Putin mentioned that agreements made at the summit could form the foundation for ending the war in Ukraine and rebuilding bilateral relations. However, he did not specify the details of the agreements, and both leaders declined to answer any questions during the joint press conference.
Trump, speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity, rated the summit a "10 out of 10," emphasizing their strong rapport. "We were in great harmony," he said, predicting that Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would meet in the future.
"Right now, it really depends on President Zelensky to finalize this," Trump stated, noting that both Washington and Moscow had found common ground on several issues but still had "one or two fairly important points" to resolve. Later, in a press conference, Trump warned that the outcome was still uncertain. "There’s no deal until there’s a deal," he remarked, acknowledging that while progress was made, they had not reached a resolution yet.
Putin on Ukraine and US-Russia Relations
Putin framed the Alaska meeting as a necessary restart after years of deteriorating relations. "As you know, US-Russia summits haven't occurred in over four years. That’s a long time," he noted, acknowledging the difficult period for bilateral relations. He further stated that ties between the two countries had reached their lowest point since the Cold War, a situation detrimental to both nations and the world. He emphasized that the time had come to shift from confrontation to dialogue. "This personal meeting was long overdue," he added.
On Ukraine, Putin emphasized Russia's security concerns, stressing that Russia's legitimate concerns must be taken into account and that a balance in European security must be restored. He agreed with Trump that Ukraine's security must be guaranteed. "We are ready to work on this issue," Putin said, linking it to broader efforts to normalize US-Russia relations. "I expect today’s agreements to serve as a reference point not just for resolving the Ukraine issue but for restoring practical, realistic relations between Russia and the US," he added.
Mixed Reactions
The meeting quickly drew reactions from key figures in Moscow, with Andrei Klishas, a member of Russia’s United Russia party, calling the summit a success for Russia and a defeat for Ukraine and its European allies. "The meeting in Alaska confirmed Russia's long-standing desire for peace," he said.
On the other hand, Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide criticized Putin’s rhetoric, calling for continued pressure on Moscow. "President Putin repeated well-known arguments, emphasizing the so-called ‘root causes’ of the war, which is Moscow's justification for its unlawful invasion of Ukraine," Eide stated. "Our position is clear: we must continue to pressure Russia, and even intensify it, to send a clear signal that it must pay a price."
Zelensky’s Travel Plans and Energy Tariffs
The White House reported that Trump had a lengthy phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky, followed by talks with European and NATO leaders. Trump also discussed potential tariffs on countries like China for buying oil from Russia but left open the possibility of action in the coming weeks.
"I don’t need to think about that right now," Trump said, noting that the meeting had gone well. Trump had previously threatened secondary sanctions against countries purchasing Russian oil, including China and India, if Moscow did not end the conflict in Ukraine.