Trump, Putin Wrap Up High-Stakes Alaska Summit as Ukraine War Tops Agenda

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA; United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have concluded more than two and a half hours of closed-door talks at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, their first face-to-face meeting since 2019 and first standalone summit since Helsinki in 2018. The rare encounter was aimed at addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine, a conflict now in its third year.

The meeting comes amid growing tensions and shifting battlefield realities. Russia has made modest territorial gains in recent months, while questions remain over the future of US and European military aid to Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not present, a fact analysts say sidelines him in discussions directly tied to his country’s fate.

Political tension back home
In Washington, Democrats seized on the summit to renew criticism of Trump’s perceived closeness to Putin. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries mocked Trump’s campaign pledge to end the Ukraine war “on day one” of a second term, pointing instead to his pardons of January 6 rioters.

Senator Mark Warner stopped short of naming Trump but cautioned against compromising core values for a deal. “We should all hope for peace, but not at the expense of Ukraine’s freedom or America’s principles,” he said.

Inside the talks
The Kremlin confirmed the private session has ended, but no joint press conference has yet been scheduled. White House aides have described the day as “fluid,” citing the unpredictability of both leaders, who have alternated between cordial gestures and sharp rhetoric over the years.

Security analyst Samuel Ramani told Al Jazeera that Russia enters the talks with a slight strategic edge. “The offensive momentum, however marginal, is on Russia’s side,” he said. “They feel no urgency to end the war, while Ukraine faces uncertainty over both its territorial control and continued Western arms supplies.”

Bloomberg reported the Trump administration is weighing sanctions on Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft if Moscow refuses a ceasefire — a move US officials have long avoided for fear of spiking domestic fuel prices.

Ceremony and symbolism
Earlier, Trump greeted Putin with a red carpet welcome, a US military fly-over, and an invitation to ride together in the presidential limousine, “The Beast” — a rare gesture of personal warmth. It marked the first in-person meeting between a US president and Putin since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

Speculation over Alaska resources
In the run-up to the summit, speculation swirled that Trump might offer Putin access to Alaska’s rare mineral reserves as a bargaining chip. Trump’s response to reporters was vague, saying only, “We’re going to see what happens with our meeting. It’s going to be very important for Russia and very important for us.”

Alaska’s Republican leaders quickly dismissed the idea. Governor Mike Dunleavy posted on social media: “Giving them away to Russia? I don’t think so.” Senator Dan Sullivan echoed the sentiment: “We don’t need any Russian investment. We don’t support that.”

Critics pile on
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Trump’s 2016 election rival, said she would nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize if he could secure peace without Ukraine ceding territory. But she warned, “He’s not meeting with a friend of the United States. He is meeting with an adversary who wants America’s destruction and the end of the entire Western alliance.”

Ukrainian concerns
In Kyiv, some analysts fear Putin’s real aim in Alaska may be to push for sanctions relief. Olesia Horiainova, a Ukrainian security expert, said lifting the economic measures imposed in 2022 remains “the most desirable outcome” for Moscow. “The Russians are trying to convince everyone the sanctions aren’t working, but they are — and they’re harming the Russian economy,” she said.

A long day in Alaska
Correspondents at the base reported a mix of anticipation and uncertainty as the summit unfolded. Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett described the atmosphere as “slow and somewhat chaotic,” with aides offering little guidance on next steps.

As the closed-door talks end, the world now waits to see whether the Alaska meeting produces concrete progress toward ending the Ukraine war — or simply another carefully staged encounter between two of the world’s most unpredictable leaders.