expected that Putin would attempt to steer the conversation toward bilateral trade and cooperation. However, despite Trump’s earlier stance against discussing business before a ceasefire, Putin noted in his statement post-meeting that discussions had covered technological collaboration and space exploration as possible areas for US-Russian partnership.
Notably, Russia has been attempting to leverage its rare earth mineral reserves to negotiate with the US, indicating a strategic approach to their meeting.
Next Steps and Diplomatic Efforts
Concluding the meeting on a positive note, Trump expressed his hope for another meeting, suggesting it could take place in Moscow. He envisioned a subsequent trilateral meeting involving Ukraine to finalize the discussions on ending the conflict. The US leader emphasized his intention to reach out to NATO officials and President Zelenskyy to advance these plans.
In a post-meeting interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News, Trump rated the summit highly and stressed that the outcome largely depended on President Zelenskyy’s willingness to negotiate a deal, urging all parties involved to contribute to the peace process.
