Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met in Alaska on Friday for their first face-to-face talks since Trump returned to the White House, with hopes of finding a path to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting took place at a Cold War-era air force base, amid concerns from Ukraine and European allies that Trump might make concessions to Moscow.
Trump has long promised to end Russia’s war in Ukraine quickly, but admitted on Thursday that the conflict, now in its fourth year, has been more difficult to resolve than expected. He said a successful meeting with Putin could pave the way for a three-way summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, although Zelenskiy was not invited to Friday’s talks.
Ukraine’s leadership said their recent conference call with Trump eased fears of a deal behind their backs, with Trump reportedly agreeing Ukraine must be part of any discussion on territorial changes. Zelenskiy also said Trump supported security guarantees in a post-war settlement, though Trump has not mentioned this publicly.
Putin, facing economic pressure from Western sanctions, is looking for relief and possibly a new nuclear arms control agreement to replace the last remaining treaty, which expires next February. He has set strict conditions for a ceasefire but may offer a phased truce in the air war. Analysts warn that such a deal could allow Russia to maintain military control and escalate later if desired.
Trump has suggested land transfers could be part of a settlement, an idea Ukraine rejects. Putin wants full control over the Donbas region, as well as Ukraine’s Kherson and Zaporizhzhia areas, and a guarantee that Kyiv will never join NATO. Ukraine calls these demands unacceptable and equivalent to surrender.
While both leaders hinted at the possibility of common ground, it remains uncertain whether any real breakthrough will come. For Trump, a truce could boost his image as a global dealmaker, while for Putin, any agreement must be framed as a victory at home.
