Trump and Putin Make Progress in Alaska Talks on Ukraine War - Faith & Freedom News

Anchorage, Alaska – August 16, 2025 – U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded nearly three hours of high-stakes discussions in Alaska on Friday, reporting significant progress toward resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, though both leaders emphasized that a final agreement remains elusive.

The summit, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, marked a pivotal moment in efforts to end the conflict that has raged since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Trump described the meeting as “extremely productive,” highlighting agreements on several key points, while cautioning that “there’s no deal until there’s a deal.”

“We made some great progress today,” Trump told reporters in a post-meeting update. “We had an extremely productive meeting and many points were agreed to.” However, he added, “We didn’t get there,” underscoring the challenges ahead.

Putin echoed a willingness to continue negotiations, stating that Russia is “ready to work” on outstanding issues and expressing a “sincere interest” in ending the conflict. He provided no further details on specific concessions or timelines.

The leaders’ encounter began with a warm handshake on the tarmac, where a special stage had been erected featuring a large “Alaska 2025” sign, flanked by parked fighter jets and red carpets. Uniformed military personnel stood at attention, and B-2 stealth bombers and F-22 fighter jets – symbols of U.S. military might from the Cold War era – conducted flyovers to mark the occasion.

Initially planned as a one-on-one session, the talks were expanded to a three-on-three format, signaling a more cautious approach by the White House compared to the 2018 Helsinki summit, where Trump and Putin met privately with only interpreters present. Trump was joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Putin was accompanied by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the change, noting it reflected a deliberate strategy to ensure broader input on the sensitive discussions.

In a subsequent interview, Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – who was notably not invited to the summit – to “make a deal” to bring the war to a close. European leaders were also excluded from the talks, highlighting the bilateral focus between Washington and Moscow.

The meeting provided Trump an opportunity to demonstrate his self-proclaimed skills as a “master dealmaker” and global peacemaker, a narrative he and his allies have promoted as a means to swiftly end the bloodshed – something Trump has boasted he could achieve quickly. For Putin, the summit represented a chance to secure a negotiated settlement that would solidify Russia’s territorial gains, prevent Ukraine’s NATO accession, and potentially realign Kyiv toward Moscow’s sphere of influence.

A joint press conference is expected at the conclusion of the summit, where further details on the discussions may emerge.

As the war enters its fourth year, with mounting casualties and economic strain on all sides, the Alaska talks have raised hopes for a breakthrough, though skeptics warn that deep-seated differences over Ukraine’s sovereignty and security guarantees could prolong the impasse.