Trump and Putin End Alaska Summit Without Ukraine Deal, Pressure Shifts to Zelensky

Alaska Summit, Zelensky Now Holds the Key

The much-anticipated Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended on Friday with warm words, vague promises, and one unmistakable reality: no ceasefire deal for Ukraine.

After three hours of talks at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, the first time Putin has stepped foot on Western soil since launching his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, both leaders struck an optimistic tone but offered few concrete results. Now, Trump says the responsibility for moving the peace process forward rests squarely with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity after the summit, Trump put the ball firmly in Kyiv’s court.

“Now, it’s really up to President Zelensky to get it done,” Trump said. “And I would also say the European nations, they have to get involved a little bit. But it’s up to President Zelensky… And if they would like, I will be at that next meeting.” Trump confirmed that a meeting between Zelensky and Putin is in the works, adding: “They are going to set up a meeting now between President Zelensky and President Putin and myself, I guess.”

When pressed on what advice he would give Ukraine’s leader, Trump was blunt:
“Gotta make a deal. Look, Russia is a very big power, and they’re not. They are great soldiers.”

Despite the fanfare surrounding the Alaska summit, neither Trump nor Putin announced a ceasefire. Instead, the two leaders pointed to areas of “progress” without providing details. “We were not there yet, but we have made progress. There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump told reporters, describing the talks as “extremely productive.” He added that “many points” were agreed upon, but acknowledged “one probably most significant” issue remains unresolved. He did not elaborate.

Putin, for his part, kept his remarks vague but struck a cooperative tone:
“We hope that the understanding we have reached will… pave the way for peace in Ukraine,” he said. The joint press appearance, lasting just 12 minutes, offered little clarity and ended abruptly, with neither leader taking questions from the press. That decision was particularly unusual for Trump, who is known for his media-heavy style.

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The meeting was not without theatrics. At one point, Putin smiled and told Trump in English: “Next time in Moscow.” He also flattered the U.S. president by suggesting that the Ukraine war might never have started if Trump had been in power instead of Joe Biden.

This echoes Trump’s own repeated claims that Putin would not have dared invade Ukraine during his presidency, reinforcing the unusual dynamic between the two men — a mix of rivalry, admiration, and strategic calculation.

What Comes Next?

While the Alaska summit produced no ceasefire, it did lay the groundwork for potential next steps:

A direct meeting between Zelensky and Putin, possibly with Trump present.
Continued U.S.–Russia talks on broader issues, including trade and even hints of nuclear arms control.
Pressure on Europe to play a larger role in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security.

For now, however, the war continues. Zelensky remains firm that Ukraine will not concede its territory, and European leaders insist that any deal must include Kyiv at the table. Trump, ever the dealmaker, insists progress has been made — but as he said himself: “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.”