Trump and Putin convene for a summit, with Zelensky in attendance
The long-awaited U.S.-Russia summit, held on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska, brought together President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a bid to end the destructive war against Ukraine that has been ongoing for more than three years.
The summit marked the first U.S.-hosted meeting between sitting presidents of Russia and the U.S. since 2007, and the first time Putin visited a Western country since the 2022 invasion. However, despite nearly three hours of talks, no agreement or ceasefire deal was reached, and the conflict continues.
Both leaders described the meeting as positive but acknowledged they had not "gotten there" on peace in Ukraine. Trump set a hard deadline before the meeting for Russia to accept a ceasefire, which lapsed without compliance. Putin avoided making meaningful concessions, maintaining Russia’s maximalist war aims.
Putin expressed that Russia views the Ukraine conflict as a fundamental national security issue and emphasized Russia's sincere interest in ending the conflict, while still framing the Ukrainian people as "brotherly" despite current tensions. Trump indicated he would consult quickly with NATO and Ukrainian President Zelensky following the summit, signaling ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Analysts suggest Putin left the summit with a tactical win by sidestepping harsh consequences and that U.S. leverage remains, but Putin’s goals remain unchanged. Europe must also be involved in the talks because Ukraine is a firm part of Europe, according to Zelensky.
The Kremlin is preparing for the Trump-Putin meeting, with initial focus on making the bilateral meeting successful and fruitful. The U.S. and Russia are planning a bilateral meeting between President Trump and President Putin next week. The date and location of the summit have not yet been confirmed.
Zelensky has categorically rejected the renunciation of the Crimean Peninsula and the partly Moscow-controlled territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Saporischschja, and Cherson. Moscow has demanded a peaceful resolution to the conflict, including Ukraine's renunciation of NATO membership and the cession of territories annexed by Russia.
Trump had threatened sanctions against Russia's trade partners if there was no ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev within ten days. Putin suggested the United Arab Emirates as a potential venue for the summit. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are expected to meet next week for talks on ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky spoke on the phone with Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and praised Trump's mediation efforts to end the Ukraine war. Zelensky and Merz agreed that Russia must end its unlawful war of aggression. Putin's foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, emphasized the importance of a successful and fruitful meeting between Putin and Trump.
As the diplomatic efforts continue, both sides remain cautiously optimistic but far from resolution. Further negotiations and international coordination are expected involving NATO and Ukraine directly. Trump has repeatedly stated his desire to quickly end the war.
- The ongoing talks between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as part of the war-and-conflicts discussion, have primarily focused on the prolonged war against Ukraine, with no agreement or ceasefire deal being reached so far.
- Despite the ongoing war-and-conflicts discussion, politics continues to play a significant role in the relationship between the U.S. and Russia, as both leaders plan for another bilateral meeting next week to further discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
