A Historic Meeting in Anchorage
On August 15, 2025, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, for a summit aimed at ending the Russia–Ukraine war. It was the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Trump began his second term, and it carried enormous expectations. The war has dragged on for more than three years, making it the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.
The two leaders held more than three hours of direct talks before appearing together at a press conference. Both Trump and Putin described the meeting as positive, though no immediate cease-fire was announced. “There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump told reporters, underscoring his careful approach to negotiations. Putin also sounded a hopeful tone, saying, “I expect that today’s agreement will be the starting point not only for the solution of the Ukrainian issue, but also will help us bring back business-like and pragmatic relations between Russia and the U.S.”
The Alaska summit was also historic in its setting. Putin had not visited the United States since 2015, and the meeting on American soil was framed as a bold display of diplomacy. The two leaders arrived about 30 minutes apart and were greeted with a U.S. military flyover featuring B-2 bombers and F-35 fighters. They then rode together in the presidential limousine, “The Beast,” before beginning their bilateral talks under a backdrop reading “Pursuing Peace.”
What Russia Wants from a Deal
While neither Trump nor Putin gave many specifics during their press appearance, reports quickly surfaced about Russia’s demands. According to Newsmax host Rob Finnerty, Moscow has five major conditions for peace:
- Ukraine must cede territories currently under Russian occupation.
- Ukraine must abandon its bid for NATO membership.
- Ukraine must demilitarize.
- Kyiv must pass a resolution acknowledging the “root causes” of the war.
- A regime change in Ukraine must take place.
Putin reinforced his position at the summit by stressing that “security guarantees” for Ukraine would be necessary but avoided details. He also repeated his long-held view that the West was to blame for the conflict, stating that only by removing these “root causes” could there be lasting peace.
Trump’s Position and His Message to Zelenskyy
Trump emphasized progress but refused to declare victory too soon. “There were many, many points that we agreed on,” he said. “Most of them, I would say a couple of big ones that we haven’t quite gotten there, but we’ve made some headway.”
He explained that he would update NATO leaders and President Zelenskyy directly. Later, in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump was more blunt. Asked what advice he would give Zelenskyy, he replied, “Make the deal. Gotta make the deal, yeah. Look, Russia is a very big power, and they’re not.” This statement reflected Trump’s belief that Zelenskyy should be pragmatic, and that prolonging the conflict would only hurt Ukraine further.
Trump also signaled that he was holding back additional pressure for now. He had previously threatened severe consequences if Russia refused a cease-fire, including tariffs on countries buying Russian oil. After the Alaska meeting, however, Trump said, “Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now. I may have to think about it in two or three weeks.”
Supporters of Trump’s foreign policy believe this summit was a meaningful step forward. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas said he recognized Trump’s determination: “I know President Trump’s body language pretty well. He said he was going to be unhappy if we didn’t get a ceasefire. There was no ceasefire announced. Now, he gave Russia a little bit of wiggle room, but I bet on that way back he is like tripling these secondary sanctions on Brazil, on India, on China as well.” Marshall argued that Trump is prepared to “really double down and put some pressure on Mr. Putin.”
Optimists also point to Putin’s own words. The Russian leader said the war “would not have happened” if Trump had been president when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. That acknowledgment, rare from Putin, is taken by many as proof that Trump’s return to office has already changed the dynamics of the conflict.
Pessimists Warn of a Stalemate
Critics, however, argue that the summit was more spectacle than substance. Some point out that while Trump and Putin spoke of progress, no concrete deal was reached and no timeline was given. BBC correspondents covering the meeting noted that Trump “traveled a long way to only produce such vagaries,” with “no ceasefire, no deal, nothing tangible to report.”
In Ukraine, reactions were mixed. Many citizens felt relief that Trump did not agree to any terms that would sacrifice Ukrainian territory, but there was also concern that the lack of an immediate cease-fire would embolden Russia to continue attacks. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy accused Putin of launching new strikes on Sumy and other regions just before the Alaska summit, suggesting Russia is negotiating in bad faith.
Trump’s Record as a Peacemaker
Despite the mixed reactions, Trump continues to frame himself as the world’s leading dealmaker. In recent months, he has claimed credit for preventing or stopping conflicts in multiple regions. These include a nuclear escalation between India and Pakistan, a border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, violence between Serbia and Kosovo, and clashes between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He also pointed to U.S. actions that brought Iran and Israel back from the brink of war and pressured the Houthis in Yemen into a ceasefire.
“I stopped five wars in the last five months actually, and I’d like this to be the sixth,” Trump declared earlier this month. His team has openly tied these peace efforts to trade negotiations, with White House officials noting that “with every one of these peace agreements, there has been some economic benefit to America.”
Even some skeptics admit that Trump’s transactional style has delivered results. His Abraham Accords during his first term reshaped the Middle East, and his second term has seen him actively pursue ceasefires and peace settlements at a rapid pace. While critics argue that his motives are linked to his long-standing ambition to win a Nobel Peace Prize, supporters see him as a leader willing to use American leverage to bring conflicts to a halt.
The Alaska summit ended without the breakthrough many hoped for, but Trump hinted that there would be another meeting soon, possibly even in Moscow. “We will probably see you again very soon,” Trump told Putin at the end of their press conference. Putin replied, “Maybe next time in Moscow.”
For now, Trump has placed responsibility for the next stage on Zelenskyy and Europe. “It’s really up to President Zelenskyy to get it done,” he said. Whether that advice leads to a compromise or more deadlock remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Trump is positioning himself as the indispensable figure in the search for peace.
As one of his aides put it recently, Trump “loves being in the position to be a kingmaker.” If he succeeds in ending the Ukraine war, it would be the crown jewel in his already growing list of peace achievements. If not, the world will be left to wonder whether Putin is truly ready to negotiate at all.
