Trump and Putin Hold High-Stakes Alaska Summit in Bid to End Ukraine War

In a rare and closely watched meeting, former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin sat down Friday for a high-level summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. The goal: explore a possible path toward ending the ongoing war in Ukraine.

This marks the first in-person meeting between Trump and Putin since 2019, and the first U.S.-hosted summit with a Russian leader since 1988. The summit comes amid mounting pressure to find a diplomatic solution to a conflict that has dragged on for more than four years, with devastating consequences for Ukraine and rising tensions across Europe.

Trump Seeks to Broker Ceasefire

Trump, who is widely expected to be the Republican nominee in the 2024 election, is reportedly using the summit to push for a ceasefire agreement. According to sources familiar with the talks, Trump is willing to offer Russia incentives—including the potential rollback of some sanctions—if Putin agrees to pause hostilities and begin formal negotiations.

He’s also floated the idea of providing Ukraine with security guarantees that don’t require NATO membership, a move aimed at addressing Russian concerns while still offering protection to Kyiv. Trump has emphasized that any territorial decisions would ultimately be up to the Ukrainian government.

“This isn’t about giving anything away,” one source close to the former president said. “It’s about testing whether Putin is serious about peace—and putting America back in the lead diplomatically.”

Skepticism From Ukraine and Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concern about the summit, especially given the possibility that a deal could be made without Ukraine directly involved. European allies, too, are watching cautiously, worried that any agreement might cement Russia’s territorial gains if not handled carefully.

Despite this, Trump has maintained that he is not negotiating over Ukraine’s head.

“I’m not cutting Ukraine out of anything,” he told reporters earlier this week. “But I’m also not going to keep watching people die while we sit around waiting for the perfect process.”

Putin Looks for a Diplomatic Win

For Putin, the summit presents an opportunity to re-engage diplomatically after years of isolation. While the Kremlin has not commented extensively on the meeting, Russian officials have signaled interest in easing tensions with the West—particularly on economic and arms control fronts.

Analysts say Putin may be open to discussions that don’t involve major military concessions, but would help relieve the economic strain of sanctions and global backlash.

No Immediate Breakthrough

Friday’s meeting ended without a formal agreement, though both sides described the talks as “constructive.” Future negotiations involving Ukraine directly are expected, but no timeline has been announced.

For Trump, the summit was a chance to flex his foreign policy credentials—and to offer a contrast to what he sees as the Biden administration’s passive approach to the war.

“We’re not going to solve this overnight,” a senior adviser said. “But someone had to take the first step.”