Historic Trump–Putin Meeting Held in Alaska

In a historic encounter, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Anchorage for nearly three hours of high-stakes talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

The meeting took place at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson and was the first time the two leaders have met face to face since 2019 and the first standalone summit since Helsinki in 2018.

Putin was welcomed with a red carpet and a dramatic military flyover featuring a B2 stealth bomber and F35 jets. The event was staged under the banner “Pursuing Peace.”

Trump said his top priority was securing a ceasefire, stressing that Ukraine, not the United States, must decide its own territorial future.

He warned he would walk away if there was no progress, stating, “I want the killing to stop.” Putin described the talks as “thorough” and “useful,” noting they were conducted in an atmosphere of “mutual respect.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was not invited, reiterated ahead of the summit that Kyiv will not surrender any territory and called for strong security guarantees.

No immediate breakthrough was announced, but both leaders signalled interest in further dialogue, with Trump hinting at a possible follow-up meeting that could include Ukraine and European leaders.