Long discussion between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump expected to last between 6 to 7 hours, according to Dmitry Peskov.
In a significant geopolitical moment, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump met one-on-one on August 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, marking the first U.S.-hosted Russia-U.S. leader meeting since 2007 and the first meeting between sitting presidents Trump and Putin since 2019.
The central focus of the summit was negotiating an end to the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, with discussions primarily revolving around a ceasefire. The Russian delegation, led by Putin, included Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense and Finance Ministers, and a presidential aide. The U.S. side was represented by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
Despite high hopes, the summit ended without any formal agreement. No joint statement was announced, and Trump reportedly expected a ceasefire to be rapidly agreed upon but left disappointed. Putin’s visit was notable as his first to a Western country since the 2022 invasion began and the first Russian presidential visit to U.S. military property.
The meeting itself was followed by a joint press conference, during which Dmitry Peskov expressed optimism, expecting the summit to end "productively." The flight from Magadan to Alaska took approximately four hours, and Trump was scheduled to meet Putin at the plane in Anchorage.
A three-way meeting may be discussed after the summit, but further details were not disclosed. During the flight, Putin was reportedly working on documents related to key summit issues.
Notably, Ukraine’s president was not invited to the talks, leading to criticism since the discussion concerned Ukraine's future. This summit, while historic, underscores the complexities and challenges in resolving the Russo-Ukrainian War.
[1] New York Times, "Putin and Trump Meet in Anchorage for Summit on Ukraine," August 15, 2025. [2] Associated Press, "Anchorage Summit: Putin and Trump Meet in Attempt to End Russo-Ukrainian War," August 15, 2025. [3] CNN, "Anchorage Summit: No Formal Agreements Reached," August 15, 2025.
Politics surrounding the Russo-Ukrainian War took center stage during the policy-and-legislation discussions at the summit, with particular focus on negotiating a ceasefire. The general news outlets reported that while the summit failed to produce any formal agreements, Putin's visit marked a significant moment in foreign relations, as it was his first to a Western country since the 2022 invasion began.
