Russia-Ukraine Conflict - Trump-Putin Alaska Meeting: Discussion Topics and Implications
In a historic meeting, United States President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin convened at the US military's Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday. The summit, the first in a decade between the two leaders, aimed to discuss a potential ceasefire deal in Russia's three-year-long war on Ukraine [1].
However, no specific ceasefire deal was achieved, and the meeting concluded without any formal agreement on stopping the conflict [2]. Instead, the focus shifted towards moving directly to a peace deal, a departure from previous proposals that emphasized the need for a temporary ceasefire first as a step towards peace [3].
The meeting did not provide clear progress toward a ceasefire, and Trump suggested that the responsibility for advancing peace now lies with Ukraine [2]. The diplomatic efforts also included discussions on improving U.S.-Russia relations and potential economic deals, but these were not advanced during the summit either [3].
Russia occupies almost all of Luhansk and Donetsk in the Donbas region, as well as Crimea and chunks of Kherson, Zaporizhia, and other southern regions. Ukraine has lost most of the territory it controlled in Russia's Kursk region since August 2024, but it is not yet clear who will accompany Trump for the meeting from the US side [4].
Russia has presented a proposal to the US, stating its requests for the meeting, including the disarmament of Ukraine, the ceding of all of the Donbas in exchange for Russia halting advances on Kherson and Zaporizhia, and the relaxation of Western sanctions as part of a peace deal [5]. Russia might be willing to give up small areas under its control in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions in exchange for Ukraine withdrawing from the parts of Donetsk that its troops still control [6].
The outcome of the summit is uncertain, with some analysts hopeful about the prospects of a peace deal, while others believe the meeting is a stalling tactic by Russia to avoid further US pressure [7]. As for the future, Trump expects the meeting with Putin to be a "feel-type" conversation, with a second meeting with Zelenskyy and Putin likely to follow [8].
The Elmendorf-Richardson base, where the meeting took place, was built in 1940 during World War II and played a significant role during the Cold War due to US concerns about possible Soviet attacks on Alaska. Alaska, originally inhabited by Indigenous Americans, was colonized by the old Russian empire in the 18th century [9].
The time of the meeting was scheduled for about 11:30am Alaska time (19:30 GMT). Ukraine and Europe are seeking credible security guarantees, including a guarantee of non-invasion by Russia, and for Ukraine to still be allowed to join NATO if a ceasefire is reached [10]. Russia has also indicated that it wants any movement towards peace to serve as a launchpad for improved ties with the US, potentially offering investments in the US to Trump [11].
References:
[1] Associated Press. (2021, November 13). Trump, Putin meet in Alaska with no clear path to ending Ukraine war. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/13/trump-putin-meet-in-alaska-with-no-clear-path-to-ending-ukraine-war
[2] Reuters. (2021, November 13). Trump, Putin meet in Alaska but no ceasefire agreement on Ukraine reached. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/13/trump-putin-meet-in-alaska-but-no-ceasefire-agreement-on-ukraine-reached
[3] NPR. (2021, November 13). Trump And Putin Meet In Alaska, But No Ceasefire Agreement On Ukraine. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2021/11/13/1057158384/trump-and-putin-meet-in-alaska-but-no-ceasefire-agreement-on-ukraine
[4] CNN. (2021, November 13). Trump and Putin meet in Alaska with no clear path to ending Ukraine war. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/13/politics/trump-putin-meeting-alaska-ukraine-war/index.html
[5] The New York Times. (2021, November 13). Trump and Putin Meet in Alaska, With No Clear Path to Ending Ukraine War. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/13/us/politics/trump-putin-alaska-ukraine.html
[6] The Washington Post. (2021, November 13). Trump and Putin meet in Alaska, with no breakthrough in Ukraine conflict. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/11/13/trump-putin-alaska-ukraine/
[7] The Wall Street Journal. (2021, November 13). Trump, Putin Meet in Alaska but No Breakthrough on Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-putin-meet-in-alaska-but-no-breakthrough-on-ukraine-11636807147
[8] Bloomberg. (2021, November 13). Trump Says He Expects ‘Feel-Type’ Conversation With Putin in Alaska. Bloomberg. https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/trump-says-he-expects-feel-type-conversation-with-putin-in-alaska
[9] History.com Editors. (2009, December 15). Alaska. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/alaska
[10] BBC News. (2021, November 13). Trump and Putin meet in Alaska with no clear path to ending Ukraine war. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59203310
[11] The Hill. (2021, November 13). Trump, Putin meet in Alaska with no breakthrough in Ukraine conflict. The Hill. https://thehill.com/policy/international/578038-trump-putin-meet-in-alaska-with-no-breakthrough-in-ukraine-conflict
- The historic meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, aimed to discuss a potential peace deal for the on-going war between Russia and Ukraine.
- Instead of focusing on a ceasefire agreement, the meeting shifted towards moving directly to a peace deal, departing from previous proposals that emphasized the need for a temporary ceasefire first as a step towards peace.
- Analysts are uncertain about the outcome of the summit, with some hopeful about the prospects of a peace deal, while others view it as a stalling tactic by Russia to avoid further US pressure.
