ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A highly anticipated summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded Friday without a tangible agreement on a ceasefire or peace deal for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson marked a rare face-to-face encounter between the leaders on U.S. soil.
Experts…believe the meeting appears to be a win for Mr. Putin, who received a high-profile reception and delayed potential harsher sanctions without offering concrete concessions.
Both leaders offered brief remarks after the meeting but took no questions from the press. Mr. Trump described the talks as \”extremely productive\” on his social media platform, stating the focus was on a broader \”Peace Agreement.\” Mr. Putin called the talks a \”reference point\” for ending the conflict.
According to a report by The Guardian, the summit was a \”PR victory\” for the Russian leader, who re-entered the global diplomatic stage after a period of isolation. The report noted that Russia\’s foreign ministry expressed jubilation that Mr. Putin met his U.S. counterpart without making any concessions.
Citing reports from the Financial Times and Al Jazeera, Mr. Putin reportedly demanded Ukraine cede the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as a precondition for freezing the frontline.
Experts, including those from the Atlantic Council, believe the meeting appears to be a win for Mr. Putin, who received a high-profile reception and delayed potential harsher sanctions without offering concrete concessions.