Trump-Putin summit ends without concrete deal

Key details unclear: Putin also characterized the talks positively and warned Ukraine and European leaders not to “create any obstacles” to diplomatic progress. But neither leader took questions after reading statements to reporters, so the substance of today’s discussions remains unknown. CNN reported.

 Ukraine on the outside: President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not part of today’s meeting, emphasized beforehand that Ukraine is “counting on America.” Zelensky has welcomed Trump’s suggestion of a follow-up meeting with all three countries but insisted that a ceasefire is the only basis for meaningful peace talks.

Prior to boarding his plane, Russian President Vladimir Putin laid flowers on the graves of Soviet soldiers at the Fort Richardson Memorial Cemetery after a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska.

Video released by the Kremlin showed Putin kneeling and leaving a bouquet at a gravesite before making the sign of the cross.

The graves honor the Soviet pilots and sailors who died while bringing equipment from the US to the USSR during World War II, the Kremlin said.

Ahead of the summit, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Putin planned to visit the memorial site.

No one really knows what Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin discussed today during their lengthy summit in Alaska, as the two did not take questions from reporters after a joint news briefing.

But the closed-door talks were ultimately characterized positively by both leaders, even though a critical deal on ending the war in Ukraine was not reached.

Here are key lines from the briefing that you should know:

Breaking tradition: Putin began remarks at the briefing by acknowledging that US-Russia relations have suffered in recent years. Usually when an American president hosts a foreign counterpart, a joint news conference would begin with remarks from the US leader followed by his guest.

Progress on reaching a deal: Trump said he and Putin “made some headway” and “great progress” in their bilateral meeting. Still, he added, “there’s no deal until there’s a deal.” Putin said the primary causes of the war must be eliminated for the war in Ukraine to end. The Russian leader also told Ukrainian and European leaders not to interfere with “the emerging progress.”

Positive summary: Negotiations between Putin and Trump were held in a “respectful, constructive and mutually respectful atmosphere,” Putin said. Trump said they had “an extremely productive meeting, and many points were agreed to.”

Other topics mentioned: Putin said he agrees that the security of Ukraine should be ensured. He also claimed at one point that the war in Ukraine would not have happened had Trump been president in 2022.

What’s next: Trump said he has various calls to make following the summit — some of which include calls to NATO, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other appropriate officials.