US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025, for a high-stakes summit aimed at addressing the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The meeting, which lasted nearly three hours, was their first in-person meeting since 2019 and marked Putin's first visit to the US since the war began in 2022.
*Key Points:*
- *Meeting Objective*: The primary goal was to negotiate a potential ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, but no concrete agreement was reached.
- *Discussions*: The talks covered trade, economic cooperation, and global security, with Putin reiterating his demands for Ukrainian concessions.
- *Outcome*: Despite describing the talks as "very productive," no ceasefire or peace deal was achieved, with both leaders expressing optimism about future talks.
- *Symbolic Gestures*: Putin received a red-carpet welcome, and the meeting featured a military flyover, highlighting the high-stakes nature of the negotiations.
- *Next Steps*: Trump plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss next steps, emphasizing the need for a coordinated approach that brings Ukraine into the negotiations without undercutting its interests.¹ ² ³