Trump and Putin propose a meeting in Alaska.
In a significant development, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit in Alaska on August 15, 2025, to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, as of August 16, no formal agreement has been reached [1].
The nearly three-hour meeting, which initially was envisioned as a one-on-one discussion, evolved to involve three representatives from each side, including key diplomats [2]. President Trump stated, "there's no deal until there's a deal," signaling that while no agreement was reached, dialogue is ongoing.
Putin expressed a sincere interest in ending the conflict but did not provide specific details on terms or outcomes from the talks. Trump urged Ukrainian President Zelensky to "make a deal," though Zelensky was not part of this summit [1].
Experts note that a ceasefire or peace agreement is unlikely without Ukraine's participation, which was notably absent from the meeting. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that any resolution must involve Kyiv and start with a ceasefire [2][3]. Trump himself acknowledged that no "land swap" or ceasefire deal would come from this meeting alone, framing it as a step toward setting the stage for future talks that would ideally include all key leaders, including Zelensky [3].
Under Biden's administration, the U.S. became the key ally and arms supplier to Ukraine in its defense against Russia. Zelensky has repeatedly demanded a conversation with Putin. It remains unclear whether there will be a meeting between Putin and Zelensky [1].
In a related development, the Kremlin has stated that certain conditions must be met before direct talks at the highest level can occur, specifically agreements at the expert level on a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict [4]. Trump has threatened to impose sanctions on Russia's trading partners if the ceasefire is not achieved. A corresponding invitation to the U.S. President for a potential future meeting in Russia has already been extended [5]. Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy advisor, mentioned that if there is another meeting after Alaska, it would likely take place in Russia [6].
In an unrelated matter, new tariffs against India due to its oil deals with Russia will take effect in August [7]. These tariffs do not involve any other countries.
In summary, the current status is that no formal agreement exists, but the talks have opened channels for further negotiations. The absence of Ukraine and the fundamental conflict positions suggest continued challenges ahead.
In the wake of the Alaska summit, ongoing discussions regarding the Ukraine conflict are centered around politics, with experts urging the inclusion of Ukrainian President Zelensky for any potential agreements [1,2]. Meanwhile, war-and-conflicts continue to dominate general news, as the search for a peaceful resolution persists [1,2,3].
