At the Peace Table: U.S.–Russia – President Trump Creates a Platform to End the War Through Dialogue

Anchorage, Alaska, August 16, 2025: The nearly three-hour Alaska meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has sparked new hope for a Ukraine ceasefire. While no final deal was reached, President Trump stated, “We didn’t get there yet, but great progress has been made.”

At the outset of the summit, international circles accused Trump of moving toward halting the war in exchange for allowing Russia to retain occupied Ukrainian territory. Addressing the media, Trump made his stance clear: “Ukraine’s decisions will remain in Ukraine’s hands. I am here to create the opportunity to bring them together.”

Earlier in the day, the two leaders exchanged warm greetings on the tarmac at Anchorage airport, shaking hands twice and sharing smiles before traveling together in Trump’s limousine to the summit venue. During the talks, Putin expressed that he is sincerely interested in ending the conflict but said more time is needed for detailed negotiations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — who was not invited to the summit — remarked, “Even on the day of negotiations, the Russians are killing. To end this conflict, the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine must sit down together.”

Experts view this high-level meeting, initiated by Trump, as a potentially pivotal step in peace talks. While no agreement was signed, many observers believe Trump has already succeeded in his core objective: bringing Ukraine, Russia, and the United States closer to sitting at the same table.