Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met for nearly three hours at a US air force base in Alaska on Friday, with the US president claiming 'great progress' but admitting no deal had been reached to end the war in Ukraine. The two leaders held a joint press conference but took no questions, leaving reporters and allies uncertain about the outcome.
Trump said a meeting between Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy would be set up, which he might attend, and suggested it was now up to the Ukrainian president to 'get it done'. Putin endorsed Trump's view that the war would never have started if Trump had won the 2020 election, and described Trump's efforts as 'precious', urging Europe not to 'throw a wrench in the works'.
Putin agreed that Ukraine's security must be guaranteed but insisted on resolving the 'root causes' of the conflict, including Ukraine's renunciation of Nato membership and 'denazification' – demands that effectively call for Zelenskyy's removal. European allies and Zelenskyy may have been alarmed by Trump's deferential body language, including welcoming Putin warmly and allowing him to ride in the presidential limousine.
The press conference ended abruptly as Putin suggested their next meeting might take place in Moscow; Trump left without answering shouted questions. In a later interview with Fox News, Trump said the ball was in Ukraine's court and that European nations needed to get involved. Democratic leaders criticised the meeting, with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer calling it 'theatre' and DNC chair Ken Martin accusing Trump of 'folding like a cheap suit'.
