ANCHORAGE (U.S.), Aug. 15, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) addresses a joint press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump after concluding their talks in Anchorage, Alaska, the United States, on Aug. 15, 2025.The talks, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in the city of Anchorage, lasted about three hours. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) (Photo by Xinhua/Sipa USA)
(Anchorage, AK) – President Donald Trump has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two world leaders convened at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday afternoon. The meeting was focused on negotiating a ceasefire in the yearslong war between Russia and Ukraine. Russia invaded its neighboring country in February 2022. Despite no ceasefire deal, both global leaders said they made progress.
Putin Arrives in Alaska
Russian leader Vladimir Putin was welcomed with a red carpet on the tarmac of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. A fleet of military aircraft, including a B2 bomber flew over the pair’s heads as they approached a podium for photos. Putin got a ride in what’s known as the Beast, President Trump’s special armored vehicle.
Former Secretary of State during Trump’s first term, Mike Pompeo, was on 77WABC’s Cats & Cosby, where he gave some insight into Putin’s psyche
No Deal, No Details
While the administration was hoping to achieve a ceasefire agreement and bring an end to the war, Trump now says that a condition of Russia is a “comprehensive agreement” to bring an end to the war permanently. The conditions for peace and what would comprise that agreement was not clear. Trump said the two agreed on “many points”, but would not describe where they disagreed.
International Response
A joint statement from European leaders said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was not invited to the summit, should be present during any future talks, and that “it will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory.” Zelensky will actually be joined by several European leaders in his White House meeting including: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
What’s Next?
President Trump will now meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky at the White House on Monday, to continue and build on talks with Putin on Friday. After his meeting with Putin, Trump sat down for an interview with Sean Hannity and said it was essentially up to Zelensky to now come to the negotiating table. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will also be present for the meeting at the White House with Zelensky, as NATO membership for Ukraine has been a consistent point of contention in the conflict.
