What Did Trump Discuss with Putin During Their Summit?

Anchorage (Alaska), Aug 16 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump has departed from Alaska following his inconclusive summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. The discussions, which lasted nearly three hours, concluded on a somewhat optimistic note.

Air Force One took off from Elmendorf Air Force Base at approximately 4:20 p.m. local time, now en route to Washington, DC.

Trump spent about six hours on the ground in Alaska.

During the high-stakes summit, Trump and Putin participated in a joint press conference but refrained from taking questions from the media.

This briefing followed several hours of talks focused on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which commenced with Russia's invasion in 2022.

Less than an hour after their joint press conference, Putin was spotted boarding a plane in Anchorage.

Before his departure, he briefly paused to wave and offer a slight bow.

Prior to leaving Anchorage, Putin visited the Fort Richardson Memorial Cemetery, where he placed flowers on the graves of Soviet soldiers. This visit followed his bilateral meeting with Trump.

Footage released by the Kremlin depicted Putin kneeling, laying a bouquet, and making the sign of the cross.

The graves honor Soviet pilots and sailors who perished while transporting equipment from the US to the USSR during World War II.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had earlier confirmed Putin's intention to visit the memorial.

During the press conference, Putin urged Ukraine and European nations to refrain from obstructing peace efforts.

"We anticipate Kyiv and European capitals to respond positively and not to derail progress through provocations or covert actions," Putin stated.

As Trump expressed gratitude to Putin for their time together, he voiced hope for another meeting soon.

In a light-hearted moment, Putin, switching to English, joked, "Next time in Moscow." However, Trump appeared hesitant to commit to such a visit.

Trump remarked, "That's an intriguing suggestion. I might face some backlash on that one."

Earlier, Putin expressed agreement with Trump that Ukraine's security "must be safeguarded," but linked this commitment to addressing what he termed Russia's "fundamental security concerns."

"I concur with President Trump that the security of Ukraine must be ensured, and we are indeed ready to collaborate on this," Putin conveyed during the Anchorage press conference.

He expressed hope that the agreement reached with Trump, which lacked specific details, would "pave the way towards peace in Ukraine."

Putin underscored that the conflict could only be resolved by addressing "all the primary roots" of the issue.

"The situation in Ukraine is intertwined with fundamental threats to our security," he remarked.

"It is crucial to consider all legitimate concerns from Russia and restore a fair balance of security in Europe and globally... naturally, Ukraine's security should be ensured as well," Putin added.

While he did not specify what eliminating those "roots" would entail, he previously linked it to demands that Kyiv and its allies have dismissed.

Trump informed reporters after the summit that he intended to brief NATO leaders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and "other relevant officials" about their discussions.

"I'm planning to start making a few calls to inform them about what transpired," he said.

The leaders met for approximately three hours, significantly shorter than the six to seven hours anticipated by Russian aides.

They emerged claiming "progress" on unspecified matters but announced no ceasefire, provided no specifics, and did not take questions.

Putin also expressed gratitude to Trump for the "atmosphere of trust" during their Alaskan meeting, as reported by media.

"I would like to thank Trump for his collaboration and for maintaining a friendly and trustful environment during our talks. The crucial element is that both parties were committed to achieving results," Putin stated at the joint press conference.

Putin characterized his discussions with Trump in Alaska as "positive and constructive".

"Our discussions were conducted in a respectful and constructive atmosphere. They were quite detailed and beneficial," he said during the joint news conference.

Putin hopes that the agreements established in Alaska will serve as a reference point for resolving the Ukrainian crisis and restoring relations between Moscow and Washington.

He began his remarks at the briefing by acknowledging the deterioration of US-Russia relations in recent years. Typically, when an American President hosts a foreign leader, the joint news conference starts with remarks from the US leader, followed by their guest.

"Our discussions were held in a constructive and mutually respectful atmosphere," Putin mentioned after meeting Trump in Alaska, adding that he greeted Trump "as a neighbor" and established "very good direct contacts" with him.

Putin emphasized that the Ukrainian conflict was a central topic, reiterating that Russia has "always regarded, and still regards, the Ukrainian people as a brotherly people."

He added, "All the root causes of the crisis must be eradicated. Ukraine's security must, naturally, be ensured, and we are prepared to work on this."

Russian state media quoted Ambassador to the US Alexander Darchiev as stating that the atmosphere surrounding the discussions was generally positive.

It has been seven years since President Putin stood alongside an American President to take questions. The last instance was in Helsinki in 2018, during the infamous press conference where Trump appeared to side with Russia over US intelligence agencies on election interference.

When President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in 2021, he opted not to hold a joint press conference, instead addressing questions alone, a strategy aimed partly at denying Putin a platform to shape the narrative of their discussions.

Trump and Putin concluded their three-on-three meeting after roughly three hours, behind closed doors, accompanied by their top advisers.

Speaking to Fox News aboard Air Force One en route to Alaska, Trump expressed his desire to conclude his meeting with Putin with a ceasefire in hand, stating he wouldn't be satisfied without it.

"I wouldn't be pleased if I didn't achieve it," Trump remarked, adding that some believe a halt to hostilities in Ukraine may necessitate a second meeting.

"We'll see what unfolds. I won't be content if I leave without some form of a ceasefire," he said.

Putin, meanwhile, provided no indication of his stance.

When reporters at the airport shouted questions, including whether he would "stop killing civilians," the Russian leader smirked and gestured as if he could not hear.

President Donald Trump welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska on Friday.

As the two leaders shook hands on the red carpet, F-22 fighters and B-2 stealth bombers flew overhead, aircraft designed during the 1970s and 1980s for a potential US-Soviet conflict, although they entered service only after the Cold War ended.

Their presence during the welcome may have served as a pointed reminder of US military strength as Trump and Putin prepared to engage in discussions regarding Russia's war in Ukraine.