Putin and Trump met on Friday in Anchorage, Alaska, for the first bilateral summit on US soil in over a decade. Despite the pomp and military display, the meeting ended with no agreement on the war in Ukraine, though it elevated Moscow’s symbolic weight.
A choreographed arrival
Trump landed at 10:22 am local time, followed by Putin at 10:55 am. The leaders walked across a red carpet lined with F-22 Raptors, as a B-2 bomber flew overhead, before leaving together in the presidential motorcade.
Closed-door session
The two leaders held three hours of talks. While initially planned as a one-on-one, the meeting also included Marco Rubio and Sergey Lavrov. Expectations of an immediate ceasefire did not materialize.
Public remarks
In their joint statement, Trump called the talks “very productive” but provided no details. Putin described them as “respectful and constructive” but made no concessions. Both refused to take questions.
Departure without breakthrough
By 4 pm local time, both leaders had departed Anchorage. No ceasefire or agreements were announced, but analysts say the summit served as a strategic win for Putin, strengthening his image without making compromises.
Source: AP News, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, Times of India, ADN, Wikipedia
