If Trump's television program had a purpose?
In a significant development, the Trump-Putin meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, in August 2025, showed potential positive indications, including progress on several points and a renewed focus on cooperation beyond just Ukraine, notably in the Arctic region.
The summit marked the first visit of a Russian head of state to the U.S. in nearly a decade and the first face-to-face leaders' meeting since 2021, symbolizing a willingness to engage directly at the highest level. Great progress was made with many points agreed upon, though a comprehensive deal was not finalized.
The meeting also confirmed a strategic thaw in Arctic cooperation, with Putin highlighting the importance of Arctic region-to-region contacts, including between the Russian Far East and the U.S. West Coast, signaling broader bilateral engagement beyond Ukraine.
Regarding the peace process between Russia and Ukraine, limited progress has been made. Trump aimed to leverage the summit to push for an unconditional ceasefire as a starting point for direct negotiations, which would ideally involve a reciprocal exchange of territorial concessions and a roadmap for high-level talks, including leaders’ meetings. However, Putin rejected calls for an unconditional ceasefire and insisted Ukraine abandon four partially occupied regions Russia has annexed as a precondition for peace. Meanwhile, attacks on Ukraine have escalated.
Despite these challenges, the meeting opened positive channels for dialogue. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz brought together a group of European leaders to influence Trump before the summit. European heads of state and government welcomed Trump’s efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine and achieve a just and lasting peace.
Following the meeting, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the best way to end the war is to go directly to a peace agreement that ends the war, not to a mere ceasefire agreement. Conflict researcher Nicole Deitelhoff finds hope in Trump’s obsession with the Nobel Peace Prize, suggesting that the USA will continue to be engaged, and there could be further negotiation steps as a result.
The next 48 to 72 hours are considered crucial following the Alaska summit. The central security interests of Europeans should be maintained in a partnership way that keeps the USA involved. The Europeans emphasized their "active role" in their joint statement following the meeting.
However, uncertainty remains about what the two leaders agreed upon during the meeting. Journalists were not allowed to ask questions at the "press conference" following the meeting. The BBC correspondent in Alaska expressed uncertainty about what was discussed.
Trump praised Putin in Alaska, saying he wants to end the killing in Ukraine as much as he does, but conflict researcher Deitelhoff considers such statements as PR talk. Trump officially dismissed the need for a ceasefire as an intermediate goal in ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Putin offered a written pledge in Alaska not to attack Ukraine again if it hands over the Donbass, but the validity of Kremlin pledges is questionable.
In summary, while the meeting opened positive channels for dialogue and highlighted potential cooperation beyond Ukraine, major obstacles remain in achieving peace between Russia and Ukraine, with no ceasefire or formal agreement emerging from the summit. The next few days are expected to be critical in determining the future course of this complex geopolitical situation.
- The European Union, with its nuclear programme, should strive to implement it in a manner that supports the ongoing dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, ensuring a peaceful resolution is consistent with the EU's objectives.
- As the situation between Russia and Ukraine continues to pose challenges, the European Union, emphasizing its active role, must maintain a partnership with the USA to address war-and-conflicts in the general-news realm, and engage in political discussions to explore opportunities for peace and cooperation beyond the Ukraine conflict.
