Trump and Putin held important talks in Alaska on Friday, aiming to find common ground on Ukraine and nuclear arms control. The meeting was held at a Cold War-era U.S. air base and was their first direct encounter since Trump returned to the White House.
Trump hoped to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine, although the chances of a breakthrough remained uncertain. Putin, meanwhile, offered the possibility of a new nuclear arms deal to replace the last agreement, which expires in early 2026.
The summit came amid growing concern in Europe and Ukraine that Trump might agree to a deal that weakens Kyiv’s position. Trump has long claimed he could end the war within 24 hours, but on Thursday, he admitted the conflict is more difficult than expected.
He also said a future three-way meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy would be more meaningful if his talks with Putin went well. Zelenskiy was not invited to the Alaska summit but joined a separate call with Trump earlier in the week.
Ukraine and its allies said Trump supported their demand that Kyiv be part of any talks about land or security. This eased concerns about a possible secret deal between Trump and Putin that might pressure Ukraine into concessions.
Putin is under pressure at home due to Western sanctions. A deal with Trump could help ease that pressure or prevent new sanctions. However, it’s unclear whether Putin is willing to compromise on key issues like territory and NATO.
Trump has hinted that land swaps may be needed to stop the war, a suggestion Ukraine firmly rejects. Zelenskiy believes Putin is trying to delay further U.S. sanctions by appearing open to talks.
For now, the outcome of the Trump and Putin summit remains uncertain, but the stakes for Ukraine and global security are high.
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