US President Donald Trump and Russian President Putin
At a highly anticipated summit on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to secure an agreement on the Ukraine conflict, despite expressing mutual goodwill and hinting at progress.
The three-hour meeting, held with aides present, ended abruptly without a press Q&A, a departure from Trump’s typically media-friendly approach.
Trump described the discussions as “extremely productive,” noting that “many points” were agreed upon, though he offered no specifics.
“We’re not there yet, but we’ve made progress. There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” he stated, adding that one unresolved issue was “probably the most significant” without providing further details.
Putin, speaking briefly during a 12-minute joint press appearance, expressed optimism about future cooperation, saying, “We hope that the understanding we have reached will… pave the way for peace in Ukraine.” He also extended an invitation with a smile, telling Trump in English, “Next time in Moscow.”
The Russian leader sought to appeal to Trump’s sentiments, agreeing with Trump’s claim that the Ukraine war, initiated by Putin, would not have occurred under Trump’s presidency instead of Joe Biden’s. Trump, in turn, reiterated his dismissal of U.S. intelligence findings about Russian interference in the 2016 election, calling it a “hoax.”
Ahead of the summit, Trump had warned of “severe consequences” if Russia rejected a ceasefire. However, when pressed about these consequences in a post-summit Fox News interview with Sean Hannity, Trump downplayed the need for such measures, stating, “Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now.”
While both leaders highlighted areas of agreement and expressed a desire to continue discussions, no concrete steps toward a Ukraine ceasefire were announced, leaving the path to peace uncertain.
